At Nevada Conservation League, we believe every child deserves the chance to experience the outdoors, to feel the sun on their face, breathe in fresh air, and explore the world beyond the classroom.
That value blooms year-round at John F. Miller School in Clark County, serving medically fragile students ages 3 through 22. Many students use wheelchairs, communication devices, or medical equipment throughout the day — both in the classroom and outside on their campus, where the outdoors is designed for them, from the start.
Staff, like Medley Sapp, witness what this means when she and humanities teacher Natalie Bame take every class and every student outside. Outdoor education improves mental and physical health, as well as social skills.
A Garden Built for Every Student
Each week, students at John F. Miller School participate in outdoor learning that includes sensory play, movement, and exploration. Their garden is the heart of it: a bright, living space filled with Mum flowers, the rich textures of soil, and vivid greens and yellows.
Students use adaptive tools to water plants and use their sense of touch, which is fundamental for mental and physical health, and social bonding in the garden. One student beamed when using a switch-adapted watering wand attached to their wheelchair, watching the soil darken as water poured in. Independence, confidence, and connection, all illustrated in one moment.
Medley Sapp, looked at the four students who were watering the plants, and said:
“The main thing has been getting our students outside. Without the switch-adapted sprayers and the plants for them to water, no one else is out here.”
Kids want to be outside — they just need the right tools (and funding) to do it.
Time outside helps reduce stress and anxiety, encourages movement, and builds social and communication skills. For many students, it’s the best part of their week, a space where everyone is included and celebrated for what they can do.
Benefits of green spaces on our kids infographic.
Source: Children & Nature Network
Growing Possibilities
The energy at John F. Miller School is contagious, and the staff, like Sapp and Bame, keep expanding what is possible with adaptive tools to hydroponic systems.
Last April, students hosted their own farmers market, proudly sharing what they’d grown. Sapp, an outdoor enthusiast herself, saw that when students have the right space to shine, the community shows up to celebrate them.
“People came, and they didn’t leave,” Sapp said. “They stayed the whole two hours!”
The John F. Miller School was awarded a $7,500 grant through the Nevada Outdoor Education & Recreation (NOER) Program, a strong sign that the state sees the value of its work. But, like many schools with limited resources, the staff said it wasn’t able to accept the grant.
Some grant recipients are required by Nevada regulations to pay costs upfront and be reimbursed later. For a school serving medically fragile students, that upfront cost was out of reach.
Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation awarded over $250,000 in outdoor education and recreation grants to get kids across Nevada outside through 21 unique projects, including the John F. Miller School. Source: Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation
The John F. Miller School’s story highlights a challenge we hear across our state: the demand for outdoor learning is real, but the structure and size of the funding doesn’t yet match the need.
Even with the best ideas, many programs can’t move forward without flexible funding that meets them where they are.
NOER grants have reached every county in Nevada! To ensure greater access to this program for all our kids, full funding is needed in the 2027 Legislative Session.
Where the Opportunity Is Still Bigger Than the Challenges
The John F. Miller School hopes to expand its program by building a wheelchair-accessible greenhouse, where students can garden year-round, even on the hottest or coldest days. It would serve as a living classroom, blending science, therapy, and recreation in one space built for everyone.
NOER grants are changing lives, and small dollars go far. But we have more kids waiting, and more educators ready, than our current state budget allows.
Planting Seeds for the Future
Nevada took an important step in 2025 by continuing funding for NOER through AB 108. Now, it’s time to take the next one. Although the Nevada Conservation League and various community partners advocated for increased support for the NOER grant program, only a $500,000 appropriation for the biennium was ultimately secured.
In 2027, lawmakers will have the chance to fully fund NOER and match the real demand we see in communities like John F. Miller. That means:
- Funding the program at the level students deserve
- Making receiving grants easier for recipients with fewer resources
- Ensuring every student, including those with medical or mobility needs, has access to outdoor learning
- Supporting the leaders who bring these spaces to life
Nevada has never lacked creativity or commitment. The next step is providing the investment that matches our kids’ potential.
Join Us
At Nevada Conservation League, we’re gathering stories from educators, families, and advocates to show lawmakers what outdoor learning really looks like, and why it matters.
When schools make outdoor learning accessible, they open doors to confidence, connection, and community.
Because when everyone can get outside, everyone can grow.
If you’re a NOER recipient, reach out to us.
We’d love to help share your story! Email yesenia@nevadaconservationleague.org