Friends of Outdoor School Advocacy Toolkit 

 

What Is Advocacy?

Advocacy (noun) : the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal1

Advocacy serves three purposes: to tell a story about a specific issue, to provide education and clarification, and to argue in favor of a cause or idea.

 

Why Advocate?

Your voice is critical to Outdoor School (ODS) in your community. Friends of Outdoor School envisions a day when all Oregon students attend a week of Outdoor School. So no matter if you are looking to send students to Outdoor School for the first time, increase the length of an existing program, or improve access and program quality, your voice is important!

We advocate because the Oregon Legislature works for us and it’s our job to tell them our priorities and goals and hold them accountable for meeting them. The people of Oregon have overwhelmingly said that residential environmental education is a benefit to our youth. With a 60+ year history of Outdoor School, it is no accident that Oregon has a population that values the natural beauty of the state.

Your community benefits from Oregon 5th or 6th graders participating in Outdoor School, too. Studies show significant positive gains and a strong influence on many educational outcomes for students who participate in Outdoor School2, and the longer their experience, the bigger the benefits3.

Who Can Help?

Everyone! We were able to win permanent statewide funding for Outdoor School through the advocacy of thousands of Oregonians - including kids. Anyone can contact our elected officials and make their voice heard. It is important that you get your message to a decision-maker who influences the area you wish to improve. The roles of Outdoor School decision-makers vary. Here is a list of some of the common players in the Oregon Outdoor School landscape and what areas they may influence:

Image description: Outdoor School advocates gathered in the Oregon State Capitol

Image description: Outdoor School advocates gathered in the Oregon State Capitol

Friends of Outdoor School: friendsofoutdoorschool.orgGathers resourcesAdvocates in support of ODSBuilds networks of stakeholdersSupports efforts to build a strong ODS system utilizing an equity lens
School Districts/Education Service Districts:Receive state funding through Oregon State University Extension ServiceDetermine duration and location of ODS experience either through providing their own ODS programming and site, or contracting with OD…
Outdoor School Programs:Create and implement curriculum and activitiesPartner with sites and other organizations for resourcesWork with schools to evaluate programming
Sites:Some sites provide ODS programming, others host partners to provide programmingProvide a safe, nurturing, accessible location in natureVital to providing the learning experience defined as ODS
Donors:Individual, regular peopleMany attended or worked at ODSFaithfully donate to Friends of Outdoor School so that Friends of Outdoor School and ODS champions may advocate for and support the ODS system
Advocates:Raise their voices in support of ODSAdvocate locally, regionally and at the state levelShare stories

How to Find The Right Decision-Maker

You may already know the decision-maker. If you don’t, the easiest way to find who you want to share your message of Outdoor School advocacy with is to get in touch with Friends of Outdoor School. We can help you find the right person to discuss your specific Outdoor School issue.

 

How to Get Your Message Across

There are many ways that you might choose to share your message of advocacy. The four most common forms are writing a letter or email, offering personal testimony before a board or committee, calling your legislators, and joining the Outdoor School Community Network consisting of like-minded ODS advocates and supporters.

 
 
 
 

  1. merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advocacy

  2. Braun, S.M. (2019) Outdoor School for All: Diverse Programming and Outcomes in Oregon: 2018 Pilot Study Evaluation, Portland, Oregon. The Gray Family Foundation.

  3. Stern, M. J., R. B. Powell, and N. M. Ardoin. (2008) “What Difference Does It Make? Assessing Outcomes from Participation in a Residential Environmental Education Program.” Journal of Environmental Education 39 (4): 31–43