AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted unanimously, of those present, Thursday to advance a measure from Rep. Kathy Shaw, D-Auburn, that would support Maine schools in establishing outdoor experiential education programs.
LD 1682 would create the Maine Experiential Education Program Fund within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The fund would support grants to facilitate new staff positions within participating public schools dedicated to providing hands-on, experiential learning opportunities related to gardens, food and agriculture to improve healthy academic, physical and emotional development for students.
"I am happy to see this bill gain such broad, bipartisan support," said Shaw. "Providing hands-on opportunities for students to reclaim the skills that have long been at the heart of Maine's economy and identity not only serves the health and wellbeing of those kids while in school, it also prepares students so that they can feed their families and their communities."
Maine does not currently provide a coordinated, statewide investment in outdoor experiential learning, even though research shows that contact with nature provides numerous benefits for children experiencing increased sedentary behavior and attention deficit disorder, including improved mental, social and physical health.
With limited staff, time and resources, organizations like Maine Farm and Sea to School Network, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, The Ecology School, FoodCorps and Full Plates Full Potential currently support school garden and food education in some Maine schools. LD 1682 would build upon that work and provide a pathway for sustainable and consistent outdoor education programs throughout Maine.
The bill faces votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Shaw is serving her first term in the Maine House, representing part of Auburn. A lifelong farmer and president of the Cumberland and Falmouth farmers markets, Shaw serves on Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Shaw], c. 305-965-2744