Submitted by the Washington Department of Public Instruction and Supervision
Today, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) and the Office of Public Instruction Supervision (OSPI) announced the awarding of $3.7 million in grants to provide outdoor learning experiences to thousands of Washington students.
The Outdoor Learning Grant Program was created by the Legislature in 2022 to develop and support outdoor educational experiences for students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Washington public schools. This program is managed by RCO in partnership with OSPI.
“These funds will enable community-based organizations to partner with school districts to bring outdoor learning to more than 20,000 Washington students,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. Stated. “These programs provide students with the opportunity to learn in a meaningful and engaging way that allows them to understand the unique contexts of their communities. We are grateful for Congress’ investment in this area and our partnership with the Department of Recreation and Conservation. doing.”
Outdoor learning leads to reduced stress, improved mental and physical health, higher academic performance, increased graduation rates, increased relationships with peers, and more. These grants are aimed at students who have traditionally been underserved by outdoor learning.
RCO and OSPI have awarded 27 grants to projects in the following 22 counties across the state (click to see grant description):
This grant is estimated to reach more than 40,000 students and provide more than 489,000 hours of outdoor learning opportunities. RCO and OSPI received 111 applications requesting $15.3 million.
“We received a large number of high-quality applications,” said Megan Duffy, director of the Washington State Department of Recreation and Refuge. “This shows how great a need there is across the state for this type of outdoor education.”
This funding will be provided to community-based organizations, tribes, and state and local agencies over the next two years. These groups partner with local school districts to provide outdoor learning opportunities primarily during school hours.
The grants provide students with a variety of experiences. For example, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation provides farm field trips to over 1,000 Walla Walla third and fourth grade students. There they taste fresh produce and learn about the importance of agriculture and farmers to society, where food comes from and the benefits of insects. Provides insect and plant life cycles, seasons and water cycles.
As another example on the other side of the state, the Community Leadership Institute offers high school students in King and Pierce counties weekly Saturday leadership and outdoor education classes, monthly environmental stewardship sessions, and three cultural initiatives that utilize natural resources. Provides an opportunity to participate in the exchange. Quinault Indian Nation educators teach traditional ecological learning. The final element of the program is the ambassador component, where high school students host field trips for elementary school students.
Program priorities encourage grant recipients to incorporate state policies. A long-standing curriculum, This incorporates traditional ecological knowledge into outdoor learning experiences.
In Chelan County, Cascade Fisheries will expand its Watershed Watch (WOW) program, with students restoring habitat in the Lower Sleepy Hollow Preserve, the last remaining functioning floodplain in the lower Wenatchee River. By partnering with local natural resource experts and tribal members, this program provides students with the opportunity to learn knowledge of Indigenous culture and ecology, and experience seasonal changes associated with local salmon and watershed systems. We provide.
For more information about the Outdoor Learning Grants program, please visit the RCO website.
