Outdoor Learning Grant Program

The Outdoor Learning Grant program (program), administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), was established in 2022.  Under the program, the OSPI awards grants to eligible school districts, federally recognized tribes, and outdoor education providers in order to develop and support educational experiences for students in Washington public schools.  The program consists of both allocation-based grants for school districts to develop or support educational experiences, and competitive grants for federally recognized tribes and outdoor education providers to increase capacity for outdoor learning experiences.  The OSPI may consult with the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) in awarding grants. 

Recreation and Conservation Office 

The RCO administers several grant programs to create outdoor recreational opportunities, protect the state's wildlife habitat and farmland, and assist salmon recovery efforts.

A statewide capital facility grant program within the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is created to expand and improve facilities used for the delivery of outdoor learning opportunities.  Eligible grant recipients include federally recognized tribes, local governments, state agencies, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. 

The RCO is required to establish a competitive process to solicit proposals for and prioritize projects whose primary objective is to expand access to outdoor education experiences for students enrolled in public schools.  Projects may acquire, construct, or rehabilitate facilities used for the delivery of outdoor learning opportunities.  Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:  renovations that increase bed capacity; rehabilitations that weatherize or improve energy efficiency at existing facilities so they can serve more public school students by extending the operating season for the facility; and upgrades in bathrooms and kitchen facilities that support better service delivery.

Applicants for the capital facility grant program must demonstrate that a project is likely to:  (1) increase the number of public school students served by outdoor education experiences at the project locations; or (2) provide infrastructure improvements that are likely to remove barriers to the participation of public school students from underserved communities. 

Beginning with the 2027-29 fiscal biennium, the RCO must submit a prioritized list of recommended projects for funding to the Governor and the Legislature as part of RCO's biennial capital budget request.  The prioritized list must include a description of each project, the amount of recommended state funding, and documentation of nonstate funds to be used for the project. 

Grant contracts must include provisions that require that:

• grant-funded capital improvements be maintained by the grantee for a specified period of time appropriate to the amount of the grant;
• grant-funded facilities be used for the express purpose of the grant; and
• the grant award and interest must be repaid if the grantee is found to be out of compliance with provisions of the contract.  Interest must be calculated at the rate of interest on state general obligation bonds issued most closely to the date of award of the grant. Repayments collected by the RCO must be deposited into the state general fund.