Friends Of Outdoor School

IMPROVING ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN OREGON

PROGRAM AND PLACE NETWORK - DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, FRIENDS OF OUTDOOR SCHOOL (FODS) SUPPORTED OREGON OUTDOOR SCHOOL (ODS) PROGRAMS AND SITES TO NAVIGATE THE PANDEMIC AND TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FODS WORKED TO ENSURE THAT ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES SURVIVED DURING THE PANDEMIC DUE TO CLOSED SCHOOLS. FODS FOCUSED ON: GATHERING FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES; COMMUNICATING WITH DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE ONGOING IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES; SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE DISTANCE LEARNING OR DAY-ONLY ODS PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS; PROPOSING SAFE ODS REOPENING GUIDELINES THAT ALIGN WITH SCHOOL REOPENING GUIDELINES; AND WORKING WITH ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES TO DIVE DEEPLY INTO EQUITY AND INCLUSION. FODS CONTINUED TO WORK WITH ODS PROGRAMS TO EXAMINE HOW TO RECRUIT AND MAINTAIN SKILLED STAFF AND HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS AND HOW TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO ODS STAFFING AND HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. FODS ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT AND CONNECTIONS FOR NEW ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES. FODS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT AND COACH ODS SITES IN ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY ABOUT SUMMER CAMP CLOSURES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. CAMPS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING APPROVAL TO HOST YOUTH DURING SUMMER 2021. FODS GATHERED ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES MONTHLY TO FACILITATE SHARING OF PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS, AND BUILD COMMUNITY.COMMUNITY NETWORK - FODS WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING WITH DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF ODS, EVEN OFFERED REMOTELY, TO STUDENTS THROUGHOUT OREGON. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE STATE BUDGET NEEDED TO BE REALLOCATED. COMMUNITY ADVOCATES ATTENDED VIRTUAL LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, MET WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MULTIPLE TIMES, MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH DOZENS OF LEGISLATORS, AND PROVIDED TESTIMONY FOR VIRTUAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ABOUT BUDGETS. BECAUSE OF ADVOCACY EFFORTS, ODS WAS AWARDED AN INCREASE IN THE 2021-2023 BUDGET.FODS ALSO LINKED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO THEIR LOCAL ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES, ENCOURAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES, AND GUIDED PARENTS AND TEACHERS ON HOW TO GET ODS PROGRAMS IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

STUDENT LEADER SCHOLARSHIPS - OUTDOOR SCHOOL STUDENT LEADER SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO VOLUNTEER AS COUNSELORS FOR MULTNOMAH EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT OUTDOOR SCHOOL.

SCHOOL SUPPORT - FODS ACTIVELY WORKS WITH SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT THEIR FUNDRAISING WORK, INCLUDING SUPPORTING SCHOOL-BASED VOLUNTEERS, PROMOTING TO OUR NETWORK THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS/DISTRICTS DIRECTLY, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, MANAGING FUNDS, AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS. FODS ALSO CHAMPIONED OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR STUDENTS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE OUTDOOR SCHOOL PROGRAM - FODS PROVIDED A VARIETY OF EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT FOR THE OSU EXTENSION OUTDOOR SCHOOL PROGRAM INCLUDING:*SUPPORTING OSU EXTENSION OUTDOOR SCHOOL IN SHARING INFORMATION WITH DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE CONTINUED NEED FOR MEASURE 99 FUNDS, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC;*COLLABORATING ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR ODS PARTNERS IN IMPLEMENTING RESPONSES TO THE PANDEMIC; *COLLABORATING ON RESEARCH AND EVALUATION SHOWING THE AMAZING POSITIVE OUTCOMES STUDENTS EXPERIENCE FROM ODS WHILE SHINING A LIGHT ON WHERE WE CAN (AND MUST) IMPROVE TO REALIZE THE FULLY INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE ODS WE WORK TOWARD EACH DAY;*PARTNERING TO TAKE ON A DEEPER LOOK INTO HOW HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPATING IN ODS, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING EQUITY CONSCIOUSNESS; *PROVIDED EXPERTISE AND PERSPECTIVE ON A VARIETY OF POLICY DECISIONS;*CHAMPIONING THE USE OF MEASURE 99 FUNDING TO BE USED AS GRANTS FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROJECTS;*CONNECTING THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL COMMUNITY WITH THE KEY CONTACTS AT OSU EXTENSION;*COMMUNICATING PROGRAM DATA TO DECISION-MAKERS AND SHARED CONSTITUENCY AND STAKEHOLDERS;*MANAGING STIPENDS FOR LOW-INCOME COMMITTEE PARTICIPANTS;*COHOSTING OVER 50 VIRTUAL GATHERINGS TO HELP ODS PROGRAMS AND SITES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CLOSED SCHOOLS, TRANSITION TO COMPREHENSIVE DISTANCE LEARNING, AND ACCESSING AND SECURING FINANCIAL RESOURCES;*SUPPORTING OSU EXTENSION REGARDING A POLICY ABOUT MEASURE 99 FUNDING OF OUT-OF-STATE PROGRAM PROVIDERS;*PARTNERED WITH OSU EXTENSION TO CREATE A GUIDE FOR HELPING SITES TO LEARN HOW TO SET FEES.