Scholarships Available for Rural Oregon Educators

ORAEYC logo

The Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC) is happy to offer scholarships to Oregon educators to support them in attending the conference. The scholarships will provide conference registration (including a site tour on Saturday, Aug 3), three nights of hotel (Wednesday July 31 - Saturday Aug 3), and a $150 stipend to help cover food or other costs. Scholarship applications must be received by June 15, and awardees will be notified June 19.

See below for more information about this opportunity. If you have questions, please email [email protected].

The application period for this opportunity is now closed. 
 

Goals of this Scholarship Program

  • To provide training and professional development for teachers in rural Oregon who wish to teach in nature preschools and forest kindergartens.
  • To provide training and professional development for administrators in rural Oregon who wish to create and/or administer nature preschools and forest kindergartens.
  • To provide training and professional development for early childhood education professionals in rural Oregon who would like to incorporate more nature/outdoor programming into their existing early childhood programs.
  • To create a network of nature preschools and forest kindergartens.
  • To create resources which support the development and evolution of these programs.

Grant Requirements

You must* work or reside in one of the qualifying Oregon Early Learning Hub/County areas: 

  • Four Rivers Early Learning Hub (Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman)
  • Eastern Oregon Early Learning Hub (Baker, Malheur, Wallowa)
  • Frontier Early Learning Hub (Grant, Harney)
  • Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon (Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson)
  • South Central Oregon Early Learning Hub (Douglas, Klamath, Lake)
  • Blue Mountain (Umatilla, Union, Morrow)
  • Northwest Early Learning Hub (Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook)
  • South Coast Regional Early Learning hub (Coos, Curry, Davis)

*If you work or reside in a county not listed, you may still apply for the conference scholarship, but note that priority is given to those areas listed.

Priority Population  

Everyone is welcome to apply for this grant. However, priority will be given to those directly working with children or working on behalf of a childcare program or initiative dedicated to bringing nature education to students in their communities. 

Selection of Candidates Process

The seven identified counties will each have a limited number of scholarships available. Selection will be based on meeting the qualifying requirements and your responses to the question/answer portion of the application.

Deadline for applications: June 15th

Applicants will be notified: June 19th

Questions?

If you have questions, please email [email protected].