Northwest Youth Corps - OutDoor School

Northwest Youth Corps established the OutDoorHighSchool in 1997. This private secondary school is fully accredited by The Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities since 2003, which allows it to grant nationally recognized credits, diplomas and transcripts.

The OutDoorHighSchool ('OutDoorSchool' or ODS) offers a combination of hands-on learning, conservation work, applied science, and academics. Operating during the school year, the OutDoorSchool follows a nonresidential high school format that includes overnight camping, smaller class sizes and an emphasis on mentoring. ODS creates a positive educational experience for students, made possible in part by AmeriCorps funded team leaders.

The OutDoorSchool prepares youth for the workplace by emphasizing basic skills and career readiness, while providing a solid academic foundation for students interested in pursuing a college education. An innovative curriculum connects field study with math, science, language arts and social studies. Students apply what they learn, and work as members of a team to complete projects such as building trails, planting trees, restoring wetlands and streams, improving parks and completing classroom projects.

ODS earn a traditional high school diploma, requiring 24 credits, and can earn up to 8 credits per school year. Due to the daily nature of the ODS programs, youth need to live in LaneCounty to participate and provide their own transportation to and from school.

ODS operates in partnership with local school districts including Eugene, Springfield, Bethel, Creswell, Crow, Fern Ridge, Junction City, Marcola, Central Linn, McKenzie, Pleasant Hill and South Lane. The support of local project sponsors through paid work projects, also allows us to offer learning opportunities and support ODS operations.

We also thank all who make gifts and grants to the OutdoorHighSchool, NYC’s general program, Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund, and/or Sponsor-A-Crew initiative. Your help allows us to provide our students with the highest quality program.

There is no tuition cost to families for participation in the OutdoorSchool, but there is an occasional activity fee. ODS enrolls youth from all ethnic and economic backgrounds. A licensed special education teacher is on staff to help students with learning disabilities. NYC/ODS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Program.

The OutDoor School was recently the subject of a documentary from University of Oregon students :

On behalf of the youth served by the Northwest Youth Corps’ Outdoor High School, we thank our funders for their grants to help students gain the tangible knowledge and technical skills they need to be successful in college or a career. Our Student Success Project funders include:

Herbert A Templeton Foundation
Trust Management Services, LLC
Life Technologies Foundation
Autzen Foundation
and Kingsford Manufacturing
ODS is also supported by an operating grant from the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps.

These funders are helping our students meet new Oregon graduation requirements through the services of a new Curriculum Coordinator, who created a framework for a new Oregon place-based curriculum. We look forward to building on this framework with STEM education, web-based training, and long-term ecological research. Grant funds also allowed us to purchase new student laptops, Computer on Wheels carts, new teacher laptops, a printer, digital document cameras, “In-Focus” projectors and carts, as well as other items and software. We also received a donation of Windows 7 operating systems from Microsoft.

Together, we are helping our students to become successful, while providing positive outcomes in our community well into the future. Thank you again for your generous support of the students served by Northwest Youth Corps during the next academic year and beyond.