Since we have lived with COVID and the restrictions that brought kids away from school, we saw a migration to online learning. Because of this, engagement in school and hobbies has greatly declined. And with that is the decline in mental health for many students.

As students return to in-person learning, how can we re-engage students that have been behind a screen for so long?

Our solution is to promote Outdoor Education by highlighting a natural resource available to all at Sonoma State University and Sonoma County: The Fairfield Osborn Preserve (FOP).

Goals:

• To increase student and teacher engagement in outdoor learning

• To educate about the mental health benefits of outdoor education

• To direct teachers to resources for outdoor education, including the Fairfield Osborn Preserve in Partnership with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

At our practice workshop on March 12th, we had one of our project member's children join us. After the hike, she immediately wanted to draw what she saw. You can tell that this hike stuck with her and inspired her to be engaged in learning.