BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OR-038-2015-05
For release: Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah LeCompte
(541) 523-1843
Thursday Outdoor Club for Kids at Oregon Trail Center
BAKER CITY, OREGON- The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center again offers the annual
Thursday Outdoor Club for ages 8 to 12 starting June 25 and each Thursday through July 30. The 2015
theme is “Surviving along the Oregon Trail.”
Starting at 1:30 p.m. each Thursday, each class focuses on what it takes to survive conditions found along
the Oregon Trail. Not only how pioneers managed the harsh conditions, but how people, plants, and
animals lived in the west for centuries. We can learn from the past how to stay safe in the outdoors today.
Participants can attend one session, or all; those who attend all six sessions will receive a copy of the book
“Hatchet” about a young man surviving in the wilderness, and a simple survival kit to carry in the car or a
backpack. Park Ranger Jeremy Martin leads the sessions, sharing his training and experience in back
country survival and outdoor safety as well as historical frontier skills.
This year’s topics:
June 25: Animal Survival - How animals of the west adapt to their environments in unique ways.
July 2: Plant Survival - It’s all about water. Native plants of this area are masters of survival. Learn how to
find water almost anywhere on Earth.
July 9: Pioneer Survival: How emigrants survived crossing the “Great American Desert”. Learn some of
their skills around the wagons and set up a camp.
July 16: Native American survival skills. Find out how Native Americans survived for thousands of years
by living off the land.
July 23: Winter Survival. Just like along the Oregon Trail, people today find themselves in trouble because
of snow. This class will cover ways to stay found and be safe in winter emergencies.
July 30: Summer Survival. Learn that in many cases, surviving is a simple matter of planning ahead. Put it
all together and have the tools it takes to survive in any situation.
Class sizes are limited, so pre-registration is highly suggested by calling 541-523-1852. A cost of $2.00 per
class covers supplies.
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is
located east of Baker City, Oregon. Take Exit 302 from Interstate-84 onto Oregon Highway 86 and proceed
five miles. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8; seniors are $4.50;
children 15 and under are free. Federal passes are accepted. Visit oregontrail.blm.gov for more
information about the Center or call (541) 523-1843 for an update on programs and events.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the
National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers
700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the
public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained
yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.