Community❯Volunteering

Onigiri Action is an annual event by the Japanese Culture Club. Students make onigiri (rice balls), enjoy tea, and send a photo that helps provide five school meals to children in need worldwide. Everyone is welcome! Located in the Student Union (Bldg. 10). Gresham Campus Map

Celebrate Samhain and the Day of the Dead with a transformative, grounding evening hosted by Celine Redfield of Two Wings Balanced Healing. Aligned with the deeply intuitive water energy of Scorpio season, this sacred gathering combines community connection with deep personal restoration.

• The Experience: The evening begins with an ancestral invocation and a warm botanical tea ceremony—guests are welcome to bring a memento, photo, or candle to place on a collective altar. You will then ease into a guided hypnotic meditation before relaxing into a restorative, one-hour water-element sound bath.
• The Instruments: Healing frequencies are created using a carefully curated selection of "watery" and crystalline instruments. You will experience crystal singing bowls for all seven chakras, a cosmic light chalice, ocean drums, rain sticks, aqua Koshi chimes, crystal pyramids, tongue drums, and pangi seed shakers.
• Who It’s For: This event is for anyone looking to honor their ancestors, connect deeply with their intuition, or find a peaceful space for internal reflection and fresh personal transformation.
• The Benefits: Attendees will experience deep, receptive relaxation, reduced stress, emotional release, and a renewed sense of internal safety and security.

Let’s spend a Sunday doing some good and getting to know each other along the way! Join our 30s & 40s Singles Group to support athletes at Special Olympics Oregon’s Beaverton Regional Aquatics competition on Sunday, November 1.

Expect swimming, teamwork, plenty of cheering, and a chance to connect with other community-minded singles. The event coordinator is excited to have our group help!

We have two exciting ways to participate based on how involved you want to be.

🙌 Path 1: Come volunteer directly with us

No sports knowledge, athletic ability, or previous volunteer experience needed. The Special Olympics Oregon team will train you onsite and assign your role at check-in.

You might help with:

• Athlete escorts: Guide swimmers from staging to their lanes and then to awards.
• Timing: Time races and call the finish order.
• Results: Deliver and record race results.
• Awards: Prepare medals and ribbons and help with presentations.
• Developmental skills: Help with staging, escorting, and timing for the morning skills competition.

Have relevant experience? Let the team know at check-in!

You can choose between a full-day shift of about 8–9 hours or a half-day shift of about 4–4.5 hours, depending on availability.

All volunteers receive a Special Olympics Oregon T-shirt, and full-day volunteers receive lunch.

📝 How to join as a volunteer

1. RSVP here so we know you’re joining our Meetup group.
2. Register directly with Special Olympics Oregon and choose your shift (link here or in comments). Your Meetup RSVP alone does not reserve a volunteer spot.
3. Watch for a Meetup message from me! I’ll check in to confirm your shift, help with questions, and coordinate our group.

Please register promptly if you’d like to volunteer, since shifts have limited spaces. Follow the arrival and check-in instructions for your selected shift.

💛 A small commitment that makes a big difference

The event team relies on registered volunteers to keep the competition running smoothly. Please choose a shift you can commit to attending in full and plan ahead for the day.

Of course, unexpected things happen! If you can no longer volunteer, please notify the Special Olympics coordinator promptly, update your volunteer registration, and update your Meetup RSVP too. Keeping everyone informed as timely as possible gives the team time to adjust.

📣 Path 2: Prefer to cheer? Join the audience!

You can also support the athletes from the sidelines. If committing to volunteering in a shift isn’t the right fit, or the shifts have filled, come enjoy the competition and help us give the swimmers an enthusiastic audience!

Please let me know whether you’re volunteering or coming to cheer, so I can coordinate our group. Only people registered directly with Special Olympics Oregon will be counted as volunteers.

Which ever path you choose, we’re happy to have you!

Come lend a hand, bring your cheering voice, and spend a Sunday supporting our greater Portland community. 💛

2026 Cinnamon Bear Cruise Dates:
Saturday, 11/28
Sunday, 11/29
Saturday, 12/5
Sunday, 12/6
Saturday, 12/12
Sunday, 12/13
Saturday, 12/19
Sunday, 12/20
Monday, 12/21
Tuesday, 12/22
Wednesday, 12/23
Thursday, 12/24
Saturday, 12/26
Sunday, 12/27

Boarding: 9:00 am
Cruising: 9:30 am – 11:30 am

• 2-hour cruise on the Willamette River
• Plated hot breakfast (eggs, potatoes, bacon, fruit and pastries) for adults & youth, excludes infants
• Hot cocoa, orange juice, coffee and hot tea
• Souvenir photo with Cinnamon Bear for every child 12 and younger
• Signature Cinnamon Bear treat for youth
• Character storytelling, autograph sessions and magic show
• Reserved table
• Service gratuity

Boarding Location:
Salmon Springs Dock
1010 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204

Return Details: Returns to original departure point.

Tickets start at $72 for adults or $52 for children 12 and younger. Cinnamon Bear has been a holiday tradition for generations and you’re invited to make this season one your child will remember forever.

Reservations available at portlandspirit.com/cinnamonbear or by calling 503-224-3900.

Lidong marks the beginning of winter on the traditional Chinese solar calendar. Before the cold settles in, give yourself one slow morning: warming teas brewed gongfu style, the garden turning gold outside the window, and 80 minutes that belong entirely to you.

