ST. PAUL, Minn. – June 23, 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.”

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.

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. 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.