What is the Outdoor Lab?
The Phoebe Hall Knipling Outdoor Lab is a 311-acre facility that provides science and outdoor education to the students of Arlington County Public Schools. In this natural classroom, urban youth — often for the first time — can run in a meadow, climb a mountain, hike beside a stream, or fish in a pond. Up to six classes per week visit the Outdoor Lab, some overnight, and there are three week-long summer camps.
Each year, the Outdoor Lab provides hands-on outdoor and environmental education to more than 10,000 students, from elementary grades through high school.
The non-profit Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA) owns the land and buildings and partners with Arlington Public Schools who provides the teachers, buses and science programming at the Outdoor Lab.
Here’s a video for the Outdoor Lab’s 50th anniversary produced by APS’s AETV Green Scenes.
Learn More about this unique educational resource:
- See what’s New at the Lab
- Learn about our Educational Programs
- Come to an Upcoming Events
Donate or Become a Friend
The Outdoor Lab is supported by a non-profit that needs your help. Please become a FRIEND or make a DONATION today! We’d love to talk with PTAs and community groups in Arlington about partnering with the Outdoor Lab.
How can I Support the ODL?
- Become a FRIEND
- Sign up for our Lab Notes
- Volunteer with the ODL
- Donate what you can
- Spread the Joy