Our mission is to empower community members, especially youth, to deepen their relationships with nature through participatory science, place-based education, cutting edge research, restoration ecology, outdoor recreation and advocacy.
Our Programs
TREE (1990)
In 1990, Dick Jordan was approached by two of his students who wanted to start an ecology club. He agreed and TREE took root as an extracurricular outdoor/ecology network of (K-College) branches (clubs) to help students appreciate and improve local and global (social & ecological) communities through research, educational outreach, restoration, outdoor recreation and advocacy. Students collaborate within and between branches and with community leaders who study & rewild ecosystems. Students can stay with TREE as they progress from preschool through college, serving as mentors for younger students and participants for older students.
TREE stands for Teens Restoring Earth’s Environments or Teens (Teachers, Tweens & Tots) Reconnecting to Earth Experiences.
Outside Day (2009)
Earth Day began in 1970 to address environmental issues but more than 50 years later, these problems still exist and we’re becoming significantly more disconnected from nature. In 2009, Outside Day was created by Dick Jordan to help us take a break from our screens and make time for streams, forests, parks, etc., playing & finding ourselves outdoors, overcoming nature deficit disorder. There are countless ways to make every day an Outside Day, but TREE uses these special days so older students and community leaders can facilitate a variety of play-based and place-based activities that inspire elementary students to learn more and do more.
My Life Outdoors (2024)
LifeOutdoors, OutdoorIdaho & IDPR coordinate a Teen Multimedia Essay Contest called MyLifeOutdoors for all teenagers in Idaho to share their favorite outdoor experience in a 500-word written essay and picture, or in a 3-minute video, showcasing why they love being outside, inspiring countless others to get outdoors themselves. The grand prize winner receives an incredible Stanley Adventure package for their parent(s), a sibling or friend and themselves.
(1) Press Release (2) Website (3) Winners
Note: MyLifeOutdoors contest 2025-2026 has been postponed because the Trump administration has significantly reduced funding for Public Television affiliates like IPTV which hosts the website and helps with marketing.
Boise River Biodiversity Project (2022)
TREE students work with one another and adult professionals to understand water quality and biodiversity in the Boise River and how to improve them. Teams of elementary students research different species, completing Species Cards, drawings, and PSA videos. A few elementary students analyze water quality through Watershed Watch and high school students give talks on biodiversity and watersheds, help make informational videos, attend Outside Days, and participate in iNaturalist BioBlitzes.
Finding Dragons (2021)
Scientific research is the foundation for understanding life and best practices, so we get students involved in field & laboratory work, making observations & doing cutting-edge analyses with senior scientists who focus on dragonflies & damselflies primarily because odonates are accessible, charismatic, and are excellent bioindicators of water quality, heavy metals, and healthy habitats. These GateWay Bugs have been here for over 300 million years, but human impacts threaten many species’ future. Check out how TREE students have co-authored papers through our research wing called FindingDragons.
Externships & Internships (2022)
LifeOutdoors knows that students and teachers are an incredible, untapped resource. Teachers want hands-on opportunities to create engaging, place-based curriculum that helps younger students and the general public to visualize our research and become more aware of our local river ecosystem and ways to protect it. Many teachers also need additional financial assistance during the summer which is why we have partnered up with the Idaho STEM Action Center to secure teacher externs in 2024-2026.
Students love to get paid while gaining valuable experiences in research and educational outreach opportunities because it sets them apart on their college applications and gives them insights into potential career pathways.