HB2078 Momentum Builder

Outdoor Friends,

On behalf of the Washington Outdoor School Coalition, we are grateful for your support. We believe that when our youth spend time outdoors, immersed in residential learning, and with peers, they transform into better citizens of our communities.

Why? Because they learn to listen, lead, communicate, and empathize with all living things. Nature has an incredible impact on a child’s mental, physical, and emotional health, and we are only getting started at getting kids back to and in nature.

This past spring, our learning centers reopened doors, dusted off the cabins, and began the process of preparing to meet kids once again in an outdoor setting. As the buses showed up, our staff met them enthusiastically, with signs that read “Welcome! We Are Back, We Missed You”! Many group leaders commented that having kids back at their learning centers would not have been possible without the legislative support and supplemental funding secured over the last few years.

What is next?

The Washington Outdoor Schools Coalition is working closely with Outdoor Schools Washington (OSWA) on how best to maximize the passage of HB 2078. OSWA,  in collaboration with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Principals’ Foundation of Washington, is charged with awarding the funds to the school applicants. Because of you – 21,000 students have accessed outdoor education from over 30 outdoor center sites across the state. As legislation approaches, we will have to rise to the occasion and voice our need for expanding reach as we have nearly two hundred thousand 5th and 6th graders in Washington.

We want Outdoor Schools Washington to deliver on their work and serve the youth of Washington. The grant program has a legislative promise of $40 million, and our consortium will be working diligently in the halls of congress to reach this financial goal. This increase in funding will expand capacity, improve existing, and lead to more children having this experience who would have otherwise never stepped foot in nature. I hope you’ll join us in any capacity and stand by our sides as we work with our representatives to ensure every child gets this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Chase Buffington

Chair of the Washington Outdoor School Coalition

Washington Outdoor School For All (waoutdoorschoolforall.com)

Washington State Legislature Establishes Statewide Outdoor School Program, Allocates Up to $10 Million to Support School Participation

This week, the Washington Legislature passed historic legislation establishing a statewide Outdoor School program. They also directed up to $10 million, to be awarded as grants to school districts to send students to outdoor school, for the 2023 school year. The immediate goal is to help children catch up on their learning and cope with the social and mental obstacles that come with being stuck at home, learning on screens for the past two years. 

“The Washington Outdoor School Coalition is elated with this bold step forward in our children’s futures,” said WOSC Chair, Chase Buffington, Director of the Cispus Environmental Learning Center near Randle. “We see this as the beginning of a long term investment in teaching children critical thinking skills, how to work together to solve problems, and to learn about the natural wonders of Washington.”

“But, given record revenues and the continuing impact on children of the pandemic, we are disappointed that the Legislature failed to meet the actual need.” Buffington estimates that it would take $50 million a year to send all Washington students to a full week of Outdoor School during their 5th or 6th grade year. He said, “We got a pledge from the Legislature to invest $40 million in our kids in the next budget – we will work hard to show the value of this program and collect on that pledge.”

Governor Inslee, a graduate of Camp Waskowitz Outdoor School, shared his view.: “I appreciate the legislature’s support for expanding outdoor school in Washington state. This is an important opportunity for our kids to experience quality instructional time outdoors, and it may even inspire them to pursue exciting careers in earth science and land management, which will help prepare our state for the challenges of climate change.”

Washington follows Oregon’s creation of a statewide Outdoor School program in 2016. Led by former Portland Metro Councilor, Rex Burkholder, advocates in Oregon placed a funding measure on the ballot which passed with 66% of the vote dedicating $29 million a year in grants to school districts, overseen by the Oregon State Extension Service. Washington’s program will be housed in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Rex Burkholder’s consulting firm, We Win Strategy Group, advised and supported the Washington Outdoor School Consortium. They are currently in talks with Outdoor School advocates in California about a similar effort. “We are thrilled with Washington’s success and hope to spread universal access to outdoor school nationwide,” said Burkholder.

Legislators Debate Establishing/Funding Outdoor School for All

From the Seattle Times: 2/28/2022

OLYMPIA — Washington lawmakers have earmarked dollars for a bill that would create a statewide outdoor education program as the House and the Senate work to finalize the state’s 2022 supplemental budget.

But in House and Senate budget proposals released earlier last week, lawmakers took differing approaches on the bills’ funding mechanisms and will have to reach an agreement by the end of the legislative session on March 10. more …

All Kids Deserve Outdoor School: Everett Herald

Everett Herald Calls for Outdoor School For All

State lawmakers are considering legislation, House Bill 2078, that would establish an outdoor learning grant program to develop and support educational programs for students throughout the state. Administered by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the grants would be available to school districts to partner with outdoor school providers and state environmental agencies.

As eager as children and parents were for a return to school classrooms after two years of remote learning, there’s now a louder voice for giving students a better opportunity to learn outdoors, in particular, away from screens.

“Our kids are on screens all the time it seems,” said legislation sponsor state Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, during a Jan. 25 hearing before the House education committee. “They are on screens from the moment they wake up, sometimes at school and often until the moment they fall asleep.”

