This week marks the launch of the Outdoor School for All Maine Students program, with more than 1,000 students in grades 4–8 attending immersive multi-day programs at outdoor learning centers across the state this fall.
The initiative is made possible thanks to $450,000 in private foundation support, with major contributions from the Betterment Fund, Horizon Foundation, Leonard C. & Mildred F. Ferguson Foundation, Onion Foundation, and Quimby Family Foundation. These funds are helping to underwrite the costs for students and classroom teachers to attend an outdoor school learning center.
Maine joins Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota as states with ratified commitments to outdoor learning for all public school students. Unlike those states, Maine currently relies on private funding. The group estimates that when fully funded at $6 million annually, the program will reach up to 14,000 students each year—making it accessible to every student in grades four through eight statewide.
One of the first groups of students to receive funding for Outdoor School programs are the 7th grade students from Sanford Middle School attending a 3 day/2 night program at The Ecology School in Saco this week with additional funding from Tom’s of Maine. “We’ve been working for years to try and figure out a way to provide Sanford Middle School an inspirational Outdoor School experience and now it’s finally happening,” said Ecology School President and CEO Drew Dumsch. “We know from decades of experience and research that multi-day Outdoor School programs provide high impact experiential learning, authentic STEM-related studies and gives students real life experiences exploring Maine’s distinct landscapes and natural heritage. Our goal now is to secure full and ongoing funding so all of our kids in Maine can benefit.”
The Outdoor School for All Maine Students program was established earlier this year through bipartisan legislation sponsored by state senator Sen. Rick Bennett and signed into law in May by Governor Janet Mills. The funding is administered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, which will provide grants to certified outdoor learning centers statewide. These centers will offer hands-on, nature-based education for students in grades four through eight.
Currently, less than 20% of Maine public school students participate in an overnight outdoor program, usually due to cost or access to a local center. Partner organizations in the Maine Outdoor School for All Network include UMaine Extension’s 4-H Learning Centers, The Ecology School, Chewonki Foundation, Schoodic Institute, Kieve Wavus Education, Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, Cobscook Institute, and Maine Local Living School.
Traditionally, public schools have shouldered the full cost of these programs—a challenge as budgets grow tighter. Because the new law did not include state funding, the Maine Outdoor School for All Network led a private fundraising effort to jumpstart the program. The coalition has now launched a new campaign to raise an additional $1 million for the 2025-2026 school year.
About Maine Outdoor School for All
Maine Outdoor School for All is a statewide network of overnight environmental learning centers working in partnership with schools and community organizations. Together, they deliver hands-on learning opportunities that inspire students to build healthy, resilient Maine communities. The network promotes best-in-class overnight environmental learning, creates model community-based education partnerships, and contributes to statewide initiatives.
