Winter 2025
REV Newsletter
Vol. 2, No. 2
GO-ASAP Kicks Off:
Outdoor Adventures and Mentorship for Area Students
This year’s Get Outside After School Activity Program is starting now. Coordinated by REV, GO-ASAP provides a non-competitive and positive environment where students learn that physical activity isn’t limited to gyms or organized sports. The program employs Eastern Oregon University students as paid interns who mentor middle schoolers, fostering leadership skills and hands-on experience in guiding outdoor activities.
Established in 2016, this unique program offers outdoor adventures such as hiking, paddle boarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing, encouraging students to explore nature while staying active.
Parents have noted significant positive changes in their children’s enthusiasm and behavior. One father observed, "Almost immediately I noticed the difference in the way that [my son] was acting. He was super excited every week to be a part of the program."
Last year, 19 La Grande Middle school students hiked, mountain biked, rock climbed, participated in watershed monitoring, played disc golf, pickleball, and volleyball while being led by EOU student mentors. The goal of GO-ASAP, held every spring, is to provide students with an opportunity to get outside, build positive community experiences, connect with the amazing outdoors of northeast Oregon, and learn physical activity skills they can carry forward as lifestyle choices.
GRACE NOTE
Winter was shy this year in Eastern Oregon, but even after months of a mild snow season, the presence of spring as the earth re-awakens is noticeable and welcome. I find this breath of fresh air particularly comforting in light of the sweeping uncertainty for our non-profit peers who receive federal funding, and many of our partners and friends who work for federal agencies. I was heartened by the theme of “Adaptive Management” at the Northern Blues All Lands Conference held in Baker at the end of February to hear from leaders who have weathered similar storms in the past and to remind ourselves that we are all doing the best that we can, where we are, with what we have.
Back in December, REV welcomed two new team members who bring new skills, talents, and energy to our team. Eric Carlson joined REV as our Project Manager to lead our youth engagement activities and spearhead workforce development initiatives. Eric grew up in Burns, OR and has a background in natural resources making him an excellent fit to work with youth outdoors and support career pathways in stewardship.
Kristen Kendall also joined REVs ranks as a RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments) AmeriCorps Fellow. Kristin will be supporting special projects and has been a tremendous addition to the Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility initiative, which is a joint project of REV Union County Commissioner Anderes to improve the economic outcomes of rural residents focusing on increasing access to childcare.
Eric and Kristen’s contributions will help us deepen our impact and drive forward key projects, strengthen partnerships, and help us take meaningful steps, as we move towards our vision for prosperous and thriving rural communities.
I’m particularly excited for a budding collaboration between REV, Eastern Oregon University, and the UAS Accelerator in Pendleton that aims to showcase innovation in our rural region and facilitate connections between college students at EOU. I firmly believe that pairing our middle and high school programs that create positive connections with the Eastern Oregon landscape and communities, and showcasing exciting career opportunities in technology is a winning combination to create rural resilience and prosperity. Stay tuned for more information on our socials!
I want to thank all of you, our partners, funders, supporters, friends, and peers who continue to push us, encourage us, collaborate, and adapt with us to drive these efforts forward and build resilient communities, capable of facing challenges with optimism and agility.
Grace Donovan
Executive Director
CURRENT PROJECTS
Cottonwood Summer Institutes
REV’s outdoor learning events are taking registrations through May 15 for this summer’s institutes:
Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute, June 15-20, offers high school students a week of a variety of courses and activities in Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Cottonwood Canyon Teacher Institute, June 22-25, offers K-12 educators an intensive four-day long residential place-based field studies program in Cottonwood Canyon State Park
In 2025, funds are available to cover the transportation costs to Cottonwood Canyon State Park for students and teachers attending either the Cottonwood Crossing Student Institute or the Cottonwood Canyon Teacher Institute. Learn more >
Oregon Frontier Innovation Hub
A huge step for connecting the entrepreneurship ecosystem for OFIH was accomplished recently. OFIH’s website launched! Brush up on your knowledge of its services and help spread the word to entrepreneurs looking for resources to support their vision.
