TAKE ACTION FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Help Protect Outdoor School for Washington Students
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
JOIN THE WOSC ACTION NETWORK
Write a Letter to the Editor
Outdoor school gives young people something increasingly important: time away from screens and everyday pressures to learn outdoors, build confidence and independence, strengthen friendships, connect with trusted adults, and experience the mental health and social-emotional benefits of learning in nature.
Over the past several years, Washington invested in making those opportunities available to more students — not just those whose families or schools could afford them. That investment helped expand access for students in low-income, rural, Tribal, and historically underserved communities while building one of the strongest outdoor education networks in the country.
But funding for Washington's Outdoor Learning Grant Program was eliminated from the 2025–27 state budget.
Without public funding, the cost shifts back to individual schools and families. That means the students who can benefit most from these experiences are often the ones most likely to lose access.
Washington has built something worth protecting.
Much of the infrastructure created through the state's investment is still here. Schools want these opportunities for their students. Outdoor education providers, trained staff, facilities, and partnerships remain ready to serve them. But without sustainable funding, that network — and the years of public and private investment that built it — is increasingly at risk.
We have an opportunity to protect that investment and make sure outdoor school doesn't become an experience available only to students whose families and schools can afford it.
The Washington Outdoor Schools Coalition is bringing together outdoor education providers, educators, school districts, families, Tribal partners, community leaders, and policymakers to preserve Washington's outdoor education infrastructure, restore equitable access, and ensure more young people can experience the educational, mental health, and social benefits of learning outdoors.
Every Washington student deserves the opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive outdoors.
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
What's Happening with Outdoor Education in Washington
Stay informed about the decisions, research, stories, and developments shaping the future of outdoor education across Washington.
From new research on student outcomes to decisions in Olympia and stories from outdoor schools across the state, this is where we'll share the latest news about the importance of outdoor learning — and what it will take to ensure every Washington student has access to it.
WOSC & PARTNER UPDATES
A Student Perspective: Finding Space Away From Screens
NatureBridge's 2026 Student of the Year, Milin Sekhon, describes how an outdoor education experience gave him a rare opportunity to step away from social media, constant notifications, and the pressures of technology.
FEATURED
New Research Shows the Impact of Outdoor School on Washington Students
A major new statewide evaluation is helping put data behind what educators, families, and outdoor school providers have seen firsthand for years: high-quality outdoor education gives students meaningful opportunities to learn, build confidence, strengthen relationships, and connect with the natural world.
The Spring 2026 evaluation — developed through the Washington Outdoor Schools Learning Network and led by researchers at Virginia Tech and Clemson University — included 5,429 valid student surveys from 109 public schools across 36 school districts, with 15 outdoor school providers participating.
OLYMPIA UPDATES
Outdoor School Programs Face the Impact of State Funding Cuts
The elimination of state support has forced schools, families, and providers to confront difficult choices about how — and whether — students will continue to participate. The loss lands hardest on those without the resources to replace public support.
OLYMPIA UPDATES
Washington Voters Express Concern About Education Cuts
A statewide Civic Heartbeat survey by Emerson College Polling for the Northwest Progressive Institute found 55% of likely 2026 voters disapproved of education funding cuts in the 2026 supplemental budget, against 29% who approved.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION NEWS
Research, Media & Stories Worth Reading
Outdoor education sits at the intersection of some of the most important challenges facing young people today — including mental health, social connection, excessive screen time, educational opportunity, and equitable access to meaningful learning experiences.
Mental health & screen time
Outdoor Learning and the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Commentary in The Hill on growing bipartisan interest in outdoor experiences as a response to the mental health and social challenges facing young people.
Impact on families
After Funding Cuts, Families Try to Save Outdoor School
The Seattle Times follows families raising money to preserve class trips — showing how quickly access starts to depend on a family's school, community, and ability to pay.
Statewide impact
Washington Outdoor Schools Reel From State Funding Cuts
The Washington State Standard examines the statewide impact of the cut and the challenges facing providers working to preserve student access.
Funding Cuts Threaten Equitable Access to Overnight Outdoor Learning
Cascadia Daily News on how the loss of state funding could put overnight outdoor education out of reach for some Washington students.
“Outdoor school gives Washington students the chance to step away from screens, learn outdoors, build confidence and relationships, and support their mental health and well-being.
Washington has already built an incredible network to provide these experiences. But without public funding, access increasingly depends on what individual schools and families can afford.
Please support restoring sustainable state funding so we can protect what Washington has built and make sure every student — regardless of income or ZIP code — has the opportunity to participate.”
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
Your Voice Matters
Washington lawmakers need to hear why outdoor school matters — and what students and communities stand to lose without sustainable public funding.
