An Act to Support Outdoor Education by Establishing the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1817
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BRENNER, CARLOW, BAILEY, BALDACCI, BEEBE-CENTER, BENNETT, BLACK, BRAKEY, CARNEY, CHIPMAN, CURRY, DAUGHTRY, DUSON, FARRIN, GROHOSKI, GUERIN, HARRINGTON, HICKMAN, INGWERSEN, JACKSON, KEIM, LAWRENCE, LIBBY, LYFORD, MOORE, NANGLE, PIERCE, POULIOT, RAFFERTY, RENY, ROTUNDO, STEWART, TIMBERLAKE, TIPPING, VITELLI, ABDI, ANKELES, ARFORD, BELL, BLIER, BOYER, BOYLE, BRENNAN, BRIDGEO, CAMPBELL, CLOUTIER, CLUCHEY, COLLINGS, COPELAND, CRAFTS, CRAVEN, CROCKETT, DANA, DAVIS, DHALAC, DODGE, DOUDERA, DUCHARME, FAULKINGHAM, FAY, GATTINE, GEIGER, GERE, GOLEK, GRAMLICH, HASENFUS, HEPLER, HOBBS, HYMES, JAUCH, LANDRY, LOOKNER, MADIGAN, MALON, MASTRACCIO, MATHIESON, MATLACK, MEYER, MILLETT, MILLIKEN, MONTELL, MOONEN, MORRIS, MURPHY, OSHER, PERRY, PLUECKER, POLEWARCZYK, PRINGLE, RANA, RIELLY, ROEDER, SALISBURY, SAMPSON, SARGENT, SAYRE

Legislative Document
No. 1817
S.P. 732
In Senate, April 27, 2023
An Act to Support Outdoor Education by Establishing the Outdoor School 
for All Maine Students Program
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative CARLOW of Buxton and
Senators: BAILEY of York, BALDACCI of Penobscot, BEEBE-CENTER of Knox, BENNETT of Oxford, BLACK of 
Franklin, BRAKEY of Androscoggin, CARNEY of Cumberland, CHIPMAN of Cumberland, CURRY of Waldo, 
DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, DUSON of Cumberland, FARRIN of Somerset, GROHOSKI of Hancock, GUERIN of 
Penobscot, HARRINGTON of York, HICKMAN of Kennebec, INGWERSEN of York, President JACKSON of Aroostook, 
KEIM of Oxford, LaFOUNTAIN of Kennebec, LAWRENCE of York, LIBBY of Cumberland, LYFORD of Penobscot, 
MOORE of Washington, NANGLE of Cumberland, PIERCE of Cumberland, POULIOT of Kennebec, RAFFERTY of York, 
RENY of Lincoln, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, STEWART of Aroostook, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, TIPPING of 
Penobscot, VITELLI of Sagadahoc, Representatives: ABDI of Lewiston, ANKELES of Brunswick, ARFORD of Brunswick, 
BELL of Yarmouth, BLIER of Buxton, BOYER of Poland, BOYLE of Gorham, BRENNAN of Portland, BRIDGEO of 
Augusta, CAMPBELL of Orrington, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, COLLINGS of Portland, 
COPELAND of Saco, CRAFTS of Newcastle, CRAVEN of Lewiston, CROCKETT of Portland, DANA of the 
Passamaquoddy Tribe, DAVIS of East Machias, DHALAC of South Portland, DODGE of Belfast, DOUDERA of Camden, 
DUCHARME of Madison, FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, FAY of Raymond, GATTINE of Westbrook, GEIGER of 
Rockland, GERE of Kennebunkport, GOLEK of Harpswell, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, HASENFUS of Readfield, 
HEPLER of Woolwich, HOBBS of Wells, HYMES of Waldo, JAUCH of Topsham, LANDRY of Farmington, LOOKNER of 
Portland, MADIGAN of Waterville, MALON of Biddeford, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, MATHIESON of Kittery, 
MATLACK of St. George, MEYER of Eliot, MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, MONTELL of Gardiner, 
MOONEN of Portland, MORRIS of Turner, MURPHY of Scarborough, OSHER of Orono, PERRY of Calais, PLUECKER of 
Warren, POLEWARCZYK of Wiscasset, PRINGLE of Windham, RANA of Bangor, RIELLY of Westbrook, ROEDER of 
Bangor, SALISBURY of Westbrook, SAMPSON of Alfred, SARGENT of York, SAYRE of Kennebunk, SCHMERSAL-
BURGESS of Mexico, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, SKOLD of Portland, SOBOLESKI of Phillips, STOVER of Boothbay, 
SUPICA of Bangor, Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland, TERRY of Gorham, THERIAULT of Fort Kent, THORNE of 
Carmel, WARREN of Scarborough, WHITE of Waterville, WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor, WOODSOME of Waterboro, WORTH 
of Ellsworth, ZAGER of Portland, ZEIGLER of Montville.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA c. 433 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 433
IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR EDUCATION
§5301.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1.  Department.  "Department" means the Department of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry.
2.  Immersive outdoor education.  "Immersive outdoor education" means 
experiential, holistic and interdisciplinary education that uses the outdoor setting to engage 
students in educational opportunities about the outdoors and natural resources and 
industries and supports the health and wellness of students.
3.  Outdoor education program provider.  "Outdoor education program provider" 
means an organization that qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under 26 United States 
Code, Section 501(c)(3) that offers immersive outdoor education.
