Contact us:
Forward Stride
P.O. Box 19850
Portland, OR 97280
Tel: (503) 682-9022
Fax: (503) 682-9012
info@forwardstride.org

Dear Kris, I wanted to say thank you. I don't feel like that says enough for what I learned from my experience at Forward Stride but I will try to summarize how I grew in volunteering... The more I went to Forward Stride, the more I began to see the different backgrounds of the volunteers come out. Some were in school, others had jobs and were also going to school, still others had careers, and some were parents... And that's when it began to sink in for me. It's not the education you have or the career you have... you can have all those things but in the end they're just going to suffocate you if you don't give of yourself. I walked away with a greater appreciation for everything I took for granted on a daily basis. I feel kind of an acheyness when I think about how much more those children will experience in life thanks to Forward Stride and people like you who thrive on watching them grow and do things that many people would just assume...were impossible. Sincerely, Noah D.

We wouldn't exist if it were not for our volunteers. They are dedicated. They are remarkable. And, they directly affect the quality of so many people's lives. Our volunteers contribute over 1,500 hours on a monthly basis. They are thoroughly trained, bring varied talents and enjoy many different roles within our center.

To keep current on volunteer activities, deadlines and upcoming program events , please see our Program Announcements.

Do you like to work with kids? Are you crazy about horses? Do you enjoy the thrill of working on a special event? If so, come join our family of dedicated, fun loving people. It's not neccessary to have horse experience as we provide all the education you'll need in a two-hour volunteer training session.

We have opportunities for many different kinds of volunteerism from mother-daughter teams to group and corporate projects. Minimum age is 12. All volunteers over the age of 18 are subject to a background check. Your time would be greatly appreciated in one or more of several areas:

At the Barn:
Leading a horse during lessons
Sidewalking with a student during lessons
Stable management & horse care
Photography & video
Various building projects & grounds maintenance

At Special Events:
The Summer Games
Vaulting Competitions
The Cowgirl Ball

Administration:
Marketing
Fundraising
Newsletter production
Volunteer and student outreach
Strategic partnerships and alliances

Here's how:

STEP 1. Complete your volunteer registration. Please complete our online registration form by clicking here. After your registration is completed, you need to sign up for a mandatory training session outlined in step 2.

STEP 2. Attend the 2 hour volunteer training session: click here to register for a training session. We'll teach you all you need to know to get started!