2020 EDI Grant Program Summary

The Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service Outdoor School program is committed to supporting equitable and inclusive outdoor school programs for Oregon’s youth.  The COVID-19 pandemic response has economically and systemically impacted all aspects of life, including the lives and livelihoods of Oregon’s outdoor school students, districts/schools, programs, providers, and sites. To support these outdoor school communities, the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service Outdoor School program developed two grant opportunities in 2020 to further invest in the overall improvement of outdoor school.

• Grant 1: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Program Improvement Grant
• Grant 2: Accessibility and Inclusion Site Improvement Grant

The following videos highlight the work performed in 2021 by grantees (one for each grant program). 
We hope to add to these stories as our grantees continue their excellent work toward improving the outdoor school experience for Oregon youth!

The OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program sought applications from outdoor school providers¹ and sites who wished to engage in projects that further the values of the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program – specifically those of equity, diversity, and inclusion. While organizations were permitted to apply for both grant types, there were very few organizations who met the requirements of both grant types.  In addition, the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program strove to equitably distribute these awards to outdoor school community members across the state of Oregon, so we reserved the right to hold additional applications from a single organization until we could assure that other organizations were considered.

These grant-based investments will help Oregon’s outdoor school programs emerge from this pandemic as stronger, more equitable and more accessible programs for the youth of our state:

• with culturally responsive, inclusive and accessible instructional resources.
• which take place at culturally responsive, safe, inclusive and accessible sites.

GRANT 1 - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Outdoor School Program Improvement

This grant was designated for outdoor school providers¹ who strive to improve their outdoor school programming through organizational change focused on 1) building instructional resource responsiveness around EDI, or 2) actions moving outdoor school staff and programming toward an improved understanding/expression of EDI during the 2020-2021 academic year.  These improvements could include, but were not limited to:

• curriculum creation, review or revision, such as generating curriculum that is:
  • responsive to and reflective of the background and cultures of all students attending outdoor school.
  • accessible and inclusive for students with cognitive disabilities.
• programming review, revision, and/or EDI strategic planning.
• mission, vision, and values statement creation, review, or revision through an EDI lens.
• outdoor school staff professional development related to EDI.

GRANT 2 - Accessibility and Inclusion Site Improvement

This grant was designated for outdoor school sites to implement physical site improvements focused on improving site and programming accessibility for outdoor school students (e.g. students with exceptional physical or cognitive needs).

These improvements could include, but were not limited to:

• Site accessibility audits that would lead to physical improvements
• Physical site improvements focused on ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility, which may include support for in-progress projects only if the original project start date was July 1, 2020, or later
• Training for appropriate use of accessibility features at the site
• Modification or conversion of existing restroom facilities to gender inclusive restrooms
• Inclusive signage or culturally responsive visual aids
• Installation of broadband, Wi-Fi or power to remote instructional sites to permit students with disabilities to use necessary communication, instructional or mobility equipment
• Safety-related improvements (guard rails, fencing, path improvements, etc.)

Grant 1 Deliverables and Reporting

Organizations who received EDI Outdoor School Program Improvement grants are required to submit a final report to the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program office within one month of the scheduled end of the project.  The final report must include a project summary document that includes, as applicable:

• A copy of developed, reviewed, and/or revised curriculum or programming.
• A description of the grant-funded EDI professional development program and resulting personal or professional development of your staff.
  • What was learned from the grant-funded EDI work?
  • What measurable (SMART) goals did your organization establish through your grant-funded EDI work?
• A description of how under-resourced² students benefited or will benefit from the grant deliverables or outcomes.
• A copy of fiscals (including details of any matching or local funds used to enhance or supplement this project) and invoice(s).

Grant 2 Deliverables and Reporting

Organizations who received Accessibility and Inclusion Site or Program Improvement grants are required to submit a final report to the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program office within one month of the scheduled end of their project.  The final report must include a project summary document with, as applicable:

• A description of the grant funded site or program improvement work completed.
• Photographs of completed physical site improvement project(s)
• Documentation or certification of an accessibility audit (if one was performed).
• A copy of all improved programming documents/documentation.
• A description of the grant-funded professional development program and resulting personal or professional development of your staff.
  • What was learned from the grant-funded work?
  • What (SMART) goals did your organization establish through your grant-funded work?
• A description of how under-resourced² students are or will benefit from the grant deliverables or outcomes.
• Backup documentation including a copy of fiscals (with details of matching or local funds used to enhance or supplement this project) and invoice(s).

Please note: The OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program office (or their designated representative) reserves the right to request a tour of the project site as part of the report review/grant closure process.