We invite you to apply to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's Explore Cabins and Yurts program for 2023. The program selects organizations that serve underrepresented communities to receive a small group camping experience during the summer.
Each selected organization will be awarded five cabins or yurts for a two-night weekend stay at premier parks around the state. Trips are scheduled for weekends in July, August, or September 2023. The organizations will be responsible for selecting program participants for each site and supporting them in preparation for the camping trip.
We aim to remove barriers to camping for underrepresented groups and create a meaningful and positive experience for participants that we hope leads to many more park visits. We selected parks from across the state in order to make this program accessible to as many people as possible. These are popular parks with large cabin or yurt areas, as these facilities are an entry point for people new to camping or who lack camping gear.
To be eligible for this opportunity, organizations must meet the following criteria:
All the parks have flush restrooms, showers and water near the facilities. The exact layout and features of cabins and yurts vary by park, and are detailed in our Comfort Camping brochure. In general, both yurts and cabins have a combination of futon couches and single and double bunk beds. Capacity varies by park and by facility; most sleep up to 5 or 6 people. All cabins and yurts include heat, electricity, locking doors and an outdoor fire pit and picnic table. Participants must provide their own bedding, dishes and other camping gear. And, of course, they must agree to all park rules.
These parks also feature a multitude of recreation activities and ranger-led programming for the entire family. This year the program will feature parks near Coos Bay, Newport, Pendleton, Portland, Salem, and Tillamook.
Please submit your answers to the following questions in Survey Monkey. Applications must be received by 5 pm on Friday, April 7, 2023.
Should your organization be selected to participate in this program, the following terms and conditions apply:
Caleb Dickson (he, him, his): caleb.dickson@oprd.oregon.gov
About Us
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is proud to care for Oregon's varied landscapes and rich cultural history. The department serves the state of Oregon through the properties and programs it oversees, and recognizes that Oregon's resilience and beauty are strengthened by its diverse population. Oregon State Parks are public spaces, and as such are welcome to all. Accordingly, OPRD is committed to valuing and serving everyone and actively working to provide safe and equitable access to state parks and agency programs. To this end, the department will not tolerate racism, harassment, discrimination, or intimidation in any form.
Oregon's Office of Outdoor Recreation coordinates the state's outdoor recreation policy across agencies, between public and private sectors, and in cooperation with organizations that have a vested interest in seeing Oregon's outdoor recreation reach its fullest potential.
*Underserved communities are defined by the federal government as communities that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life including Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.