TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TO LOVE THE OUTDOORS

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Warren Bates. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Warren Bates is only 16, but volunteerism has been his lifelong passion. Currently a junior in high school, Warren started volunteering alongside his brother at a retirement facility back in junior high. A light inside him turned on, and Warren realized his passion for service. When he got older, he joined the National League of Young Men, which required annual community service hours. Warren parlayed that into a role as an assistant counselor with the Friends of Tryon Creek in the summer of 2023, and he soon became a full counselor.

An organization that works to preserve the forested canyon that borders Lake Oswego and Portland, the group also hosts summer camps in its stunning forest landscapes. Warren jumped aboard, helping educate and inspire youth campers to appreciate nature and learn to feel safe in the forest. In the past 15 months, he has volunteered over 500 hours with this initiative, teaching important leadership skills and creating the next generation of people who will keep the forest thriving.

Outside of the summer season, Warren dedicates himself to Tryon Creek in another unique way. Recent bills passed by Oregon lawmakers affected one of the culverts in the Willamette River, which subsequently created issues in Tryon Creek. Warren works to preserve the area by removing overgrown plants and keeping the area functioning properly. He’s even interested in pursuing restoration in the future as a hobby.

While Warren already has 500 volunteer hours under his belt, he’s not slowing down. Looking forward, his goal is to complete 600 volunteer service hours at Tryon Creek before June 2026. Whether he’s leading a group of campers on a hike or clearing away ivy that has blocked a walking path, Warren’s dedication to the natural beauty of Tryon Creek is an inspiration to us all.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

My main motive was joining an organization called the National League of Young Men. It’s a nationwide organization, but here specifically, it’s the Lake Oswego Chapter. You have to commit at least 10 hours of volunteering each year in order to stay in the organization, but I just decided to take that opportunity to a much higher level.

Tell us about your volunteer role with the Friends of Tryon Creek.

There’s a group of about 13 of us camp counselors. Our responsibilities include creating a schedule for a whole five days. We have to figure out and determine which kind of activities our group would like to participate in. For example, last summer, I had a few groups that were ages 7 through 9. I thought that they would really enjoy going on pretty short hikes, as well as allowing them to do a few coloring books that include drawings of nature and education-based nature books. We also had them learn about Tryon Creek itself.

I also do volunteer work outside of the summer. Our Oregon law recently passed a bill on one of the culverts in the Willamette River, which caused environmental issues all across habitats and other natural state areas, but specifically Tryon Creek. Restoration includes dealing with that culvert and making sure we can do everything we can to help. Another thing is cutting down trees and replacing them, because there are some that are getting overgrown and getting on the walking paths. There’s also restoring dead plants and removing bad bacteria.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

My main goal was just to feel pride in myself, knowing that I can make a change in people’s lives, including retirees or younger children, or whichever audience I can reach. If I can even reach a bigger audience when I get older and join a bigger organization, that would be wonderful. That is definitely a huge goal of mine with volunteering.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

I’ve got to say it’s definitely the gratification that comes from everybody who notices how young I am. I feel pride in that. Also, just seeing the number of hours that I’ve collected over the years. There’s a prestige in showing people that I really do truly care for volunteering and it’s something that I’m willing to do, regardless of whether or not it’s a paid position or not.

How do you balance volunteering with your high school career?

The reason why I mostly do my hours in summer is that I don’t have school, which allows me to make the biggest difference. But during the year, I really just try to section it out month by month. Sometimes I only do it once a weekend over the course of a month, or sometimes twice, depending on how busy my class schedule is. That’s kind of been my mindset ever since middle school. I’ve really just never decided to procrastinate, and I guess that’s a good habit of mine. You should definitely just try and find like two hours on a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning to just go after it and take a break from school, work or athletics.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

One extra person goes a really long way. That was especially proven to me, actually, in my own community here at Lake Oswego. There is an organization that I worked with for a very short period of time, so it wasn’t very consistent. I was able to help, even just on my own. If you’re trying to get into something and you’re trying to help an organization out, you should definitely go for it, because you should never have the excuse that you’re only one person and think that not going to make that big of a deal. It actually is, especially if you really care for what you’re trying to do and actually put your effort and hard work into it.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

I’d say a good way to start is just by trying to put yourself out there. You’re not harming yourself and you’re not harming anybody else if you’re willing and truly passionate about volunteering for a specific cause. Just do it. I will definitely guarantee that there are options and opportunities for you.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

Being 16 years old or being young doesn’t determine whether or not you can start taking action. Like I said, I started in seventh grade when I was 12 or 13. Even if you’re 10 years old, don’t ever doubt yourself in anything you’re trying to do. Regardless of your age or your mindset, there’s always something that is possible and obtainable if you put your mind to it.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Warren? Find local volunteer opportunities.