Winnemucca, NV – Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) is proud to announce it has been awarded funding through the FY26 Nevada Outdoor Education & Recreation (NOER) Grant Program from the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation (NDOR) to support its youth-focused outdoor education initiatives across rural northern Nevada. This investment will allow NOS to continue breaking down barriers to outdoor access, environmental learning, and healthy recreation for thousands of underserved youth.
Rural communities face unique challenges in accessing outdoor education and science-based learning opportunities. Research shows that rural individuals are underrepresented in science and environmental fields, contributing to a cultural divide between rural communities and the scientific world. NOS addresses this gap by bringing hands-on, nature-based learning directly into rural schools, parks, and communities, empowering youth to see themselves as scientists, stewards, and active participants in the natural world.
NOS youth programs serve students across six rural Nevada counties, with a strong focus on Humboldt and Elko Counties, including some of the state’s most economically vulnerable communities. Schools in Paradise Valley, Kings River, and McDermitt serve student populations where 77–100% of children qualify for free or reduced lunch. Additionally, communities in Humboldt, Pershing, Elko, and White Pine Counties rank as moderately to highly vulnerable according to the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index.
“With support from the NOER program, Nevada Outdoor School is able to reach children who might otherwise never have meaningful access to outdoor learning,” said Melanie Erquiaga, Executive Director of Nevada Outdoor School. “By increasing Time Spent Outdoors and building environmental literacy, we are helping young Nevadans develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong connection to the natural world.”
In 2026, NOS will implement three core youth programs: Nature in My World, Nature in the Park, and Nature Explorers Summer Camps. Together, these initiatives will reach at least 5,250 rural youth and foster more than 9,100 hours of Time Spent Outdoors (TSO). This funding builds on a successful year of impact. In the past year alone, NOS reached 5,819 rural youth contacts and fostered 9,559 hours of Time Spent Outdoors, helping improve physical health, environmental literacy, self-confidence, and personal responsibility.
Nevada Outdoor School is a Leave No Trace Gold Standard Youth Program and is committed to teaching youth how to explore the outdoors responsibly through its Action. Impact. Choice. education model. By pairing hands-on experiences with reflection and mindfulness, NOS helps young people understand how their actions affect the environment and their own well-being.
With continued support from NDOR and the NOER Grant Program, Nevada Outdoor School will keep expanding access to outdoor education, ensuring that rural Nevada youth have the opportunity to explore, learn, and thrive in the natural world.
About the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation:
The Nevada Outdoor Education and Recreation (NOER) grant program, led by the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation (NDOR), supports outdoor recreation and education opportunities across the state. NDOR prioritizes conservation, stewardship, and sustainable development, providing funding, resources, and strategic planning to communities. NDOR works to expand access, protect natural resources, and strengthen Nevada’s outdoor recreation economy for residents and visitors alike.
NV Division of Outdoor Recreation | Nevada Outdoor Adventures
About Nevada Outdoor School:
Nevada Outdoor School is dedicated to fostering responsible outdoor ethics and community involvement. Through partnerships with local educators, public agencies, and conservationists, NOS ensures that students gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences that empower them to make informed choices about the environment.
nevadaoutdoorschool.org/home.aspx
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