Meeting location: 989 Shan Creek Road, Grants Pass, Oregon, 97527
Location Description: This year's annual meeting will be hosted just outside Grants Pass at a site known as the Enchanted Forest, owned and stewarded by community elder Brenda Patton. Brenda continues the work started by herself, her late husband Jann Patton, and their friend Phil Hart when they established The Table Rock Foundation in 1996. The foundation champions humanitarian, cultural, and environmental efforts through global education and community engagement, all based from the 375-acre Enchanted Forest property on the ancestral lands of the Takelma, Shasta, and Latgawa peoples. The Enchanted Forest has been stewarded by the Pattons since 1977, and they received recognition as "Tree Farmers of the Year '' in 1988 for their efforts to enrich the property for various uses, including fire management and youth camps. Under Brenda Patton's continued leadership, the Table Rock Foundation ensures the land remains a therapeutic community resource, welcoming new generations and preserving its legacy for the future. Brenda is thrilled to offer this space to Oregon Prescribed Fire Council participants to gather and learn together.
Schedule & Agenda: Participants should plan to arrive to the Grants Pass area the evening of Sunday, June 16. A full day of Annual Meeting sessions will commence on Monday, June 17 - largely outdoors and under the beautiful canopy of the Enchanted Forest. Session topics will include an update on Oregon's new Certified Burn Manager program, successful cross-boundary burning mechanisms, discussion and demos of prescribed fire technological tools, important federal policy updates, and more. The day will close with a salmon bake dinner and socializing under the stars. Tuesday, June 18 will consist of a half-day of field visits to burn project sites in the Grants Pass area before participants disperse for home. Final agenda details to come!
Accommodations: Complementary housing is available at the Enchanted Forest through on-site tent camping and off-grid bunk houses. Those who prefer may also find hotel accomodations in Grants Pass. Scholarships for travel are available in the form of mileage reimbursements, and if you have any dietary or accessibility needs, please contact Jeremy Kwok Choon at jkwokchoon@sustainablenorthwest.org.
What to bring: The Enchanted Forest is a beautiful but rustic meeting location - please plan to bring sturdy shoes, a headlamp, a portable power bank (for charging), water bottle, and snacks. We will provide: meals, drinking water, portable toilets, handwashing stations, and StarLink wifi access for those who need it. For those staying in the bunk houses, plan to pack sleeping bags.
Notes: For questions or more information on the agenda, contact Becca Shively at bshively@sustainablenorthwest.org