1. BRIEFING PAPER 2015
“From an early age, I knew that there was something very special about Oregon and felt a strong loyalty to my homeland. Later
in life, I recognized that, if I wanted my great-grandchildren to have this same connection to the land, I needed to be active
in protecting this incredible place. Do what you can. If you can’t give money, give time or give your expertise, I think there is
something everyone can contribute.” -JOHN GRAY, OREGON PHILANTHROPIST

2. Securing Oregon’s Legacy
AN EARLY BEGINNING IN CROOK COUNTY
In 1958, Margaret Milliken of Oregon State University and Austin Hamer of the Oregon Game
Commission approached Crook County School Superintendent Cecil Sly with a proposal for a
weeklong, residential Outdoor School project for Prineville sixth graders at Camp Tamarack. At that
time, organizers believed children were spending too much time indoors and needed exposure to
Oregon’s natural areas.
By the 1970s roughly 80 percent of Oregon’s school districts were participating in weeklong Outdoor
School programs. But with the passage of Measure 5 in 1990, severe financial cuts in education
budgets came and Outdoor Schools were eliminated or drastically shortened across the state.
Currently, only about half of Oregon students attend a minimum of 1-2 nights at Outdoor School.
Oregon’s Outdoor Schools
AN IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCE FOR OREGON
Outdoor School programs give Oregon students the knowledge needed to make responsible choices
about our natural resources; teach children how to work together and collaborate; and build self-
sufficiency, leadership and confidence, while getting kids active and healthy.
These programs:
• Increase achievement in standardized testing scores & attendance
• Provide accessibility for all students, regardless of income or geography
• Bridge Oregon’s urban and rural divide
• Teach students about their responsibility to be stewards for their community
• Provide volunteer opportunities for high school students and introduce them to meaningful
careers, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
• Build self-confidence, leadership and collaboration skills
After just 10 years of
fully-funded statewide
Outdoor School programs,
500,000 students
will have experienced a
weeklong, life-changing
program, more than
30,000 high school
students will have
gained career-defining
opportunities as counselors
and 1,000 rural jobs
will have been created
across Oregon with over
$280,000,000 in
economic impact.
outdoorschoolforall.org | oregonoutdoored.org | outdoorschoolforallpac.org

3. Working Together to Unite Oregon
A COALITION FOR OREGON OUTDOOR SCHOOLS
Launched in summer 2014, the Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition (OOEC) has built a diverse
community committed to securing a permanent, stable funding source for Outdoor School
statewide.
• 30 Oregon leaders joined our Steering Committee, including education, business, civic and
natural resource industry leaders that represent the diversity of Oregon
• 14 public outreach meetings held across the state, creating regional networks and a
statewide grassroots network of more than 1,000 activists
• 2,662 individually-written letters sent to Oregon legislators in support of funding Outdoor
School
• $200,000 of in-kind services secured
• $275,000 individual and foundation contributions received
• 600 registered Oregon voters interviewed regarding their support for funding Outdoor
School
• Senate Bill 439, Oregon’s first Outdoor School Law, overwhelmingly passed both
chambers in Oregon Legislature
• Initiative 67 filed with the Secretary of State for the November 2016 ballot.
• Established the Outdoor School for All Political Action Committee
• 4,221 signatures gathered in support of Outdoor School for All
AT-RISK YOUTH ATTENDING A
WEEKLONG OUTDOOR SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE*:
56% first time in a natural setting
27% improved science scores
22% improved problem solving
15% improved peer relationships
*American Institutes of
Research (2005)
Outdoor School
participation helps bridge
the achievement gap in
our schools
outdoorschoolforall.org | oregonoutdoored.org | outdoorschoolforallpac.org

4. Leadership
Greg Wolley, Founder / Executive Director
AFRICAN AMERICAN OUTDOOR ASSOCIATION
Shelley Day, Executive Director of Community Relations
CAMP ATTITUDE
Jack Gray, Advisor
GRAY FAMILY FOUNDATION
Dave Bertz, Director of Operations
CB NORTHWEST/CAMP TADMOR
Queta Gonzalez, National Programs Director
CENTER FOR DIVERSITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Doug Wells, CFO
CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE
Scott Welch, Global Corporate Relations Manager
COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR
Chuck Sams, Director of Communications
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN
RESERVATION
Kim Silva, Executive Director
FRIENDS OF OUTDOOR SCHOOL
Karen Hill, CEO
GIRL SCOUTS OF OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON
Scott Fogarty, Executive Director
FRIENDS OF TREES
Morgan Rider, Connector
GRADY BRITTON
Nancy Bales, Executive Director
GRAY FAMILY FOUNDATION
Rob Patridge, District Attorney
KLAMATH COUNTY
Christine and David Vernier, Co-Founders
VERNIER SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY
Jim Desmond, Oregon State Director
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Penny H. Serrurier, Partner
STOEL RIVES ATTORNEYS
Charles McGee, President and CEO
BLACK PARENT INITIATIVE
Roberto Franco, Director
LATINO PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, OREGON COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
Dan Prince, Outdoor School Coordinator
MULTNOMAH EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT
Eric Friedenwald-Fishman, Creative Director
METROPOLITAN GROUP
Jeff Stone, Executive Director
OREGON NURSERY ASSOCIATION
Jay Graves, former Chair
OREGON STATE PARKS COMMISSION
Jim James, Executive Director
OREGON SMALL WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION
Roger Renekamp, Associate Dean of Outreach & Engagement
OSU COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Elizabeth Fouts, Senior Director / Assistant Counsel
THE STANDARD
Randy Schild, Superintendent
TILLAMOOK SCHOOL DISTRICT
John Miller, President
WILDWOOD/MAHONIA
Thomas Doherty, PsyD,
PSYCHOLOGIST, SUSTAINABLE SELF, LLC
Rex Burkholder, Former Metro Councilor
outdoorschoolforall.org | oregonoutdoored.org | outdoorschoolforallpac.org