"Information on existing Outdoor Education Labs is sorely needed,” stated Sam Carman, Education Director with the IDNR. “The last directory, with more than 400 listings, was updated in 1994.”

Sam would like to revive and compile the directory. He needs your help in providing him with the individual Outdoor Education Lab’s school contact information, such as county, school name, address, and phone number.

What constitutes an outdoor lab?

If a school has made improvements to its property with the specific purpose of encouraging teachers to use the school's outdoor environment in their teaching, (examples--planting trees or shrubs, developing a pond or wetland, constructing facilities such as a group outdoor seating area or shelter, developing trails, a garden, etc.), then that school has an outdoor lab. Landscaping for aesthetics, without a plan for teachers to use it in their teaching, would not be considered an outdoor lab.

Contact Sam Carman with any information you may be able to provide at scarman@dnr.IN.gov  or call 317.232.4119.