About
Educating Children Outdoors is a 100% outdoor, place-based program where children learn about and explore nature through cross-curricular, hands-on, experiential activities. The program model is similar to “forest school” programs, but is referred to as a “desert school” and is one of the few 100% outdoor desert schools across the world. Since 2017, Educating Children Outdoors programs have assisted over 400 children in connecting with the natural world and have offered over 3,000 hours of outdoor program options.
• Schedule: Program hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–2:00 pm
Educating Children Outdoors began its mission in 2017, starting in Atlanta, Georgia and launching in Phoenix, Arizona in 2019. The program is currently only offering programs for private groups and is booking private nature-based programs for February–May 2025. The majority of scheduled programs take place in North Phoenix at this time, and programs are offered at public local nature areas, serving Metro Phoenix, Metro Tucson, Show Low, and Casa Grande in Arizona. The founder is Kathy Balman, who was selected to be a NASA PLACES Case Writer for 2022–2023. The mission of Educating Children Outdoors is to immerse children in connecting with the natural world.
Educating Children Outdoors has received several recognitions, including the AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award, the Outstanding EE Program in 2021 by AAEE, Educator of the Year in 2022 by AZGFD, and Outstanding Inclusive EE Program in 2024 by AAEE. The program accepts Arizona ESA scholarship funds through ClassWallet and received two classroom water quality testing kits from EarthEcho International. In 2022, they launched Gwyn and Rowyn's Cabinet of Curiosities, a one-of-a-kind nature swap subscription box, and Wynsum Desert Learning Center and Gwyn and Rowyn's Cabinet of Curiosities are subsidiaries of Educating Children Outdoors. They are hoping to open a desert learning center called the Wynsum Desert Learning Center.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
• Schedule: Program hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–2:00 pm
Educating Children Outdoors began its mission in 2017, starting in Atlanta, Georgia and launching in Phoenix, Arizona in 2019. The program is currently only offering programs for private groups and is booking private nature-based programs for February–May 2025. The majority of scheduled programs take place in North Phoenix at this time, and programs are offered at public local nature areas, serving Metro Phoenix, Metro Tucson, Show Low, and Casa Grande in Arizona. The founder is Kathy Balman, who was selected to be a NASA PLACES Case Writer for 2022–2023. The mission of Educating Children Outdoors is to immerse children in connecting with the natural world.
Educating Children Outdoors has received several recognitions, including the AAEE 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award, the Outstanding EE Program in 2021 by AAEE, Educator of the Year in 2022 by AZGFD, and Outstanding Inclusive EE Program in 2024 by AAEE. The program accepts Arizona ESA scholarship funds through ClassWallet and received two classroom water quality testing kits from EarthEcho International. In 2022, they launched Gwyn and Rowyn's Cabinet of Curiosities, a one-of-a-kind nature swap subscription box, and Wynsum Desert Learning Center and Gwyn and Rowyn's Cabinet of Curiosities are subsidiaries of Educating Children Outdoors. They are hoping to open a desert learning center called the Wynsum Desert Learning Center.
Last updated January 10, 2026.
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