National Forest cleanup on tap

Everyone who participates in the National Forest Cleanup Event scheduled for Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m.-noon, is invited to return to Village Green Park for a complementary picnic lunch. The community cleanup event is hosted by Sisters Country Leadership Initiative (CLI).

Registration for the event can be made by email to

sisterscliteam@gmail.com. Be sure to provide the number of people in your group to ensure enough lunches are ordered.

Participants will meet at Village Green Park before 9 a.m., where sign-up sheets for each cleanup site will be posted. From there, groups will head out to their assigned areas. The sites will be identified with sandwich boards containing a map of the cleanup area. Monitors with two-way radios will be present at each site to provide information and answer questions. Each participant will be required to sign a liability release form. Participants will work in 10-foot grid patterns, moving east to west or north to south.

Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather and field work, including long pants and boots. A bright-colored vest/jacket will increase your visibility. Bringing a cell phone is encouraged. If you have a mechanical pickup tool or garden grabber, it will be useful. Supplies to be provided to participants will include garbage bags, vinyl gloves, flags, and 30-40 high-visibility vests.

Avoid any flagged areas. If something hazardous is found, don’t touch it; flag it off, and text Jeremy Fields. His number will be available that morning. Also note the location of any large items you are unable to pick up.

In the National Forest, there is “historic garbage” which is to be left in place, including old, rusty tin cans, old farm equipment, etc.

Fields, a 25-year U.S. Forest Service employee, who is the special forest products coordinator for the Sisters Ranger District, as well as a volunteer for CLI, has been instrumental in working with our community members who reside in the National Forest. With CLI, he has established weekly distribution by CLI volunteers of garbage bags and water to those in the woods as well as weekly pickup of their trash, which is then offloaded at the Sisters Ranger District office.

Posters advertising the event can be found around town.