10/01/2026
Huge win for Maine Outdoor School for All! We are so lucky to be a part of such an inspiring network of changemakers.
More Maine students will have the opportunity to take learning outdoors. 🌲
The Libra Foundation is investing $1.3 million over the next two years to expand Maine Outdoor School for All, a statewide program administered by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
In its first year, Maine Outdoor School for All reached 1,675 students from 43 schools, with seven certified providers delivering outdoor learning experiences for students in 14 of Maine’s 16 counties.
Through multi-day, overnight experiences, students use Maine’s natural environments as classrooms for hands-on learning, observation, discovery, teamwork and real-world problem-solving. Along the way, they build STEM and collaboration skills, grow their confidence and explore future academic and career pathways in fields like forestry, marine resources, agriculture, clean energy and outdoor recreation.
And students are already telling us these experiences make a difference.
🌲 89% rated their outdoor school experience positively
🌲 63% said it made them more interested in nature
🌲 56% reported greater confidence that they could achieve their goals
🌲 66% said they were more likely to work harder in school afterward
“The Libra Foundation’s investment will help more Maine middle-schoolers experience learning that extends beyond the classroom,” said Hannah Carter, dean of UMaine Extension. “Outdoor School gives students opportunities to work together to solve problems and see connections between what they are learning today and the opportunities available to them in the future.”
The investment will support the next phase of Maine Outdoor School for All as the program works toward broader access and consistent, ongoing public funding, with the goal of creating opportunities for all Maine public school students to participate in outdoor education.
🌲 Learn more about Maine Outdoor School for All through the link in the comments below.
