Friends of Outdoor School

Mission

Friends of Outdoor School’s purpose is to connect, support, and advocate for all of Oregon’s diverse students to learn at inclusive and accessible Outdoor School programs that contribute to educational development, inspire youth, promote personal growth, and embrace justice.

Bottom Line for Portland

At Outdoor School, Portland metro area 5th or 6th graders leave their classrooms and spend up to a week outdoors exploring Oregon’s diverse ecosystems through hands-on science. Donating to Friends of Outdoor School helps to ensure that all 17,000 area students have access to a safe, inclusive, education experience at Outdoor School. We believe that Outdoor School should be a place where every child belongs.

Quote

“Friends of Outdoor School carries the passion for Outdoor School in our communities: protecting and promoting this unique and valuable educational program before decision-makers, networking all partners in the program for positive change, and finding innovative funding solutions for participants.” —John Donovan, volunteer, Senior VP of External Affairs and Constituent Relationships, Trillium Family Services

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At its best, Outdoor School transforms classroom education by creating a model of inclusion and student engagement. Members of historically marginalized communities have been made to feel unwelcome in outdoor spaces, and in science, technology, engineering, and math education. We work to ensure that while at Outdoor School, each child can feel like they belong and that Outdoor School programming includes diverse perspectives and voices for a more complete experience for youth.

Incentives

Anyone who donates $10 or more will receive a BIG discount on a COAST XPH25R headlamp from our friends at COAST.

Donors age 35 & under will receive an additional 20% off their order from our friends at COAST. 

Vernier Science Education will match all gifts from donors 35 & under up to $2,500.

Anyone who donates $10 or more will receive an awesome sticker unique to Friends of Outdoor School's 2022 Give!Guide campaign. If you donated in 2021, this is your chance to start adding to your FODS sticker collection!

Business Partner(s)

COAST is a 100 year old family run company based in Portland providing awesome discounts to Friends of Outdoor School donors during Give!Guide!

Vernier Science Education has been supporting Oregon educators for over 40 years and is excited to provide a matching gift for donors 35 & under!

Tyler John Hartman will be performing a benefit concert for Friends of Outdoor School during Give!Guide and is donating all of the proceeds from his “Dad Camp Covers” Album to Friends of Outdoor School!