It involves a week in an outdoor education centre and the free stay would be a legal requirement.
It would then have to pass through the legislative process at the Senedd.
Mr Rowlands admitted it was "definitely a challenge at the moment in terms of public spend," but said he was "really clear that actually there's real benefit for children in terms of education, in their health, which could actually make such a difference in the long term". He added: "Over the last two or three years the Welsh government has funded some research that I've been leading on the health and welfare benefits of outdoor education residentials - through the pandemic and since the lockdown, and then more recently across Wales.
Gareth Davies, manager of the Arete outdoor centre in Llanrug, Gwynedd, said the challenges faced by children on outdoor courses would "put them in good stead for the future". Dr Marlene Davies, an associate of the University of South Wales, said the idea could be "fantastic for the children".