Credits

EQUITY Working Group Participants

The dedicated volunteers from around the country, listed alphabetically below, participated in the National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative’s Equity Working Group (WG#1) between June and December 2020. The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of the organizations and individuals who are collaborating to make this Initiative possible.

Working Group Leaders

  • Candice Dickens-Russell, DoGoodery

  • Jill Grace, K-12 Alliance, WestEd

  • Celeste Royer, MA, MA, Ten Strands

Working Group Participants

  • Malina Akau, Novato Unified School District

  • Sarah Barnes, Sierra Nevada Journeys

  • Xiomara Batin, Inclusion Outdoors

  • Sylvia Collazo, Florida Atlantic University

  • Kevin Condon, Bird School Project

  • Sharon Danks, MLA-MCP, Green Schoolyards America

  • Laura Derrendinger, BSN, RN, DC Coalition on Equitable Outdoor Education

  • Sarah Gill, MPP

  • Cindi Hron, MFA, MLA, Penn State University

  • Tim Jones, Baldwin Hills Estates HOA School Committee

  • Alison Makela, West Contra Costa Unified School District

  • Lauren McKenna, MLA, Green Schoolyards America

  • Jenny Mulholland-Beahrs, Inclusion Outdoors

  • Valeire O’Brien, University of Illinois Laboratory High School

  • Erick Oshel

  • Kevin Perdomo, Green Schoolyards America

  • Estrella Risinger, AEOE

  • Tahereh Sheerazie, EnrichLA

  • Melissa Tang, Outward Bound California

  • Betsy Ukeritis, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

  • Trish Valdez, The Knowing Garden Elementary School

  • Claudio Vargas, Sci-Lingual Education

  • Alyssa Wagner, Sierra Nevada Journeys

  • Seraph White, Outdoors Empowered Network

  • Diona Williams, Out Back Learning LLC

  • Ash Young, Vermont Wilderness School

National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative

The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.

The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative was co-founded in May 2020 by Green Schoolyards America, The Lawrence Hall of Science, San Mateo County Office of Education, and Ten Strands. It has now grown to include more than 20 other partner organizations that are collaborating to build a national movement, hundreds of participating volunteers, and foundation partners.