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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 895S.P. 384 In Senate, March 11, 2025
An Act to Support Immersive Outdoor Education by Establishing
the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 5, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Representative CARLOW of Buxton and
Senators: BRENNER of Cumberland, GROHOSKI of Hancock, GUERIN of Penobscot,
RAFFERTY of York, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representatives: MURPHY of
Scarborough, RIELLY of Westbrook. Page 1 - 132LR1449(01)1 acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 this legislation establishes an immersive outdoor education program that
4 provides interdisciplinary and experiential education in an outdoor setting, and this
5 legislation creates equitable opportunities for students across this State to have outdoor
6 experiences; and
7 many children in this State lack opportunities to enjoy and learn about the
8 outdoors because of home circumstances, lack of access or transportation or a deficiency
9 of suitable school or community-based programs; and
10 the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program will prepare children
11 in this State for future success, will build self-awareness and confidence and will be an
12 opportunity to instill the importance of the State's natural resources industries by
13 encouraging future generations of farmers, foresters, persons who fish commercially and
14 others working outdoors or as stewards of the State's natural resources; and
15 the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program will begin in school
16 year 2025-2026; and
17 in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
18 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
19 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
20 therefore,
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22 is enacted to read:
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26 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
27 have the following meanings.
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29 established within the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service in section 5304.
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31 experiential, holistic and interdisciplinary education that uses the outdoor setting to engage
32 students in educational opportunities about the outdoors and natural resources industries
33 and supports the health and wellness of students.
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35 means an organization that offers immersive outdoor education.
36 "Program" means the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program
37 established by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service pursuant to section
38 5302. Page 2 - 132LR1449(01)
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3 shall establish and administer the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program to
4 support immersive outdoor education and to assist school administrative units in partnering
5 with outdoor education programs.
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7 Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall provide grants to implement the program in
8 order to assist school administrative units in partnering with outdoor education program
9 providers. Grants under the program must be:
10 A. Distributed to an outdoor education program provider that meets the requirements
11 of section 5303;
12 B. Used to serve publicly funded students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in schools
13 operated by tribal school committees or students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in
14 publicly funded schools in the State, as determined by the sending school
15 administrative unit and the outdoor education program provider based on community
16 needs and the curriculum. A student receiving home-school instruction is eligible to
17 participate in the program as provided by Title 20-A, section 5021. For purposes of
18 this paragraph, "publicly funded school" means a school required to participate in the
19 system of learning results established in Title 20-A, section 6209;
20 C. Provided to the same school grade each year to ensure that students in subsequent
21 years have an opportunity to participate in the program; and
22 D. If program funds are limited, prioritized for schools and communities that are
23 historically underserved by outdoor education, including, but not limited to, Indian
24 tribes and nations, migrant students, schools with high numbers of students who qualify
25 for free and reduced-price lunches, rural and remote schools, students in alternative
26 education programs, students of color, English language learner students and students
27 receiving special education services.
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29 This section governs the requirements for outdoor education program providers.
30 The program must:
31 A. Use the outdoors and local ecosystems as the primary context to support hands-on
32 learning, including lessons, meals and on-site living;
33 B. Engage students in safe and age-appropriate activities;
34 C. Focus on the State's outdoor heritage, science, engineering, technology,
35 mathematics, health, environment and natural resources and sustainability by including
36 a strong academic component that supports overall academic achievement and career
37 trajectories and connects science with other subjects to support students' understanding
38 of:
39 (1) Conserving and developing marine and estuarine resources;
40 (2) Conducting scientific research;
41 (3) Promoting the State's coastal fishing industries; Page 3 - 132LR1449(01)
1 (4) Protecting and managing fish, game and other wildlife and their habitats,
2 including restoring endangered species;
3 (5) Promoting agriculture, conservation, forestry, land management and the well-
4 being of domestic animals;
5 (6) Safely enjoying the outdoors; and
6 (7) Promoting public health;
7 D. Develop students' social and emotional skills, including teamwork, citizenship, self-
8 awareness and community responsibility;
9 E. Support students' health and wellness by developing an appreciation for education
10 and recreation in the outdoors;
11 F. Encourage hands-on engagement, observation, discovery, intellectual curiosity and
12 problem-solving; and
13 G. Support students and teachers to combat the learning loss associated with the
14 COVID-19 pandemic.
15 An outdoor education program provider shall:
16 A. Comply with the requirements of section 12863 regarding educational trip leaders;
17 B. Provide outdoor programs for a 2-night, 3-day experience or day programs when
18 overnight programs are impractical due to health or cultural considerations;
19 C. Pursue a sustainable funding model;
20 D. Collaborate with schools and teachers to provide access to the program;
21 E. Pledge to provide equitable access to the program to all students;
22 F. Train educators in educational strategies and field work;
23 G. Develop and participate in an evaluation program in accordance with section 5305;
24 and
25 H. Promote high levels of accessibility for students with disabilities.
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28 established within the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service. The University
29 of Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall administer grant funds for the program in
30 accordance with subsection 2. The fund is nonlapsing and may be invested in the same
31 manner as permitted for the investment of other state funds.
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33 University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall determine the funding needed for
34 the program. The funding must be sufficient for students in all geographic regions of the
35 State to participate in the program for a 2-night, 3-day experience.
36 The State Controller shall credit to the fund:
37 A. All money appropriated or allocated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund;
38 B. Money from any other source, whether public or private, designated for deposit into
39 or credited to the fund; and Page 4 - 132LR1449(01)
1 C. Interest earned or other investment income on balances in the fund.
2 The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service may use funds for staff and
3 for administrative costs associated with administering grant funds for the program. The
4 University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service is not required to undertake work or
5 provide services for which it does not have sufficient funding.
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7 The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, in consultation with the
8 advisory committee under section 5306, shall develop an evaluation and longitudinal study
9 on current and future demographics of students participating in the program for the purpose
10 of ensuring equitable access and to understand the effects of outdoor education on
11 emotional, educational and career trajectories of students who have participated in the
12 program. Beginning March 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the University of Maine
13 Cooperative Extension Service shall submit a report regarding the study to the joint
14 standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, inland
15 fisheries and wildlife matters and agriculture, conservation and forestry matters. The report
16 must include an emphasis on information regarding the accessibility of the program from
17 a geographic, economic, ethnic and disability perspective and the program's effect on state
18 workforce goals.
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20 The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall convene an advisory
21 committee for the purpose of advising and making recommendations regarding the program
22 and seeking new opportunities to ensure that the State is a nationwide leader in outdoor
23 education, including high school education career training programs. In inviting members
24 onto the advisory committee, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall
25 take into consideration geographic and demographic diversity in membership and ensure
26 that membership of the committee includes a youth advocate and representatives of all
27 applicable state agencies, the outdoor education program provider community, the natural
28 resources community and upper elementary and middle school education.
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30 takes effect when approved.
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32 This bill establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program to provide
33 immersive outdoor education to serve students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in the State.
34 It also establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program Fund within the
35 University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.
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