Heart of Oregon Corps trains rural and underserved youth across Central Oregon in careers that solve our region’s greatest challenges: construction, childcare, wildfire risk reduction and public lands conservation. The problem? We’ve stretched a network of aging and borrowed facilities to the limit as we work to serve 225 youth each year. We've graduated more than 5,000 youth since 2000! Help us build our new $7.3M, 3.4-acre campus in Redmond where youth can learn, gain certifications, and prepare to transition to thriving careers that change health and social outcomes for a lifetime--for young people and our communities.
now we're BUILDing THE CAMPUS THAT POWERS THEIR GROWTH AND DRIVES OUR REGION FORWARD.
WE NEED THIS CAMPUS NOW
The State of Oregon estimates 1 in 8 youth ages 16-24 are currently disengaged from school and work. ​But not at Heart of Oregon Corps.
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Since 2000, we've hired and trained 5,000 youth from Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. Our graduates go on to work in construction, wildland firefighting, childcare, and public lands conservation. These youth ​are solving our region's greatest challenges​.
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The problem is that demand has outpaced our network of aging, borrowed facilities. Heart of Oregon Corps needs a campus of its own to support youth on the workforce track to earn the training and certifications they need to thrive and support our communities.
THE FOOTPRINTS AND BOOTPRINTS OF OUR YOUTH ARE ALL OVER Central oregon
2024 IMPACT STATS
OUR VISION
The 3.4 acre, $7.3 million campus will be an inspiring central hub for our services across all three counties in Central Oregon. We will maintain satellite sites in Jefferson and Crook counties where youth can access training in their home communities but also be transported to our main campus for connections with youth from across the region and advanced trainings. Youth can then bring home what they learn to become the next generation of a strong workforce in their communities.
Our campus give us room to offer more trainings, certifications, and youth-support services. The design will feature youth-centered cultural elements and trauma-informed design to create a sense of belonging, camaraderie and an inspiring place to learn.
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The new campus will include:
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A new 6,600 central Campus Center building will offer classrooms, offices, confidential spaces, laundry and shower facilities that give our youth the sense that they, too, are worth a campus of their own
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A renovation of an existing 14,000 square foot training warehouse will become the go-to place for hands-on workshops and trainings
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Enclosing six equipment bays across 10,000 square feet that will provide space for special projects and housing for HOC’s large equipment inventory such as wood chippers and trailers
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An amenity-filled courtyard will give youth places to gather for events, a game of hoops, or quiet moments of reflection and study
PROVEN RESULTS
Heart of Oregon Corps has already empowered over 5,000 youth (ages 16–24) across Central Oregon with certifications, GED support, and paid service jobs in construction, childcare, and conservation
$2.5M for 2025
We call it our Legacy 25 campaign: with a goal of raising $2.5 million for the campus in our 25th anniversary year. And we've been on a roll with just $1.67 million left to go to reach our final goal of $7.3 million for the new campus.
MATCH UNLOCKED!
Thank you so much to the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund for a generous $500,000 challenge grant. We have officially unlocked this match thanks to your contributions.
GROUNDBREAKING
We broke ground on the new campus in September 2025. Make a gift today to help keep construction on track so our students are ready to move into their permanent home without disruption in fall 2026
