Outdoor Education Healthy Education
By Dana Vackar Strang, Education Manager, New Mexico Office of the Audubon Society

Did you know that a 1998 study, "Bridging the Achievement Gap," found that interactive, outdoor education can improve performance on standardized measures of academic achievement in reading, writing, math, science and social studies? It can also improve grade point averages among students, reduce discipline issues and enhance classroom management, while increasing teacher job satisfaction and enthusiasm.

This is increasingly important as kids spend less time in the outdoors than those of previous generations. For instance, studies reported on in the medical journal Pediatrics say the average American child now spends more time watching television — 1,023 hours per year — than in school — 900 hours per year — (Sharif & Sargent, 2006).

The New Mexico State Legislature has an important opportunity to continue getting students outside and healthier by supporting the New Mexico Outdoor Classroom Program (OCP). This program provides field-trip transportation grants, standards-based curriculum, teacher resources that compliment content standards, and services learning programs. As an outdoor educator, I have seen first hand the impact nature-based education has on connecting students to the natural world through their own enthusiasm and curiosity about what is around them. It has been noted that "Weaving education into guided outdoor recreation enhances knowledge of environment and community." (Schatz, 2006.)

At the Randall Davey Audubon Center we implement meaningful outdoor education programs for students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. These programs, like those done through OCP, compliment what our public school teachers are already teaching in the classroom. They incorporate a strong program evaluation to determine its effectiveness so that it is more than a simple field trip and is a crucial component of standards-based education. Outdoor education is a vital part of helping connect students to their studies, increase healthy activity, and foster an understanding of the natural world so that they become informed stewards.

During this session, the New Mexico Outdoor Classroom Program originally sought $150,000 in HB2 to continue programming. Unfortunately this funding has been taken out. In the past, over 10,000 students have participated in OCP learning experiences and over 100 teachers have been involved in curriculum development workshops and trainings. It's important the Senate amend HB2 to include this vital funding supporting the joint effort between New Mexico State Parks and the Public Education Department for the benefit of New Mexico's youth.