CAVE CLEAN UP

* Due to upcoming Forest Service closures in the area where our Cave Clean Up takes place, our annual Cave Clean Up will unfortunately not be taking place this spring. However, this spring we are partnering with the Smith Rock Group for their annual Smith Rock Spring Thing on Sat. April 26th. You can learn more about the event and sign up here!

Also, one of our close partners, the Oregon High Desert Grotto, is in need of volunteers to help with sandblasting and graffiti removal on May 3rd, 2025 *

Registration for the sandblasting work will open soon! Please check back!

Sandblasting Details

Date and Time: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 | Specific time TBD

Location and Transportation: We will focus on cave systems to the southeast of Bend. Transportation TBD

Please Bring:

• Layers: Warm layers— the caves are cool!

• Miscellaneous Gear: Gloves, Close-toed shoes, water bottle

• Snacks: Bring snacks (if desired) & Brown Bag Lunch

The details below are for our regular Cave Clean Up event which will not be taking place this coming spring due to land closures by the Deschutes National Forest for the purpose of habitat restoration and fire mitigation. If you would still like to volunteer, the Oregon High Desert Grotto will be performing sandblasting and graffiti removal work and are in need of some volunteers. You can find details about the project and register above.

About

Thanks for your interest in volunteering with Wanderlust Tours and other local businesses to help cleanup the Central Oregon caves! Wanderlust Tours partners with the Oregon High Desert Grotto, Deschutes National Forest, Visit Bend, Visit Central Oregon, SOLVE Oregon and other local businesses to clean up our local caves.

DETAILS

Clean Up Opportunities: Trash Pick Up, Sandblasting

Location: We focus on the cave systems to the southeast of Bend. We clean around the mouth’s of the caves as well as inside the caves. We will also do some sandblasting in the caves to remove graffiti.

Date and Time:
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
9:00am - 1:00pm

Transportation: Departing from our office at 9:00AM

SUGGESTED DONATION

Suggested donation of $30 per person
Your donation helps fund future clean up efforts.

• $0 | Thanks so much for volunteering your time!

• $15 | Your time and your donation are what makes these efforts possible. Thank you!

• $30 | With a $30 donation you will receive "Ineffable"

• $50 | With a $50 donation you will receive "Ineffable" & a Wanderlust Tours Camp Mug.

If you are unable to join us but would still like to donate, please call us at (541) 389-8359.

INCLUDES

• Gear: Helmet, headlamp

• Clean Up: Buckets, Trash Bags

• Refreshment: A tasty brew from Deschutes Brewery

• Transportation: to and from the event, departing from our office

PLEASE BRING

• Layers: Warm layers— the caves are cool!

• Miscellaneous Gear: Gloves, Close-toed shoes, water bottle

• Snacks: Bring snacks (if desired) & Brown Bag Lunch

White Nose Syndrome in western North America

In March 2016 WNS was found in Washington state.  Wanderlust Tours is committed to cooperating with state and federal agencies, as well as conservation groups, to provide information to the public on the value of bats and the threat posed by WNS. Some of our Bend-area caves serve as winter hibernaculum which we do not visit.  We operate cave tours year-round where bats do not hibernate. If you want to learn more about WNS in the U.S., we encourage you to visit this website: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/white-nose_syndrome/

Thanks for your interest in protecting our landscape!