Outdoor School at Wolf Ridge
At Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, we are expanding access to transformative outdoor learning through Minnesota’s Outdoor School for All initiative. This statewide investment ensures that every student—regardless of background—can learn, grow and thrive through immersive experiences in nature that strengthen both academic achievement and social-emotional skills.
About Outdoor School for All in Minnesota
Outdoor School for All was established in June 2025 when Governor Tim Walz signed the legislation into law, creating a statewide grant program to expand access to overnight outdoor education for students in grades 4–12.
This initiative supports accredited residential environmental learning centers in delivering multi-day, immersive experiences that integrate:
- Environmental and natural science learning
- Outdoor recreation and skill-building
- Cultural and place-based education
Minnesota joins states like Oregon, Washington, and Maine in advancing a statewide Outdoor School for All model.
The program is also supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, recognizing the positive impact of outdoor learning on youth mental health and overall well-being.
What Sets Wolf Ridge Apart
At Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Outdoor School is more than an outdoor experience. As an accredited school, our programs combine immersive outdoor learning with standards-aligned academics and intentional social-emotional development.
The Wolf Ridge curriculum is recognized throughout the world for its effectiveness and long-term retention of knowledge. It is aligned with Minnesota Academic Standards in science and social studies while also supporting CASEL-aligned social-emotional learning outcomes. Students engage in hands-on investigations, environmental science, human cultures, and place-based learning that strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, resilience, and connection to community and environment.
Through direct experiences in the outdoors, students build confidence, communication skills, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making while applying classroom concepts in meaningful, real-world settings.
This combination of academic rigor, experiential learning, and whole-child development is what sets Wolf Ridge apart.
Expanding Access & Opportunity
Immediately after the passage of the bill in 2025, enrollment began to increase, with more Minnesota students participating in outdoor school experiences, including students from low-income communities and students of color who have historically faced greater barriers to access.
Outdoor School for All works to close this gap by:
- Reducing financial barriers for schools and families
- Expanding equitable access to outdoor learning
- Supporting inclusive and culturally responsive programming
At Wolf Ridge, this funding strengthens our ability to create environments where students experience a sense of belonging, identity, and connection—critical conditions for both academic success and social-emotional development.
What Is Outdoor School?
Outdoor School is a multi-day, accredited residential learning experience where students learn through direct engagement with the natural world.
At Wolf Ridge, students:
- Participate in hands-on lessons in ecology, geology, and environmental science
- Build independence and confidence through new experiences
- Collaborate with peers to solve problems and navigate challenges
- Reflect on their experiences to deepen self-awareness and learning
Programs are developed in partnership with schools to align with Minnesota Academic Standards while intentionally integrating CASEL-aligned social and emotional learning outcomes.
Why It Matters
Outdoor School is more than an educational experience—it’s a catalyst for lifelong growth.
Students return to their classrooms changed:
- With greater confidence and clearer sense of who they are
- With stronger communication skills and deeper connection to others
- With resilience to face challenges and the tools to navigate them
- With a lasting understanding of their connection to the natural world
By investing in Outdoor School for All, Minnesota is not only supporting academic achievement–it is helping shape a generation of students who are confident, compassionate, and engaged in the world around them.
Grant Information & Public Disclosure
Project Title: Outdoor School
Grant Award Amount: $262,625.60
Project Duration: Through June 30, 2028
Grantee Leadership Contact:
Peter Smerud
218-353-6122
pete.smerud@wolf-ridge.org
Program Management Contacts:
Peter Smerud
218-353-6122
pete.smerud@wolf-ridge.org
Rebecca Meyer
218-353-6178
rebecca.meyer@wolf-ridge.org
This project is funded by the State of Minnesota and administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. All services and programming supported through this grant acknowledge the State of Minnesota as the sponsoring agency.
