OAP leads volunteer trip to Lick Creek

Students volunteer to clean up historic guard station

Oct. 7, 2019 LA GRANDE, Ore. – A historic guard station in need of attention will draw Eastern Oregon University students to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Oct. 12 and 13.

EOU’s Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) is coordinating the trip as its annual Volunteer Stewardship Project. In collaboration with the Wallowa Mountains Hells Canyon Trails Association, students aim to clean up and renovate the Lick Creek Forest Service Guard Station.

“The goal is to expose students to nonprofit and collaborative organizations that are doing good, boots-on-the-ground kind of work,” OAP Director Michael Hatch said.

In conjunction with a one-credit class, the project is part of Hatch’s vision for students to get involved in land conservation and stewardship. The premise of the course is to provide a project for students to engage in community service. Students who aren’t taking the class can participate as volunteers.

Through the Eagle Cap joint venture between EOU, Wallowa Resources and Wallowa Mountains Hells Canyon Trails Association, Hatch said students can participate in community projects and conduct field research.

“We want students to experience what it is like to do fulfilling work and to give them insight on how we manage natural resources at the local level,” Hatch said.

This trip is free for students. Transportation, food and camping gear will be provided.

Registration is open until Tuesday, Oct. 8, and space is limited. Contact the OAP at outdoor@eou.edu or 541-962-3621 to learn more and sign up.

 

Written by PR Intern Briana Rosenkranz.