Outdoor School Funding Update
September 12, 2025
Oregon camps are vital to providing inspiring natural locations for tens of thousands of Oregon students to attend Outdoor School. Friends of Outdoor School and camps throughout Oregon are working together to communicate the impacts of state Outdoor School budget cuts on camps.
ACTION: Please complete this form to share how Outdoor School funding cuts are impacting your ability to participate in your favorite camp.
FACTS:
In 2016, Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved 4% of Lottery funds via Measure 99 to work toward sending every Oregon student to a week of Outdoor School.
Over $51.5 million was provided to school districts during the 2023-2025 biennium to support student attendance at Outdoor School.
OSU Extension worked with the Legislature in 2024 to spend down the COVID-era carryover for programming, freeing 2023-2025 allocated resources for urgent state needs while achieving voter-intended funding levels.
Providing only $43.2 million to school districts for the 2025-2027 biennium is a cut to Outdoor School funding, and 20% below what voters approved.
Increasingly, Oregon students are attending Outdoor School, and requests for funding from 2025 to 2027 are expected to surpass the 4% allocation intended by voters.
Find more detailed information here: https://oregonstate.app.box.com/s/ekxkchq8qpa8q108vy92fcqdodynpjjd
This cut is already having a very real impact on Oregon students and the many adults working together to make Outdoor School happen for the kids. Together, with respectful yet assertive facts, we can correct this mistake. Thank you for helping to make Outdoor School possible for the kids!
For the kids!,
Kim & Dan
KEY INFORMATION:
Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School:
Important financial and impact information directly from Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School can be found here and will be updated regularly.
What’s happened so far:
September 10th: Fall State of Outdoor School webinar. Listen here.
July 24th: Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School announced funding decisions to date and explained next steps. Details are here.
June 23rd: The Oregon Legislature approved a 20% cut to Outdoor School funding despite voters overwhelmingly supporting Measure 99 designating 4% of state lottery funds to Outdoor School.
June 16th: The Senate approved a bill including a $12 million cut to Outdoor School funding from current service levels.
June 6th: The Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means voted to pass a budget that cuts Outdoor School funding by $12 million. Watch for yourself- the work session on SB 5525 begins at 1:22.
June 2nd: The Oregon Joint Committee on Ways and Means subcommittee on Education passed a budget that cuts Outdoor School funding by $12 million. Watch for yourself.
What to include in your calls and emails:
Recognize the difficult budget environment
Emphasize that they honor the will of the voters, who overwhelmingly passed Ballot Measure 99 in 2016. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER!
Share why you think Outdoor School is important for Oregon kids.
Ask them to restore the $12 million cut
Include your full name and address
Copy Dan