A Cooperative Institute is a collection of organizations working together to accomplish common goals in education and research.  The Oregon Natural Resources Research Institute (ONRRI) is headquartered at Wildlife Safari in Winston Oregon.  Companion facilities include local high schools, community colleges, universities and private research organizations.

The common theme in the cooperative institute is natural resources.  The purpose of the institute is to provide a high level of math and science educational opportunities that are value added to the classroom environment.  The audience is for students at all levels of instruction in K-12, community college, undergraduate and graduate , and community education.

The primary objective for students in the K-12 education system is to develop increased levels of enthusiasm for the study of math and science.  Members of the Institute feel that development of curiosity and inquiry will translate into better performance in the classroom.

Through the combined K-12 and community college components of programs at the institute, students will enter the undergraduate and graduate programs better prepared in math and science.

Students interested in any course of study will benefit from programs at the institute.

As a cooperative institute, programs at the institute will be coordinated with the student's home institutions classroom work through curriculum integration.