§5302.  Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program
1.  Program established.  The University of Maine Cooperative Extension shall 
establish and administer the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program, referred to 
in this chapter as "the program," to support immersive outdoor education and to assist 
school administrative units in partnering with outdoor education programs.
2.  Grant requirements.  The University of Maine Cooperative Extension shall 
provide grants to implement the program in order to assist school administrative units in 
partnering with outdoor education program providers. Grants under the program must be:
A.  Distributed to an outdoor education program provider that meets the requirements 
of section 5303;
B.  Used to serve publicly funded students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in schools 
operated by tribal school committees or students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in public 
schools in the State, as determined by the sending school administrative unit and the 
outdoor education program provider based on community needs and the curriculum;
C.  Provided to the same school grade each year to ensure that students in subsequent 
years have an opportunity to participate in the program; and
D.  If program funds are limited, prioritized for schools and communities that are 
historically underserved by outdoor education, including, but not limited to, Indian 
tribes and nations, migrant students, schools with high numbers of students who qualify 
for free and reduced-price lunches, rural and remote schools, students in alternative 
education programs, students of color, English language learner students and students 
receiving special education services.
§5303.  Outdoor education program provider requirements
This section governs the requirements for outdoor education program providers.
1.  Program curricula.  The program shall:
A.  Use the outdoors and local ecosystems as the primary context to support hands-on 
learning, including lessons, meals and on-site living;
B.  Engage students in safe and age-appropriate activities;
C.  Focus on the State's outdoor heritage, science, engineering, technology, 
mathematics, health, environment and natural resources and sustainability by including 
a strong academic component that supports overall academic achievement and career 
trajectories and connects science with other subjects, to support students' understanding 
of:
(1)  Conserving and developing marine and estuarine resources;
(2)  Conducting scientific research;
(3)  Promoting the State's coastal fishing industries;
(4)  Protecting and managing fish, game and other wildlife and their habitats, 
including restoring endangered species;
(5)  Promoting agriculture, conservation, forestry, land management and the well-
being of domestic animals;
(6)  Safely enjoying the outdoors; and
(7)  Promoting public health;
D.  Develop students' social and emotional skills, including teamwork, citizenship, self-
awareness and community responsibility;
E.  Support students' health and wellness by developing an appreciation for education 
and recreation in the outdoors;
F.  Encourage hands-on engagement, observation, discovery, intellectual curiosity and 
problem-solving; and
G.  Support students and teachers to combat the learning loss associated with the 
coronavirus pandemic.
2.  Program structure.  An outdoor education program provider shall:
A.  Obtain an educational trip leader permit under section 12863 or operate in 
accordance with the requirements of section 12863 for educational trip leaders;
B.  Provide programs for 3 to 5 days in duration including up to 4 overnights, or day 
programs when overnight programs are impractical due to health, cultural or capacity 
considerations;
C.  Pursue a sustainable funding model;
D.  Collaborate with schools and teachers to access the program;
E.  Pledge to provide equitable access to the program to all students;
F.  Train educators in educational strategies and field work;
G.  Develop and participate in an evaluation program in accordance with section 5305; 
and
H.  Promote high levels of accessibility for students with disabilities.
§5304.  Outdoor School for All Maine Students Fund
1.  Fund established.  The Outdoor School for All Maine Students Fund, referred to 
in this section as "the fund," is established under the department. The department shall 
direct funding to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to administer the grant 
funds and administer the program in accordance with subsection 2. The fund is nonlapsing 
and may be invested in the same manner as permitted for the investment of other state 
funds.
2.  Use of fund.  Beginning in school year 2023-2024, the department shall determine 
the funding needed for the program and disburse funds to the University of Maine 
Cooperative Extension. The funding must be sufficient for students in all geographic 
regions of the State to participate in the program for a 2-night, 3-day experience.
3.  Sources of fund.  The State Controller shall credit to the fund:
A.  All money appropriated or allocated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund;
B.  Money from any other source, whether public or private, designated for deposit into 
or credited to the fund; and
C.  Interest earned or other investment income on balances in the fund.
The department and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension must receive funds 
for staff and for administrative costs associated with administering the program and the 
fund.
§5305.  Report required
The department, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and an outdoor 
education program provider that meets the requirements of section 5303 shall develop an 
evaluation program and longitudinal study on current and future demographics of students 
participating in the program for the purpose of ensuring equitable access and to understand 
the effects of outdoor education on emotional, educational and career trajectories of 
students who have participated in the program.  Beginning December 1, 2023 and annually 
thereafter, the department and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension shall submit 
a report evaluating the program to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters, inland fisheries and wildlife matters and agriculture, 
conservation and forestry matters. The report must include an emphasis on the accessibility 
of the program from a geographic, economic, ethnic and disability focus and the program's 
effect on state workforce goals.
§5306.  Advisory committee
The department shall convene an advisory committee for the purpose of advising and 
making recommendations to the program and seeking new opportunities to ensure that the 
State is a nationwide leader in outdoor education, including high school education career 
training programs. In inviting participation in the advisory committee, the department shall 
take into consideration geographic and demographic diversity in membership and ensure 
membership of the committee includes a youth advocate and representatives of all 
applicable state agencies, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the outdoor 
education program provider community, the natural resources community and upper 
elementary and middle school education.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Outdoor School for All Maine Students Fund  N427
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's 
administration of the Outdoor School for All Maine Students program to provide grants to 
overnight outdoor education program providers partnering with schools and school 
administrative units to attend overnight outdoor education programs.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$6,200,000
$6,200,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$6,200,000
$6,200,000
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program to provide 
immersive outdoor education to serve students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in the State.