12/18/2002

By DAVE NORTHFIELD and ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, KGW Staff

The fight is on to save not just sports, but other Portland school programs facing the budget axe as well.

Programs like Outdoor School, which sends 6th graders camping for a week to learn about science and friendship.

Outdoor School has served as a model for creative science education since 1965, and many current students are on a mission to save the program.

Outdoor School temporarily takes students out of a walled classroom and provides 6th graders with an opportunity to learn about the natural sciences in a natural setting. (AP photo)

The high school leaders involved with Outdoor School education call the program a life-changing experience.

"It's just a bigger sense of community than I've ever ever had in any aspect of my life. There's so much energy, there's so much passion,” said one high-school student who has volunteered as an Outdoor School Counselor.

However, last week the Portland School Board voted to cut Outdoor School along with the spring sports season in an attempt to fill a gaping budget hole.

Efforts to save spring sports began immediately; Blazer Damon Stoudamire contributed a $200,000 donation.

No such angel has stepped forward to help Outdoor School, which needs to raise $425,000 in less than a month.

Approximately 2,200 6th graders and 1,500 high school students are part of Outdoor School.

Supporters say they’ve had some good response from local businesses, but have no cash in hand yet.