The outdoors is a resource for enhancing learning, social engagement, and health and should be available to all New Mexican students across the state. Experiences in nature and access to the outdoors are associated with greater health and well being and academic success. There are many approaches to outdoor and environmental learning and education, including conservation, experimental, environmental, nature-based and place-based education.
The Outdoor Learning Initiative was initiated by the Cradle to Career New Mexico Report in 2021. The Cradle to Career New Mexico 2021 Report outlines the statewide industry education and career pathway strategy signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 2, 2019. This report summarizes the overarching goal to engage all New Mexicans as stewards of the state’s incredible natural resources. In 2022, Senator Siah Correa Hemphill sponsored Senate Bill 32 to support “Outdoor Learning Program Funding”. This bill was incorporated into House Bill 2 (HB 2) in the Senate Finance Committee and then HB 2 was approved by the Senate and concurred by the House. HB 2 was signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on March 9. This bill laid the groundwork to establish the Outdoor Learning Program at the New Mexico Public Education Department that consisted of:
- Two outdoor learning specialists, one focused on STEM integration and one focused on literacy and humanities integration
- Up to $300,000 for local educational agencies to start-up outdoor learning programs
The majority of funding for outdoor learning were used to support the Outdoor Learning Start-Up Grants which funded ten schools and districts in 2022-2023 and now seven in 2023-2024.
Green Ribbon School Application Now Open
New Mexico applications for nomination to U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS), District Sustainability Award.
You must show progress in each of the following Pillars and all their corresponding elements:
Pillar I: Reducing environmental impact and costs;
Pillar II: Improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and
Pillar III: Offering effective environmental and sustainability education.
Early learning centers, schools, and districts demonstrating progress in every area will receive highest scores. It will help to assemble a team with expertise across these areas to complete the application.
TIMELINE
PED Office Hours (Optional):
August 28, 2024 at 3:30 Register Here
September 25, 2024 at 3:30 Register Here
*Updated Dates*
Application Due to PED: November 15, 2024 – 4:00pm MT
Application Reviews: November 18-22, 2024
Site Visits from PED: December 1, 2024-January 31, 2025
State Nominations due to ED-GRS by PED: February 2025
Winners Announced – ED-GRS: April 2025
Recognition Ceremony (Washington DC): Summer 2025
Outdoor Learning Start Up Grants
2022-2023 Grantees
- Alamogordo Public Schools
- Albuquerque Public Schools
- Aztec Municipal Schools
- Las Cruces Public Schools
- Monte del Sol Charter
- Mountain Mahogany
- Native American Community Academy (NACA)
- Rio Gallinas School for Ecology and the Arts
- Vista Grande High School
2023-2024 Grantees
- Native American Community Academy (NACA)
- Santa Rosa Consolidated School District
- Alamogordo Public Schools
- DZIŁ DITŁ’OOÍ School of Empowerment, Action, and Perseverance (DEAP)
- Hatch Valley Schools
- Dulce Independent Schools
- Turquoise Trail Charter School
2024-2025 Grantees
- Gordon Bernell Charter School
- Hozho Academy
- Mesa Elementary School
- Nye Early Childhood Center
- Rita Marquez Elementary School
- Robert F. Kennedy Charter School
- Santa Rosa High School
- Tularosa Elementary School
Wilderness First Aid
The Outdoor Learning Initiative is working with UNM International Mountain Medicine Center to provide Wilderness First Aid certification courses for educators in outdoor education. This course is the most basic mountain medicine course. In a total of 8 hours online and 8 hours practical field work, the course covers the essentials of life saving techniques to help mitigate medical situations in outdoor learning settings.
The Outdoor Learning Team created a Canvas Course: Teachers New to Outdoor Learning. This self-paced course is meant to support educators who are interested in implementing an outdoor learning program, educators who are new to the practice, or educators who are looking to refine their practice. This course introduces New Mexico’s Outdoor Education Initiative to ensure that “New Mexico school children engage in environmental education from prekindergarten through graduation” (The New Mexico Environmental Literacy Plan, 2015). The course broadly defines outdoor and environmental education and outlines general expectations in an outdoor learning environment. It explores culturally sustaining pedagogy and social and emotional development in outdoor learning environments. Finally, it will give educators the tools that they will need to initiate an outdoor learning program at their school.
Meet The Team
Assistant Director/Outdoor Learning Initiative Program Manager of Math and Science Bureau
Outdoor Learning Specialist
