About Us

Since our early beginnings in the late 1970s, we have been committed to connecting Oregonians to nature. With the motto in mind 'Impact Educators, Impact our Future,' we offer formal and nonformal educators throughout the state professional development and educational resources. We center equity, diversity, and inclusion in all of our work and strive towards supporting equitable access to Oregon's natural resources education for all.

Educators

We support both formal PreK-12 classroom educators as well as nonformal educators, including home school instructors, youth group leaders (i.e. scouts, 4-H, after school programs), natural resource professionals, outdoor field instructors, nature center staff, staff working in museums, zoos, aquariums and many more.

Curriculum & Resources

Curriculum & Resources we provide are applicable to PreK-12th grade levels and meet state and national learning standards as well as the North American Association for Environmental Education's (NAAEE) Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence. We offer hands-on, interactive, and investigative strategies that are learner-centered and foster how to think, not what to think. ONREP is the state coordinator for the national environmental curriculum programs; Project Learning Tree and Project WILD.

ONREP Facilitators

ONREP Facilitators design and deliver professional development for educators in their local region and state-wide. ONREP provides extensive ongoing, hands-on training for all of our facilitators to ensure our workshops meet the changing needs of educators, keep up-to-date on the environmental education landscape, as well as encompass new methods and strategies of facilitation - both online as well as in-person. Our facilitators have expertise and experience in education and/or natural resources and are often current or retired classroom teachers themselves, non-formal educators, or professionals from natural resource organizations and agencies.

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Vision

All Oregonians are environmentally literate and share our natural resources equitably.

Mission

ONREP supports formal and non-formal educators with learner-centered, natural resources education. We center equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our work to connect Oregonians with nature.
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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We acknowledge that historic and current systemic barriers exist in environmental education that prohibit or discourage individuals and groups from participating fully. Oregon Natural Resources Education Program (ONREP) is dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion by:  

  • Cultivating culturally responsive practices and lifting up multiple perspectives and diverse ways of knowing. 
  • Dismantling inequities, oppression, and disparities in our policies, processes, and content.
  • Embracing and appreciating diversity as an asset by inviting, valuing, and respecting the full participation of all in our program.

ONREP recognizes that centering equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is a journey that requires a sustained commitment. We hold ourselves accountable for missteps made along the way and will listen, learn, and reflect as we embed EDI within our organization.

Please contact us with your ideas, thoughts, questions. And please continue to visit this page for new iterations of our EDI commitment and updates on our progress.

EDI Defined

Equity

is the fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement of all people. The pursuit of equity acknowledges that there are historically and currently underserved and underrepresented populations and that “equal” treatment maintains these inequities. Equity requires balancing conditions to provide equal opportunities to all individuals and groups (adapted from UC Berkeley Initiative for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity).

Diversity

is all the ways in which individuals differ, are similar, and are unique, each contributing distinct and valuable experiences and perspectives. A diverse community is one in which a variety of psychological, physical, and social differences exist; including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, nationality, ancestral origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental and physical ability, socio-economic status, education, learning styles, and other characteristics and ideologies (adapted from National Multicultural Institute).

Inclusion

is valuing and respecting the voices of all as necessary contributions. An inclusive environment is one in which all individuals and groups feel respected, valued, supported, and welcomed.

 

 

Short video clip of ONREP’s ongoing growth through
EDI - using a tree as a metaphor.

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Meet Our Team

LeeAnn Mikkelson

Program Director 


541-737-9121

Yasmeen Hossain, PhD

Associate Director


541-737-3005

Julie Van Hoosen

Office Specialist


541-737-2128

Kristi Backe, PhD

ONREP Collaborating Faculty

Outdoor School Curriculum and Professional
Development Coordinator

Meadow Moses

Student Program Assistant

ONREP Facilitators

The ONREP Facilitator cadre consists of approximately 35 facilitators working in over 17 counties throughout Oregon.
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Partners & Funders

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our funders. Through their support, ONREP is able to offer educators in Oregon environmental education curricula, materials, and professional development at no cost. Working with partners enriches our offerings, broadens our reachand is an essential cornerstone of our program. Some of our key partners & funders are:

 

ONREP relies on monetary and in-kind donations to provide environmental education tools, resources, and training to educators who reach thousands of Oregon’s PreK-12 students every year.  Please consider making a contribution today -  every gift makes a difference - and/or contact us with any ideas on other ways to support ONREP. Thank you!

Make a gift to ONREP