Loading Events

IAE Volunteer Event

Champoeg Harvest Area Volunteer Day

November 9, 2024 @ 9:00 am 1:00 pm

This fall, you are invited to join the Institute for Applied Ecology to help restore prairie habitat—at a First Foods Harvest Area in Champoeg State Heritage Area. All are welcome! Join us to help plant native plants in prairie habitat, while contributing to the recovery of the land.


Event Details

  • When: Saturday, November 9, 9am – 1pm
  • Where: Champoeg State Heritage Area
  • What: Removing weeds by hand from First Foods harvest area
RSVP to Evan Lasley at [email protected] if you would like to join this important restoration event—all are welcome! Please fill out a volunteer release form. Exact location will be provided on confirmation. A restroom is available on site, and limited carpooling from Corvallis is available.

What are “First Foods”?

First Foods were eaten by indigenous groups before the arrival of Europeans, and continue to be harvested, grown, and collected today. Native Americans have a long history of food gathering at Champoeg State Heritage Area. The word “Champoeg” comes from an indigenous word that names it as “the place of the yampa,” an edible root that was harvested there. As part of the Plants for People project, yampa has been reintroduced to this site, as well as many other First Foods such as camas, brodiaea, ookow, yarrow, and many others.


Our sincere thanks to the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District for funding this habitat restoration project, and to our partners at the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department for making this event possible.