Outdoor education gives young people valuable time away from screens and everyday pressures to learn, connect, build confidence, and strengthen their mental health and well-being. Washington's previous investment helped make those experiences available to students regardless of where they live or what their families can afford. Now that state funding has been eliminated, that access — and the statewide network built to provide it — is at risk.
What should I say?
You don't need to be an expert. Tell your legislators who you are, where you're from, your connection to outdoor education, and why you want them to support restoring sustainable state funding. Here are a few points you can use:
Outdoor school supports healthier, more connected kids.Time outdoors gives students a chance to step away from screens and everyday pressures, build confidence and independence, strengthen friendships and social skills, and experience the mental health and emotional benefits of learning in nature.
Every student should have that opportunity.State investment helped make outdoor school accessible to students whose families and schools otherwise could not afford it — particularly students in rural, Tribal, low-income, and historically underserved communities.
Without public funding, access increasingly depends on ability to pay.Schools may be forced to shorten programs, shift costs to families, fundraise, or stop participating altogether.
Washington has already built the infrastructure.Years of public and private investment have created a statewide network of outdoor schools, trained educators and staff, facilities, school partnerships, and programs ready to serve Washington students.
We have an opportunity to protect that investment.Much of the network remains in place and schools continue to want these experiences. Restoring sustainable funding can preserve what Washington has built while expanding equitable access to the students who need it most.
A simple message works:
Join the WOSC Action Network
Join the WOSC Action Network
JOIN THE WOSC ACTION NETWORK
Help Build a Statewide Voice for Outdoor Education
Washington has built one of the strongest outdoor education networks in the country. But with state funding eliminated, access increasingly depends on what individual schools and families can afford — putting these experiences most at risk for students in rural, Tribal, low-income, and historically underserved communities.
Over the coming months, important decisions will be made about the future of this investment. Join the Action Network to stay informed about what's happening in Olympia, learn how funding decisions are affecting students and outdoor schools, and hear from us when there are meaningful opportunities to make your voice heard.
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW
Start Here
Legislators need to understand what the loss of funding means for students and communities in their districts. Tell your representatives about the students, schools, families, and outdoor education programs in your community — and ask them to support restoring sustainable state funding.
Contact your legislators
1
A letter to your local newspaper is an easy and effective way to raise awareness and show policymakers that people in their communities care about outdoor education. Keep it simple:
Make it personal. Explain your connection to outdoor school.
Explain what's at stake. State funding was eliminated, putting student access and outdoor education programs at risk.
Show the impact. Explain what outdoor education means for students, families, schools, or your community.
Make an ask. Encourage state leaders to restore sustainable funding.
Write a letter to the editor
2
SAMPLE LETTER
Washington students deserve opportunities to learn beyond the walls of a classroom. Outdoor school gives students hands-on opportunities to learn about science and the natural world while building confidence, independence, teamwork, and stronger relationships with their classmates.
Unfortunately, Washington eliminated state funding that helped schools provide these experiences. Without that support, more of the cost will fall on schools and families, and some students may lose the opportunity to participate altogether.
Access to outdoor education shouldn't depend on a family's income or where a student happens to live. Washington has spent years building a strong outdoor education network. State leaders should protect that investment and restore sustainable funding so future generations of Washington students have the same opportunity.
The Washington Outdoor Schools Coalition brings together more than 50 outdoor education providers, educators, school districts, Tribal partners, families, and community leaders around a shared goal: every Washington student — regardless of where they live or what their family can afford — should have access to high-quality overnight outdoor education.
Our immediate priority is restoring public funding in the 2028–29 Operating Budget. But lasting success requires more than a single budget victory. We're building bipartisan support in Olympia, organising parents, educators, providers, and communities across the state, and developing philanthropic, corporate, and private-sector partnerships to complement public funding.
Together, we can do more than restore what was lost. We can build a stronger, more resilient outdoor education system that serves Washington students for generations to come.
Support WOSC
3
STAY INFORMED. STAY INVOLVED.
Every Washington student deserves the opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive outdoors.
The choices Washington makes in the coming months and years will help determine the future of outdoor education across our state. We can protect the statewide network of outdoor schools, educators, facilities, and partnerships Washington has spent years building — and restore equitable access so these opportunities don't depend on a family's income, a school's resources, or a student's ZIP code.
But it will take a strong statewide voice to make that happen.
Have a question or an idea? Let's hear it.
WOSC is a coalition, and we want this work to be shaped by the people and communities who care about outdoor education. Have a question, an idea, a partnership we should explore, or something you think WOSC could be doing better — or doing more of? We want to hear from you.