News

Cancelled- Spring Open House

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster

Due to COVID-19 this event has been cancelled. Check back in Fall for the next Open House events.

The Outdoor Lab Open House is scheduled for Saturday May 16th 12-4pm.

Enjoy nature with your family as you hike the trails, try fishing in the pond, paddle a canoe, or visit with the animals in the Lab. We’ll have a cookout with hot dogs and smores or you can bring a picnic to enjoy. It’s fun for all ages and free for Arlington Families and friends.

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!

Consider carpooling with neighbors or friends to reduce your carbon footprint. Directions can be found here and parking info will be posted closer to the event.

In case of inclement weather, check back here for cancellations or updates.  An Open House Rain Date has been tentatively scheduled for Saturday May 30th 12-4pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

VOF features OutdoorLab

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster

Our partner the Virginia Outdoors Foundation wrote a great article about the Outdoor Lab with an interview of new Lab Director, Michele Karnbach.

The Arlington Outdoor Education Association partnered with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to place our land under open-space easement to preserve its natural beauty and biodiversity.

Continued development in our “neighborhood” brings the importance of such easements into vivid detail.

OutdoorLab @ Barnes&Noble Dec 7-8

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster

The Outdoor Lab at Barnes & Noble in Clarendon

Looking for meaningful holiday gifts? Join us December 7th & 8th at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Clarendon or Online, to meet volunteers for the Outdoor Lab.

Gift wrapping will be available at the store on both days. Look for us at the store on the lower level by Starbucks and simplify your Holidays by getting gifts wrapped while enjoying a treat. Volunteers from the Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA), the non-profit that owns the Outdoor Lab, will also be on-hand to share info about our mission.

The AOEA has been in partnership with Arlington Public Schools (APS), serving the children of APS for over 50 years.

Sharing this information with your family and friends would help us tremendously.

The in-store Bookfair dates:

  • Saturday, December 7th  10am-10pm
  • Sunday, December 8th from 10am-9pm

The on-line Bookfair dates:

  • Saturday, December 7 – Thursday, December 11.
  • Go to bn.com/bookfairs and use Bookfair ID #12577557 at checkout to link your purchase to our fundraiser

Thank you for your continued support. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

CANCELLED-Fall Open House- Sunday Oct 27th 12-4p

Posted on by Mike Maleski

Due to weather forecast the Open House is cancelledfor Sunday October 27th.

Check back in Spring for our next open house.

Enjoy nature with your family as you hike the trails, try fishing in the pond, paddle a canoe, or visit with the animals in the Lab. We’ll have a cookout with hot dogs and smores or you can bring a picnic to enjoy. It’s fun for all ages and free for Arlington Families and friends.

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!

Consider carpooling with neighbors or friends to reduce your carbon footprint. Directions can be found here and parking info will be posted closer to the event.

In case of inclement weather, check back here for cancellations or updates.  An Open House Rain Date has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday October 27th 12-4pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

Outdoor Lab at County Fair

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster

VISIT the AOEA – Outdoor Lab Booth at the Arlington County Fair starting Friday August 16 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Come visit our Booth (at E16 inside the gym), we’ll have animal related “artifacts”, T-shirts ($5) and SweatShirts ($10) for sale, and you can register daily for our free T-shirt “raffle”. You can also share your favorite memories of the Lab – or send a “Happy Summer note to ODL staff”…

Join Us at the Arlington County Fair:
-Fri, August 16 4p – 10p
-Sat, August 17 10a – 9p
-Sun, August 18 11a – 7p

Spring Open House- Saturday May 4th 12-4pm

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster

We’re monitoring Rain and Thunderstorms for the Open House. Please check back here for latest updates. We are a go for Open house as of 10am Friday May 3rd.

The Outdoor Lab Open House is scheduled for Saturday May 4th 12-4pm.

