Who are the School-Based Programs for?

NOLA’s School-Based programs include: Outdoor Science Program, Outdoor PE Program, and Nature Explorers Program.

All of our school-based programs are intended to be facilitated at local public, private, or charter schools within Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Our programs are age-adapted and standards-aligned for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Each program includes 1 or 2 of NOLA’s highly trained and experienced educators, all supplies, and curriculum. Although NOLA’s educators lead the program, it is assumed that the students’ primary teacher, substitute, or paraeducator will be present and available to assist with class management during the length of the program.

How often does NOLA come to my school?

NOLA’s school-based programs are facilitated over a minimum period of 12-weeks (up to 36 weeks for the whole school year), with actual visits being conducted weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly during that timeframe. The exact visit frequency is determined based on the needs of the school.

To maximize the effectiveness of our programs in improving students' academic success and overall wellbeing, a minimum of three visits within a 12-week session is required. However, the optimal impact is achieved with 8-12 visits per session.

What about the weather?

NOLA has years of experience running outdoor programs in all weather and every season. However, we understand not all students have the outerwear needed for significantly cold and/or rainy days. While we seek to leverage the benefits of outdoor learning when we can, we don’t want to put undue stress on the students or teachers. Therefore, all of our outdoor programs can be adapted to classroom environments if access to natural areas is limited or in the case of inclement weather.

What if my school doesn’t have a great outdoor space?

We can make it work! Being outside in the sunshine and fresh air is still beneficial for children, even if the outdoor space is lacking in natural areas. Although a space with grass, trees, and dirt are ideal, we can facilitate our programs in a parking lot, turf area, or playground if needed. In addition, we can conduct our programs at a local park within walking distance, or meet the class there if the school provides transportation.