School Board advances policies to award credit for outdoor and community service activities

A proposed Lyon County School District policy created under a new state law would allow students to earn elective credit for participating in outdoor activities outside of school hours.
The district’s Board of Trustees approved the first reading of the policy on Outdoor Education at the Oct. 28 meeting. It would offer students in grades 7 through 12 the ability to earn no more than two elective credits for approved Outdoor Recreational Activities toward promotion or graduation. It would allow students to earn one-half credit for every 60 hours completed and by providing evidence of learning as outlined in the policy. The credits can be applied to a student’s elective credit requirements.

If a student chooses to obtain credit through Outdoor Activities, they must complete the LCSD Outdoor Education Program Contract, which requires parent/guardian and school administrator approval. Upon completion of the contract, students must submit evidence of the completed work to their designated school representative for final approval and the awarding of credit.

Assembly Bill 501, which was approved in the 2025 session of the Nevada State Legislature, enabled school districts in the state of Nevada to award elective credit for students who participate in outdoor activities.

“This is really, I believe, going to help a lot of kids get outside and see that there’s a whole new world out there that they get to explore and experience and not just do it on their own,” Trustee James Whisler said.

Executive Director of Education Services Jim Gianotti said the policy allows students and parents to select what activities they want to be involved in through different groups. He said most of the students who take part in the program will do it through established groups such as 4-H or scouting programs, or through the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Because those are not school organizations, those groups — not the school district — are responsible for background checks and approval of the people supervising the activities.

The Trustees first discussed the issue at the Sept. 23 meeting, where it heard presentations from Scouting America, Girl Scouts, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, Nevada Division of Wildlife, Youth Outdoor Skills Camp, Walker River Bowman, Mason Valley Gun Club and 4-H.

“You’re going to have a wide variety of folks that are already taking advantage of these things and they’re going to apply and therefore get credit for things they’re already active in,” Gianotti said. “So, then they simply submit that application to the site administration for vetting and approval.”

The Trustees also approved the first reading of a similar policy that allows students to earn one elective credit for completing approved community service projects at the same rate of a half credit for every 60 hours completed.