The Outdoor Lab owes its existence to Phoebe Hall Knipling. Her vision and determination that children should experience science first hand, led to the creation of the Outdoor Lab and other pillars of Arlington science education like the Brown Planetarium, Gulf Branch and Long Branch Nature Centers. Learn more from a recent story from Arlington Library’s Womens Work series.
Anita Knipling Scott
Phoebe’s daughter Anita has served on the Board of Directors of the Outdoor Lab for years. She’s continued to build on her mother’s vision and helped thousands of Arlington families experience the joys of the Outdoor Lab.
Recently, Anita was interviewed for the Biscuit Mountain Breakdown and shared some of the early history of the Outdoor Lab. Click here to listen to podcast “Walking Down Memory Lane.”
Kendra Liddicoat
The Biscuit Mountain Breakdown podcast interviews leaders in the field of outdoor education. Such as Dr. Kendra Liddicoat who researches memories as outcomes for programs like The Outdoor Lab. Learn about how memories are an important feature of what happens at nature centers and how we can use that research to improve our program. Click HERE for Podcasts.
Help scientists from home by participating in The Great Backyard Bird Count
Outdoor Lab staff have participated in such events and documented a large variety of bird species at the Outdoor Lab. Director Emeritus Neil Heinekamp inspired generations of APS students with his bird identification expertise. His legacy continues, with current staff staff helping students identify birds by sight and sound. Now you can help scientists from your own backyard! Show us your favorite backyard birds. #GBBC #LovetheODL
The GBBC is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations.
Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org.
Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.
Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Recently, more than 160,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded.
Bird ID Resources
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, has also created an App called Merlin Bird ID to identify the birds you see or hear. It can help with the GBBC or anytime you’re out in nature observing birds.
Help make the Outdoor Lab better than ever! Celebrate EARTH DAY by volunteering at the Outdoor Lab Open House!
Come by yourself, grab your family or friends, or bring your group (Scouts, School Clubs, Garden Club, etc)
We still need volunteers for our Spring Open House Saturday April 22nd, EARTH DAY, 9a-4p.
No experience is necessary, but a love for nature and a desire to help others enjoy the Outdoor Lab is mandatory.
Please help us host various Arlington Families as they enjoy the Outdoor Lab. We’ll have fishing, boating and hiking. We’ll also provide S’mores and families are welcome to bring a picnic. A great way to earn community service hours!
We welcome VOLUNTEERS to come for part or all of the event. Help a bit and then explore and enjoy the ODL!
Arlington County has lost one of its finest citizens – Preston Caruthers. Thanks to his generosity and support, the impact he has made on our community is nearly immeasurable. Everywhere we turn, we see evidence of the impact of his contributions, which include gifts to George Mason and Marymount Universities, Arlington Hospital and, not least of which has been, gifts enhancing the education of Arlington’s youth. One of the area’s greatest treasures, for use by Arlington Public School (APS) students, is the Outdoor Lab, which simply would not exist, were it not for the generosity of Preston Caruthers.
In the late 1950’s, the summer science enrichment program, under the direction of Dr Phoebe Knipling, Science Director of APS, was designed to promote environmental awareness and extend the science classroom experience to the out-of-doors. Whereas this summer enrichment program had been conducted in local and state parks, it became increasingly apparent that a permanent site for the program was not only desirable, but necessary. In June of 1967, a small committee – consisting of 17 citizens and five APS employees – was formed and became known as the Arlington Committee for Outdoor Education (ACOE). An extensive search was launched for an unspoiled, natural area within easy commuting distance of Arlington, and in January 1968, an ideal location, consisting of 200 acres, priced at $90,000, was found in Fauquier County. A ten-year mortgage was negotiated with the owner, Mrs. Rose Striker, who was thrilled at the idea of an “outdoor classroom” and dedicated to the group’s mission.
The committee identified grants available for programs, but not for the purchase of land. The treasury of the ACOE stood at $355 with an outstanding bill of $100 and a membership of 63 loyal supporters. In less than a year, the treasury had grown to $5,050 and the membership had increased to 513. More and more community groups such as PTAs, garden groups and service clubs, along with individuals, committed to a highly innovative “Acre Saving” Program, in which one could “buy” an acre of land for $450 (as a contribution) and pay for it over a three – year period. Although successful, the committee was still far from what was needed to cover the first year’s mortgage. This was a discouraging period for the committee, but the dream persisted.
A donor came forward with a plan and a loan of $51,000, enabling the ACOE to get on its financial feet. However, there were two conditions. The grantor would remain anonymous and the gift would be provided at no interest, if the loan was paid back within 10 years. This benefactor, later identified as Preston Caruthers, was referred to for many years as the “Guardian Angel of the Outdoor Lab.”
And, yes, 10 years later, the loan was repaid at a mortgage burning ceremony – held in the field near the observatory at the new property – with the County Board, School Board, and loyal supporters present as witnesses to this significant event. There, as part of the audience, were Mr. and Mrs. Caruthers, standing quietly, humbly, and unassumingly off to the side, where he was reluctantly recognized. That final mortgage payment to Mrs. Striker in November of 1978 represented the achievement of a seemingly impossible task.
