On February 12, students and educators from Bath Village School (BVS) joined members of the Bath Conservation Commission (BCC) to present their project, “Year of the Bath Town Forest: Locally Grown Learning,” to the New Hampshire State Board of Education.
The presentation highlighted a two-year partnership between BVS and the BCC that integrates environmental science, field research, and stewardship into the school’s science curriculum using the Bath Town Forest as an outdoor laboratory.
Throughout the project, students in grades K–6 have participated in hands-on field investigations, exploring the forest while learning how scientists study natural systems. Students collected data using many of the same tools and protocols used by professional researchers, building real-world scientific skills while deepening their connection to the local landscape.
The work didn’t stop in the classroom. Student observations and findings have contributed directly to the town’s Natural Resource Inventory, and students have shared ideas for stewarding the forest and caring for their community’s natural resources.
The State Board of Education responded enthusiastically, recognizing the powerful example of what place-based learning can look like in a small rural school.
Projects like this demonstrate how nearby forests, farms, and waterways can become meaningful extensions of the classroom.
A Statewide Moment for Outdoor Learning
Stories like the one unfolding in Bath come at an exciting time. Governor Kelly Ayotte has officially proclaimed April 2026 as Outdoor Learning Month in New Hampshire, recognizing the importance of outdoor education for students across the state.
In the proclamation, Governor Ayotte notes that:
“Outdoor learning is a powerful tool for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills… offering students a unique opportunity to engage with the environment and enhance their educational experience.”
The proclamation also recognizes that outdoor learning supports physical activity, mental well-being, environmental stewardship, and strong community connections, while helping students grow into resilient and engaged citizens.
With New Hampshire’s forests, mountains, rivers, and coastlines, our state offers incredible opportunities for schools to explore science, history, literature, and more—right outside the classroom door.
Join the Movement: #OutsideFor5
Childhood is meant for exploring, discovering, and asking “what if?” Yet too many students spend most of their days indoors.
Outdoor learning—hands-on, nature-based learning that happens outside the classroom—benefits every child. Research shows it can:
🌱 Enhance learning and critical thinking
🌿 Support mental and emotional health
🏃 Promote strong, healthy bodies
🤝 Build collaboration and problem-solving skills
🌎 Inspire lifelong care for the natural world
Educators, organizations, families, and community members are invited to show their support by signing on to the #OutsideFor5 campaign, a growing movement encouraging schools to ensure students spend at least five minutes learning outside each day.
By signing on, you help demonstrate widespread support and spark conversations that make outdoor learning easier, stronger, and more accessible for every school and every child.
👉 Learn more and sign on:
https://www.outsidefor5.com/
Outdoor Learning in Action
The work happening at Bath Village School reminds us that outdoor learning doesn’t require distant field trips or expensive equipment. Sometimes the most powerful learning happens right outside the school doors.
As we head into Outdoor Learning Month this April, we hope even more educators and communities across New Hampshire will take learning outside.
👉 View the Bath Town Forest presentation:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAG7OhfZ4Os/O_UOt7vrkm8g_cX7Jz-5VQ/edit
