Nevada Awarded Grant to Advance Outdoor Learning in Schools

We are pleased to announce that Nevada has been awarded a catalytic grant through the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, a partnership of the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities, and KABOOM!. The grant will help accelerate Nevada’s statewide plan for recognition, designation, and professional development designed to ensure every child has access to nature where they live, learn, and play.

Nevada’s team, which supported the Nevada Outdoor Education Advisory Working Group, is building momentum for outdoor education and engagement on school grounds uniquely adapted to its desert context. This work is bolstered by strong statewide engagement, including a survey that garnered a remarkably high response rate from educators, families, students, and community members, and by a plan that is both clearly articulated and achievable. With this catalytic funding, Nevada is poised to bring its vision to life and serve as a model for other arid-region communities.

“Nevada’s statewide approach is both ambitious and practical,” said Sarah Milligan-Toffler, President and CEO of the Children & Nature Network. “Their team has broad support, strong community engagement, and a plan that reflects the realities and opportunities of desert communities. We’re thrilled to support Nevada as they implement strategies that could inspire similar efforts nationwide.”

This work has already garnered broad support through a state bill (AB 165) signed into law to create a state Outdoor Education Council, underscoring strong bipartisan and institutional backing. The Council will develop an outdoor education exemplary award for schools and teachers and create voluntary standards to embed nature-based learning directly into teacher professional development, create living schoolyards, and take a curricular approach to outdoor learning.

“This grant affirms the hard work and commitment of our partners and community,” said Kendal Scott, Outdoor Education Lead for the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation. “By creating statewide recognition and designation programs, along with professional development opportunities, we’re ensuring that every student—and every educator—benefits from the power of nature in education.”

“Nevada’s desert landscape makes our approach distinct, but our goals are universal,” added Roz Brooks, Founder and CEO of Blacks in Nature. “Healthy, living schoolyards and access to outdoor learning environments are essential for children’s growth, learning, and well-being. With this catalytic support, we can accelerate statewide change.”

The Nevada Outdoor Education Advisory Working Group was selected in 2023 to join the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, receiving technical assistance, resources, and peer learning opportunities to strengthen its vision of providing regular access to nature for children across the state. Since then, the team has conducted comprehensive community assessment and state-wide surveys, hosted multiple community engagement sessions, and gathered input from hundreds of families and youth

As a catalytic grant recipient, Nevada will receive financial support, technical assistance, and access to a national peer-learning network. Nature Everywhere partners will also help the team track outcomes, communicate impact, and leverage the work to attract additional funding and partnerships.

For more information about Nevada’s initiative, contact Kendal Scott at k.scott@ndor.nv.gov.

For more information about the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, visit childrenandnature.org/nature-everywhere or contact Laura Mylan, Children & Nature Network, laura@childrenandnature.org.