Childrens Forest Of Central Oregon

THE MISSION OF THE CHILDREN'S FOREST OF CENTRAL OREGON IS TO UNITE OUR COMMUNITY TO INSPIRE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO NATURE FOR ALL KIDS. WE ARE A NETWORK OF 25+ PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO CONNECT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO NATURE THROUGH LEARNING, EXPLORATION, AND PLAY. WE FOCUS STRONGLY ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WORKING TO CONNECT UNDERSERVED AUDIENCES TO IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES IN NATURE.

SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND SERVICES PROGRAMS WERE GREATLY IMPACTED SCHOOL CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID-19. CFCO DEVELOPED AND PROVIDED RESOURCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF 18 DIFFERENT VIRTUAL PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE ADAPTATIONS FROM OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. LIVE VIRTUAL LESSONS WERE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 2,500 STUDENTS, WHILE ASYNCHRONOUS PROGRAMS LIKELY REACHED OVER 10,000 STUDENTS. CFCO PROVIDED OR FUNDED IN-PERSON OUTDOOR PROGRAMS FOR 522 STUDENTS.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND HEALTH PROVIDED FREE FAMILY NATURE CLUBS FOR 27 FAMILIES IN REDMOND AND LA PINE. PROGRAMS INCLUDED FAMILY NATURE KITS AND A HEALTHY SNACK KIT.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CAREER PATHWAYS: DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED A YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE GOAL TO DIVERSIFY THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR SECTORS. FORMED PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, RECRUITED STUDENTS, DELIVERED PROGRAMS, AND PLANNED FOR SUMMER TEEN PROGRAMS. FUNDED FOUR INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH CFCO PARTNERS. PARTNER SUB-GRANTS AND TRAINING: WITH SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND EPA, FUNDED SIX SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT CONNECT UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS WITH THE OUTDOORS. PROJECTS INCLUDED WATERSHED RESTORATION AND FIRE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR TITLE I SCHOOLS, A FIELD SCIENCE CLASSROOM KIT FOR A RURAL SCHOOL, SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LATINO YOUTH, AND FAMILY PROGRAMS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. THESE PROJECTS REACHED 721 PARTICIPANTS, MANY OVER MULTIPLE DAYS. CFCO ALSO PROVIDED SEVERAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAININGS TO OUR PARTNERS, REACHING 50 PARTICIPANTS. VMONOS OUTSIDE: LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM AREA WITH THE GOAL TO CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND INSPIRE OUR LATINX FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY INTO THE OUTDOORS, INCLUDING HIRING A NEW FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER. VMONOS OUTSIDE'S FIRST PROGRAM WAS JUGAMOS AFUERA, WHICH SUPPORTED 25 LOW-INCOME LATINX YOUTH OVER THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROGRAM OFFERED A REGULAR WALKING SCHOOL BUS TO A LOCAL PARK, PLUS 10 OUTDOOR RECREATION OUTINGS (SNOWSHOEING, SLEDDING, HIKING, BIKING, ROCK CLIMBING) FOR PARTICIPANTS. CONDUCTED DIRECT DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH TO APPROXIMATELY 100 LATINX FAMILIES, AND SUCCESSFULLY SIGNED UP 25 FAMILIES FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMING OFFERED THROUGH THE COALITION'S PARTNERS. PROVIDED CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC OUTINGS FOR 345 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING PICNICS, HIKES, AND CLIMBING NIGHTS.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDED FREE NATURE-BASED AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR 91 LOW-INCOME MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH. INTERNSHIPS PROVIDED 5 INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE YOUTH IN NATURAL RESOURCES OR OUTDOOR EDUCATION. TWO OF THE INTERNS WERE YOUTH OF COLOR AND ONE INTERN HAD A DISABILITY. LATINO PROGRAMS AND COALITION CO-LED A NEW COALITION CALLED THE CENTRAL OREGON PARTNERSHIP FOR LATINO OUTDOOR ACCESS. THE COALITION CONDUCTED LISTENING SESSIONS WITH 36 LATINO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTICIPATED IN CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAININGS, AND DEVELOPED AN ACTION PLAN.