singingcreekcenter.org

Old School: History Camp for Today's Kids 2026
2026-03-23 09:00 - 2026-03-25 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | SMJ House, 303 Willamette St., Eugene,, OR, 97401, United States
Join us for a fun three day adventure for kids ages 6 – 10 during Spring Break!
We will have fun learning about the history of Oregon and doing all kinds of activities, indoors and out, at the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House (Eugene’s Victorian mansion).
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9am to 2pmAges 6 – 10
Cost: $160 per student and $130 each for siblings.Reserve a spot for a nonrefundable $35 (deducted from your final tuition)Address: 303 Willamette St. (Go to Pearl and Third St and follow the signs)
Camp will be led by an instructor and a teen helper and will have a max of 10 students. We provide all the fun historical games and activities; you get to take home your creations each day. Try churning butter, Victorian flower painting, learning circle songs and music, weaving on a loom, embroidery and more! Camp stays on the site of the SMJ house each day. Open to kids of all gender expressions. We provide non-gendered dress up clothing for different sizes of bodies. You may bring your own lunch and water bottle; however if you are low-income and need help with food let us know and we will provide lunch and snacks.
We are happy to talk with you about any accommodations your child may need. The house does not have an elevator and has three floors. Most of the time we will be on the ground floor of the house but if everyone is able to walk up the stairs we may visit other floors.
This camp is jointly taught by Singing Creek Educational Center and the SMJ house.
Learn more and register: https://smjhouse.org/events/camps/

Forest Path Nature Spring Break Camp 2026
2026-03-23 09:00 - 2026-03-27 15:00 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
CANCELLED DUE TO ORCHARD SPRAYING CLOSURES ON SITE
Join us during Spring Break week March 23rd- 27th for a fun 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.
Time: 9am – 3pmMonday – FridayPre-registration required. $40 deposit required to hold your child’s spot.
CostEarly Bird by Feb 15th: $220 ea, $200 ea for siblingsAfter Feb 15th: $250 per student, siblings $220
Cancellation fee: Refund/ Cancellation Policy: 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.
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Indigenous Day: Learning for adults, teens and teachers
2026-04-13 13:00 - 15:00 | LCC Longhouse, 4000 East 30th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97405
Join us for an educational and cultural presentation with Deitrich Peters of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Nicole Butler of Bethel School District
Learn about Indigenous culture, including best practices for sharing about Native culture today, especially for those who are teachers or aspiring teachers. Deitrich (Deitz) will share a slideshow of the history of Grand Ronde, share elements of his regalia and play flute music, and answer questions. Together we will make a simple craft related to the four directions and the medicine wheel. Learn about the how local indigenous people are reclaiming culture and connection to the Earth. Hear from Nicole Butler, Bethel School District Equity Coordinator, about cultural appropriation and best practices for sharing about First Peoples in educational settings. SCEC Executive Director Karen Rainsong will display items of Kalapuya material culture.
Group rate available. For teen and adult audiences. Pre-registration required.

Location:Lane Community CollegeLonghouse BLD 314000 East 30th AvenueEugene, OR 97405
Date: Monday, April 13thTime: 1pm – 3:00pmCost: $25 per personTo register: email our director, Karen Rainsong at director@singingcreekcenter.org

Healing with the Land Workshop for Teens and Adults
2026-04-20 13:00 - 14:30 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Healing with the Land: Indigenous Worldviews for Nature Connection and Healing
Join us for an adventure at the living history village at Dorris Ranch as we turn our minds as one to open our senses to the gifts and wonder of deep nature connection. Using Indigenous and Land-based healing worldviews, you will be guided through a sensory awareness experience with medicinal plants to develop a new language of reciprocation and gratitude. Led by Ana Bradley, one of the original co-founders of Whole Earth Nature School, Ana brings passion and 20+ years of deep nature and attunement skills to her work with people and nature.
Cost: $15 per person or $120 for a group of ten or moreLocation: Dorris Ranch Living History Village at 205 Dorris St, Springfield, OR
Deadline to register is April 14th.
Monday, April 20th1pm – 2:30pmOr book this as a field trip with your students on another day.For teens and adults.

Ana Bradley is the co-founder of Whole Earth Nature School. She has dedicated her life to deepening her connection with the Earth through nature awareness and attunement, cultivating a deeper sense of self-awareness, and supporting others in awakening their natural awareness of the environment, the land, and themselves. Through experiential/psycho-education, nature-based therapeutic practices, and land-based lived experiences, Ana blends person-centered and trauma-informed care practices into her mentoring style. Ana has worked with people of all ages across the lifespan, from one-on-one mentoring to facilitating groups of varying sizes and multicultural backgrounds. Ana is a mother, Clinical Herbalist, musician, and will be receiving her Master’s in Counseling in May of 2026 to blend her skill sets into a nature and experiential-based licensed professional counselor.

