Klamath Outdoor Science School

Klamath Outdoor Science School

www.klamathoutdoorschool.org

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EXPERIENCE KOSS! Take your class to the Sun Pass State Forest to learn about natural resources and outdoor science in the unique Upper Klamath Basin.

Don't have the Funding Necessary for Forestry Education Involving Bus Transportation for Your Class?

Teachers in Klamath Falls should not give up on field trips and outdoor schools involving Forestry education. Its a matter of funding. In connection with funding shortfalls, Klamath Falls area school districts have cut bus transportation funding for fieldtrips for 2008-2009 school year. Teachers are not necessarily prevented from going on fieldtrips, but they will have to find other ways of funding the trips.
Our partner, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI), may be able to provide transportation funds, on a case-by-case basis, to those classrooms whose opportunities to participate in such forestry-related studies are otherwise limited. The bus transportation fund will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis. They give priority to requests involving their partners, including KOSS. As a teacher or school administrator, you should submit the request before you schedule fieldtrips or camps involving KOSS. OFRI usually responds to your request in less than two weeks. You must apply well in advance to receive consideration. Click here to learn more about OFRI and the educational resources they have available.

Click here to download OFRI bus scholarship application in Office 2003 format.

Click here to download OFRI bus scholarship application in PDF format.

Don't have the funding to attend a KOSS program?

Contact Carla (541-850-8218) at KOSS to discuss the applicability of scholarship funds we may have available through our partner, the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board also a major contributors to KOSS in helping with the some of the costs of providing the programs.

KOSS PROGRAM OPTIONS
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FALL SEASON

2008 Fall Day Fieldtrips Flyer - Click here.

2008 Fall Day Camp Registration Packet- Click here.

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What will a fall fieldtrip be like? Your fieldtrip will include approximately 2.5-3.5 hours of educational time and lunch, depending on when your bus must depart the camp. KOSS provides two instructors, and typically the class splits in half and takes turns doing specific activities. Contact Carla to check for date availability, 541-850-8218. If we're out of the office, leave a message or send and email. We will contact you shortly!

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SPRING SEASON

2009 Spring Outdoor School. Click here.

2009 Science Inquiry Camp- New Option! Click here.

(Adobe® Reader® is required for the downloading registration materials and is available for free at http://www.adobe.com.)
On behalf of the kids who benefit from KOSS, we extend a wonderful thanks to all who have supported us. We couldn't do it without you! (Microsoft® Word is required for the download.)
KOSS could benefit from a larger group of volunteers and is seeking new board members! If you are interested in offering your time and talents, please contact Carla at 541-850-8218.
Read our last newsletter. (Adobe® Reader® is required for the download and is available for free at http://www.adobe.com.)
Download the most recent Klamath Outdoor Science School brochure. (Adobe® Reader® is required for the download and is available for free at http://www.adobe.com.)

Our Vision
The Klamath Outdoor Science School (KOSS) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization which originated in 2004 from a grassroots effort by local teachers, parents, agency personnel, and other interested citizens in the Klamath Basin. Our vision is to provide youth with an exciting and unique experience in a natural setting that inspires learning through exploration and instills an appreciation for the unique resources of the region. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to attend a residential outdoor school because it fosters levels of emotional investment, personal growth, relationship building, and an intensity of learning not possible in single-day field trips.

Come share our vision! Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7PM at old Riverside School, 707 Cypress Avenue (2nd Floor) in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Everyone is welcome. Visit our KOSS News Page for more information.

The Upper Klamath Basin
The Upper Klamath Basin is a very special place. Its natural beauty and diversity are awe-inspiring. The Basin is home to over 430 wildlife species, including the largest wintering bald eagle population in the continental U.S. Klamath Lake, the largest body of freshwater west of the Rockies, is surrounded by forests, farms and wetlands and forms the headwaters of the Klamath River. North of the Basin is Oregon’s only National Park, Crater Lake. This makes a unique watershed and a great place for students to study forestry, wetlands, local plant and animal wildlife, river and stream morphology, soils, fisheries, geology and more.

Sun Pass State Forest
Sun Pass Forest is the only Oregon state forest east of the Cascades and is the home of KOSS. It is here that students learn forest science and an appreciation for a forest that is well-managed for multiple uses. Students, in groups of 30 to 50, attend KOSS for one to four nights, staying in yurts. KOSS provides all instruction, supplies, lodging and meals. The ratio of adult to student is 1:5. Field studies are provided twice a day along with interest activities and evening programs which include a campfire. Students maintain a field journal to gather and analyze data. Curriculum can be provided to school groups before and after their stay at KOSS to further enhance learning. Single-day camps can also be arranged.