Applications open through Aug. 30 to fund nature-based learning projects on campuses statewide.
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is now accepting applications from school administrators for a new pilot program developed in collaboration with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office and the Natural State Initiative Advisory Council. Announced during a June 4 press conference at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, the program is a joint effort with the Arkansas Department of Education aimed at integrating outdoor education into daily lesson plans and preparing students for future careers in the outdoor recreation industry.
“A student’s education should not be fully reliant on technology and smart devices,” Sanders said. “This program emphasizes another reason why my husband, Bryan, and I started the Natural State Initiative: to get kids off screens and outside. Thank you to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for investing in our kids’ future and promoting outdoor education.”
Bringing Nature to the Schoolyard
The Outdoor Classroom Grant Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to connect with the natural world without ever leaving campus. The program provides funding and technical assistance to develop schoolyard habitats, pollinator gardens, native plant landscapes, nature trails, and other outdoor educational features.
“This program was created to offer a meaningful outdoor learning experience for Arkansas students,” said Lauren Marshall, AGFC’s school and community program coordinator. “We want to help teachers create a space where students can connect with nature, learn about conservation, and experience science firsthand.”
Grants Backed by Guidance and Long-Term Support
Open to all public and private K-12 schools in Arkansas, the grant is more than just a financial award. AGFC staff will help selected schools through every step of the process, from planning and site design to construction and maintenance.
“We’re not just handing over a check and walking away,” Marshall said. “This is a partnership. We’re there to help from design to installation, and even help with long-term sustainability.”
Schools can use the funds to create new outdoor classrooms or enhance existing ones. Past projects have included wetland study areas, butterfly gardens, rainwater collection systems, and even outdoor amphitheaters used for cross-curricular lessons in science, language arts, and art.
Learning Beyond the Walls
To qualify, schools must outline how their proposed outdoor classroom will be integrated into their existing curriculum. Projects should offer regular, structured opportunities for students to engage in science and conservation education and meet state education standards.
“Outdoor classrooms offer so many benefits—improved student engagement, better behavior, and increased interest in science and the environment,” Marshall said. “This program is about creating a legacy of conservation-minded students.”
More than 30 Arkansas schools have already participated in the program. AGFC encourages applicants to consider how their projects can evolve over time, be shared across grade levels, and involve the larger school community, including families and local organizations.
A Statewide Vision for Conservation Education
The Outdoor Classroom Grant Program is part of a larger AGFC effort to strengthen conservation education in Arkansas schools. It complements other youth-focused programs such as Project WILD, the Arkansas Stream Team, and the Fishing in the Natural State (FINS) program.
“We want to see outdoor learning become a regular part of education in Arkansas,” Marshall said. “Every school has the potential to create something special—and we’re here to help make it happen.”
How to Apply
Applications for the Arkansas Outdoor Classroom Grant Program are due by Aug. 30, 2025. Schools can find more information, including eligibility details, project guidelines, and application materials, at www.agfc.com. Campuses can apply through the AGFC’s School of Conservation Leadership program and complete a letter of intent to AGFC Chief of Education Mary Beth Hatch at marybeth.hatch@agfc.ar.gov.
Selected schools will be notified this fall and can begin development of their outdoor classrooms shortly afterward.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
