CARSON CITY – Gov. Joseph Lombardo signed into law AB 108, which will provide a $500,000 appropriation to the Nevada Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program (NOER) over the next biennium.
Created in 2019, NOER provides children in Nevada with high-quality outdoor education and recreation opportunities. These programs, which span all corners of the state, enrich our students and prepare them for future career opportunities as the outdoor recreation economy continues to grow.
In 2023, state general funds were granted for the first time in NOER’s history. Over the 2023-2025 biennium, 44 projects will have been funded through NOER and have reached kids in every county in the state. In 2024 alone, NOER funded 23 projects, reached nearly 11,000 kids with almost 26,000 hours spent outside, and supported 57 jobs.
Outdoor education allows Nevada’s children to be creative, curious, and make great memories that will last a lifetime. Outdoor experiences provide significant health and cognitive benefits for children, with studies finding that children who spend more time outdoors have improved physical health, problem-solving skills, increased academic performance, reduced stress, and enhanced social skills.
There is a tremendous demand for participation in NOER programming — The Division of Outdoor Recreation received $2.55 million in requests from over 115 applicants in the first two years.
AB 108 will provide continued funding for NOER, allowing the program to give outdoor experiences to students across the state.
“We are grateful to the bill sponsors, Gov. Lombardo, and all those who supported this bill — we know that outdoor education is immeasurable to our children in Nevada and that this program shines as a brilliant example of what our state can offer. By securing additional funding for NOER, we are continuing to build the next generation of stewards of our air, land, and water,” Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League, said.
“The Nevada Outdoor Education and Recreation grant provided an experience for youth and elders within Native Communities in Nevada. It assisted with utilizing Traditional Indigenous Knowledge (TEK) and examining STEM majors at the University of Nevada, Reno. We were able to explore Indigenous plants and gather pinenuts while learning traditional uses, recipes, and the ancestral language of such plants. The learning we were able to provide wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the funding received from NOER,” Kari Emm, tribal student specialist at the University of Nevada, Reno, said.
“[Nevada Outdoor School] NOS has been doing outdoor education for over 20 years now, we know getting kids outside is good for their mental health. By getting kids exposed to connecting with nature, hopefully they want to care for it, and hopefully they want to share it, which is ultimately our goal. They are tomorrow’s problem solvers. I think it’s a great investment in Nevada’s future. The more funding we put into it, the more returns we get. These kids are the outdoor stewards of tomorrow. We have programs in White Pine and Eureka counties, and these education programs are so important for rural Nevada. I’m so grateful they are funding education in rural Nevada. Rural Nevada education is just as important as urban Nevada education. If we don’t invest in education, we lose the people who care about it. I appreciate that this is a state agency and its sole focus is funding outdoor education. It’s exciting! I hope it not only gets acknowledged and gets funding increased,” Melanie Erquiaga, the executive director of Nevada Outdoor Schools, said.
“We are excited that the Nevada legislature is continuing to invest in Nevada Outdoor Education and Recreation. The NOER grants we have received have been essential in connecting youth throughout the state to their national park. Great Basin National Park is very remote, and NOER funds matched multi-fold by private donor dollars, allow us to bring the science and wonder of Nevada’s national park to youth wherever they live,” Aviva O’Neil, the executive director of Great Basin National Park Foundation, said.
###
The Nevada Conservation League is the independent voice of Nevada’s conservation community. NCL works to maintain and enhance the natural character of Nevada and the quality of life for Nevadans through effective advocacy, the election of pro-conservation candidates, and building collaboration.