Agency - Arlington Outdoor Education Association, Inc. (AOEA)

The Arlington Outdoor Education Association, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)3 which maintains the Outdoor Lab and provides environmental and science education to 9,000 children in Arlington Public Schools each year.

Description:
The Outdoor Lab is supported by a staff from the Arlington County Public School system which conducts a wide variety of high quality learning experience for the youth of Arlington County as part of their science curriculum. The 210 acre property is located in Fauquier County. AOEA owns the land and the buildings and is responsible for their upkeep and maintenance. Two popular features of the facility are the animal lab and the pond. Additionally, there are solar panels and a windmill which generate electricity to power the observatory that holds two telescopes used for astronomy lessons.

History:
In 1967 a forward-thinking science supervisor for Arlington County Schools by the name of Phoebe Hall Knipling needed a safe natural area for her students to have hands-on science experience. She located the property we now own and proceeded to raise funds. Since Arlington Public Schools could not own property outside the county, a non-profit was formed to own and maintain the Outdoor Lab.

Contact people:

Judy Collins, Volunteer Coordinator, (703) 276-0124, (email) Mike Nardolilli, President Of The Board, (703) 536-4058, (email)

Address:

P.O. 5646 Arlington, VA 22205 (See a map)

Directions:

To be determined depending on project.