Natureconnect 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:CHILDREN'S FOREST PARTNERS PROVIDED OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS TO 7,830 STUDENTS IN THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, PROVIDING 15,686 STUDENT DAYS. PROGRAMS WERE A MIX OF OFF-SITE FIELD TRIPS, CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS DUE TO COVID-19. THE CHILDREN'S FOREST'S NATUREHOODS PROGRAM REACHED 1,363 STUDENTS OVER 4,379 STUDENT DAYS, WITH 92% OF PARTICIPANTS BEING FROM RURAL AND TITLE I SCHOOLS. THE CHILDREN'S FOREST AND OUR PARTNERS ALSO REACHED 697 STUDENTS (1,720 STUDENT DAYS) THROUGH OUTDOOR PROGRAMS OFFERED DURING SUMMER SCHOOL IN JULY-AUGUST 2021, INCLUDING 63 STUDENTS FROM THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM.

PARTNER SUB-GRANTS AND TRAINING: WITH SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND EPA, FUNDED 11 SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT CONNECT UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS WITH THE OUTDOORS. PROJECTS INCLUDED WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAMS FOR TITLE I SCHOOLS, SUMMER CAMPS FOR LATINX YOUTH AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, AND CAREER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. THESE PROJECTS REACHED 1,143 PARTICIPANTS, OVER 2,295 PARTICIPANT DAYS. CFCO ALSO PROVIDED DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAININGS TO 65 EDUCATORS/STAFF IN OUR NETWORK, AND COORDINATED A MONTHLY EQUITY COMMITTEE ATTENDED BY 15 PARTNERS IN OUR NETWORK. OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS: PARTNERED WITH TROUT UNLIMITED TO OFFER FREE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS IN WARM SPRINGS, LA PINE, AND SUNRIVER REACHING 35 STUDENTS OVER 170 STUDENT DAYS. PARTNERED WITH CAMP FIRE CENTRAL OREGON TO PROVIDE 12 DAYS OF SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, REACHING 110 YOUTH. BEND FOREST SCHOOL FOUNDATION: SERVED AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE BEND FOREST SCHOOL FOUNDATION'S EQUITY INITIATIVES. GRANT FUNDS WERE PASSED THROUGH ONCE BEND FOREST SCHOOL FOUNDATION RECEIVED THEIR 501(C)3 STATUS.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND HEALTH: PROVIDED FREE FAMILY PROGRAMS FOR 502 PARTICIPANTS OVER 795 PARTICIPANT DAYS. ALL PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE BIRDS WITHOUT BORDERS FESTIVAL WHICH FOCUSED ON BIRD CONSERVATION.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CAREER PATHWAYS: PROVIDED REGULAR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS TO 47 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THE MAJORITY WHO IDENTIFY AS BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR). FUNDED 6 INTERNS WITH CFCO PARTNERS AND HOSTED 5 ADDITIONAL INTERNS THROUGH CFCO AND VMONOS OUTSIDE. VMONOS OUTSIDE: VMONOS OUTSIDE PROVIDED CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS TO 573 PARTICIPANTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED TEEN MOUNTAIN BIKING AND SKI PROGRAMS, FAMILY PARK DAYS, CAMPING PROGRAMS, AND ROCK CLIMBING NIGHTS FOR BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR) COMMUNITY MEMBERS.