Breaking Down Barriers: Opening the Door to Outdoor Learning is about giving children the opportunity to learn, explore and connect with the natural world through hands-on, experiential education.
For some students, a school trip to a conservation area may be their first opportunity to walk through a mature forest, explore a wetland or shoreline, study a pond, observe wildlife up close or discover how a watershed works. These are more than field trips — they are opportunities to learn in nature and through nature, using the natural environment as a living classroom.
Yet transportation and program costs can create barriers, particularly for schools serving lower-income communities. When these costs cannot be covered, students can miss out on valuable opportunities to learn and participate alongside their peers.
Through this project, RVCF will provide transportation and education subsidies to help priority schools bring their students to Foley Mountain and Baxter Conservation Areas.
Once there, students will explore, investigate, ask questions and make connections — walking forest trails, examining ponds and wetlands, discovering wildlife and habitats, learning about watersheds and experiencing conservation firsthand.
The goal is to break down financial barriers and open the door to outdoor learning for 55 classes — approximately 1,650 students — who might otherwise have limited opportunities to experience these places.
Learning comes alive when children step outside the classroom.
A forest, pond, wetland or shoreline becomes a living classroom where students can observe, investigate and make connections for themselves. Outdoor, experiential learning allows students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings while building curiosity, confidence, problem-solving skills, wellbeing and a connection to nature.
But access to these experiences is not equal. Transportation costs and program fees can be significant barriers for schools, particularly those serving communities with fewer financial resources. When these costs cannot be covered, students can miss valuable opportunities to learn, participate and connect with their peers.
This project helps break down those barriers.
LEAF funding will support 55 classes to visit Foley Mountain and Baxter Conservation Areas, providing approximately 1,650 students with hands-on environmental education and outdoor learning opportunities. For some students, this may be their first opportunity to explore a conservation area and experience environmental learning outside the classroom.
The impact extends beyond a single day outdoors. Students can develop a deeper understanding of their local environment, experience conservation firsthand and build connections to the natural places in their communities.
By reducing financial barriers, this project helps ensure that the opportunity to learn outdoors is not determined by a school's ability to absorb the cost of transportation and programming. It gives more children the chance to discover, learn from and care for the natural world around them.
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I really enjoyed any outdoor trips to natural areas and so many live in cities with no access.
Giving kids a sense of place and connection in nature is an incredible gift that should be available to everyone. The benefits are endless!
Outdoor hands-on learning, memories of a lifetime… I wish every student had the chance to experience this terrific program!
Foley Mountain in Westport has been a thriving place for young minds to “stretch their legs”, and get creative in nature. The programming is such an incredible and memorable experience that enhances children’s experience as students in school. For little kinesthetic learners (like myself), this kind of learning environment is so valuable. Continuing to build experiential learning outdoors is such a blessing for kids!
I have loved my field trips to Baxter as a student and now as an educator! A great way to apply classroom learning to real-world experiences.
Now more than ever our students need outdoor education to help them connect with nature through experiential learning! Such a valuable program.