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Join the Oregon-California Trails Association to help preserve our western trails heritage. Memberships in the national organization and the regional chapters have been designed to address varying member wishes and interests, ranging from individual and family memberships to institutional and corporate memberships, with several options in between!
Why Join OCTA?
An American heritage is at risk. The historic trails trod by half a million pioneers, gold rushers, adventurers, families – people in pursuit of a better life in the West – are under constant threat from development. Many miles of wagon ruts and swales still exist in silent testimony to those hardy souls who built the nation as we know it today. Join the Oregon-California Trails Association to help preserve our heritage. Memberships have been tailored to address varying member wishes and interests. Those with higher initial costs provide increased benefits.
OCTA Membership Benefits
- Overland Journal is OCTA’s quarterly magazine which contains articles and book reviews concerning historic trails.
- News From The Plains is OCTA’s quarterly newsletter which contains information about the activities of OCTA National, OCTA Regional Chapters, and OCTA members.
- When you join OCTA, you will receive free access to Paper Trail, the website based on a searchable index of 19th Century westward American migration documents.
- Potential members are required to join OCTA National first and then can proceed to join the various OCTA Regional Chapters of their choice.
- Do you prefer to join OCTA by mail? Open and print our brochure.
Membership Brochure (2023 Updated PDF)
Fax: 816-836-0989 - Make a Donation to OCTA to help us Save The Trails!
General Memberships in OCTA
Your membership in national OCTA and an OCTA Chapter will connect you with an international network of western history fans and enthusiasts; contribute to an important part of American history; provide opportunities to learn about trail location, mapping and marking; promote research and contribute to public education; provide new avenues for genealogical research; provide invitations to annual conventions and regional events; and contribute financially to the preservation of historic trails.
Membership – College Student (Join/Renew)
$20.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Educator (Join/Renew)
$45.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Emigrant (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$60.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Pioneer (Family) (Join/Renew)
$75.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Pathfinder (Individual/Family) (Join/Renew)
$100.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Trail Patron (Individual/Family) (Join/Renew)
$125.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Merrill J. Mattes Society (Individual/Family) (Join/Renew)
$250.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Ezra Meeker Life Member (Join)
$1,500.00![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Institutional/Corporate Memberships in OCTA
Institutional members, such as libraries and museums, get discounts, a plaque, and an ad in OCTA’s Overland Journal and News From The Plains newsletter. Corporate members get all this and in addition, links on OCTA’s website.
Membership – Institutional (Join/Renew)
$300.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership – Corporate (Join/Renew)
$1,250.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Regional Chapter Memberships
Once you have selected an OCTA national membership, please consider joining one of OCTA’s regional chapters to enjoy the benefits of a local community of trail enthusiasts with more specific goals and activities. Several chapters offer options for individual, family, student, sustaining and even corporate memberships.
Membership – California-Nevada Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$15.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in the California-Nevada Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – California-Nevada Chapter (Family) (Join/Renew)
$20.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Membership in the California-Nevada Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – California-Nevada Chapter (Sustaining) (Join/Renew)
$40.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Sustaining Membership in the California-Nevada Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – California-Nevada Chapter (Life) (Join)
$300.00![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Life Membership in California-Nevada Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Colorado-Cherokee Trail Chapter (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership in the Colorado-Cherokee Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Colorado-Cherokee Trail Chapter (Family or Life) (Join)
$200.00![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family or Life Membership in the Colorado/Cherokee Trail Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Gateway Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in Gateway Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Gateway Chapter (Family) (Join/Renew)
$15.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Membership in Gateway Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Idaho Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$15.00 / year![Trails of Idaho Map with green background and white map showing routes with lines in various colors.](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Historic-Trails-of-Idaho-Cover.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in Idaho Chapter of OCTA for one year.
Membership – Idaho Chapter (Family) (Join/Renew)
$20.00 / year![Trails of Idaho Map with green background and white map showing routes with lines in various colors.](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Historic-Trails-of-Idaho-Cover.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership in Idaho Chapter of OCTA for your family for one year.
Membership – KANZA Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in KANZA Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – KANZA Chapter (Family) (Join/Renew)
$15.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Membership in KANZA Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Nebraska Chapter (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership in the Nebraska Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Northwest Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in the Northwest Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Northwest Chapter (Family) (Join/Renew)
$15.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Membership in the Northwest Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Northwest Chapter (Corporate) (Join/Renew)
$20.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Corporate Membership in Northwest Chapter OCTA for one year
Membership – Northwest Chapter (Life Individual) (Join)
$200.00![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Life Individual Membership in the Northwest Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Northwest Chapter (Life Family) (Join)
$300.00![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Life Membership in the Northwest Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Northwest Chapter (Life Corporate) (Join)
$400.00![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Corporate Life Membership in Northwest Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Southern Trails Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$20.00 / year![A coyote in the desert](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SouthernTrails-042022-Coyote.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in Southern Trails Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Southern Trails Chapter (Family) (Join/Renew)
$20.00 / year![A coyote in the desert](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SouthernTrails-042022-Coyote.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Membership in Southern Trails Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Southern Trails Chapter (Sustaining) (Join/Renew)
$50.00 / year![A coyote in the desert](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SouthernTrails-042022-Coyote.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Sustaining Membership in Southern Trail Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Southern Trails Chapter (Individual Life) (Join)
$200.00![A coyote in the desert](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SouthernTrails-042022-Coyote.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Life Membership in Southern Trails Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Southern Trails Chapter (Family Life) (Join)
$300.00![A coyote in the desert](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SouthernTrails-042022-Coyote.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Family Life Membership in Southern Trails Chapter of OCTA
Membership – Trails Head Chapter (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership in Trails Head Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Utah Crossroads Chapter (Student) (Join/Renew)
$5.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Student Membership in the Utah Crossroads Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Utah Crossroads Chapter (Individual) (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Individual Membership in the Utah Crossroads Chapter of OCTA for one year
Membership – Wyoming Chapter (Join/Renew)
$10.00 / year![rear view of a covered wagon with mountains and setting sun in the distance](https://i0.wp.com/octa-trails.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCTA-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Membership in the Wyoming Chapter of OCTA for one year