Sierra Service Project (SSP) is excited to return to Chiloquin for our 10th summer of service! Many of you know the Chiloquin community from our work most recently in 2019. SSP has hosted over 2,500 volunteers in this community since 2004! They have completed 138 home repair and community projects, including 10 ramps, 29 stairs, and 36 homes painted.
Members from the Klamath Tribes primarily live in the small town of Chiloquin, 30 miles north of the city of Klamath Falls. The Klamath Tribes include Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin. Our services are open to the entire community.
We encourage all volunteers to watch the short 22-minute film ‘Killing the Klamath,‘ which addresses the Klamath Tribes’ fight to save the sacred C’waam and Koptu fish and a dying lake.
2024 Dates
- Week 1: No volunteers (prep week for staff)
- Week 2: starting June 30
- Week 3: starting July 7
- Week 4: starting July 14
- Week 5: starting July 21
- Week 6: starting July 28
2024 Summer Participant Fees
- $635 per person
- Plus flat sign-up fee of $75 for 1-5 people, or $200 for 6+ people
Chiloquin Middle & High School Students: Volunteer With Us!
There are many ways local youth can connect with SSP this summer for volunteer opportunities:
- Community Clean-Up July 19 (free): Join SSP volunteers for a community-wide clean-up on Friday, July 19. We’ll start and end at the Chiloquin Community Center, with free pizza for volunteers at the end! Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Sign up by July 12.
- Adventure Wednesdays in July (free): Volunteer at Collier Memorial State Park in the morning, followed by swimming and games in the afternoon, and BBQ dinner in the evening. Sign up one week in advance.
- Weeks of Service, June 30 – August 3 (full scholarships available): Volunteer for a week (including staying at Chiloquin High School), or just come during the day. All meals are provided Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast. Days are spent working on a team of six youth and two adults, completing a home repair or community project. Evenings include meeting youth from other places, team-building activities, and reflection. Email us with any questions. There are only eight full scholarships left! Sign up by July 1. The open weeks are:
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- June 30 – July 5 (Sunday – Friday)
- July 7-13 (Sunday – Saturday, 2 local youth are already signed up!)
- July 21-26 (Sunday – Friday, 1 local youth is already signed up!)
About the Community
What are the prevailing needs in Chiloquin?
- We work with rural residents in and around the small town of Chiloquin, including some members of the Klamath Tribes
- Weatherization for harsh winters (average snowfall of 62 inches per year), including roof repairs, installing awnings, and building sheds to keep wood dry
- Accessibility repair projects for older residents, including decks, stairs, and ramps
- The only mill in Chiloquin closed some years ago, causing widespread unemployment in the area. There is no major industry at the present time.
What does Chiloquin and its surrounding areas have to offer?
- Opportunities to engage in fire resilience work at Collier Memorial State Park with the Oregon State Parks, where we also relax for Water Day
- Close to sightseeing at Crater Lake National Park and Klamath Falls, OR
- The Chiloquin United Methodist Church was transformed in 2020 to serve a new purpose, which allows this facility to be used to its full capacity. It is now The Stronghold: A Culturally Responsive Peer Support Program, which offers culturally relevant healing practices and transitional living spaces, partnering with the Great Spirit Native American Fellowship United Methodist Church.
Who is a good fit to volunteer at this location?
- Anyone is welcome!
- Volunteers interested in climate impact, Indigenous communities, and rural life
Service Work in Chiloquin
For the most part, we repair homes in the communities we serve. The type of work includes roofing, building ramps and porches, painting and other general home repairs. No construction experience is needed, and you’ll be amazed at all of the work that your youth teams complete!
Occasionally, our teams work on churches, community buildings, and schools in the communities that host us. In addition, we will sometimes participate in other types of community service activities like community gardens when there is a need and the work is appropriate for youth work teams.
Most projects take longer to complete than your week at SSP so you may see the beginning, middle or end of a project.
In 2019, volunteers completed 13 projects for homeowners and community organizations:
- 1 deck
- 1 painting project
- 1 shed
- 2 fences
- 2 ramps
- 6 stair projects
Learn About Chiloquin
To learn more about the Chiloquin community, download the detailed SSP Chiloquin Study Guide and Understanding Reservations Guide. We suggest that you download the study guide, share with your group and discuss the materials during a planning meeting.
Follow local news: Klamath Falls Herald and News
- July 30, 2015: Looking through the lens of hope: Volunteers help build, touch up Chiloquin
- July 11, 2014: Youth volunteers working under the Sierra Service Project
- August 9, 2013: Sierra Service Project helps the community of Chiloquin
Resources
- Klamath Tribes
- Chiloquin.com
- Read stories about Chiloquin from the SSP community
Location Details
Climate
The average high during the summer is 85°F and low is 40°F. The elevation in Chiloquin is 4,200 feet. See SSP’s downloads page for packing lists.
Staff Contact Info
Site Director: Kate Grobey: Kate.Grobey@SierraServiceProject.org
Site Email: Chiloquin@SierraServiceProject.org
Site Phone: 541-930-8848
Mailing Address: USPS only (FedEx & UPS cannot be sent to General Delivery)
c/o Sierra Service Project
First & Last Name
General Delivery
Chiloquin, OR 97624
Physical Address: Note the physical address cannot accept any mail/packages
Chiloquin High School
300 E Elm St, Chiloquin, OR 97624
Housing & Directions
Chiloquin High School, 300 E Elm St, Chiloquin, OR 97624
Use a navigation system to guide you to our host facility.
