So You Want to Create Awesome Youth Leadership Development Programs?

In this conversation, Candace Brendler speaks with Elliot Drake-Maurer, the High School Leader Coordinator for the Oregon State University Extension Outdoor School. They discuss the structure and impact of outdoor education programs, the role of high school leaders, and the importance of inclusivity in outdoor experiences. Elliot shares his career journey, the barriers faced by students, and the significance of listening to community needs. The conversation also touches on the upcoming AORE Inclusive Summit and the importance of professional development in outdoor education.

 

Elliot will be joining AORE for the 2025 Inclusivity in the Outdoors month. You can learn more here.

 

Meet Elliot

Elliot Drake-Maurer (he/him) is a person who stutters and has been teaching and leading in the outdoors for fifteen years. He holds a bachelor's degree in Outdoor Education from Northland College. He has taught traditional survival skills, guided raft trips, and led backpacking expeditions in northern California, guided kayak tours on Lake Superior, and taught environmental education in public K-8 schools. He is currently the High School Leader Coordinator for the Oregon State University Extension Outdoor School, helping develop and improve teen leadership experiences in a statewide environmental education program. As an educator, Elliot seeks to help people discover a personal relationship with the earth and is interested in the intersections of identity, culture, and place in the field of outdoor education. Elliot resides in Corvallis, OR where he enjoys paddling on the Willamette River, cross-county skiing in the mountains, and playing Irish folk music.

 

Resources 

• Outdoor school website: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/outdoor-school General info about the program
• Outdoor School Explorer: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0fd351cf7f2e4d69aac240e9973e0dd7?org=OSUGISci Interactive map that allows you to see program metrics connected to county and school districts.
• Biennial Report: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/outdoor-school/annual-biennial-reports These reports outline what we do, how we do it, and how well we are doing it, as well as areas for growth and improvement.
• Self Evaluation Tools: There are three different tools, all accessible here: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/outdoor-school/self-evaluation-tools

      Cultural Responsiveness Self-Evaluation Tool (CRSET)

      Instructional Resource Self-Evaluation Tool (IRSET)

      Special Education and Accessibility Self-Evaluation Tool (SEASET)

• Critical Orientations: Indigenous Studies and Outdoor Education, by Dr. Spirit Brooks and Dr. Leilani Sabzalian.https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/course/Critical-Orientations-Indigenous-