April 21-27 is Outside for Five Week in Kansas
- KACEE Staff
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Governor Kelly Proclaims April 21-27 Outside for Five Week in Kansas
The National 'Outside for 5' Campaign Urges Educators to Embrace Outdoor Learning
Manhattan, Kansas, March 27, 2025 – As a part of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Affiliate Network, the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) has recommitted to supporting teachers, administrators, non-formal educators, youth development leaders, and parents in Kansas to engage students and children in outdoor learning for at least five minutes a day, five days a week, or any meaningful amount of time.
Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed April 21-27 as Outside For Five Week in Kansas in support of these efforts.
The Outside for 5 campaign was first developed in 2022 in response to the pandemic-related decline in youth mental health and the associated impact on classroom educators who have faced increased levels of burnout. Today many students and teachers continue to face difficult issues in their communities related to climate change, social barriers, and more. Strategies for supporting our students and teachers are just as important today. This campaign is focused on engaging communities in outdoor learning as a way to provide a more enriching and healthy learning environment.
“Today’s students are juggling many stressors that affect their mental health and productivity in the classroom,” said Laura Donwey, Executive Director of the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education. “By incorporating outdoor learning into school curriculum, educators can provide an outlet for students to release stress and increase focus for learning.”
There is a large and compelling body of evidence-based research that demonstrates the benefits of outdoor learning for mental health and well-being, stress and anxiety reduction, physical health, student engagement, and academic success. Outdoor educational experiences also offer schools an opportunity to ignite learning, which addresses both social and emotional well-being as well as learning loss.
“Our goal with this campaign is to inspire educators to think outside the box when it comes to enhancing the social-emotional wellness of their students, each other, and their entire school community,” said Sarah Bodor, NAAEE’s Director of Policy & Affiliate Relations. “We want kids to get outside and experience the benefits of nature’s classroom.”
KACEE invites school administrators and educators of all grade levels to sign up at www.outsidefor5.com to receive free resources and inspiration to help them spend at least 5
minutes a day outside with their students. Whether that means teaching a classroom lesson outside, studying the local ecosystem, or taking a short walk across the school campus, everyone can benefit from going Outside for 5.
To sign the join the movement and learn more about the Outside for 5 campaign, visit www.outsidefor5.com.
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About the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE)
One of the first and largest conservation and environmental education organizations in the nation, KACEE is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, established in 1969. KACEE’s mission is to accelerate environmental literacy and conservation in Kansas through non-biased, science-based environmental education. We believe that everyone has a seat at the table when it comes to environmental education. KACEE also coordinates the Kansas Green School network. Learn more about KACEE and Kansas Green Schools at www.kacee.org and www.kansasgreenschools.org
About the NAAEE Affiliate Network
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Affiliate Network supports the many types of educators who teach concepts we all need to understand: how natural systems work, what we must do to interact responsibly with the environment, and how we can protect natural resources for future generations. We are the largest network of environmental educators in North America. Collectively, we inspire educators, schools, and communities to impact conservation, education, social justice, health and wellness, and positive youth development. Find your Affiliate: https://naaee.org/affiliates
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