Outdoor Learning Initiative

Our Roots

The Outdoor Learning Initiative began with the Cradle to Career New Mexico Report in 2021. This statewide strategy, endorsed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 2, 2019, sets out a long-term vision to align education and career pathways with the stewardship of New Mexico’s natural resources.

In 2022, Senator Siah Correa Hemphill introduced Senate Bill 32 to support funding for outdoor learning programs. This bill was integrated into House Bill 2 (HB 2) in the Senate Finance Committee and passed by both the Senate and House—securing critical support for outdoor learning across the state.

We hope to continue the momentum of outdoor learning through ongoing funding and strong program implementation and technical assistance.

About Us

The Outdoor Learning Team is dedicated to supporting Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in grades K—12 across New Mexico by providing:

• Professional learning opportunities for educators
• Technical assistance to support implementation
• Collaborative partnerships with schools, communities, and stakeholders

We also offer annual grant funding to help launch start-up outdoor learning programs across the state. Since 2022, we have awarded Outdoor Learning Start-Up Grants to 27 schools and districts across New Mexico.

Our Mission

We aim to inspire and empower New Mexico’s students, educators, and communities by connecting them to the outdoors, promoting community and place-based education that fosters environmental stewardship, academic success, and overall well-being.

2025 New Mexico Green Ribbon School Application

Congratulations to San Antonito STEM Magnet Elementary for receiving the 2025 State of New Mexico Green Ribbon Schools Award! The school is recognized for their proven work within the three pillars:

Pillar I: Reducing environmental impact and costs

Pillar II: Improving the health and wellness of students and staff

Pillar III: Offering effective environmental and sustainability education

PED Outdoor Learning Initiative recognizes the schools’ excellent contributions to the three pillars and will celebrate by presenting a plaque and certificate designating the school as a New Mexico Green Ribbon School.

Green Ribbon Schools is a public engagement initiative for school sustainability that highlights schools, districts, post-secondary institutions, and early learning centers’ cost-saving, health promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices, thereby celebrating these schools and bringing more attention to their work.

More information about the 2026 New Mexico Green Ribbon Schools Award will be forthcoming.

Outdoor Learning Start Up Grants

This RFA is designed to promote innovation in the critical area of outdoor learning by expanding access to outdoor learning programs for New Mexico students. Up to two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000.00) in competitive grants are available to New Mexico PreK–12 public school districts or state-chartered charter schools, a group of public schools (consortium of schools), regional educational cooperatives, and single public schools in partnership with a community outdoor learning or environmental organization to operate, expand and sustain outdoor learning programs, and to:

1. Provide all students and families with equitable access to outdoor learning environments to interact, play, explore, discover, and learn.
2. Integrate culturally sustaining, social-emotional, interdisciplinary, outdoor, and environmental education programs that are aligned with content standards and are in collaboration with local organizations and based on community need.
3. Provide a variety of learning experiences that integrate environmental literacy and systems thinking concepts.
4. Make connections between local, regional, national, and global community systems and how they work together for a sustainable future.

Applicants may apply for up to thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00).

Congratulations to our past grant recipients. Grantees are represented across the state of New Mexico and show representation of rural and urban locations.

Outdoor Learning Initiative Grantees – Google My Maps