Interactive activities will encourage guests to connect with the natural world through engaging experiences focused on pollinators, native plants, local wildlife and environmental stewardship.
The University of Southern Indiana will unveil a new USI Outdoor Learning Pavilion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a family-friendly community open house at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 26. The pavilion is part of Nature's Classroom: Bridging Education and Recreation at the University of Southern Indiana, a three-year, $150,000 project supported by a Community Impact Project grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with support from Toyota Motor North America.
Following the ribbon-cutting, community members of all ages are invited to enjoy a morning of exploration, discovery and outdoor fun. Families, nature enthusiasts, students and community members can participate in hands-on educational activities at the pavilion and join an expert-led walk along the scenic USI-Burdette Trail.
Interactive activities will encourage guests to connect with the natural world through engaging experiences focused on pollinators, native plants, local wildlife and environmental stewardship. Visitors will have opportunities to learn from USI faculty, staff and community partners while discovering the ecosystems that make Southern Indiana unique. Whether searching for signs of wildlife, identifying native flowers or learning how small actions can make a positive environmental impact, participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the outdoors in a welcoming, family-friendly setting.
The USI Outdoor Learning Pavilion, along with new interpretive signage and community engagement opportunities, expands access to outdoor education and recreation for USI students, K-12 learners and community trail users. The project reflects a shared commitment by USI, NEEF and Toyota to create meaningful learning experiences that promote environmental awareness, sustainability and community well-being.
The event coincides with National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort dedicated to public lands. For more than three decades, NPLD has helped communities celebrate and improve public spaces through education, service and recreation. Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, the annual event connects people across the country with the parks, trails and natural areas that enrich their communities.
The event is free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged to bring family and friends, explore the trail system and celebrate the opening of a new resource designed to inspire learning, recreation and a lifelong connection to nature.
The USI Outdoor Learning Pavilion is located east of Liberty Arena and the tennis courts and can be accessed from Lot L on Bluff Ln. For more information contact Dr. Allison Grabert, Director of USI's Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center, at afgrabert@usi.edu.