Kalapuya Ways hike and talk at Hendricks Park May 2026
2026-05-31 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hendrick’s Park, Summit Ave &, Skyline Blvd,, Eugene, OR, 97403
Learn about the Kalapuya Indigenous people, past and present, with instructor Karen Rainsong, who is the Exec. Dir of SCEC. This presentation and guided hike is best for adults and teens. Learn about native plants and their uses as well as tools such as baskets, digging sticks, cordage, the atlatl and more.
Bring some cash as a donation to the Friend’s of Hendricks park for this presentation. Hike will include some gentle uphill climbs and is not generally considered wheelchair friendly, although the opening talk in the park is accessible.
See items of material culture, and listen to a Kalapuya story (permission for Karen to tell this story has been given by Esther Stutzman, a local Kalapuya elder.) Karen has been learning about and from Indigenous people for 20 years.
See more info on their website: https://friendsofhendrickspark.org/

Trails of Time: An Oregon Living History Festival
2026-06-20 09:30 - 16:30 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Join us for a family-friendly gathering with history interpreters, acitivities, live music, meet-a-goat, and indigenous storytelling and food. Local history educators and enthusiasts will be on hand dressed in the time period they are portaying and doing authentic chores, activities and crafts. Learn to wash clothes on a washboard, sit in a canoe with the fur traders, and listen to Native stories in the cedar plankhouse.
Our friend Deitrich Peters and his family members (from Grand Ronde) will be there to talk with you about Native culture today and show some items of regalia, play flute and do some Native storytelling. He may even bring a tipi to set up near the plankhouse, weather permitting.
Admission: FREEBring some cash to buy food, raffle tickets or handmade historical items. Bring your own water bottle as there is no drinking fountain on site.
Bring clean returnable bottles and cans to donate to CASA of Lane County.
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Download the event flyer (PDF)

Our presenters/activities include:

Lane County History MuseumMuseum of Natural and Cultural HistoryKaren Haas Storytelling and SongsBlack history posters from Oregon Black PioneersPioneer Cabin and washing clothes on a washboardGrinding grains

Native American Culture- flute, drum, storiesCanoe ride (on land- get your photo taken)Pet a dwarf goatCovered Wagon- Historical demosSpinning wheel and weaving demosand more!

This is a drug and alcohol free event. Please do not bring dogs or other pets. The festival area in on a gravel path and most activities will be outside, please dress for the weather.
Directions: 205 Dorris St. Springfield, OR (see google maps to get to Dorris Ranch)
VENDORS and Handicapped Parking: When you pull into the driveway, turn left and go to the upper parking lot. Vendors will be asked to move their cars to the bottom lot after unloading.
ATTENDEES Parking:Pull into the driveway and either go straight toward the Tomseth House for parking or go right and park near the barn. Follow the gravel path next to the Tomseth house up a short ways, then you will see the village entrance.
To inquire about being a part of the festival or for more information please contact Karen Rainsong: director@singingcreekcenter.org, 541 968-1986.
PRESS: Download the June 20th press release
Download the flyer here.

BRING YOUR BOTTLES AND CANSPlease bring your clean, dry, empty returnable (10 cents) cans and bottles for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. We want to help them raise money for the important work they do in our community.

Thank you to our generous festival sponsors!

At the festival: Meet urban goatherd Angela Petty and her two Nigerian Dwarf goats, Oak and Orion! Oak and Orion are male “wethers,” so they don’t produce milk. Instead, they are small-scale urban land stewards! They graze and browse in neighborhood backyards, alleys, and green spaces. Along with prescribed burning, herbivores can support natural ecosystems by eating blackberries and other invasive-species, removing fuel loads, sequestering carbon, providing disturbance, and fertilizing. Oak and Orion also enjoy engaging with human friends through events, school visits, and public grazing.

History Pub 2026: The Applegates and the Kalapuyans
2026-06-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Saginaw Vineyard, 80247 Delight Valley School Rd., Saginaw, OR, 97424
Join us for an informative and interesting talk by Karen Rainsong, the Executive Director of Singing Creek Educational Center. Karen researched the Applegates and their connections to the Yoncalla Valley Kalapuyans and put together this fascinating powerpoint.
Join us for a raffle drawing for prize money, trivia and a good time learning about local Oregon history at a great winery!
June 24th, 6pm at Saginaw Vineyards

