Vision

We’re taking education outside - into our communities and nature with multidisciplinary, place-based experiential ecology lessons rooted in partnerships. Our programs aim to cultivate an ecological mindset where the entire ecosphere is shown to have innate value and is an extension of ourselves and our health. Students discover our interconnectedness, and through this knowledge, they recognize that caring for our shared place is the same as caring for each other.

Goals

1. 1.Our Place-Based Units (PBUs) are highly adaptable curriculum kits, making them an ideal tool for reaching diverse audiences. We are expanding to rural communities, and all PBUs are being translated into Spanish. We are also exploring the development of specialized PBUs for students with disabilities, ensuring that environmental education is inclusive and accessible to all learners.
2. 2.Following the integration of the Aves Compartidas program into our organization, we aim to align our existing efforts so that our programs complement each other. By doing so, we strive to leverage the strengths of each initiative to maximize our organizational capacity, impact, and effectiveness, enriching our educational offerings to better serve our diverse community.
3. 3.ECO’s Climate Action Education Program bridges the gap in formal climate education for Oregon’s middle and high school students. Building on our successful K-8 programming, this initiative provides solutions-based lessons to middle and high school students. We aim to expand and enhance the program, increasing its reach, inspiring environmental stewardship, and fostering pathways to green careers.