Discovering the forest on snowshoes

Discover Your Forest, the nonprofit partner of the Forest Service in Central Oregon, is offering winter interpretive programs in collaboration with the Deschutes National Forest and Mt. Bachelor Ski Area. The programs focus on the ecology, geology, and wildlife of the Cascades, and are led by volunteer rangers ready to interpret the winter landscape.

Snowshoe with a Ranger programs began December 18, and run through March 27, 2022. Interested participants can meet at the Forest Service snowshoe hut, located in the parking lot of Mt. Bachelor’s West Village. Snowshoe tours are offered on weekends and during school breaks, except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. Tours start at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and last 90 minutes. Snowshoes are provided free of charge. No prior experience is needed. Participants must be eight years or older and should dress appropriately for cold weather.

Donations are suggested to support Discover Your Forest in providing educational programs and volunteer support to the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland. Reservations are not required for individual participants; however, tour size is limited and first-come, first-served. Group tours for schools, youth, or other organizations may be scheduled for weekdays. Pets are not allowed. For more information contact Karen Gentry at 541-383-4771 or [email protected]

discovernw.org. For a calendar with all of Discover Your Forest’s upcoming programs, visit http://www.discoveryour

forest.org/all-programs.