WHO: Restore Oregon and Upward Bound Camp, will jointly announce the historic Gates School, located in the Santiam Canyon, as one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places. As one of a handful of remaining historic places in the Santiam Canyon, Gates School was at risk well before the devastating wildfires of 2020. The school sustained significant fire damage during the Beachie Creek fire, solidifying it as one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places.

WHAT: Local media will have the opportunity to tour the historic Gates School, take photos, shoot b-roll footage, and interview school leadership. Upward Bound Camp (UBC) leadership, the local non-profit owner of Gates School, and Restore Oregon staff will be on-site as well to answer questions related to the recovery efforts and historic preservation challenges facing this Most Endangered Place.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 10:30am - 11:30am

WHERE: 40151 Gates School Rd., Gates, OR 97346

WHY: As a rare historic place—even more so since the overwhelming loss of historic places in the Santiam Canyon thanks to 2020 wildfires—Gates School serves as a case study for resources threatened by climate change and is an inspiring example of grassroots preservation in rural and underserved communities.

The announcement brings attention to rural resources in fire-damaged Oregon and highlights the ongoing need to recover and focus attention on issues surrounding historic preservation and disaster planning and resilience. As part of the announcement, UBC is kicking off a public-facing fundraising campaign to raise money needed to restore the irreplaceable Gates School for reuse as both a community space and the center of the Upward Bound camp experience.

Photos of Gates School can be accessed here.

RSVP: Please contact Jeannette Shupp at (503) 381-1288 or jeannette@restoreoregon.org to confirm if you are able to attend.

About Upward Bound Camp (UBC):
Since 1978 UBC has provided recreational and educational camp experiences for persons with disabilities, twelve years of age and over in an environment that presents opportunities for growth outside the individual’s usual routine or
habitat. UBC works to establish a diverse community of campers, staff and volunteers, intentionally building a strong and inclusive community, promoting respect and understanding of all who participate. UBC staff and board members actively cultivate relationships with business and community members in the Santiam Canyon and beyond in a sincere and conscious effort to expand the understanding of community, acceptance and inclusion, enriching the lives of all participants.

About Restore Oregon: Restore Oregon, Oregon’s only statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization was founded in 1977. Our mission is to preserve, reuse and pass forward the historic places and spaces that reflect Oregon’s diverse cultural heritage and make our communities inclusive, vibrant, liveable and sustainable. www.restoreoregon.org