The 74-acre campus of the public charter high school The Greene School in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, is the school’s outdoor laboratory—students spend time interacting with and learning from nature every day. With a focus on teaching environmental stewardship across all disciplines and building trust and autonomy through strong relationships, The Greene School has cultivated a small, supportive community of diverse learners who are outpacing the state on literacy and science scores—and achieving high graduation and college-going rates. 

• There is a compelling body of evidence pointing toward the benefits of outdoor education, like boosts in social and emotional well-being, increased ownership of learning, and an enhanced sense of self-efficacy. 
• Research shows an orientation toward strong teacher-student relationships leads to many positive outcomes, like better student resilience, more engaged academic time, and less disruptive behavior.  
• Multiple studies indicate that meaningful work tied to real-world outcomes gives teens a sense of purpose, which can drive deeper engagement, higher motivation, and improved academic self-regulation.