Students in Louisiana are about to get more familiar with the great outdoors, thanks to a new partnership between the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation. The initiative aims to introduce an outdoor education program, Outdoor Adventures, into school curriculums as a physical education class, the department recently announced. This program is designed to not only engage the next generation in outdoor activities but also immerse them in conservation efforts.
"Reaching the next generation of hunters, anglers, outdoor enthusiasts, and conservationists is crucial to preserving Louisiana’s rich outdoor heritage," Tyler Bosworth, the acting secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, told the department's news division. He believes the Outdoor Adventures curriculum will "instill a love and appreciation for the outdoors in children of all ages," while also positively impacting schools state-wide.
The Outdoor Adventures curriculum, developed by OTF, is already in use in over 1,500 schools across the United States and Canada. It features a wealth of topics for educators to teach, ranging from wildlife conservation to first aid, and is highly adaptable regardless of location. The variety means there should be something to pull each student into learning more about the natural resources around them.
Chuck Jones, the LDWF Non-Consumptive Program Manager, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: "It is exciting to announce our partnership with the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation. Together, we will maximize our abilities to support teachers and to educate our youth about Louisiana’s abundant natural resources and diverse outside recreational opportunities" Jones said. The accredited curriculum is designed to easily integrate into classroom settings, offering a way to seamlessly teach a range of subjects that include birding, paddle sports, and hunting safety.
