Environmental education (PreK-12)

Check out the Outdoor School programs!

OSU Extension works in collaboration with schools, partners, and communities to support and grow the statewide Outdoor School program, building on a legacy that began in 1966. Outdoor School programs offer immersive educational experiences and support equitable, culturally responsive, and interdisciplinary opportunities for Oregon's youth.

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Latest Resources

Episode 57: Recreating - Balancing Fun with Ecology (in English)

Learn about ecotourism resources just in time for outdoor weather in Oregon!

Carrie Cantrell | Mar 2025 | Podcast episode

Episode 56: Branching Out - Youth and Forestry in Focus (in English)

Nancy Geyer, Lauren Grand, and Trinity Long-Hindman discuss approaches to youth audiences regarding environmental education.

Lauren Grand | Jan 2025 | Podcast episode

eBird explorers (in English)

Cornell University Lab of Ornithology offers K-12 educator lesson plans to enjoy, protect and understand birds and interactive tools you can investigate the natural world through your device.

Nov 2024 | Online resource

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Exploring Water Habitats: Wetlands, Streams, Oceans

By Virginia Bourdeau

This curriculum introduces youth to the science and function of wetlands, streams, and oceans, and how human activities affect climate and environmental function and health.

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Photo Credit: Danita Delimont - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Latest News

4-H nature journaling program connects families with nature

Participants learn to manage their emotions, practice mindfulness, and improve their self-awareness.

Kelly Noack | Mar 2025 | Impact story

YOSÉ provides nature experiences, education for Portland-area youth

YOSÉ is a youth-focused program based around natural resources, STEM, career and college readiness, service projects and place-based learning.

Tanya Kindrachuk | Jan 2025 | Impact story

Environmental Leadership for Youth introduces Indigenous and migrant students to science and college

As of the end of 2023, about 90 Hispanic students and nearly 30 Indigenous students have gone through the program.

Guillermo Giannico | Dec 2024 | Impact story

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More Outdoor School Resources

Outdoor School: Making Nature Observations (in English): When we pay attention to our surroundings, we notice things with our senses, learn how here. New activities every week.

Try these Extension opportunities

Natural science projects

Entomology, forestry, meteorology, and more

4-H Youth Development

OSU Environmental Leadership for Youth (ELY) Short Film - 2018 (in English)

This video is about the OSU Environmental Leadership for Youth (ELY) program that invites a diversity of students from 8th to 12th grades in the Willamette Valley to be inspired by natural areas, watershed science and community engagement.

Feb 2019 | OSU Sea Grant Publication

Upcoming Events

Mar 20

Outdoor School Community of Practice

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT Online

Apr 3

Outdoor School Community of Practice

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT Online

Apr 17

Outdoor School Community of Practice

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT Online

Jun 27

Tree School East 2025

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Baker City, OR

Meet Our Experts

Kristi Backe

Associate Director, Outdoor School

Kara Baylog

Forestry and Natural Resources Program Coordinator

Elliot Drake-Maurer

Outdoor School High School Coordinator

Kristopher Elliott

Interim Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement, Interim Director of OSU Extension

Contact me with questions about the Division of Extension and Engagement and OSU Extension Service.

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“Pregúntale a Extensión” es una forma de obtener respuestas del Servicio de Extensión de Oregon State University. Contamos con expertos en familia y salud, desarrollo comunitario, alimentación y agricultura, temas costeros, silvicultura, programas para jóvenes y jardinería.

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Is this trillium a rare variant and should it be preserved and studied?

P: On a run in Portland’s Forest Park, I saw that someone had picked a trillium and hung it on a branch. When I looked closer, I could understand why. It has two sets of three leaves, and nine petals. What do I do with this?

R: View answer | View all featured questions

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