From Vision to Reality: A Model State-Local Partnership
for Outdoor Education

Room: 106
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm

This session, presented by Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) and California State Parks, details the creation of the TAHOE Lab and Outdoor School. We share our holistic journey, from aligning with the district’s strategic plan and State Parks’ K-12 access initiatives to the sustainable preparation of an underutilized school facility. Learn how we managed surplus equipment and engaged the community in reuse and recycling, turning a storage site into a vibrant learning hub. Our model leverages state frameworks (EP&Cs, AB 285) and diverse funding to provide a roadmap for creating transformative learning environments through local and state partnerships.

Attend this session to hear the unique triple perspective from a school district, California State Parks, and a sustainability manager on building an outdoor school from the ground up. We move beyond theory to share the practical story of a partnership that covers everything from high-level policy to the on-the-ground details of sustainably repurposing a public school facility. This is a replicable model for a school district looking to create authentic, immersive learning opportunities. You will leave with a clear understanding of how to forge a powerful state-local alliance, manage facilities with a green focus, and implement a creative funding strategy to make a lasting impact.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

• Structure a mutually beneficial partnership between a school district and a state agency, aligning local strategic goals with statewide K-12 access and environmental literacy initiatives.
• Leverage state frameworks like the CA EP&Cs, NGSS, and AB 285 to build stakeholder support and guide the curriculum design of an outdoor education center.
• Develop a phased implementation plan for a large-scale outdoor learning project, from sustainable site preparation and surplus furniture community reuse efforts to prototyping and full build-out.
• Replicate a diverse funding strategy for outdoor education, utilizing local foundations, community grants, community-based partners, and the institutional support of a state partner.

Speakers:

Edward Hilton, Chief Technology Officer & Outdoor Education/Environmental Literacy Strategic Plan Lead, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District
Erica Mertens, Energy Conservation & Sustainability Program Manager, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District
Brad Krey, Interpretation & Education Division, California State Parks

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