The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation, the leading provider of outdoor skills, safety and conservation curricula for schools across the country, has partnered with Pass It On–Outdoor Mentors to help young people take the next step and put into action what they learn through the outdoor OTF program.
“The Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation’s Outdoor Adventures program reaches more than 100,000 students each year in 1,000 schools across the country,” said OTF President Kyle Shidler. “Working with Pass It On, we will see thousands of students take what they have learned and further develop their skills outdoors.”
OTF’s Outdoor Adventures program is a fun, interactive course that teaches students lifelong skills through an integrated program. The 34-unit curriculum consists of math, science, writing, and critical thinking skills. 290 detailed lesson plans cover Angler Education, Archery, Hunter Education, Boater Education, Orienteering, Survival Skills, Camping, Cooking Outdoors, Challenging Courses, Backpacking, Mountain Bike Camp, Paddle Sports , Rock Climbing, Shooting Sports, CPR/First Aid & Wildlife Medicine & much more. OA teachers can choose units specific to their region and local ecosystems.
Pass It On–Outdoor Mentors pairs caring adults with a passion for the outdoors with children who want to learn about the outdoors. The organization’s adult mentors work to provide opportunities for children to learn about outdoor activities in a safe environment. These activities include fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching, archery, hunting, shooting sports, sailing, and more.
“Our agreement with OTF creates a fantastic opportunity for our volunteer adult mentors to help kids take what they’ve learned and apply it to active outdoor experiences,” said Pass It On President and CEO Mike Christensen. “With our organization working together, we will equip the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts to safely enjoy the full range of outdoor activities.”
Pass It On is an independent, nonprofit organization that began in 1999 as an effort by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to bolster the ranks of hunters and fishermen in the state. It has grown beyond the Kansas borders to include activities in Alabama, Alaska, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Founded in 1981 in Dallas, the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit organization. For many schools, the grant money offsets the cost of the program, plus OTF offers matching funds for equipment as new schools join. The resulting classes can be taught as a physical education course, local elective, or with agricultural science and wildlife management.
There are more than 520,000 graduates of the program to date, and each OA student spends 180 hours learning outdoor education per year. The program has totaled 95 million outdoor education class hours to date.
Morning Outdoor Foundation
Since 1981, the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation (OTF) has fulfilled its mission to teach outdoor education and promote wildlife conservation through the Outdoor Adventures program, currently in 1,049 schools across the country. The curriculum, which has impacted more than 400,000 students since it began, is accessed by 105,000 students annually in 47 states, including archery, shooting, fishing, camping, first aid, boater safety, hunter education, cookout outdoors and more. The OTF also provides equipment grants, free workshops and teacher training and is accredited by each state’s state parks and wildlife commissions. To learn more about the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation and how to bring the Outdoor Adventures curriculum to a school near you, visit gootf.com.