Attend the 1st annual
Youth Outdoor Career
& Leadership Summit!
August 13-16th
Scholarships available—see below!
What is Youth Outdoor Career Leadership Summit?
"YOCLS" is a hands-on, 4-day workshop with guest speakers that aims to improve leadership & career skills in youth. Held on the OSU Campus, explore outdoor careers, connect with youth internships, jobs, and education opportunities across Oregon! This summer, the OSU Extension Outdoor School program, in collaboration with KidSpirit, Juntos/Open Campus, 4-H and SeaGrant, will be hosting the first annual Youth Outdoor Career & Leadership Summit!
This 4-day event will bring together 50 youth aged 14-18 from across Oregon in an engaging summit featuring leadership and skill workshops, outdoor career exploration, and the opportunity to connect with peers and mentors from OSU extension youth-serving programs and beyond.
Previous experience with OSU Extension youth programs not required.
Classes
| Workshop name, date and time | Workshop Description |
|---|---|
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Building Your Narrative: A Workshop for August 14th 8:30 am -10:00 am
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This workshop is designed to guide high school students through the process of crafting a meaningful personal narrative for their college applications and scholarship essays. Students will learn how to highlight their unique experiences, strengths, and aspirations in a way that resonates with admissions committees and scholarship panels. With tips on storytelling, self-reflection, and effective writing, students can expect to leave with the tools needed to present their best selves in their applications. |
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Icebreakers, Team Building and Tricks August 14th 8:30 am - 10:00 am |
Learn and play while building essential group management skills! This interactive workshop will equip you with engaging icebreakers, creative team-building activities, and fun tricks to keep groups energized and connected. Whether managing large or small groups, you'll gain a toolbox of ideas to entertain and engage participants during unexpected delays or rainy days. Perfect for educators, camp staff, and youth leaders looking to enhance their facilitation skills with practical, hands-on activities! |
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Cultural Bias in the Job Market
August 14th 8:30 am - 10:00 am |
*Under Construction* |
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Mindful Nature Engagement: August 14th 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
In this workshop, you will learn about why being outdoors has a positive effect on your overall well-being, and how you can use mindfulness to care for your state of mind. In an introductory talk, you will hear about the science behind well-being, mindfulness, and nature. Then, you will be guided through a series of simple yet powerful mindfulness activities and learn how you can incorporate them into your daily routines to feel less stressed and more joyful. |
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CORE
August 14th 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
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Explore the growing outdoor recreation economy and discover the exciting career opportunities in fields like outdoor adventure, tourism, and environmental management. Learn about OSU's degree programs that can help you turn your passion for the outdoors into a successful career! |
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Let's Talk: Breaking Down
August 14th 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
Join us for an interactive and engaging workshop where we’ll dive into the art of communication! Using role-playing and active listening techniques, we’ll tackle common communication barriers in a fun and dynamic way. |
|
Nature Skills Lesson Plans
August 14th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm |
Are you interested in helping others to learn more about nature or science? Join us to pick up some tips and tricks you can use to thoughtfully connect with young people about your topic. Learn how to develop your personal science/nature story to inspire others’ interest, how to go from reading a lesson plan to sharing the lesson, and pick up a few tips to make your delivery more engaging and exciting. Everyone will get a chance to practice in a fun and low pressure environment! |
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Cultural Wealth Model
August 14th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm |
Discover how your cultural history can be a powerful strength, helping you embrace what makes you unique and use it to overcome biases. This class will empower you to see your identity as a source of pride and confidence in all areas of life. |
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Campfire Creators: Plan & Lead the Fun August 14th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm |
Create a memorable campfire experience! In this workshop, you'll design an evening of entertainment with activities like songs, stories, games, or skits—whatever fits your vision. Then, bring your plan to life as you lead the all-camp campfire that night! |
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Lead & Play: KidSpirit Activity Lab
August 14th 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm |
Put your workshop skills into action by leading engaging activities in a KidSpirit group! Choose between science experiments and interactive games as you practice facilitating fun, educational experiences. This hands-on opportunity will help you build confidence, adapt to different group dynamics, and refine your leadership skills in a supportive environment. |
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El Presio de la educacion (Espanol)
August 14th 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm |
