The Next Door Inc.

19/08/2026

Camps have come to an end and we can hardly believe it! It feels like we just kicked things off, and now we’re already saying goodbye to another summer of adventure, friendship, and creativity. ☀

Libros con Amigos campers wrapped up their summer surrounded by friends and plenty of fun! Nature's Greatest Strength had to pivot from Ski Bowl due to smoke and the wildfire, instead spending their last day of camp at the Hood River Museum and swimming. The kids were excited to see an exhibit at the museum that features the quinceañera dress of one of our former LCA camp counselors! And the Summer Youth Employment crew spent their last day on the water paddle boarding and enjoying a team BBQ.

We're so grateful we get to do this each year! Thank you to all of the campers, families, staff, volunteers, and community partners who make our summer camp programming possible! 💙

11/08/2026

Teen students and their families are invited to join us for a free Back-to-School BBQ at The Next Door! Join us at our office in Hood River (965 Tucker Road) on Tuesday, August 25 or The Dalles (1113 Kelly Avenue) on Wednesday, August 26. Come by from 3-6pm to pick up free school supplies, enjoy delicious food, sip on refreshing Italian sodas, listen to music, connect with local community resources, and have some fun before the school year begins! ☀🌭🎒

08/08/2026

Thank you so much to our friends at The Ruins Events for hosting a benefit concert and raising more than $1,300 for our org!

A huge thank you to Lewi Longmire and The Left Coast Roasters for putting on such a great show and drawing quite the crowd. We’re so grateful to everyone who came out, enjoyed the music, and stopped by to learn more about The Next Door and the work we do in our community! 💙

07/08/2026

We're proud to recognize the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - U.S. Forest Service as The Next Door's Community Partner of the Year!

For more than 30 years, the Forest Service has helped connect local youth to the outdoors, meaningful work experiences, and future career opportunities. Partnering with The Next Door since 2009, the 8-week Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has provided countless youth with valuable job experience while contributing to projects that support the health and maintenance of the Gorge’s breathtaking landscapes. Through hands-on projects like invasive plant removal, trail restoration, seed collection, and more, participants gain conservation experience working alongside the Forest Service's recreation specialists, botanists, and other experts.

For many participants, SYEP is more than a summer job. It's a chance to explore places they may have never experienced, develop a sense of belonging, take pride in helping maintain the scenic area they call home, and help strengthen the broader Gorge community.

We're incredibly grateful to the U.S. Forest Service for investing in local youth and helping inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Congratulations and thank you for your partnership! 🌲💚

To read more about our partnership, visit https://www.nextdoorinc.org/happenings/community-partner-award-2026

06/08/2026

Teens in our Summer Youth Employment program had the awesome opportunity to help water native plants as part of the Hood River Watershed Group's Restoration Project! Thanks for letting our crew lend a hand and for sharing the important work you're doing with us! 🌿💛

04/08/2026

Summer is definitely in full swing! Our Libros con Amigos campers started the week with a pajama day and a trip to the Children's Park and we can't think of a better way to spend a Monday. ☀📚✨

04/08/2026

Help local teens start the school year prepared! We're teaming up with Columbia Bank to provide free school supplies to students attending our Back to School BBQ at the end of this month. From August 4-21, you can donate new school supplies at either of the following Columbia Bank locations:

- 2650 Cascade Avenue in Hood River
- 316 E 3rd Street in The Dalles

Prefer to make a monetary donation and let us shop for the supplies instead? Visit www.nextdoorinc.org/donations and include "Back to School Drive" in the comments section. Every donation helps ensure local teens have the tools they need for a successful school year! ✏📓💙

03/08/2026

Start your morning with coffee, conversation, and community connections with us! We're hosting this month's Morning Buzz tomorrow from 7:30-8:30am at our office in The Dalles (1113 Kelly Avenue). Join local professionals, Chamber Ambassadors, board members, and community leaders for a relaxed hour of networking while learning more about the important work we do at The Next Door. No Chamber membership is required - everyone is welcome! Hope to see you in the morning! ☕

31/07/2026

Our SYEP crew has spent the last couple of weeks making a true impact across the Gorge! The Forest Service planned a variety of hands-on projects for them, including:

🐸 Lily pad removal and invasive frog catching
💧 Helping with a watershed restoration project and watering native plants
🍂 Shadowing Park Rangers at Multnomah Falls and educating visitors about how long it takes things to decompose and the importance of leaving no trace

Along the way, they're building leadership, teamwork, communication, and resume skills that will benefit them long after summer ends!

They've also enjoyed some well-earned adventures together, hiking waterfalls and cooling off with a swim. 🌊☀

30/07/2026

Come spend the evening with us at The Ruins! Enjoy a summer night of great music by Lewi Longmire & The Left Coast Roasters while supporting The Next Door. A portion of the proceeds from tonight's concert will help sustain our programs and the work we do for children, families, and communities across the Gorge. Hope to see you there! 🎶

This is an all-ages event. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.

Get ready for an evening of live music that gives back! We are thrilled to invite you to a special benefit concert happening on Thursday, July 30th at The Ruins. Come enjoy an incredible performance by Lewi Longmire & The Left Coast Roasters, all while supporting The Next Door. A portion of the proceeds will help support our programs! 💙