Discover, Plan & Go!

Come meander and hike in wildflower meadows where camas bulbs once played a key role in people's diets and rituals. We hope to understand the importance of pollination, genetics, and ecology in maintaining great camas and small camas. In the field, you will establish sampling plots, measure habitat differences between native camas lilies, and experimentally cross-pollinate flowers to test the potential for hybridization. Other tasks include observing and collecting pollinators during visits to flowers, measuring flowers, and sampling nectar. In the lab, you will identify flowers and insects, count flower parts under a microscope, and likely participate in DNA isolation or fingerprinting. Evenings are free for reading, conversation, canoeing, card games, videos and slide talks. On your day off, we plan outings to nearby scenic sites.

April-May volunteers will stay in cabins at the Oregon 4-H Center (Team 1) set in in beautiful meadows and forests or in the North Fork Lodge at Camp Cascade (Team 2), along the banks of the scentic Santiam River. June teams (California) will stay in cabins at UC Berkeley's Sagehen Field Station, situated in a forest near spectacular camas meadows. All teams share rooms with bunk beds, and enjoy the amenities of hot showers. The cooking staff will provide healthy and varied meals (like homemade cinnamon rolls). Sometimes we set tables or help clear meals in the spirit of camaraderie.

As an Eons member, you'll get a free, 1 year membership to Earthwatch — a $35 value — when you sign up on any expedition. And members pay $100 less on their expedition contribution — so you save $135! Just put code EONS2007 in the comment field on the signup form, or, if you call, tell the Expedition Coordinator that you found us on Eons.

Earthwatch expedition-related costs may be tax-deductible in the US as volunteer expenses. Please check with your tax adviser.