Outdoor Schools Washington set up to support Outdoor School programs statewide

By now, you have hopefully seen the news. The efforts of Outdoor School for All and you this past spring succeeded getting $10 million allocated to send up to 20,000 students to outdoor school! The Washington School Principals Education Foundation was designated to handle passing out grants to schools and school districts to support Outdoor School experiences for 5th/6th grade students.

Schools: There is money set aside for your school. Go to OutdoorSchoolsWA.org and follow the Schools and Educators button to confirm funds for your school’s outdoor school experience. Funds have already been allocated for over 7,700 students. The money is available now and into the spring, and possibly fall 2022, depending on sign-ups. We can’t wait to see students out learning in nature.

Providers: Grants are also available to outdoor school providers to upgrade their camps. Apply here. Providers are encouraged to work with their local schools to apply for program funds and schedule students for the coming year.

About WSPEF: The Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation exists to support outdoor education programs throughout the state. At its inception, those who drafted the WSPEF’s articles of incorporation recognized the importance of outdoor education throughout the state. Just as the four functions listed below center on service to all outdoor education school programs in Washington, WSPEF sees its role as the fiscal agent for Outdoor Schools Washington as latest iteration of service to all sites. WSPEF is also fiscal sponsor for the Washington Outdoor Schools Coalition, the organization advocating for Outdoor School for All.

• To provide facilities for student and teacher training programs in outdoor education.

• To consult with teachers on environmental training and program development

• To develop a state resource center for environmental education media

• To promote inter-agency cooperation and train resource agency personnel to serve as consultants for environmental education community and school programs.

Contact support@outdoorschoolswa.org for more information or to talk through your school’s program.

WWU STUDY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL OUTDOOR SCHOOL IN WA

Report by James McCafferty. Director – Center for Economic & Business Research, Western Washington University. Summary below. This report was requested and funded by the Washington State Legislature.

WWU Research Study: Key Findings: 

The results of this study have strong implications for Outdoor School For All, showing broad and strong support for funding universal outdoor school. The report also includes comparative information from other states useful in answering questions about program design, cost, and outcomes.

Strong support among all groups interviewed for multi-night, residential, science-based education (98% of educators), targeting students in the 5th and 6th Grade (old enough to be away from home and less conflict with extracurricular activities). Primary barrier cited is lack of funding (89% of educators). Strong support for program delivery by professional staff (79% of educators). Those who used programs felt that most typical offerings met their expectations (eg, science, math) with the exception of Social and Emotional Learning. This may be because programs integrate SEL outcomes into the activities of camp (eg, meal times, cabin protocols) and do not expressly label these activities as SEL. Increased environmental stewardship is highly valued as an outcome of outdoor school.

Research participants identified ways in which outdoor schools benefit society:

Students benefit from improved academic and social and emotional learning. These benefits are positive and long-lasting

Teachers benefit from increased student engagement and improved behavior as well as support for curricula supporting outcomes in science, math, SEL, indigenous knowledge

Outdoor Educators benefit through stable employment, increased professional opportunities, integration with other educators, etc

Surrounding Communities benefit through increased economic activity, students engaging with the community, esp through environmental stewardship. 

Equity: outdoor school is recognized for its strong, positive impact on BIPOC, cultural minorities and disadvantaged children. Current access to outdoor school is inequitable mostly due to funding constraints. This is a strong argument for increased state funding for outdoor school. 

In addition, the pandemic shutdown of in-person learning has had disproportionate impacts on these students. This is another argument for increased funding targeting them.

Accessibility: is seen as a major obstacle for universal outdoor school. Most sites lack accommodation for physically challenged children. Also, support staff for children with mental or emotional issues are needed--a need exacerbated by pandemic impacts.

Economic Impacts: Funds spent on outdoor schools have a marked economic multiplier effect in the community, typically rural where camps are located. For every dollar spent on outdoor school, there are $1.60 to $1.80 in benefits.

Check Out How Far We Have Come in Getting All WA Kids to Outdoor School!

Announcing: A 10 Million Dollar Opportunity

We are kicking off our campaign to ask the Washington State legislature to support passage of $10M Request for Residential Outdoor School to Address Learning Loss in High Poverty Schools.

Isolation and challenges with remote learning resulting from pandemic shutdown of schools have had especially negative impacts on students who are  already suffering from poverty, under-resourced schools, lack of access to enriching activities including outdoor recreation and nature-based learning. 

Outdoor School, a week long, immersion in hands-on science and environmental education for students during their 5th or 6th grade year in a supportive, residential setting is a decades-long tradition in Washington. Studies of students in Washington, as well as similar programs nationwide, show marked benefits in accelerated learning, improved student engagement and behavior, and higher graduation and retention rates, as well as greater awareness of and interest in STEM careers.

Follow on Twitter @WAOutdoorSchool, Instagram @waoutdoorschoolforall, or check out the Facebook page!