Get us to the finish line! Help complete the new Education Pavilion.
Friends of Tryon Creek is in the final phase of revitalizing the Glenn Jackson Shelter into a new Education Pavilion - featuring enclosed modern classrooms and a community gathering space overlooking the forest at Tryon Creek State Natural Area.
Now is your chance to bring the project across the finish line – double your donation during our matching challenge.
An established leader of environmental education in the Portland metropolitan area, Friends of Tryon Creek fulfills the crucial responsibility to build future environmental leaders. A new education pavilion will better serve youth on-site at Tryon Creek State Natural Area and together build a sustainable future.
WHY?
Our organizational vision and ongoing community support are guided by these core principles: legacy, education, sustainability, and honor. Each principle is integrated into this modern and culturally grounded learning and gathering space.
HOW?
LEGACY
Continue the legacy of learning at Tryon Creek, now and for future generations.
EDUCATION
Triple our education space and the number of youth served.
SUSTAINABLITY
Locally sourced, sustainable materials reflect our environmental values and the forest.
HONOR
Honor the original stewards of the forest through design inspiration and permanent carvings from Indigenous artists.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thank you, donors who raised almost $2 million in gifts so far. With continued community support the new Education Pavilion will open in the summer of 2025.
Now until June 16th we have a $25,000 matching gift challenge to help us secure the final 20% of funding needed. Doubling your impact thanks to a generous donation from park neighbor, long-time Friends of Tryon Creek donor, and current board member Ann Barr-Gillespie and her family.
Now is your chance to bring the project across the finish line – double your donation during our matching challenge.
Put your name or a love one’s in a special place at Tryon. With gifts above $2,500, names will appear on a sculptural metal panel of Tryon Creek and its native fish.
Donation levels + recognition options:
$2,500+ will be listed on the panel
$10,000+ on an individual Cutthroat Trout
$25,000+ on an individual Steelhead Trout
$50,000+ on an individual Pacific Lamprey
$100,000+ on an individual Chinook Salmon
Consider giving through a retirement account or advised fund or donating stocks or securities. Questions? Contact Executive Director, Gabe Sheoships at gabe@tryonfriends.org or 503-636-4398 extension 108.
PROJECT VISION & PROGRESS
Project partners and artists
Here is the de-construction team at work at Tryon during the winter of 2024, along with four people who are crucial to the project’s success!
Contractor and project manager from InterWorks LLC, architect from Baysinger Partners Architecture, and Richard Woodling of Veritas Design Group who designed the Pavilion.
Four renowned local Indigenous artists: Shirod Younker (Coquille Indian Tribe), Gregory Archuleta (Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde), and Greg Robinson (Chinook Nation) will create original carved pieces. Pictured above is a closeup of Greg Robinson’s cedar carving. Artist Earl Davis (Shoalwater Bay) will create the unique metal recognition pieces similar to the fish pictured in the section above.
See a photo timeline of accomplishments to date…
Spring 2025 - Board & Partners Tour group shot
Spring 2025 - Classroom space
Spring 2025 - Board tour inside
Spring 2025 - View from entrance
Spring 2025 - Board Tour
Winter 2025 - Staff & Design Team tour
Winter 2025 - Staff & Design Team tour
Winter 2025 - Covered just in time for the snow.
Winter 2025 - Building is really taking shape with subfloor construction.
Fall 2024 - Reused wood from original 1975 shelter added to new foundations and cedar poles.
Fall 2024 - Reused wood from original 1975 shelter added to new foundations and cedar poles.
Fall 2024 Framing begins.
Fall 2024 Cedar lodge poles key to structural and cultural design.
Fall 2024 Western Red Cedar lodge poles
Fall 2024 Original 1970's shelter wood repurposed
Fall 2024 New kinds of traffic in the Equestrian parking lot. Thanks for your patience!
Fall 2024 Site tour group photo
Fall 2024 Donor and Public site tour
Fall 2024 Site tour Architect presentation
Fall 2024 Understructure storage area complete.
Summer 2024 Foundational concrete footings.
Summer 2024 excavation phase is complete!
Summer 2024 Excavation for the new foundation begins.
Summer 2024 progress update from artist, Greg A. Robinson (Chinook Indian Nation) on his Carved Panel to be installed in the education pavilion.
Spring 2024 Deconstruction crew assess lumber reuse options from original structure.
Spring 2024 design plans are altered to increase safety and include structural steel footings.
Spring 2024 Update from artist Shirod Younker (Coquille Indian Tribe), on his large carving to be installed in the education pavilion.
Winter 2024 Deconstruction phase complete,!
Winter 2024 Deconstruction continues, original materials are stored onsite for reuse.
Winter 2024 Deconstruction begins.
Winter 2024 De-construction Contractors, Design and Architect team.
Winter 2024 Deconstruction begins, fencing and mulch preparation for vehicle access.
Winter 2024 Native plants are salvaged for replanting post project.
Fall 2023 Partners view newly unveiled project signage.
Fall 2023 Park Ranger supervisor and Friends Staff unveiled new signage.
Fall 2023 Friends Executive Director, Gabe Sheoships welcomes the audience.
Fall 2023 Friends board, staff, donors and partners gather at Groundbreaking event.
Summer 2023 Architect’s rendering Pavilion interior classroom space an public hallway.
Summer 2023 Architect’s rendering Pavilion entrance.
Summer 2023 Architect’s rendering Pavilion deck overlooking the Tryon Forest
Original Jackson Shelter, build in 1970s.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, this is the gazebo-style structure to the North of the main Nature Center. It was originally built in 1975 and has not been updated since.
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It will be 1,960 square feet, approximately double the square footage of the original Jackson Shelter. The renovated building will cantilever out to the sides from the original foundation, adding more usable space without increasing the impact on the forest.
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The two classrooms will host Friends of Tryon Creek education programs such as field trips and day camps, and will be available for community events, as well. This continues the long legacy at Tryon Creek
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Enclosing the Jackson Shelter to create year-round classroom space has been in State Parks' Comprehensive Long-Range Plan for Tryon Creek State Natural Area since 2013. Friends of Tryon Creek is raising funds for and project-managing this complete renovation. The building being renovated will continue to belong to Oregon State Parks as a public resource, just as it does today.
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The project ground breaking took place in fall of 2023, followed by deconstruction into the winter and spring of 2024, construction began in summer of 2024 and project completion is planned for summer 2025.
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To keep its footprint forest-friendly and cost-effective, this building does not have plumbing or bathrooms. Users will use the public bathrooms accessible outside the main Nature Center, along an accessible path.
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Equipment and materials will be staged in the Equestrian lot and main parking area which will temporarily reduce parking.
Once complete, the primary users of this building will be youth who will not be driving, let alone parking! Field trip students will be dropped off on buses, and day camp students will be dropped off by adults.
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Yes, this will be a public resource owned by Oregon State Parks. Because the classrooms will contain equipment and artwork, they will remain locked when not reserved and in use. The building's West deck will be accessible to the public through the hallway through the building between the two classrooms when unlocked during most park hours. Stay tuned for further details on public availability as we get closer to opening to the public.