Maine Outdoor School for All

Connecting Maine Youth to the Outdoors

Delivering inclusive, hands-on, and experiential outdoor learning for every 4th-8th grader in Maine.

About The Program

In 2025, Governor Janet Mills signed a bill, sponsored by Senator Rick Bennett that established the Outdoor School for All Maine Students program. The bill charged University of Maine Cooperative Extension with establishing an Outdoor School for All program support immersive outdoor education across the state. When fully funded, Extension Outdoor School will create equitable opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary, experiential learning in natural settings.

Our goal is to connect Maine’s public school students with incredible outdoor learning opportunities that develop collaboration and STEM skills, build confidence and self-awareness, and highlight the importance of Maine’s natural resource industries. The program, launching in the 2025-2026 school year, aims to prepare youth for success through academic and career pathways that will help build a labor force skilled in resource management, conservation, outdoor recreation, agriculture, and forestry.

How to Apply
a pre-teen taking soil samples from a stream in the forest

Why Outdoor School Matters

Experiential Hands-on Learning

Uses the outdoors and local ecosystems as the primary context for hands-on learning, including lessons, shared meals, daily routines, and immersive on-site living experiences.

Discovery and Problem-Solving

Encourages hands-on engagement, active observation, discovery, teamwork, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving skills that build confidence in learners.

Core Subjects and Natural Resources

Highlights Maine’s outdoor heritage, science, engineering, technology, mathematics, health, and natural resources, supporting career pathways and future opportunities.

COVID-19 Learning Loss Support

Supports students and teachers in combating learning loss associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social-Emotional Development

Develops teamwork, citizenship, self-awareness, and community responsibility, fostering health and wellness.

Safety and Accessibility

Ensures safe, age-appropriate activities and promotes high levels of accessibility for students with disabilities.

Program Goals

  • Advance student well-being and confidence through outdoor activities that foster teamwork, curiosity, and wellness
  • Support classroom learning in science, environmental studies, and other subjects with real-world connections
  • Create educational and workforce pathways in forestry, marine resources, agriculture, clean energy, and outdoor recreation
  • Train and retain educators through professional development embedded in outdoor learning environments

Program Structure and Providers

Outdoor education program providers partnering with UMaine Extension Outdoor School must meet specific requirements to ensure a high-quality experience for students. Aligned with state learning results, the core curriculum should focus on helping students develop STEM, leadership, communication, and collaboration skills while fostering confidence, connection to the state’s outdoor heritage, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

By definition, “immersive outdoor education” means an overnight experience at an outdoor learning center, typically with a whole grade level. In most cases, programs are a minimum 2-night, 3-day experience. Day programs are available when overnight stays are impractical due to health or cultural considerations.

Providers must provide evidence that all staff are qualified, trained and background checked.

Strong collaboration with schools and teachers is essential to provide program access.

A pledge to provide equitable access to all students is mandatory.

Outdoor School program staff are highly trained in educational strategies and best practices in outdoor and environmental education program delivery.

Participation in an evaluation program is required to assess program effectiveness and ensure equitable access.

Who Can Participate?

Extension is piloting Outdoor School in the 2025-2026 school year. For the pilot program, nonprofit organizations that can provide overnight programming with meals and lodging on site, or in an expeditionary setting, will apply for grants to cover costs up to $395 per student.

The program is designed to serve publicly funded students enrolled in grades 4 to 8, including homeschool students.

Priority will be given to schools and communities historically underserved by outdoor education, including:

  • Rural and remote schools
  • Schools with high numbers of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches
  • Indian tribes and nations
  • Migrant students
  • Students in alternative education programs
  • Students of color
  • English language learner students
  • Students receiving special education services

Thank You to Our Valued Partners

We extend our profound gratitude and appreciation to the foundations whose strategic partnership is making the Extension Outdoor School a reality.

A heartfelt thank you to:

a sky filled with clouds and the reflection of the clouds in Bryant Pond - Autumn colored leaves on the trees

Your collective support is far more than funding; it is a direct investment in equitable access to education. By championing Outdoor School, you are ensuring every fourth through eighth grader in Maine gains essential STEM skills, builds confidence, and connects with the natural resource pathways that will shape the future of our state. Thank you for your commitment to Maine’s youth and environment.

All Maine students deserve a chance to experience the transformational power of outdoor education, connecting them to our state’s natural heritage.

