How to Join or Participate in a Local NPSO Chapter

Updated

You can get involved with the Native Plant Society of Oregon (NPSO) at two levels: join the statewide organization, or simply show up to a local chapter's meetings, field trips, and workshops—which the site states are open to members and non-members alike. If your goal is to meet local plant enthusiasts and learn Oregon's flora, start with your nearest chapter's events; if you want to support the organization's work, join as a member.

Find your local chapter

NPSO is a statewide network of 11 chapters with over 1,000 members, founded in Portland in 1961. The chapters listed on the site are:

  • Cheahmill
  • Corvallis
  • Emerald
  • High Desert
  • Klamath Falls
  • Portland
  • Siskiyou
  • South Coast
  • Umpqua Valley
  • William Cusick
  • Willamette Valley

The site presents these on a chapter map: clicking a chapter on the map takes you to more information about that chapter. Use the map to identify the chapter covering your area, then check that chapter's page for its local meeting and trip details.

Attend an event before committing

You don't need to be a member to participate. The site says local chapters hold meetings, field trips, and workshops "for members and non-members," making native plant knowledge available to everyone, and adds "All are welcome!"

A partial list of upcoming events on the site shows the kinds of activities to expect:

Date Event
Nov 10, 9:30 am–2:00 pm Volunteer outreach: assist with native plant nursery tasks
Nov 12, 7:00 pm–8:30 pm Program: Conserving Water and Wildflowers in the Willamette Valley
Nov 16, 7:00 pm–9:00 pm Presentation: Wetland Restoration
Jun 4–6, 2027 NPSO Annual Meeting

The full schedule is on the Calendar page. Note that the listed dates carry no year except the Annual Meeting, so confirm current timing on the calendar before planning around a specific event.

Choose the activity that matches your interest

NPSO organizes its work around three areas, each with a corresponding way to participate:

  • Enjoyment — engage with other plant enthusiasts and explore Oregon's 3,600+ native plant species.
  • Conservation — join citizen science initiatives, learn to garden with native plants, and advocate for protection of species and ecosystems.
  • Study — learn about Oregon's flora at chapter meetings, see plants on guided field trips, and use the society's resources to build knowledge.

If you are a gardener, the site's "Gardening with Natives" initiative offers guidelines and supports tools for selecting species that meet your native-plant gardening goals.

Join the society

The site invites visitors to "join us," and membership connects you to the statewide network and its 11 chapters. Membership details, including how to sign up, are handled through the site's join link rather than spelled out on the page summarized here—follow that link for current terms.

Practical next steps

  1. Open the chapter map and click the chapter nearest you.
  2. Check that chapter's page and the statewide Calendar for upcoming meetings, field trips, and workshops.
  3. Attend an event as a non-member to see whether the chapter fits your interests.
  4. Join NPSO if you want to support its enjoyment, conservation, and study work statewide.