Legislature values kids outdoors

Guest post: Mark Watrin, Retired science teacher, Battle Ground Public School board member

In 2019 only one out of seven of Battle Ground School District’s middle schools still provided an outdoor school experience for sixth graders. Lack of sites to go, increasing transportation and registration fees all combined to make the once common event the exception rather than the rule. Then COVID hit and nobody went. I am happy to say thanks to funding by House Bill 2078 outdoor experiences for Battle Ground fifth or sixth grade will include all seven schools and involve almost 1,000 students. 

Some will do the traditional 2 or 3 day outdoor school, and others will do single day events until more sites can accommodate the overnight experience.  The money is primarily used for transportation costs, but that is enough to encourage schools to put these events on their calendar. 

Sites like Camp Wa-Ri-Ki that used to host outdoor school are getting back in the game and new sites are being proposed like the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater Ridge and Camp Hope along the East Fork of the Lewis River.  

Camp Wa-Ri-Ki

Since the legislature is in session this is a great time to write your legislator and say thank you for valuing outdoor experiences.  These grants funded by the legislature are managed by OSPI and include a larger effort to update the state’s Environmental & Sustainability Education standards, teacher training and certification and community partnerships.

If you want to learn more about the updated plans for outdoor education in Washington State go to the OSPI website or Outdoor Schools Washington.