Volunteer

We host fun and fulling opportunities for volunteers to experience scenic locations and gain skills in restoration. Volunteer activities will vary from week to week and may include such activities as native seed collecting, noxious weed pulling, riparian shrub planting, wildlife monitoring, or mulching.

Everyone is welcome to join in the community effort to steward these upland meadows for the greater good of Rogue Valley water quality, wildlife habitat, and the native plant communities. We primarily provide volunteer events from May - October and volunteers are contact us about coordinating individual volunteer opportunities as well.

Sign up below to join the Volunteer email list:

**All volunteers must sign the Vesper Meadow waiver here. Thank you for being a restoration steward!

Thank you for participating in the Vesper Meadow Education Program. We are glad to provide haven for nature-connection, scientific study, creative expression, and land stewardship - to be able to do so, we require all participants to agree to some basic understandings.

Please carefully read over the Release Form and click the green button in the bottom right-hand of the screen to sign.

Release Form

Access to the Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve, the real property at 16534 Dead Indian Memorial Road, is limited to those individuals participating in volunteer days, educational workshops, and other events associated with the Vesper Meadow Education Program, with proof of authorized access by Program Director Jeanine Moy, owner of (Vesper Meadow Restoration and Educational Services) or property owner Cory Ross (Carol M. Ross Trust).

The undersigned acknowledges that injuries are an inherent risk of outdoor activity and that no precautions have been taken to protect persons from same.  By signing this release form or being on the property, the undersigned hereby assumes all risks or damage to any property owned by the undersigned from any cause whatsoever.  The signature below, and the undersigned’s presence on Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve, confirms that the undersigned hereby releases all claims of any sort, including those for negligence, against the owner of subject property, Vesper Meadow Education Program, Vesper Meadow Restoration and Educational Services, their members, agents, and/or employees. 

It is further expressly understood that the undersigned and all members of the undersigned’s party shall strictly comply with all rules and regulations in force at Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve. If the undersigned and/or anyone in the undersigned’s party shall cause damage of any kind to the subject property, he/she/they shall be fully responsible for the cost of correcting same or compensating the owner as provided by law.

It is further agreed that the undersigned does hereby indemnify and hold the owner, Carol M. Ross Trust, Vesper Meadow Education Program, and Vesper Meadow Restoration and Educational Services, and related members/agents/employees, harmless from all claims or liability which may arise due to acts or omissions of the undersigned or anyone in the undersigned’s party and this includes reimbursement of all costs of defense incurred by the relevant parties as listed above.

Photo release: I hereby grant permission to Vesper Meadow Education Program to use photographs and/or video of participants for use in news releases, online, and in other communications related to the mission of Vesper Meadow Education Program.

Participants 18 years or younger: If minors are accompanying the undersigned in entering the subject property, this assumption of risk and release of liability is expressly extended to the rights of said minors and the undersigned represents that s/t/he/y have full authority to execute this Release on behalf of said minors as guardians.  It is further agreed that the undersigned does hereby indemnify and hold the owner/agents/employees harmless from all claims or liability which may arise due to acts or omissions of the undersigned or anyone in the undersigned’s party and this includes reimbursement of all costs of defense incurred by the owner/agents/employees.

COVID‐19 PANDEMIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK STATEMENT

Our goal is to provide a safe environment for our staff and interns, and to advance the safety of our local community. This document provides information that we ask you to acknowledge and understand regarding the COVID‐19 virus. The COVID‐19 virus is a serious and highly contagious disease. The World Health Organization has classified it as a pandemic. You or others may have the virus and not show symptoms, and yet still be highly contagious.

I confirm that I have read the notice above and understand and accept that there is a risk of contracting the COVID‐19 virus where ever I may go, including Vesper Meadow.

I also acknowledge that I could contract the COVID‐19 virus from elsewhere, unrelated to my visit at Vesper Meadow.

I affirm that I have shown no symptoms of COVID-19, including but not limited to coughing, shortness of breath, fever, nor have I been in contact with others who have the virus.

Thank you

for RSVPing

We look forward to seeing you at the Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve soon. We will follow up with details and any changes a week before the event.

In the meantime, read over the information below:

Prepare for your visit

Release form: All visitors to Vesper Meadow must sign the online waiver here.

What to bring: Conditions vary at Vesper Meadow depending on the season and the day. We send out an email a few days before any volunteer work party but in general, it is good to bring layers, long pants, sturdy close-toed shoes, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) at least a liter of water, and a lunch or snacks. We encourage the use of reusable products and have a pack-it-in, pack-it-out policy.

Please be prepared to pack out any trash, including but not limited to lunch materials, sanitation products, and other personal items.

What to expect: Volunteer work parties vary, and can be around the barn and parking area, in one of the meadows, along Latgawa Creek, or on forest or grassy slopes. Movements may include walking/hiking, bending, squatting, shoveling, pulling, lifting, and carrying. Know your limits! If you have any questions, feel free to ask us in advance.

Location: Our address is 16534 (Dead) Indian Memorial Road. From Ashland, Vesper Meadow is located 16.5 miles up Indian Memorial Road. The driveway is on the right (south) side of the road, where you will see a small house and solar panel. Parking is located at the end of the driveway; head-in parking, please!

Gate: During the months of May - October we keep the driveway gate closed except during the hours we are receiving folks for events. It is important for the gate to be closed to keep out free-range cattle, so if the gate is closed, please pull over to the side and walk through the gate to find someone by the barn. 

Terrain: The walking terrain can vary widely, from uneven ground in the meadow, to grassy slopes or trails along branch-covered forest floors. Please contact us if you have individual accessibility needs.

Cell phones: cell signals can be weak or nonexistent in parts of the meadow. Volunteer leads have walkie-talkies to stay in contact with group leaders. 

Dog policy: We discourage dogs on site from April 1st - August 31st in order to protect wildlife, especially our endangered species that nest in the grass, such as the Vesper Sparrow. Please check with your group leader regarding dog visits, and prepare to keep them on leash if they attend.

No-smoking policy: smoking is not permitted anywhere on the grounds at Vesper Meadow