Team Dirt is a local non-profit organization, representing the trail-users of Benton County through partnerships and agreements with private and publicly owned forests including OSU's College of Forestry, Starker Forests and the BLM's Alsea Falls Recreation Area. Team Dirt is a true grassroots organization, operating with a volunteer board, subcommittees, and trail-builders. We focus on collaboration and shared respect among user groups: we build and maintain trails on a weekly basis for the enjoyment of mountain bikers, while also improving trail access for trail runners, hikers and equestrians.

Why are we fundraising now?

The trails our volunteers have proudly built provide much needed access to recreation and safe outdoor exercise during the pandemic. Unfortunately, COVID19 precautions resulted in Team Dirt halting volunteer-led trail projects and canceling all or our fundraising events (Alsea shuttle days) that we depend on for resourcing our trails. Now that we have the green light to get back to work, we have a lot to get caught up on. Community support - through contributing to this campaign - will get us back on track. Our fundraising campaign will run for three weeks, from now until Tuesday, December 2nd, 2020! 

What are we fundraising for?

• Trail reconstruction funds for Alsea Falls. Current opportunities have been identified for Highballer, Springboard, Dutchman, and Chutes and Boulders.
• A powered wheelbarrow to armor/rock and harden sections of trails in the Mac and Starker Forest to make them more sustainable. These improvements will provide a longer user season, as well as provide more technically interesting tread for runners and riders.
• Electric chainsaws. These tools will allow us to minimize noise and disruption to trail users seeking tranquility, while also increasing our efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint.
• Vehicle maintenance and insurance. Although not currently being used for shuttles, Team Dirt owns and maintains vans and trailers critical for our efforts. 
• Youth build projects in the Mac Forest, in which teens develop important work skills and experience as they help us get caught up on missed volunteer work opportunities from 2020.

A successful fundraiser will replenish coffers that we will use to complete trail projects in all three of our trail system areas. 

How much do we need?

Our goal is a minimum of $30,000. This will replace the $25,000 that we typically raise over two Alsea shuttle weekends, as well as an additional $5,000 to purchase equipment and labor that will help make up for the volunteer labor shortfall during several month of high trail use with no maintenance work. Although Team Dirt lost approximately 750 hours (an additional $16,000 value) worth of in-kind donations of time for build days, reaching our minimum fund raising goal of $30,000 will allow us to get back up to speed on our goals for this year.

Side perks if you donate!

As a fun bonus, we would love to see our supporters representing Team Dirt around the community. With a donation of over $50, you will receive new Team Dirt stickers, and with a donation of over $300, you will receive a sexy Team Dirt hat. If you're feeling both generous and adventurous, a donation over $3,000 will be rewarded with an (optional) Team Dirt tattoo.

All funds will be used to create and improve trails in Benton County and the vibrancy of our trail user community.

Some of the Bigger Picture

Our volunteers not only build and maintain fantastic trails, but also work proactively to advocate locally and regionally for trail development in Benton County, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest. Our board and trail leaders meet regularly with land managers at OSU, Starker Forests and BLM/Alsea Falls to communicate the interests of the trail users, and create and capitalize on opportunities that would otherwise go unrealized. Design and Build Volunteers train community members who are new to building and expand the overall level of maintenance, design, and build competence in our community to get more miles built. Communication and Organizational Volunteers maintain provision of up-to-date information through online and in-person channels, while also building both enthusiasm and community through social events.

Our Track Record

• In 2015, we successfully raised over $50,000 to purchase equipment that has been used to develop Alsea Falls into what it is today.
• Each year we have hold 2-3 fundraising events that bring in over $20,000.
• We have been awarded grants for Alsea Falls from BLM, Travel Oregon, and REI.
• In 2018, Team Dirt played a role in getting a conditional use permit for trails in Benton County to protect and preserve access to recreation in Starker and Mac Forests.
• In 2020, Team Dirt launched our first kids mountain bike camp summer program, with the goal of expanding to serve more kids in the future.

Contribute today!

We are making this request now because the value of outdoor recreation has never been greater, and our resourcing has never been so disrupted. Outdoor spaces are currently the safest place for us to engage in and develop new healthy routines, while restoring ourselves to face the many challenges incurred by COVID. While we were originally founded as a mountain bike race team, Team Dirt has evolved over time into the critical trail provider serving diverse trail user groups in our community. Our volunteers want this campaign to be a chance for the community to express and emphasize the value that outdoor access has for our overall health beyond its amazing recreational value, and use this  otherwise challenging time to expand our access and quality of experience in our local forests.

We have already developed and received approval for new safety standards and protocols, allowing us to resume volunteer events in our partnered trail systems. We plan to have a busy fall making up for COVID related delays. With your support, we will plunge back in to improving the local trail experience for all users.

Special thanks to Deann & Bill Garcia for Video Production.  Check out Deann's work at http://www.flammerougecreative.com/