By Jessica Vance
Opening the Doors to Minnesota’s Great Outdoors
In a landmark moment for outdoor education, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center has secured over $840,000 in funding—the largest tuition support in its 50+ year history—to help eliminate financial barriers for students and educators attending its residential programs. This milestone coincides with the enactment of Outdoor School For All MN, a new law ensuring every Minnesota child has access to multi-day, overnight environmental learning experiences.
Transforming Education in Nature’s Classroom
The Outdoor School For All MN legislation guarantees that all children in the state can participate in immersive, hands-on learning at one of Minnesota’s five accredited Residential Environmental Learning Centers (RELCs), including Wolf Ridge. Programs are designed to strengthen academic growth, environmental stewardship, and social-emotional development through real-world, field-based experiences.
“Minnesotans hold two things quite dear—our children and the outdoors,” said Peter Smerud, Executive Director of Wolf Ridge. “This historic support ensures future generations maintain an authentic connection to Minnesota’s natural heritage and outdoor ethic.”
Unprecedented Access Through Generous Partnerships
A three-day overnight Outdoor School experience at Wolf Ridge typically costs $365 per student. Thanks to this historic funding, subsidized tuition is now just $209, with additional aid available for schools with higher needs. Over the years, Wolf Ridge has steadily increased tuition support—from $20,000–$40,000 in its early days to more than $400,000 in recent years—and this year’s funding leap allows even more students, including those from underserved and rural communities, to participate.
Today, students in 21 Minnesota counties still lack access to outdoor school experiences, and Wolf Ridge is committed to breaking down financial barriers to ensure equitable opportunities for all.
Why Outdoor School Matters More Than Ever
Minnesota has seen a 31% decline in Outdoor School participation over the past decade. Barriers such as transportation costs, teacher workloads, and accessibility challenges have limited student participation. Wolf Ridge is addressing these obstacles by:
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Providing adaptive equipment for students of all abilities
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Training teachers through a professional development Teacher Institute
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Offering virtual field trips and field-based technology
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Expanding programs in science, sustainability, and cultural history
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Accommodating groups from 15–375 students
Each Wolf Ridge experience provides at least 18 instructional hours over three to five days, aligning with core educational standards while deepening connections to the natural world.
A National Leader in Outdoor Environmental Learning
Wolf Ridge is the largest outdoor school in the region, hosting over 11,000 students annually on a 2,000-acre campus featuring forests, lakes, trails, and a working organic farm. Students engage in field-based science, high ropes courses, rock climbing, and more—while staying in a Living Building Certified dormitory, one of the greenest and most sustainable buildings in the world.
Since 1971, Wolf Ridge has trained more than 1,000 environmental educators, many of whom have become leaders in conservation, education, and policy nationwide. Its innovative programs have even been used as a model to develop environmental education curricula in China.
Leading the Call to Action
This milestone is more than financial—it reflects Minnesota’s commitment to equitable, hands-on education. With Outdoor School For All MN now law, Wolf Ridge is leading efforts to:
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Ensure every Minnesota student can attend outdoor school
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Build partnerships between schools, families, and environmental educators
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Promote career pathways in environmental science, forestry, water quality, and sustainability
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Support mental health, academic achievement, and community connection
“Outdoor School builds resilience, confidence, and a sense of place in our youth,” said Smerud. “With this support, we are investing not only in education, but in the future leaders and stewards of Minnesota.”
How You Can Help
Whether you’re an educator, parent, donor, or community leader, there’s a role for you in bringing Outdoor School to more students:
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Educators: Apply to bring your students to Wolf Ridge—subsidies and transportation aid are available.
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Parents: Advocate for your child’s school to attend Outdoor School.
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Donors: Support programs that expand access to this life-changing experience.
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Community Leaders: Partner to create a stronger, more connected future for Minnesota students and the environment.
Learn more or get involved at www.wolf-ridge.org or email outdoorschool@wolf-ridge.org. Together, we can make Outdoor School truly accessible for all.