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Forest Family Day: Native Plants and Cordage
2026-05-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR, 97477
Join us for a wild Spring plant adventure with clinical herbalist and amateur ethnobotanist, Ana Bradley. We will use our owl eyes and raccoon touch to identify, thank, and try a variety of plant friends in the Dorris Ranch wild areas. Meet, taste, and try lush spring plants such as Stinging Nettle (learn how to safely eat and to make cordage!), Plantain, and Licorice Fern. Together we will learn the life-saving skills of ethical harvesting and plant identification to meet our new plant friends for food, medicine, and tools!
Location: Dorris Ranch Living History Village, 205 Dorris St. Springfield, ORDate: May 9, 2026, 1pm – 2:30pmCost: $12 per personAges 8 years old and up, adults welcome.
Registration coming soon!

Ana Bradley is the co-founder of Whole Earth Nature School. She has dedicated her life to deepening her connection with the Earth through nature awareness and attunement, cultivating a deeper sense of self-awareness, and supporting others in awakening their natural awareness of the environment, the land, and themselves. Through experiential/psycho-education, nature-based therapeutic practices, and land-based lived experiences, Ana blends person-centered and trauma-informed care practices into her mentoring style. Ana has worked with people of all ages across the lifespan, from one-on-one mentoring to facilitating groups of varying sizes and multicultural backgrounds. Ana is a mother, Clinical Herbalist, musician, and will be receiving her Master’s in Counseling in May of 2026 to blend her skill sets into a nature and experiential-based licensed professional counselor.

Ghost Guest Program at Eugene Masonic Cemetery: Memorial Day
2026-05-24 10:00 - 2026-05-25 16:00 | Eugene Masonic Cemetery, University St & E 25th Ave., Eugene, OR, 97405
Join us at the Eugene Masonic Cemetery on Memorial Day (Sunday and Monday) and meet some ghosts from our town’s past.
Karen Rainsong will be portraying Mrs. Mary Skinner, the wife of Eugene Skinner, and other staff will be there dressed in period costume as other notable folks. Talk with us “in character” of the times and hear about our lives in early Eugene history.
More info to come soon!
May 24th and 25th
Address: University St & E 25th Ave, Eugene, OR 97405

Healing the Heart of the Mother: An Indigenous-led Ceremony
2026-05-24 13:00 - 15:00 | OR
Join us to help heal the heart of the Mother and our own hearts. Led by our Indigenous friends and featuring music, prayers and healing energy, this special ceremony will connect us to the sacred mother Earth and our own internal mother.
Sunday, May 24, 20261pm – 3pmCost: Sliding scale $25- $45If you are experiencing financial hardship, but would like to join us and lend your positive, healing energy, please email us and let us know if there is another way you can reciprocate. Perhaps help with set up or bring something that you made yourself as an offering to our guests.Pre-registration required, use the form below.Best for ages 13 and up.Led by: Deitrich Peters (Grand Ronde) and his wife Kathy Peters, and Katherine K’iya Wilson.
At Mandala Sanctuary in South Eugene on private property (Address provided after you register)

Deitrich Peters, photo by Brittany Lee Mason.

Join us for a wonderful indigenous-led ceremony to bless and heal the heart of the Mother Earth. Using allies such as cedar, camas and sage we will tap into the heart center and connect to the Earth, showing our respect and gratitude to all living beings. After clearing the space and setting our intentions, we will be guided by Deitrich Peters (Grand Ronde) and his wife Kathy, and Kathering “K’iya” Wilson. Listen to stories and flute music and bring a journal to record your thoughts and feelings as we connect to the sacred Mother. In this time of so much stress and disharmony, we will use our voices and hands for healing and tap into the camas flower’s beauty and promise of return. Take home some blessed camas seeds and a heart full of love.

Katherine Wilson, Deitrich Peters, and Kathy Keating-Peters in a ceremony in Blue River, OR. Photo by Brittany Lee Mason.

Karen Rainsong, Deitrich Peters, and Katherine Wilson at the ceremonial opening of a conference at the UO Longhouse. Karen wears items made for her by Deitz.

The Mandala Sanctuary is a beautiful space on private property. There is parking next to the building and there is only one small step to enter the building. Hot water for tea is available; please bring your own travel mug. Please no pets allowed or use of drugs/alcohol at this event.
This event is a fundraiser for Singing Creek Educational Center, a nonprofit providing culturally-responsive living history programming in Western Oregon.
See photos of the space below.

Healing the Heart of the Mother Ceremony Registration

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Trails of Time: An Oregon Living History Gathering
2026-06-20 09:30 - 16:00 | 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, listen to Native stories in the cedar plankhouse and try some fry bread.
Our good 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, and he will likely play flute a few times throughout the day. He may even bring a tipi to set up near the plankhouse, weather permitting.
Admission: FREEBut bring some cash to buy fry bread or other handmade historical items. Bring your own water bottle.
Time: 9:30am – 4pm
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.
To inquire about being a part of the festival or for more information please contact Karen Rainsong: director@singingcreekcenter.org, 541 968-1986.
NEW! Joining us this year are two dwarf goats; see below….

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.

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 17:00 - 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, 5pm 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 6 2026
2026-07-06 09:00 - 2026-07-10 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.

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

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/

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!
