By: Molly Zaninovich

Issue: Extending Access to Outdoor Education

Present: July 1, 2015, Senate Bill 439 re-allocated $44,000,000 into the General Fund for the Outdoor Education Account in Oregon Treasury.[1] This money will go to funding six-day, residential outdoor education for fifth and sixth graders. However, new money is not going to outdoor school funding.[2] Therefore, “sufficient investment in outdoor school is still unmet.”[3] A lack of access to outdoor education is a national concern because children spend half as much time outdoors as 20 years ago.[4] This is a problem for wildlife conservation because children who have outdoor education are more concerned with conservation.[5]

Past: In 2004, a study proved outdoor education has the potential to reduce children’s ADHD symptoms.[6] In 2005, another study was published that proved at-risk youth who participated in Outdoor Education programs made statistically significant gains in leadership, conflict resolution, motivation to learn, behavior in class, and problem solving.[7] Despite this information in favor of outdoor education,[8] in 2011, the Oregon Legislative Assembly declared a state of emergency related to outdoor education. The Assembly then passed HB 2777 for the “preservation of the public peace, health and safety.” This illustrates the tension between the need for outdoor education and its prioritization.

Future: The Obama Administration launched the Every Kid in a Park Initiative to February 20, 2015 to ensure all kids get experiential outdoor education.[9] “This program couldn’t come at a more important time, especially as technology is driving more and more young people indoors, away from the opportunities presented by the natural world.”[10]

Footnotes:

[1] Oregon (State). Legislature. Assembly. Seventy-Eighth Oregon Legislative Assembly – 2015 Regular Session Staff Measure Summary. (S 439). 2015 Reg. Sess. (March 26, 2015). Oregon State Assembly. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/27666

[2] Fitchett, Caroline. “Outdoor School for All Fact Sheet.” Outdoor School For All. Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition, 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://www.outdoorschoolforall.org/fact-sheet>.

[3] Ibid, Fitchett.

[4] “Why Connect Kids and Nature.” National Wildlife Federation. Philanthropedia. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <https://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Why-Get-Kids-Outside.aspx>.

[5] Primary researcher: Parrish, Deborah. “Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California.” American Institutes for Research (2005): 1-41. LexisNexis Academic. http://www.air.org/resource/effects-outdoor-education-programs-children-california

[6] Kuo, Frances E., and Andrea Faber Taylor. “A Potential Natural Treatment for

[7] Primary researcher: Parrish, Deborah. “Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California.” American Institutes for Research (2005): 1-41. LexisNexis Academic. http://www.air.org/resource/effects-outdoor-education-programs-children-california

[8] “Text – S.1306 – 113th Congress (2013-2014): No Child Left Inside Act of 2013.” Text. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1306/text#toc-idd724f0fe3cc84b9cabb2bd9423ad86bf>.

[9]”Obama Administration Commits to Empowering Next Generation with Access to National Parks.” Obama Administration Commits to Empowering Next Generation with Access to National Parks. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.

[10] “Obama Administration Commits to Empowering Next Generation with Access to National Parks.” Obama Administration Commits to Empowering Next Generation with Access to National Parks. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.