Such a project demanded a driving force of unlimited energy and enthusiasm. Under Phoebe’s guidance and vision, mobilized by the efforts and generosity of friends, co-workers, and families, and fueled by Preston’s backing, the group achieved the goal of providing a permanent site, in a natural setting, for multiple generations of APS students. Today, the Phoebe Hall Knipling Outdoor Laboratory, under the guidance of the non-profit, Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA), in partnership with APS, stands as a tribute to that persistence and resilience. Over the past 50 years, Arlington youth have inherited and enjoyed a priceless gem – a pristine environment in which to study science in the outdoors – thanks, in major part, to its late benefactor, Preston Caruthers. His exceptional generosity lives on!
The AOEA and Outdoor Lab staff continually work to improve the eco-system as the Outdoor Lab.
Each year we focus on a few projects in which AOEA volunteers and ODL staff plant native species and remove non-natives.
For the Spring of 2023 planting season, we are targeting a garden area near our cottage where we have been removing invasive Japanese Stiltgrass. We plan to replace the invasive stiltgrass with native plants to create a Monarch Waystation.
If you’d like to help us with this project, please contact our volunteer coordinator at [email protected]. This project will be on a weekend in Spring of 2023, date and time tbd.
The Outdoor Lab Open House is re-scheduled for Sunday October 16th 10a-1p and 1p-4p. (We postponed from our original date due to Hurricane Ian)
The Outdoor Lab welcomes all Arlington Families to the Open House. Grab your “pod” and explore our 226 acres of mountain trails, meadows, streams and pond. While at the Lab, your family can:
fish in the pond (cane poles & worms provided!)
hike our trails (over 5 miles, various hiking abilities)
observe critters in our Nature Center (admission in small groups)
find a perfect spot for a family picnic! (bring your lunch!)
Get your Tickets!
Due to COVID, we need families to pre-register through Eventbrite here.
Please choose EITHER10a-1p ticketOR1p-4p ticket (NOT BOTH) This will allow us to meet COVID limits and allow as many families as we can.
Each ticket is for one Carload. Please do NOT register for a ticket for each person in your car.
Tickets are “donate what you can.” The Outdoor Lab is owned by the non-profit Arlington Outdoor Education Association (a 501c3, tax exempt organization)
We will create a waitlist if needed, if your plans change and you don’t plan to come, please let us know
For the Safety of Visitors:
all visitors must sign in
NO Dogs allowed
please leave only footsteps and take only pictures
Other Info
While at the lab, talk to AOEA board members about the upcoming capital projects or how you could volunteer. We’re looking for additional board members and have lots of great projects on our plate!
You can find Directions here, look for signs and volunteers on where to park.
Bad weather, check back here for cancellations or updates. An Open House Rain Date has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday October 16th 10a-4p.
Summer brought many changes to our Outdoor Lab staff.
The AOEA welcomes Rochelle Proctor as our new Outdoor Lab Coordinator and Tim Hymes as an instructional assistant.
We say a heartfelt farewell to Michele Karnbach and Charlie Resnik.
Yvonne Dangerfield had been named by the APS school board to become the Outdoor Lab Administrator, but she decided to retire after a long, successful career at APS.
The Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA) and the Arlington County Public Schools (APS) are partners in the Outdoor Lab. The Outdoor Lab is owned and maintained by the nonprofit Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA). The Outdoor Lab’s Educational Programs are designed and delivered by staff from Arlington Public Schools.
The Outdoor Lab Open House is REscheduled for Saturday May 21st10a-1p OR 1p-4p.
The Outdoor Lab welcomes all Arlington Families to the Open House. Grab your “pod” and explore our 226 acres of mountain trails, meadows, streams and pond. While at the Lab, your family can:
fish in the pond (cane poles & worms provided!)
paddle the boats
hike our trails (over 5 miles, various hiking abilities)
observe critters in our Nature Center (maybe pet a snake?)
find a perfect spot for a family picnic! (bring your lunch!
Get your Tickets!
Due to COVID, we need families to pre-register through Eventbrite here.
Please choose EITHER10a-1p ticketOR1p-4p ticket (NOT BOTH) This will allow us to meet COVID limits and allow as many families as we can.
Each ticket is for one Carload. Please do NOT register for a ticket for each person in your car.
Tickets are “donate what you can.” The Outdoor Lab is owned by the non-profit Arlington Outdoor Education Association (a 501c3, tax exempt organization)
We will create a waitlist if needed, if your plans change and you don’t plan to come, please let us know
For the Safety of Visitors:
all visitors must sign in
masks must be worn while inside and when social distancing is not possible
NO Dogs allowed
please leave only footsteps and take only pictures
Other Info
While at the lab, talk to AOEA board members about the upcoming capital projects or how you could volunteer. We’re looking for additional board members and have lots of great projects on our plate!
You can find Directions here, look for signs and volunteers on where to park.
Bad weather, check back here for cancellations or updates.
Shop Friday, May 20th between 4pm and 8pm to support the Outdoor Lab! One More Page Books will donate 15% of all sales during those hours – in person and online – to the Arlington Outdoor Education Association. Meet a great local business and support the ODL.
This May, the Outdoor Lab and the AOEA celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
With staff and directors with AAPI heritage in our families, we’d like to honor all Asian American and Pacific Islander families, their contributions to science and education and the building of our nation.
In this time of violence against AAPI individuals and communities, we stand together with all who speak out against hate, bigotry, and exclusion.
