Arkansas governor unveils outdoor education pilot program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new pilot program for Arkansas schools was announced on Wednesday that looks to help students who might look toward a career in outdoor recreation.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was joined by officials from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with First Gentleman and Natural State Initiative Advisory Council Bryan Sanders, to make the announcement of the Outdoor Education Pilot program.

The Arkansas Department of Education and the AFGC will partner together to help students with careers in outdoor recreation, like ecologists or researchers.

Initially, 30 schools in the state will participate in the pilot’s first year, and state officials will evaluate the program’s effectiveness. After that, the program would then be launched statewide.

“This program emphasizes another reason why my husband, Bryan, and I started the Natural State Initiative: to get kids off screens and outside,” Sanders said. “Thank you to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for investing in our kids’ future and promoting outdoor education.”

Bryan Sanders echoed the governor’s sentiments, saying the program would “inspire our kids to develop a greater appreciation for the Natural State” and hopes this would “build a pipeline of future workers” to support both the tourism industry and the outdoor economy.

Mary Beth Hatch, Chief of Education for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, noted that this program will help the commission “lead the way” in integrating conservation and outdoor experiences into education.

“We have designed this with resources that are built around the standards taught in core and elective content areas, experiences in outdoor learning and engagement, and projects that empower students to think critically and solve problems about the world around them,” Hatch said. “These outdoor learning experiences that are connected to what is being taught in the classroom will provide opportunities for students to improve mental and physical health, learn new knowledge and skills in the Natural State, gain confidence and independence, and reduce screen time.” 

Tourism is currently the second-largest industry in Arkansas and has grown from $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion since Sanders took office.

Applications to enroll in the pilot program are available. Click here to visit and apply.