The Land Trust hosted a volunteer event at the end of October to thank and recognize our amazing pool of volunteers. We are so lucky to have more than 460 volunteers who are dedicated to conserving and caring for land and sharing our work with other Central Oregonians.

Land Trust volunteers lend a hand in so many different ways indoors and out! This year (so far!) they've donated 3,305 hours alone! Wow! Huge thanks to the following volunteers:

• Bird Surveyors: Thank you to our dedicated birders who document our feathered friends at our conserved lands. We all enjoy your regular!

• Event Volunteers: Nature Nights, tabling, Open Houses and other events—we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your time and energy!

• Hike Leaders: Thank you for being our amazing ambassadors to the community. You make it possible to offer 100+ free walks and hikes each year, sharing the wonders of nature with so many folks! We are consistently amazed by your knowledge and skill!

• Hike Shepherds: Thank you for keeping our groups together, sharing natural history knowledge, and getting everyone back to the trailhead safely!

• Office Volunteers: Helping with mailings, stuffing envelopes with tiny milkweed seeds, or other indoor projects, we so appreciate your help getting this critical work done!

• Photographers: Thank you for keeping us amazed and delighted by a steady stream of beautiful photos of our protected lands. You are so key in helping tell the story of our work!

• Site Stewards: Thank you for being a presence at Ochoco and Paulina Creek Preserves! Your on the ground efforts help us keep an eye on things and watch the seasons unfold.

• Trail Ambassadors: Thank you for welcoming folks to our Preserves, answering questions with a smile, stuffing kiosks with supplies, and helping report on Preserve conditions!

• Trail Stewards: Thank you for raking, weeding, pulling, and lopping! Your help keep our trails in excellent shape and make it possible to share these places with our community.

• Work Party Volunteers: Trail clean ups, plant caging, and weed pulls (so many weeds!!). Planting grasses, wildflowers, and willows. Thank you for helping with the dirty work—restoring habitat takes dedication and grit and we are so thankful to have you by our side.

• All other volunteers: Whether your donated 1 hour or 100, thank you for giving your time! We know it is a precious commodity and we thank you for your dedication to conserving and caring for the lands and waters of Central Oregon!
  
  

2025 Outstanding Volunteers

Colleen Egertson has been a Land Trust member and volunteer since 2010. Colleen first got involved with the Land Trust helping at a fencing work party back at Whychus Canyon Preserve! However, she quickly became an event and special project rockstar. From helping kiddos create monarch crafts to checking folks in for Nature Nights, Colleen is always there to lend a helping hand and make our events a success. Her sense of humor, and genuine care for the land are infectious. Colleen, thank you for sharing your time and energy with Deschutes Land Trust for 15 years. We are forever grateful. Congratulations Colleen on your 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Award!

 

Bill Hildebrant has been a Land Trust member and volunteer since 2022. Bill first got involved with his wife Laurie, helping her with bird surveys and bird walks. He quickly jumped in to lend a hand with work parties, eventually stepping up to lead work parties. Bill has since been a dedicated wing man to photographer Rick Dingus, and has even decided to write and co-author a book all about Land Trust restoration efforts! Thank you Bill, for donating so much of yourself these past few years to conserve and protect these lands for generations to come! Congratulations Bill on your 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Award!

 

Lezlie Matsuyama has been a Land Trust member and volunteer since 2021. She is a retired high school chemistry teacher, with amazing skills to see us through projects! As a volunteer, Lezlie has consistently gone above and beyond, offering her time and energy to Nature Nights, event prep, postering, and our membership mailings. In just five years with the Land Trust, Lezlie has probably written notes of encouragement on over 2,000 letters! She is ready to help where needed, but also brings a lively conversation to the volunteer table, ready to share hikes, music, and book recommendations! Not only is it a delight to have Lezlie in the office to volunteer, but we appreciate her commitment to sharing the enthusiasm for the Land Trust with the community. Congratulations Lezlie on your 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Award!

 

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

Once every few years the Land Trust has the opportunity to present a very special award. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those individuals who have given an enormous amount of time and energy to the Land Trust over the years. This year we are pleased to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Wall!

Carol Wall has been a Land Trust member since 2000 and volunteer since 2008. A retired UC Davis cultural anthropology and linguistics professor, former dean and vice chancellor, she was hoping to just watch birds and keep more below the radar. Alas, it became sooo clear that she had so many talents that we just had to get her involved in other ways! Carol would go on to become a tour leader, trail steward, bird surveyor and more! Learn more about her amazing contributions.

 

Cottonwood Circle

The Deschutes Land Trust is pleased to announce six new inductees into the Cottonwood Circle. The Cottonwood Circle is an elite group of individuals who have volunteered for 10 or more years with the Land Trust. The Cottonwood Circle is named for the majestic black cottonwoods that line Whychus Creek at several Land Trust Preserves.

Today, cottonwoods are rare in their distribution across Central Oregon. It is this rarity, like the volunteers who stick with us for 10 or more years, that inspires us to honor and revere these special trees and special people that are integral to a healthy landscape, a healthy land trust, and a healthy future. This year's Cottonwood Circle inductees are Joan Amero, Pat Green, Kara Jakse, Melissa Kent, Kathy Montgomery, and Inge Wells

We are so pleased to welcome you all to the Cottonwood Circle! Thank you for choosing the Land Trust and for dedicating so much of yourself over the years!

 

Learn more:

• About how you can volunteer for the Land Trust.
• About the Cottonwood Circle.
• About our other Volunteer Award Winners.