Charity Spotlight: Woodlands Academy
Students are not typically aware of landscape stewardship at the grounds of their own high school. But at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, an independent college preparatory day and boarding school for young women in Lake Forest, students are learning about sustainability and the environment by doing just that—thanks to Mariani Landscape.
The Woodlands Academy Outdoor Learning Center, designed and installed by Mariani, is located outside the new science center wing designed by architect Peter Witmer. The landscape complements the science center and the school’s curriculum by involving students in the landscape’s sustainable design process and teaching them to care for the natural environment. “From day one, teachers were involved in meetings to determine how the landscape would evolve and be used to support the science curriculum,” says Landscape Architect Shannon Mitchell who designed the landscape along with Carrie Woleben-Meade, Mariani’s director of design. “Students helped with some of the fundraising and donor-related activities.”
Three “ecosystems” were developed into the design for the landscape: prairie, woodland, and bio-swales/rain garden. “Native plants were used to teach students the importance of prairie landscapes, while bio-swales and permeable pavers were incorporated into the design to educate students about stormwater run-off and water pollution,” Meade explains.
A woodland theme introduces students to unique native woodland groundcovers, and features plants such as Staghorn Sumac, American Hazelnut, Oak and Crabapple. Another focal point of the garden is a series of stone seat-walls which create a small amphitheater reached by a footbridge, where students and faculty can hold outdoor lessons. Mariani also worked with faculty and students to create interpretive signs to help students learn about the different areas of the garden. “Students will be able to act as stewards by not only monitoring native plants, but also studying the animals and insects this natural environment attracts,” Meade adds. While the garden was completed in 2010, it may take three to five years for the native plants to mature.
For more information on incorporating native plants into your landscape, contact your Mariani Landscape representative today at 847.234.2172.