Year 2 Goals (2026-27)
Maine students served in immersive outdoor experiences
teachers provided with professional learning
in matching funds secured for access and equity

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a statewide outdoor education initiative, established by Maine law and administered by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. It provides immersive, interdisciplinary outdoor learning experiences for students in grades 4-8 across Maine.

Eligible participants include:

  • Publicly funded students in grades 4-8
  • Students in schools operated by tribal school committees
  • Homeschooled students (per Title 20-A, section 5021)
  • Prioritized access for historically underserved students (rural, tribal, multilingual, low-income, and special education)

The program is designed to be publicly funded through state allocations and philanthropic support. Program partners and UMaine Extension are working to ensure no cost to families and minimal financial burden to schools, particularly for those in underserved communities.

  • A 3-day, 2-night overnight program (or equivalent day program)
  • Hands-on learning in natural settings (forests, coasts, farms, etc.)
  • Curriculum focused on science, health, sustainability, and Maine’s natural heritage
  • Meals, guided activities, and professional instruction
  • Inclusive and safe spaces for all students, including those with disabilities

Programs are hosted at participating outdoor education centers across Maine. These centers meet specific quality and safety standards set by UMaine Extension.

While rooted in science and nature-based education, the curriculum is interdisciplinary and supports learning in:

  • Environmental science and sustainability
  • Agriculture, forestry, and marine studies
  • Health and wellness
  • Social-emotional skills and teamwork
  • Career exploration connected to Maine’s economy

Teachers who accompany students:

  • Participate in embedded professional development
  • Gain strategies for place-based and experiential learning
  • Build deeper relationships with students
  • May have access to continuing education opportunities through university partnerships

Outdoor education providers must:

  • Be not-for-profit educational organizations operating in the state of Maine, and have established school year program partnerships with K-12 public schools.
  • Align with UMaine Extension standards for curriculum, safety, and accessibility
  • Offer inclusive, culturally responsive, age-appropriate programming
  • Collaborate with schools and meet the program’s 3-day/2-night model or adapt to local needs

Partner financial aid funds.

a teenagers hand holding a frog

For questions, contact Ryder Scott at email: ryder.scott@maine.edu

How to Apply

The grant funding process is designed for the Outdoor School providers, which must be not-for-profit organizations currently operating in the State of Maine and meet the following criteria:

  • Have the ability to provide immersive (preferably overnight) programming for groups of 4th-8th graders.
  • Provide evidence of liability insurance of at least $1 million and be prepared to name UMaine as an additional insured.
  • Provide evidence that all staff working directly with students are background checked, and have received training in best practices of outdoor and environmental education, including safety, risk management and lesson/program delivery.
  • Require participating schools and students to complete an online survey as soon after the program as feasible.

If you are a teacher or administrator at a publicly funded school in Maine and would like your students to participate in an Outdoor School program, contact Ryder Scott (email: ryder.scott@maine.edu) at Extension for more information. 

Outdoor School providers must be not-for-profit organizations currently operating in the State of Maine and must meet the following criteria:

  • Have the ability to provide immersive (preferably overnight) programming for groups of 4th-8th graders. 
  • Possess state licensure as either a summer camp (through the Department of Health and Human Services), a limited purpose school (under the Department of Education), or other state licensure qualifying the entity to serve the public, including schools. 
  • Provide evidence of liability insurance of at least $1 million and be prepared to name UMaine as an additional insured.
  • Provide evidence that all staff working directly with students are background checked, and have received training in best practices of outdoor and environmental education, including safety, risk management and lesson/program delivery.
  • Require participating schools and students to complete an online survey as soon after the program as feasible. 

Complete the Outdoor School provider application by September 20, 2025 for the fall session and February 13 for spring 2026. Applicants who meet the criteria will become certified (to be updated annually) and become eligible for grant funding under the Extension Outdoor School program. 

Grant applications will be reviewed by an independent committee at the University of Maine. Funding will be awarded using a formula of $395 per student, with priority given to serving the maximum number of students, especially in regions and populations traditionally underserved by outdoor education. 

*Note, due to the timing of this award process, the committee will consider awarding funding for Fall 2025 as reimbursement for programs that have already been delivered.

Applications for the 2025 fall session are no longer being accepted.

Check back after January 1, 2026 for details about the spring session.

Program Provider Application

Contact

Ryder Scott, Executive Director of 4-H Learning Centers, at email ryder.scott@maine.edu for program details.

Maine Outdoor School for All

A network of overnight learning centers partnering with schools and communities to provide outstanding outdoor experiences, foster strong community connections, and help build a vibrant future for Maine.

Learn More

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