Forest Path Summer Camp June 2026
2026-06-29 09:00 - 2026-07-03 15:00 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Join us for summer camp the week of June 29 – July 3 for a fun outdoor adventure camp!
Perfect for ages 6 – 10, this camp will get you exploring the woods around the Living History Village (our location) at Dorris Ranch! Learn about plants, animals, seasonal changes, edible foods and medicines, indigenous traditional knowlegde and more. We’ll play games every day and enjoy the historical buildings in the village like the pioneer cabin, the cedar plankhouse and more.
BONUS: Join staff from Nearby Nature on an insect safari! Use bug nets and magnifiers to look for cool creepy crawlies in the tall grass and soil nearby.
Time: 9am – 3pmMonday – FridayPre-registration required. $40 deposit required to hold your child’s spot.More info and registration: https://www.singingcreekcenter.org/summer-camps/
Cost$250 per student, siblings $220 each
Refunds/Cancellation fee: There is a $40.00 cancellation fee per registration. Up to 14 days before the first day of the program you may cancel your child’s enrollment and receive your money back (minus the $40 cancellation fee). Cancellations made less than 14 days before the first day of the program will not be refunded. Registrations and fees are non-transferable.
All genders and abilities are welcome at this camp. We are happy to talk with you about any accommodations your child may need. We will be on different surfaces including gravel, grass and pavement and might be walking all the way to the river if all are able. There are many wonderful paths in Dorris Ranch and it is a public park so you can explore there anytime it’s open.
Please let us know if you have questions. Email Karen Rainsong at: director@singingcreekcenter.org.

Earth Ways Summer Camp July 13 2026
2026-07-13 09:00 - 2026-07-17 15:00 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Monday – Friday, 9am to 3pm
Learn about indigenous ways of the Kalapuya and other Native tribes in this outdoor camp at the Dorris Ranch Living History Village. This day camp includes special guest Native people who will share about culture, traditional crafts, and music. Help put up a full size tipi and learn about the meaning of the poles and traditional symbols. Learn some words in the Kalapuya language, make a leather pouch, learn about Pacific Northwest art forms and hear traditional stories. This camp is best for ages 7 – 11 and has a max of ten students.
Our location includes historic buildings and regular bathrooms on a 268 acre wooded park near the Coast Fork of the Willamette River. We will go on nature walks and explore the indigenous-style cedar plankhouse. Students will try out the atlatl (spear throwing tool) and play games of sport. We may go down to a shallow, mellow place by the river if the kids are all able to walk there. We will look for creatures and learn about local plants and trees. We treat all beings with respect and release back all creatures we find. Water shoes and tennies are most appropriate for this camp.
Location: Dorris Ranch Living History Village: 205 Dorris St. Springfield, OR
Hold your child’s spot in this camp for only $40.
More details and registration form here:https://www.singingcreekcenter.org/summer-camps/

Our friend and partner, Deitrich Peters, is a member of the Grand Ronde tribe and loves teaching about his culture. He is a kind and compassionate person and gently teaches about living cultures today and traditional ways. Learn more about Deitz on our Acorn Circle page here.

Pioneer Homesteading Summer Camp 2026
2026-07-20 09:00 - 2026-07-24 15:00 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Pioneer Homesteading Summer Camp July 2026
Monday – Friday; July 20 – 249am to 3pm
Each camp will feature crafts, games, stories, outside exploration, walking field trips, cooking, and more! Wash clothes on the washboard, learn felting and sewing techniques, grind grain, make shadow puppets, and help on the farm! Enjoy visits from special guests who will teach us, trade with us, or share stories, such as the medicine healer who will bring her doctoring kit (circa 1850) to share with us about healing of the time. We’ll play games every day and enjoy the historical buildings in the village like the pioneer cabin, the cedar plankhouse and more. Read about the values children learn in our summer camps.
Children aged 6-10 are welcome. Eleven year olds may also register if they are really into the theme and motivated- they may be asked to help out a bit with the younger ones. Children bring their own lunches and water bottle each day.
Cost: $250 per weekSiblings in the same camp: $200 each per week.Hold your child’s spot for only $40 deposit.
Scholarships for low income families are available, see the form below. Camps are limited to 10 children.
Location: Living History Village at Dorris Ranch, Springfield205 Dorris Street, Springfield, OR
All genders and abilities are welcome at this camp. We are happy to talk with you about any accommodations your child may need. We will be on different surfaces including gravel, grass and pavement and will not likely be walking all the way to the river. There are many wonderful paths in Dorris Ranch and it is a public park so you can explore there anytime it’s open.
Please let us know if you have questions. Email Karen Rainsong at: director@singingcreekcenter.org. If there is enough interest we may add a second week of this camp.
Learn more and signup on this page: https://www.singingcreekcenter.org/summer-camps/

Pints for a Cause @ Plank Town Brewing
2026-07-28 11:30 - 21:00 | Plank Town Brewing Co, 346 Main St., Springfield, OR, 97477, United States
Join us at Plank Town Brewing Company in downtown Springfield to celebrate Singing Creek Educational Center! A portion of the proceeds of beer sales all day goes to support our living history programs for kids. Tuesday, July 28th, 2026. Address: 346 Main St., Springfield, OR | Open 11:30am – 9pm | See their website at: https://www.planktownbrewing.com/ We will be there from 6-8 pm on July 28th.

