NM Outdoor Classrooms Bill

1 SENATE MEMORIAL
2 55TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2021

3 INTRODUCED BY
4 Siah Hemphill
5
10 A MEMORIAL
11 REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE THE USE
12 OF OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS IN NEW MEXICO SCHOOLS AND REQUESTING THE
13 GOVERNOR TO DECLARE AN "OUTDOOR LEARNING DAY" IN 2021.
14
15 WHEREAS, New Mexico is rich in diverse natural resources

16 and wildlife and features outstanding natural areas that
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17 provide residents with a wide variety of outdoor opportunities;

underscored material = new
18 and
19 WHEREAS, a growing body of research and literature
20 indicates that being in nature is increasingly important for
21 children, benefiting their emotional, mental and physical well-
22 being; as one student put it, "Having fresh air and movement is
23 essential."; and
24 WHEREAS, studies have shown that students who learn
25 outdoors develop a sense of self, independence, confidence,
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1 creativity and decision-making skills; in the words of another
2 student, "It helps students know that learning can occur
3 anywhere, not just inside a classroom."; and
4 WHEREAS, studies have also shown that outdoor classrooms
5 can lead to better test scores, behavior and attendance; as
6 another student said, "Children don't want to be stuck at one
7 desk in a small classroom."; and
8 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms are more important than ever
9 and are being successfully used across the country during the
10 pandemic; and
11 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms can be a solution to having a
12 safe and distanced classroom in every school, giving students
13 the ability to learn in person while in a healthy environment;
14 another student summed it up in saying, "They help germs
15 disperse."; and
16 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms can be applicable and

17 advantageous to all students, no matter their age, learning

18 ability or skills, and they are practical and affordable; and
19 WHEREAS, studies have shown that outdoor classrooms
20 encourage community and family involvement and can increase
21 enthusiasm for school; they can "give kids something to look
22 forward to when coming to school", as another student said; and
23 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms can help students learn to be
24 good stewards of the natural environment; one student got to
25 the point by saying, "Being outdoors a lot teaches the kids how
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- 2 -
1 amazing nature is and can eventually help them become good
2 citizens and want to take care of the environment."; and
3 WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature unanimously passed the
4 Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights in 2012 (Senate Memorial 10
5 and House Memorial 3), encouraging state agencies to develop
6 outdoor learning opportunities for New Mexico's youth, which
7 many have done; and
8 WHEREAS, these state agencies and other organizations have
9 expressed interest in establishing and expanding outdoor
10 classrooms for schools;
11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
12 OF NEW MEXICO that, using existing resources, the New Mexico
13 outdoor recreation division of the economic development
14 department and the state parks division of the energy, minerals
15 and natural resources department be requested to convene a task
16 force to develop and recommend actions to establish and expand

17 the use of outdoor classrooms for schools and build career

18 paths for New Mexico's youth by coordinating existing efforts
19 on outdoor recreation and education and youth career
20 development; and
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the two divisions be requested
22 to include among the task force membership representatives from
23 the wild friends program, environmental education of New Mexico
24 and the following state agencies: the public education
25 department; the forestry division of the energy, minerals and
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- 3 -
1 natural resources department; the early childhood education and
2 care department; the state land office; the department of game
3 and fish; the cultural affairs department; and the tourism
4 department; and
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to
6 submit a report to the appropriate interim legislative
7 committees by October 31, 2021 that details the task force's
8 recommendations, including strategies to promote outdoor
9 classrooms in all schools in New Mexico; and
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to
11 declare an "Outdoor Learning Day" in 2021; and
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
13 transmitted to the governor, the New Mexico outdoor recreation
14 division of the economic development department and the state
15 parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources
16 department for dissemination to task force invitees; the wild

17 friends program; and environmental education of New Mexico.

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1 SENATE MEMORIAL

2 55TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2021

15 WHEREAS, New Mexico is rich in diverse natural resources

17 provide residents with a wide variety of outdoor opportunities;

19 WHEREAS, a growing body of research and literature

20 indicates that being in nature is increasingly important for

21 children, benefiting their emotional, mental and physical well-

24 WHEREAS, studies have shown that students who learn

25 outdoors develop a sense of self, independence, confidence,

2 student, "It helps students know that learning can occur

3 anywhere, not just inside a classroom."; and

4 WHEREAS, studies have also shown that outdoor classrooms

5 can lead to better test scores, behavior and attendance; as

6 another student said, "Children don't want to be stuck at one

7 desk in a small classroom."; and

8 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms are more important than ever

11 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms can be a solution to having a

12 safe and distanced classroom in every school, giving students

13 the ability to learn in person while in a healthy environment;

14 another student summed it up in saying, "They help germs

16 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms can be applicable and

17 advantageous to all students, no matter their age, learning

18 ability or skills, and they are practical and affordable; and

19 WHEREAS, studies have shown that outdoor classrooms

20 encourage community and family involvement and can increase

21 enthusiasm for school; they can "give kids something to look

22 forward to when coming to school", as another student said; and

23 WHEREAS, outdoor classrooms can help students learn to be

24 good stewards of the natural environment; one student got to

2 citizens and want to take care of the environment."; and

3 WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature unanimously passed the

4 Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights in 2012 (Senate Memorial 10

5 and House Memorial 3), encouraging state agencies to develop

6 outdoor learning opportunities for New Mexico's youth, which

7 many have done; and

8 WHEREAS, these state agencies and other organizations have

9 expressed interest in establishing and expanding outdoor

10 classrooms for schools;

11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE

12 OF NEW MEXICO that, using existing resources, the New Mexico

13 outdoor recreation division of the economic development

14 department and the state parks division of the energy, minerals

15 and natural resources department be requested to convene a task

16 force to develop and recommend actions to establish and expand

17 the use of outdoor classrooms for schools and build career

18 paths for New Mexico's youth by coordinating existing efforts

19 on outdoor recreation and education and youth career

21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the two divisions be requested

22 to include among the task force membership representatives from

23 the wild friends program, environmental education of New Mexico

24 and the following state agencies: the public education

25 department; the forestry division of the energy, minerals and

2 care department; the state land office; the department of game

3 and fish; the cultural affairs department; and the tourism

5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to

6 submit a report to the appropriate interim legislative

7 committees by October 31, 2021 that details the task force's

8 recommendations, including strategies to promote outdoor

9 classrooms in all schools in New Mexico; and

10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to