YOSÉ provides nature experiences, education for Portland-area youth

Research shows that people of color are far less likely to engage in nature-based outdoor recreation activities, with historic discrimination being a large underlying factor. People of color are three times more likely than white people to live in places that have no immediate access to nature.

In response to the disparity of people of color utilizing outdoor recreational and natural areas, as well as the lack of representation in the natural resource research, management, and education community, the OSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program in the Portland metro area developed Youth Outdoor Science Explorers (YOSÉ).

YOSÉ helps youths build a connection with nature, learn valuable skills and explore potential career opportunities in a fun and educational setting.

YOSÉ is a youth-focused program based around natural resources, STEM, career and college readiness, service projects and place-based learning. The goal of this program is to encourage youth to explore careers in natural resources and provide unique opportunities that the participants may otherwise not have experienced.

In 2024, YOSÉ offered a three-day, two-night overnight camp experience at the Mount Saint Helens Science Learning Center. Twenty youths from high schools across the Portland and Hillsboro area participated in the camp. Through this partnership with the Mount Saint Helens Institute, two OSU staff, one 4-H volunteer and one U.S. Forest Service partner were able to make a natural resource and STEM program a unique experience for these students.

OSU staff from two Extension programs — 4-H and Juntos — collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station partner and 4-H volunteer to begin the planning and recruitment process. The trip began with a visit to the Ape Cave in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The campers learned about the history and creation of the caves due to lava flow.

The trip continued to the Trail of Two Forests Interpretive Site in Cougar, where the youths continued learning of the effects of volcanic eruption and lava flow through our forests. The first day ended at the science learning center on the north side of Mount Saint Helens. The next day, the campers heard from a panel of individuals who worked for the Forest Service, Mount Saint Helens Institute, and the Pacific Northwest Research Station, who described their career paths and what a typical day in their jobs looks like.

The campers hiked to Coldwater Lake, then learned about the volcanic eruption in 1980, including the scientists who monitored the mountain leading up to the eruption, many of the scientific efforts and research since the eruption, and the ecological changes and restoration efforts.

They also participated in a simulated response to an eruption and learned of all the different systems and roles people are a part of, from monitoring activity to public broadcasting and first aid response, to see the different vital roles people play and how many jobs relate to the natural resources field.

Overall, the participants provided very positive feedback. They all stated that they would like to return to camp in 2025. Highlights from participants included making new friends, hiking/exploring, star gazing, learning about new careers and making pizza. One participant stated, “the hike to Coldwater Lake was my favorite because it is peaceful and nice to get in nature and see the mountain.”

The YOSÉ program offered several benefits to the youths who participated:

  • Many participants might not have regular access to natural spaces. They had the opportunity to explore and appreciate the outdoors.
  • The program included hands-on learning about natural resources, STEM subjects and the history and ecology of Mount Saint Helens. This helped them gain knowledge in these areas in an engaging way.
  • By interacting with professionals from the Forest Service, Mount Saint Helens Institute, and the Pacific Northwest Research Station, they learned about various career paths in natural resources and related fields.
  • The program encouraged personal development through new experiences, making new friends, and building confidence in a supportive environment.

Overall, YOSÉ helps youths build a connection with nature, learn valuable skills and explore potential career opportunities in a fun and educational setting.

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