Enjoy nature with your family as you hike the trails, try fishing in the pond, paddle a canoe, or visit with the animals in the Lab. We’ll have a cookout with hot dogs and smores or you can bring a picnic to enjoy. It’s fun for all ages and free for Arlington Families and friends.

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!

Consider carpooling with neighbors or friends to reduce your carbon footprint. Directions can be found here and parking info will be posted closer to the event.

In case of inclement weather, check back here for cancellations or updates.  An Open House Rain Date has been tentatively scheduled for Saturday May 18th 12-4pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

President’s Note- Budget Emergency

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster

LAST YEAR OF THE OUTDOOR LAB PROGRAM?

The future of the Arlington Outdoor Lab is at stake – we need your help now to convince the School Board to restore funding for the Lab in the 2019-20 APS budget.

The Superintendent’s proposed budget eliminates all funding for the Outdoor Lab. That’s right – it cuts every teacher, every bus, and every school trip to the Lab. Unless the School Board votes to restore the funding, Arlington students will no longer experience unique STEM and outdoor education at the Lab.

Time is Short

We don’t have much time to convince School Board members to restore this devastating elimination of the OL program. The School Board meets on April 9 to make revisions to the Superintendent’s proposal. Board members need to hear from you about the importance of funding the Lab before then.

It’s a tough budget year and the Superintendent has proposed almost $9 million in cuts. The School Board is already hearing from many others urging them to fund important programs identified for budget cuts.

The Outdoor Lab Needs Your Help!

Supporters of the Lab – parents, students, summer campers, and teachers – we need your help to make our voices heard. If Board members hear from us about the value of the Lab, then we’ll be in a much stronger position to convince them to restore essential funding.

You know the Outdoor Lab is a special place for seeing science come to life, taking a hike in the woods, and sleeping in a tent under the stars. The Lab is a unique resource for students in Arlington Public Schools. We need your voice to help ensure the Lab continues to serve thousands of Arlington students next school year.

Act Now!

Please take a minute to tell members of the School Board how important it is to fully fund the Outdoor Lab in the 2019-20 APS budget. Feel free to use the sample comment here – and personalize it based on your family’s experience at the Lab.

It’s critically important to contact School Board members before April 9 when they will vote on changes to the Superintendent’s proposed budget.

Todd Parker, President AOEA

ACT NOW to SAVE the Outdoor Lab

Posted on by AOEAwebmaster
UPDATE- The School Board included support for the Outdoor Lab in their budget!
However, the County Board must fully fund APS to keep the Outdoor Lab.
Let the County Board know you support full funding for Arlington Schools.
The APS Budget will be set by April 23rd!
What can I do?

Sign Our Petition

Sign our petition on change.org

Contact the County Board

Let them know you support the Outdoor Lab and full funding of Arlington’s schools and programs including the Outdoor Lab.

Email- [email protected]

Contact the School Board

Tell the School Board you support the Outdoor Lab and its hand-on, experiential, STEM learning!

Email – [email protected] and individual Board emails (below)

Phone- Call 703-228-6015, leave a voice mail for Board and individual Board members

Meet- with a Board member on School Board Open Office Hours at Syphax Education Center

April 225 – 7 PMBarbara Kanninen[email protected]
April 295 – 7 PMNancy Van Doren[email protected]
May 65:30 – 7:30 PMReid Goldstein[email protected]
May 135 – 7 PMTannia Talento[email protected]
MMonique O’Grady[email protected]

Attend Budget Meetings

  • April 11 – School Board’s Proposed FY 2020 Budget (Syphax Education Center, 7pm)
  • April 12 – School Board’s Presentation to the County Board (County Board Room, 4pm)
  • May 2 – Public Hearing on School Board’s Proposed Budget (Syphax Education Center, 7pm)
  • May 9 – School Board’s Adopted FY 2020 Budget

*Work sessions are open to the public but no comments are accepted.

Contact your friends, family, neighbors, networks

Ask Everyone you Know to contact School Board and County Board. Post information and get their help spreading the word.