Makeup Workshop

If you can come to just the first day portion, or just the second day portion of the regular overnight workshop, that can count as your workshop for the session. You must provide your own one-way transportation if you need to leave early or arrive late, but you may still take the provided bus for the start or end of the workshop. Let us know in advance if you plan to use this option, so we know who to expect coming and going: outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us or (503) 257-1600.

Alternate workshops are also available before or after the regular workshop. If you are registered to be a Student Leader prior to the regular workshop and do not show up for it, you will be automatically invited to attend a makeup workshop via e-mail, text, regular mail, or all three. For all makeup workshops for new Student Leaders, you will be placed at the site that has the most need for additional Student Leaders. This may be a different site than the one you originally registered for.

Most makeup workshops take place at the MESD:

11611 NE Ainsworth Circle
Portland OR, 97220​

 MAKEUP WORKSHOP DATES (RSVP)

• Anyone: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 11:30 am - 5 pm (training at MESD, bring a lunch!) - RSVP 
• Returning SLs Only: Sunday, March 15, 2026, 1 - 5 pm (Family Open House at your ODS site) - RSVP ​
• Anyone: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 11:30 am - 5 pm (training at MESD, bring a lunch!) - RSVP 

Learn how to become a recruiter in your high school! The SL recruiter meeting typically takes place in August before the school year starts to recruit for fall, and on MLK day to recruit for spring. The day typically has two parts:

• Help us assemble the packets that will go home to 6th grade families, as well as the packets that will go to Student Leaders to prepare for their week
• Learn to be a recruiter, gather materials and ideas, and collaborate with your peers

You are welcome to participate even if you plan to attend the regular workshop for you site.

The next SL Recruiter Meeting will be:

Monday, January 19, 2026 (MLK day)
10:30 am - 3 pm at MESD
11611 NE Ainsworth Circle
Portland OR, 97220

Please RSVP to attend!

Each site holds an afternoon / evening family open house event each session before or after the regular workshop (typically on Sunday or Wednesday). You can volunteer to lead tours and answer parent questions at your site. This is a great opportunity to meet the new staff and re-connect with your site at the beginning of the session. You may volunteer for this event even if you still plan to attend the regular overnight workshop! You must provide your own transportation both ways to your site. This session's open house is scheduled at Angelos, Collins, Kuratli, and Namanu for

Sunday, March 15th, 2026, 1-5 pm. - RSVP 

The weeks leading up to the start of the session are a flurry of preparation in the Outdoor School office. You can volunteer one afternoon after school (typically 3:30-4:30) to help us stuff envelopes, prepare name tags, apply labels, etc. (nothing glamorous or difficult, but it all needs to be done!) Contact the office at (503) 257-1600 or outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us to arrange a day to come in to help.

WORKSHOP DAY ONE

You probably remember the organized chaos of the MESD parking lot as everyone prepares to depart for workshop. We could use extra helpers there. Take the bus from your school and check in at the "questions" table when you arrive to be given a job (again, nothing difficult or glamorous; you may be a glorified traffic cone, but an important one). If you can arrive via your own transportation before the rest of the buses start to arrive, that's even better. Either way, you must arrange your own transportation home from the MESD parking lot when we're done. Contact the office to take advantage of this workshop option:
​(503) 257-1600 or outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us.

WORKSHOP DAY TWO

We also need help when all those buses come back to the parking lot on the second day! You might be a runner, bringing messages back and forth to people, or you might be a glorified traffic cone, but either way, we could use your help! Contact the office to take advantage of this workshop option:
​(503) 257-1600 or outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us.

If none of the options above work for you, contact your Site Supervisor for additional ideas. In the weeks leading up to the session, they are incredibly busy people, so this should be your last resort. Their first 6 ideas for you will be the ones listed above.