Hosted in a private, hand-built teahouse in SE Portland, this small-group gathering (16 guests maximum) is led by Fengxia, a landscape architect who designed and built the teahouse and its Japanese-style garden herself. You will taste several seasonal teas, learn the basics of gongfu brewing, and leave with a quieter mind.

Advance booking required.

The Portland Princess Ball returns bigger, more enchanting, and more unforgettable than ever! Explore three magical ballrooms and meet nine beloved princesses as they bring their stories to life through special interactions, live performances, photos, and dancing.

Meet the royal team. These queens and princesses are kind, sweet, and gentle, with hearts full of love for children. They embody grace and warmth, ensuring every moment is magical. Many of the performers are professional dancers, actors, and singers, bringing their talents and charisma to life with every wave of the wand. Of course, they’re always true to character, making each experience unforgettable.

The princess roster:

• Ice Queen
• Ice Princess
• Cinderella
• The Island Princess
• Little Mermaid
• Beauty
• The Arabian Princess
• Snow White
• The Frog Princess

* Princess appearances are subject to change in case of illness, emergency, or circumstances beyond control.

Event Highlights:

• Nine enchanting princesses
• Famous princess songs performed live on stage
• Special princess interactions, photos, and dancing
• Three uniquely themed ballrooms
• Tea sandwiches, royal desserts, and princess tea
• Freshly scooped ice cream
• Two photo booths
• Two bouncy castles
• Glitter tattoos
• Princess crafts

Participants will begin with self-reflective prompts before embarking on a slow, guided walk, where they will be invited to observe and capture with a camera (or cell phone) how the late autumn garden mirrors the landscapes of transformation, grief and transition.

The seasonal landscape itself becomes a teacher: the architectural presence of conifers standing among bare deciduous trees, the rich layers of fallen leaves returning to the soil, beavers preparing for winter, eagles tending their nests, seed pods, mosses, textures, changing light, and the quiet beauty that emerges when life appears stripped down to its essence.

Through mindful photographs, participants will gather visual "fragments" before coming together in a circle for creative reflection, gentle conversation, and complementary herbal teas. The intention is to cultivate presence, symbolism, and a compassionate way of witnessing both nature and ourselves.

Bring comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate layers, drinking water, optional snack, camera or cell phone. If using a cell phone camera, be sure that the sound is off.

About the Guest Facilitator

Clara-Julia Peru is an artist, poet and nature advocate. She is a grief informed art and nature guide with an abundance of specialized training in grief support and expression. Learn more about Clara-Julia’s work here.

Sliding Scale Equity Pricing

In an effort to create an inviting and inclusive community for all we have sliding scale equity pricing based on personal financial experience and financial privilege.

Project Information:

We’ll work to clear this remote trail of brush, logs and other debris, and improve tread where needed.

Hiking information:

We’ll drive to the top of Horsetail Creek Trail and work our way down. The first few work days won’t involve much hiking, but the hike will become longer as we work toward the Bell Creek junction.

You should plan to participate in this trail party for its entirety. For safety reasons, please do not arrive late or expect to be able to leave early.

Event details:

Detailed event information, including directions to the meeting location, will be provided to registrants via email 48 hours prior to the event. If you’re volunteering for the first time, read this blog by a volunteer to know what to expect at your first trail party.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Snacks/lunch
• Work gloves if you have them (loaner gloves available)
• Any medications or emergency supplies you may need
• Sunscreen + insect repellent
• A pack to bring all of this with you on trail
• TKO provides all tools and personal protective equipment (hard hats, gloves, glasses)
• Need gear? TKO has clothes, boots, camping gear, and more available for loan. Reach out to [email protected] to let us know how we can help!

What to wear:

• Boots (Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. Tennis shoes are not recommended. Open-toed shoes will not be allowed.)
• Long sleeved shirts and pants
• Rain gear, insulating layers, sun protection, etc. as appropriate for the weather

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes and communities. We are the most recent in a long line of stewards to this land, and it is our responsibility to do so with humility and respect. We are grateful to these tribes and their descendants for being the original and continuing stewards of these spaces, and encourage everyone to go beyond a land acknowledgment by supporting Indigenous communities and organizations in your area.

ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: TKO seeks to make our events inclusive of people of all backgrounds and abilities. If you would like to discuss potential accommodations to allow for your participation in this event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will then contact you to discuss options. Please note: available accommodations will vary by event and typically need to be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, reach out to us by clicking Contact near the bottom of this page.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in the outdoors due to issues like racism, bias, and hate. We commit to being part of the solution to this problem and to enact change. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target any individual or group will not be tolerated by TKO.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical and emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you may: interrupt directly, tell a crew leader, and/or inform TKO staff via the post-event survey.

While TKO no longer requires masking/vaccination for our events, we do support those who choose to mask for their own safety. We ask participants to respect the health of folks who wear masks by distancing or wearing a mask while in close proximity.

Welcome youth in 7th-12th grade who want to make a difference in their community through the library!

We welcome newcomers! Reach out to let us at [email protected] to let us know you’re attending.

We meet the following Thursday dates from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• May 7
• May 21
• June 4
• June 18
• We don’t meet in July
• August 6
• August 20
• September 3
• September 17
• October 1
• October 15
• November 5
• November 19
• December 3
• December 17