In September, Singing Creek Educational Center moved our base of operations to the Dorris Ranch Living History Village in Springfield, OR.
It is a homecoming for me, full of memories and excitement for the fresh start. Twenty years ago I ran the living history program at Dorris Ranch, including field trips, special events and more. At that time, there was no village; we were located in the historic barn that is still in use today.
I had a lot of fun back then creating the Lewis and Clark field trip, the fur company “trading post” inside an old pump house building, and various other educational programs. Ultimately, my vision was different than Willamalane’s and so I left there to start what would later become SCEC. And now they have “sunsetted” their living history program and asked us to take over. They have been very generous with the rent price and donating a lot of their history teaching supplies to us. We will be renting the space from March through October each year.
In September 2025, we began our stay there with a grand opening celebration, including the opening of a Living History Conference “Crossroads of Cultures”, through ALHFAM (Association of Living History, Farms and Agricultural Museums.) We invited Deitrich Peters to do a blessing of the space and land acknowledgment, and he burned sage and played the flute. Our speaker was Katherine K’iya Wilson, who is part Nez Perce, and she spoke about being a person of mixed descent and how that has affected her life.
As the conference attendees got a tour of the village, Deitz and his wife Kathy blessed the inside of the plankhouse with sage, drumming and prayers.
In Spring 2026 we will be teaching history field trips on the site, including Travel in Time and Lewis and Clark Explorers. We make sure to tell the story of history from multiple perspectives, highlighting BIPOC voices that are often left out of the narrative. Understanding that erasure of these voices and experiences continues today, we strive to dismantle systems of oppression inherent in the colonist point of view. It is also important to us to address healing and reparitions today. We do this by volunteering at indigenous-led events such as the Native American Cultural Encampments led by Deitrich Peters each year, and raising money for them through Native book sales. We make space in our Earth Ways summer camps for low-income tribal members to attend for a very reduced rate.
Dorris Ranch is a special place. And now that we have landed here, where my journey with living history began, I’m excited for the possibilities. We are looking at offering new outdoor nature programs, and expanding into programming for teens and adults. Partnering with other organizations is a big way that we do this, and hiring exceptional staff!
I’ve learned a lot about living history since I was here 20 years ago. I am more intentional and humble, learning to listen more deeply and adapt programming for neurodiverse and special needs audiences. Listening to and respecting the land, collaborating with others, making history memorable, and inspiring change and equity are all passions I bring to this part of the journey.
I hope that you get a chance to explore the trails, river, and filbert orchards at the historic Dorris Ranch.
Karen Rainsong
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Karen is the founding Executive Director of Singing Creek Educational Center, which has been a nonprofit since 2015. She began working on the proto-organization in 2007, called “Alvord Farm and Museum” in West Eugene. Learn more.
