Outdoor, placed-based education has a long history in Oregon. Having rivers, forests and farms in such close proximity to our schools allows for meaningful outdoor education experiences. Extensive research has shown that providing students with these hands-on opportunities to learn in nature can improve academic performance – including test scores, attitudes and in-class behavior, increase physical and social health, and build connections to community.
However, it takes active, on-going engagement by groups such as World Salmon Council to integrate programs like Salmon Watch into our schools, as well as diverse collaboration. A few local organizations that are building coalitions and providing support to cultivate environmental literacy include the Environmental Education Association of Oregon, The Intertwine Alliance (we’ll highlight our involvement in an ongoing Diversity-Equity-Inclusion initiative with a TIA supported cohort in an upcoming newsletter) and the Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition (OOEC).
Click on the title to read more!
This past month, World Salmon Council participated on a panel at the OOEC’s Portland Metro Outdoor Education Summit, held at the Oregon Zoo. (note: the zoo’s new Education Center will host a public open house on March 4-5)
The summit brought together nonprofits, public agencies and businesses to learn, share, and explore potential new partnerships in order to increase outdoor education offerings throughout the state and beyond.
During the panel discussion on Oregon’s Future Workforce, World Salmon Council along with Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, Tillamook Forestry Center, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, and Oregon Forest Resources Institute shared examples of a plethora of career paths for students who want to work in conservation fields.
Any interest a kid may have – science, math, writing, communications, marketing, business, art, computers, sports, animals, fish, insects, food, trees, plants, farming, law enforcement, being outdoors, cars, trucks, machines, tools … there are innumerable pathways to a rewarding career that can also help protect our air, land and waters.
Spotlight discussions explored the continuing integration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) components into outdoor education, the growing movement to use art in a well-rounded STEAM education, the participation of hospitals in supporting outdoor education to promote active, healthy lifestyles, and how to make better connections between local food, heath and environmental education initiatives.
Additional highlights also included a presentation by OSU Extension on the State of Outdoor Education in Oregon; an overview of place-based education by Southwest Charter School; and a panel discussion with Portland Metro STEM Partnership, Willamette Partnership and Straub Environmental Center on forming effective collaborations to align indoor and outdoor learning, and how outdoor education aligns with Common Core benchmarks and Next Generation Science Standards.
Recent Comments