Lakehead University is showing off its new outdoor classroom.
Spokesperson Ledah McKellar tells us they removed pavement from the outdoor space as a way of encouraging better drainage of stormwater.
“We wanted to clean our rivers by filtering the water as well we created four demonstration gardens and seating. The gardens are showing off the boreal ecosystem, tall grass ecosystem, pollinator plants and medicinal plants.”
The Outdoor Classroom is part of the school’s first-ever multi-year sustainability plan.
The new sustainability plan will benefit students, staff, and community members through the various commitments it makes, from increased sustainability programming to enhanced stormwater management of its grounds.
Highlighted initiatives from the school’s 2019-2024 plan include a cigarette recycling program run by EcoSuperior and a rain garden that collects and filters runoff from the Braun Building roof so that clean water flows into the McIntyre River and Lake Superior.
