Outdoor School Becomes Law in Minnesota

Championed by Min­nesota’s accredited Outdoor Schools and bipartisan support, the Minnesota Out­door School For All program will provide funding to support immersive outdoor education experienc­es.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – June 24, 2025 – Gov. Tim Walz has signed the Minnesota Out­door School For All act into law, establish­ing a statewide grant program to expand access to overnight outdoor education for students in grades 4 through 12. The ini­tiative was included in the Environment Omnibus Bill passed by the Legislature on June 9.

The law allocates $848,000 to support accredited residential environmental learn­ing centers in offering multi-day, overnight experiences focused on outdoor-based learning. The goal is to improve educational outcomes while ensur­ing that all Minnesota students, regardless of background, have equitable access to nature-based learning opportunities.

“This law ensures that Minnesota students will have the opportu­nity to experience our state’s natural resourc­es firsthand,” said Peter Smerud, execu­tive director of Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. “It supports learning en­vironments that can improve students’ aca­demic, emotional and physical well-being.”

The 2025 bill passed with strong bipartisan support, with 21 Au­thors almost evenly split between Repub­lican and Democratic legislators.

The Outdoor School For All initiative was introduced in 2023 by Rep. Kristi Pursell, DFL-Northfield, and passed in 2025 with the original intent in­tact. Chief Authors included Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Her­mantown and Rep. Roger Skraba, R-Ely. Key committee chairs who advanced the leg­islation were Chair Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul and House Co-Chairs Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa and Rep. Pe­ter Fischer, DFL-Ma­plewood.

“This is a good exam­ple of what happens when we set politics aside and focus on what’s right for kids,” said Rep. Roger Sk­raba, R-Ely, a chief author of the bill. “Whether you live in Greater Minnesota or the metro area, the outdoors is part of our heritage. Every child should have the chance to learn in it.”

Outdoor education has been linked to improved academic performance, high­er graduation rates, stronger peer relation­ships and enhanced critical thinking skills. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children spend up to 44 hours a week on screens and fewer than 10 minutes per day engaged in unstructured outdoor play. The legislation is based on research showing time out­doors supports mental health, reduces anxiety and builds confidence.

Minnesota joins Ore­gon, Washington and Maine in launching a statewide Outdoor School for All model. The law was also sup­ported by the National Alliance on Mental Ill­ness, which highlight­ed the positive impact of outdoor learning on youth mental health.

The program will be administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It funds the first year of implementation and lays the foundation for ongoing access to nature-based learning in the state.

Minnesota schools serving students in grades four through 12 are encouraged to contact one of the five accredited Outdoor School For All pro­viders to learn more about bringing this experience to their students. These cen­ters can assist with planning and provide guidance on the up­coming grant applica­tion process.

Participating environ­mental learning cen­ters include:

• Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center – Finland, Minn.
• Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center – Sandstone, Minn.
• Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center – Lanesboro, Minn.
• Long Lake Conservation Center – Palisade, Minn.
• Deep Portage Learning Center – Hackensack, Minn.

Strategic and govern­ment relations support for the initiative was provided by Solomon Strategies Group.

For program updates and contact informa­tion for each provider, visit www.outdoorschoolforallmn.org or email info@outdoorschoolforallmn.org.

Outdoor School For All Minnesota is a coalition of the state’s five accredit­ed, overnight Outdoor Schools, Deep Por­tage Learning Center in Hackensack, Eagle Bluff Environmen­tal Learning Center in Lanesboro, Long Lake Conservation Center in Palisade, Osprey Wilds Envi­ronmental Learning Center in Sandstone and Wolf Ridge En­vironmental Learning Center in Finland.