Opal Whiteley Nature Fairies Summer Camp 2026
2026-08-03 09:00 - 2026-08-07 15:00 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Learn about the famous pioneer girl, Opal Whiteley, as you explore nature! Opal was a nature lover who kept a childhood diary relating her adventures in the woods around Cottage Grove in 1905, including her “explores” with her animal friends. We will make fairy houses, create a journal and write and sketch in nature, play games outside, and discover homesteading life.
Enjoy visits from special guests who teach us about fiber arts and how to take care of the Earth and reduce our waste. Opal would appreciate our lessons on how to be kind to all beings and the Earth.
We’ll have lots of fun as we learn to appreciate Opal’s youthful relationship to the natural world. You can wear your own dress up clothes or borrow some of ours. All genders/gender expressions are welcome to sign up for this camp (and all our programs!)
Ages 6 – 10, ten kids max for this campHold your child’s spot in this camp for a $40 deposit.
Location: Dorris Ranch living history village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR
Learn more and register here.

Lewis & Clark: Explorers Summer Camp 2026
2026-08-10 09:00 - 2026-08-14 15:00 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Join us for some fun adventures during our Lewis & Clark: Explorers summer camp August 10 – 14, 2026.
This day camp will feature lots of outside time, learning about the Lewis & Clark Corp of Discovery, creating crafts, exploring, learning about the native peoples they encountered along the way and more. We may have special guests come to camp to share special skills with us. Try your hand at the bow and arrow, hear
Do a trading activity, make your own journal with leather, write a letter to Thomas Jefferson with a quill pen and more. We will share perspectives of Native people whose lives and homelands were impacted by this journey as well as about living Native cultures today. We present this perspective in a respectful, culturally-sensitive way.
Our Executive Director, Karen Rainsong, has developed this curriculum after years of professional development in the area and working with local tribes to understand patterns of inequities and resilience. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions at: director@singingcreekcenter.org.
Monday – Friday, 9am to 3pmLocation: Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St. Springfield, OR
Hold your child’s spot in this camp for a $40 deposit.
Learn more and register at: https://www.singingcreekcenter.org/summer-camps/

Grandparent's Tea at the SMJ House 2026
2026-09-13 13:00 - 15:00 | SMJ House, 303 Willamette St., Eugene,, OR, 97401, United States
Honor your Grandparent or Grandfriend!
Enjoy a lovely sit down formal tea with your grandparent or grandfriend with Singing Creek Educational Center!
This family oriented tea will be at the historic Shelton McMurphey Johnson house, a Victorian mansion in Eugene. The event will feature two different flights of tea and treats, and live Celtic harp music. Each senior aged 60 and up will be invited to select a handmade gift from our gift table. Each attendee can take a paper heart and write the names of their beloved grandparents and “grandfriends” to string up around the room. In this way all our loved ones can be with us at the tea, whether they are still alive or not. It’s a great way to include relatives that live out of town! Feel free to dress up in historic dress (a fancy hat?) as our servers will also be in historic dress.
Pre-registration required; seating is limited.
One hundred percent of the ticket price supports our non-profit and helps us continue our fun history-based programs for kids and families in Oregon.
Previous tea events have been located at the Camas Country Mill Schoolhouse in Junction City and the Dr. Snapp House in Cottage Grove. We are excited to bring you a tea party in the SMJ House (they are wonderful partners of SCEC!)
Celebrate National Grandparent’s Day on Sunday September 13th!
Date: Sunday, September 13th 2026Time: 1pm- 3pmCost:$36 per adult (age 13 and up)$26 for children (ages 12 and under)
Address of SMJ House: 303 Willamette St. Eugene OR
For questions please contact: director@singingcreekcenter.org, 541 968-1986There are no refunds on tickets after purchase. If you cannot make it, please gift your tickets to someone else. This is a charity fundraiser for SCEC.
Thank you to Mountain Rose Herbs, Market of Choice and Sundance Natural Foods for supporting this event!
SCROLL DOWN TO REGISTER

Thank you to the SMJ House for the use of the house for our fundraiser tea!

Registration coming soon!

Oaskhire Brewing fundraiser Fall 2026
2026-09-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Oakshire Brewing, 207 Madison St., Eugene, United States
Join us at Oakshire Brewing in Eugene to celebrate Singing Creek Educational Center! A portion of the proceeds of beer sales all day goes to support our living history programs for kids.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 5pm
Address: 207 MADISON ST, EUGENE, OROpen 11am to 10pm
See their website at: https://oakbrew.com/
We will be there with information on a table for you to look at. Let’s raise a glass to SCEC!
