NatureBridge and Outdoor School for All Featured in USA Today
NatureBridge was recently featured in USA Today as a success story related to the passing of Washington state's bipartisan Outdoor School for All legislation. Outdoor schools like NatureBridge are educational organizations that seek to bridge learning gaps exacerbated by, among other things, uncertain education funding and teacher shortages. Research shows that students face increasing difficulties post-COVID in accessing enrichment programs that are critical in giving young people the opportunity to pursue their interests and develop skills such as teamwork, interpersonal connections, empathy, and resilience. Outdoor schools are short-term, immersive programs that provide various opportunities such as weeklong overnight experiences for students that enable participants to connect with nature, their peers, and trained educators. They offer students opportunities for hands-on learning, developing interpersonal skills, and ways to connect with these naturally and culturally significant locations, such as national parks and other public lands.