Rural Planning Program: City of Joseph
The Rural Planning Program work is nearing completion. Over the winter, the team surveyed Joseph and Wallowa County residents to learn about their current and future housing needs. Survey results will be incorporated into the final recommendations and policy options for the City of Joseph.
EOU professors Dr. Daniel Costie and Dr. Shannon Donovan have been instrumental in lending their expertise in public policy, planning, and rural communities to the project and working with 5 student interns hired throughout the course of this project to support the development of a Buildable Lands Inventory, Housing Market Analysis, Survey Development and Analysis, as well as drafting policy memos that were presented to the City of Joseph.
The results of our work with ECO Northwest and the City of Joseph will be presented to the public on April 28, 2025 at the City of Joseph Planning Commission Meeting.
Urban Rural Ambassadors: A unique course offered by Oregon’s rural and urban universities
URA includes online sessions and two weekends - one in the Portland area, one in the La Grande area.
“The best part (of the course) was the numerous meetings we had with various community organizations. Our class focus was on food systems but we learned more than that through presentations and discussions with ranchers, food banks, and other businesses,” said Julian Harris, a 2024 URA participant, and current EOU student.
Because the course has costs other courses do not have - lodging, meals, and transportation - REV along with PSU’s National Policy and Consensus Center are seeking funding from outside sources.
With more than half of the funds raised so far for these operational costs, if you or your organization can help assist in reaching the goal — or know of others who can help — please donate and spread the word about URA.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring 2025 - GO-ASAP
April 2, 2025 - Cutting-Edge Drone Startups to Connect with EOU Students & Leaders
Spring 2025 - Urban Rural Ambassadors
CCSI - June 15-20, 2025 - Learn more >
CCTI - June 22-27, 2025 - Learn more >
OPPORTUNITIES
Whether it’s helping with our social media platforms or working with youth and helping them explore the benefits of living in the eastern Oregon landscape, we have paid internships available for EOU students.
for EOU students
If you are or know of any EOU students looking for experiential learning opportunities, have them check our Student Internships.
for EOU faculty
EOU faculty members looking for opportunities to collaborate and give students a real-world experience in their chosen field, see the model REV uses and projects we’ve done.
for area community leaders
If you are a community leader seeking support for an initiative or challenge in your community, see how REV works with partners and connect with us to determine if REV is the right partner for you.
Follow REV on social media to stay informed on its events and projects.
FUNDING AWARDS
We sincerely thank Peter Dalke for his generous gift for the Urban Rural Ambassadors 2025 program. His gift will match donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000. You, too, can support the Urban Rural Ambassadors program, offering students a transformative opportunity to explore the diverse experiences of urban and rural Oregon.
Thank you also to the League of Oregon Cities for its gift in supporting the Urban Rural Ambassadors 2025 program, investing in future leaders in serving Oregon.
A big thank you to the Oregon Community Foundation who awarded the REV Center funds to support the Oregon Frontier Innovation Hub and staff support capacity through the Thriving Entrepreneur and Community Grant programs.
We also extend our gratitude to the Roundhouse Foundation who contributed funds to support the Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute and organizational capacity at REV.
Your support makes a big difference for the programs we offer, our staff, and the students and communities who benefit from the initiatives REV supports. Together, we're building a brighter future and we couldn’t do it without you!
HOW TO SUPPORT REV
The Rural Engagement & Vitality Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which creates partnerships between Eastern Oregon University and entities in eastern Oregon to enhance the vitality of the region and develop tomorrow’s rural workforce and leaders. Please consider making a donation. Your financial support enables all the programming we offer to continue and grow.
About the REV Newsletter
Winter 2025
Volume 2, Number 2
The newsletter of the Rural Engagement & Vitality (REV) Center is an quarterly publication designed to inform its audience about activities of the center. For more information about this newsletter, contact Terri Kaiser, Editor, 1 University Blvd., La Grande, OR 97850.
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