Walk the Wildwood

Everything You Need to Know

Complete your Registration

Important Dates

About the Event

Three Different Walks

Charitable Goals for 2026

Other Ways to Give

Last Year’s Photo Gallery

This is the 20th anniversary of the Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School (KSVS), and the 5th anniversary of the Walk the Wildwood Event. All charitable proceeds go to the needs of the school.

Important Dates and Registration

Walk the Wildwood at Forest Park: August 8th

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN – Click here to register.

TEE SHIRTS AVAILABLE – May 17th – June 30th

Registration closes: July 31st

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About the Event

It’s a Celebration!

This year we honor the 20th anniversary of the founding of Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School (KSVS) to which all proceeds will go to support. Through your efforts and generosity we raise funds for students and teachers, recruiting sponsors for new students, and collecting gently worn sneakers for reuse through a program with Got Sneakers.

You can register for one of three walks through Hoyt Arboretum and Washington Park, followed by a catered lunch. Learn about the three walks:

1 mile route – 3.5 mile route – 7 mile route

This year, for the first time, you can choose to have your walk sponsored by friends and family for Kamwenge’s school using Givebutter, a peer-to-peer funding platform piloted last year.

1 Mile Route

Meet at Stevens Pavilion and check in!

Check-In Time: 11am – Register Here

For those with strollers or those just wanting a more leisurely walk before lunch.
About 1 mile, not entirely flat, but we will keep to trails that don’t require much uphill & downhill, approximately 30 minutes.
We will follow trails through the wedding meadow and out to the Redwood Deck. The Redwood Deck is a highlight of the Hoyt Arboretum, where one is surrounded by giant redwood trees.

3.5 Mile Route

Meet at Stevens Pavilion and check in!

Check-In Time: 9:30am – Register Here

A great tour of the Vietnam Memorial, the Hoyt Arboretum and sections of Washington Park. Plus, you don’t have to get up too early to join this walk! It’s about 3.5 miles and has about a 300 ft elevation gain, this walk will take approximately 1.5 hours.
This is a loop hike starting and ending at Stevens Pavilion where we will have our lunch after the hike. We begin with a short climb to a wonderful viewpoint of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood, then downhill through the Vietnam Memorial, and over to and past the archery range. We will return to the Arboretum via the Wildwood trail which offers an overlook view of the Japanese Garden as it meanders through close-by residential areas. We re-enter the Arboretum at the Redwood Deck where we are surrounded by giant redwood trees and then follow trails back to the Stevens pavilion passing western cedars and massive Douglas firs.

7 Mile Route

Meet at Stevens Pavilion and check in!

Check-In Time: 7:30am – Register Here

The best views and a great workout on a Saturday morning! This walk is about 7.0 miles and, with the climb up to Pittock Mansion, has a total elevation gain of about 1000 ft. Our pace will work for all who choose this great Saturday workout, and this walk will take us between 3.5 and 4 hours.
We begin with the same loop hike as the 3.5 mile route and return to Stevens Pavilion for water and a short break, then we start out on the White Pine trail to rejoin the Wildwood. We follow the Wildwood over the Burnside elevated pedestrian bridge and then to the Pittock Mansion where we are rewarded with an outstanding view of Portland and Mts. St. Helens and Hood. We then return to the Stevens Pavilion via the Wildwood, the Redwood Deck and the Wedding Meadow.

Charitable Goals for 2026

Here are our goals for 2026 – let’s move these bars!!

Participants Walking: 100 – 28 have registered.

Fundraising: $15,000 – $1,880.00 has been collected.

Student Sponsors: 10 – there are 2 new student sponsors.

Gently Worn Sneakers: 500 – we have received 12 pairs of sneakers.

If you are a donor and live in Portland, or are visiting the Portland area, it would be wonderful to have you join us in person this year!

Other ways you can help KSVS

Donate Money – Any amount is appreciated, and you can make your donation ONLINE.

Sponsor a Student – With a monthly payment of $40 per month, become a student champion. It pays for a child’s tuition which in turn funds teachers and daily operations.
Find out more at PARTNERS IN MISSION.

Sneakers Needed – This adds to our fundraising efforts and keep them out of the landfill. Used sneakers can be dropped off in Geneva Hall at First Presbyterian church from May 17th through August 16th . They can also be brought to the event on Aug 8th. To learn more about this program, follow this link: GOT SNEAKERS.

Givebutter – This peer-to-peer fundraising platform helps us increase our fundraising efforts significantly. You create your own team member page, which takes only a few minutes, and then socialize it to your friends and family for donations. To learn more about becoming a team member , just click here: SPONSOR MY WALK.

Keep the Momentum Going

Over the first four years your participation with Walk The Wildwood has raised over $50,000 for new workshops and two new dormitories for the vocation school. Please continue to help in any way you can.

THANK YOU!!