In this workshop, participants will learn about the different “College Myths” and the options and resources to pay for college. Students will compete in a knowledge test game and learn about the college process and funding to pay for higher education. They will participate in an interactive activity to understand the best way to pay for college and learn the difference between Grants, Scholarships, Work-Study, Government Loans, and Private Loans. If you want to attend college “paying with someone else’s money,” this workshop is for you. If you want to have fun and learn about “College Myths,” this workshop is for you! |
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Conflict Compass: Navigate Challenges
August 14th 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm |
Discover your conflict management style and learn when to use each approach: avoiding, competing, accommodating, compromising, or collaborating. Through interactive discussions and fun role-playing scenarios, you'll practice adapting your style to different situations, building confidence in handling conflicts effectively. |
| Workshop name, date and time | Workshop Description |
|---|---|
|
Tree ID & Measurement: A Forester’s Toolkit August 15th 8:30 am - 10:00 am |
Get a hands-on experience in tree identification and measurement—key skills for any forester! In this interactive workshop at Moreland Arboretum, you'll learn to recognize different tree species and use forestry tools to measure height, diameter, and other important data. Working in small groups, you'll practice techniques used by professionals in the field. |
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Archery Instructor Basics: Teach, Set Up,
August 15th 8:30 am - 10:00 am |
Learn the fundamentals of teaching archery! This workshop covers proper shooting stances, essential safety protocols, equipment setup, and maintenance. Whether you're new to instructing or looking to refine your skills, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge to lead safe and engaging archery sessions. |
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Wilderness and Outdoor Safety
August 15th 8:30 am - 10:00 am |
The outdoors can be a dangerous place, but how do you manage risk without removing the inherent excitement of being outside? These are the questions we'll explore in this workshop as we examine risk in outdoor recreation and education settings, think through safety scenarios, and discuss how to approach situations with a risk management mindset. |
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Timber Tech: Experience Harvest Simulation
August 15th 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
Step into the world of forestry with hands-on experience in the College of Forestry’s harvest simulator room! With guidance, you'll operate state-of-the-art machine simulators and learn the skills used in real-world timber harvesting. A forestry contractor will also be on hand to share insights about the industry, including job responsibilities, required experience, and career opportunities. |
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Nature Journaling and Self Reflection
August 15th 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
Discover the power of nature journaling as a tool for self-reflection and creativity! In this hands-on workshop, you'll explore the outdoors, capture your thoughts through writing and art, and develop a deeper connection with the world around you. |
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Disability and Neurodiversity at Work
August 15th 10:30 am - 12:00 pm |
Explore the rights and workplace accommodations for people with disabilities and neurodiversity. Learn how to support inclusivity, understand different needs, and help create a more accessible and fair work environment for everyone. |
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OSU Cascades Outdoor Products
August 15th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm |
Explore the latest innovations in the outdoor products industry and discover how you can be part of this exciting field! Learn about new gear, sustainable design, and career pathways that connect your passion for the outdoors with real-world impact. |
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Interview Skills & From Campfires to Careers: How to Showcase Your Transferrable Skills
August 15th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm |
Get ready to shine in your next interview! This interactive workshop will help you build confidence, practice answering common questions, and learn how to prepare before you walk into the room. Perfect for anyone looking to boost their communication and presentation skills. This is a two-part class, 40 minutes will be interview skills and 40 minutes will be resume. |
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From Campfires to Careers: How to
August 15th 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm |
This interactive workshop is designed to help high school students discover and effectively showcase their transferrable skills which are valuable across various career pathways. Whether gained through part-time jobs, volunteer work, school projects, or extracurricular activities, students will learn how to translate these experiences into impactful resume content. This is a two-part class, 40 minutes will be resume and 40 minutes will be interview skills. |
Career Education Starts with Exploration
Career education and workforce development research continues to show the importance of exposing students to a wide variety of trades, jobs, and career fields. The Youth Outdoor Career and Leadership Summit will introduce youth to a wide range of career opportunities within the outdoor and environmental fields and highlight how their experience in leadership programs prepares them for success.
Many Paths to Success
The Youth Outdoor Career and Leadership Summit will be hosted on the OSU Corvallis Campus, but we believe that a 4-year college education is only one of many avenues to career and personal success. We seek to encourage students' excitement about learning and pursuing their passions and interests by taking advantage of all available opportunities, such as community colleges, career & technical schools, internships, apprenticeships, and more.
Interested, but not quite ready to register?
Call us at 541-737-KIDS (5437) or email [email protected] for more information!