2025-26 Season Update

Teachers, please keep in mind that we will work with you to make AiS work for your classroom, no matter if you are teaching in-person or virtually. If you are new to AiS and have any questions about how to make it work in your classroom, please contact AFO staff so we can assist you.

We highly encourage first-time AiS teachers, who apply to partner with a design/building professional, to participate in an orientation in the fall. Scroll down for more information on AiS orientations.

If you choose options that involve a partnership, AFO staff will match you with a design/building professional who requests similar participation options. We offer support for partnerships and assist your team with planning sessions to make sure AiS is best serving you and your students.

Teachers who complete a 6-week in-person or virtual residency will be eligible to receive graduate credit.

When you apply, you will be able to select one or more of the following options for participating in AiS:

• In-Person Residency including 1-2 or 3-6 sessions with a design/building professional
• Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions with a design/building professional while they are virtual and students are in-classroom
• Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions with a design/building professional while they and the students are all virtual
• Implement AiS materials without a design/building professional (option to schedule a one-time planning consultation with a professional)

Teacher applications are closed for the 2025-26 season. The 2026-27 teacher application will open on August 1, 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter to get notified.

Watch a recording of our 2024 Lunch & Learn to learn more about volunteering.

Design/building professionals, architecture students, and engineering students, we want to make sure you feel confident and comfortable about participating, so please contact AFO staff if you have any concerns.

First-time AiS volunteers are required to participate in an orientation in the fall. We also highly recommend that all volunteers (new and returning) attend our trauma workshop. This training will prepare you to work with youth of all different backgrounds. Scroll down for more information on AiS orientations and trauma workshops.

After you apply, AFO staff will match you with a teacher who requests similar options. We offer support and assist your team with planning sessions to make sure AiS is best serving you, your teacher partner, and the students.

When you apply, you will be able to select one or more of the following options for participating in AiS:

• In-Person Residency including 1-2 or 3-6 sessions in the classroom
• Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions while you are virtual and students are in-classroom
• Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions while you and the students are all virtual

Virtual Residencies
Please note, if you sign up to participate in AiS virtually, you may be placed with any school around Oregon that is also participating virtually. Virtual participation allows us to reach students in geographic areas that are typically hard for us to access through in-person residencies. By participating virtually, you are helping make AiS more accessible to students that might not normally receive programming like this or have exposure to professionals in the field!

Virtual sessions will occur through the web-based platform used by the school you are paired with, since it will already be set up for the students and vetted according to district guidelines.

Apply ASAP