Work is underway on a three-year, $150,000 grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with support from Toyota Motor North America, to expand outdoor learning opportunities at the University of Southern Indiana.
“Toyota is committed to driving positive change for our planet and the communities we serve,” said Toyota Indiana president, Jason Puckett. “This project deepens our dedication to environmental stewardship and allows us to make a meaningful impact right here in southern Indiana.” The project, Nature’s Classroom: Bridging Education and Recreation at The University of Southern Indiana, is bringing new educational features to the USI–Burdette Park Trail and the adjacent 730-acre nature preserve. When complete, these improvements will support USI students, K–12 students, and community trail users through expanded outdoor learning and recreation opportunities.
The improvements will include a large outdoor learning pavilion with seating for up to 30 participants; a nature trail extension with a footbridge connecting the area to USI’s trail network; interpretive signs to educate trail users about local geology, ecosystems and biodiversity; and grab-and-go outdoor learning kits for environmental education.
“The new outdoor learning pavilion will become the centerpiece for our year-round STEM programming,” said Allison Grabert, Director of the Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center. “Whether it’s a spring field trip, a fall ecology session, or a summer engineering challenge, the pavilion will allow us to deliver hands-on STEM experiences that are immersive, flexible, and connected to the environment around us.”
Each year, USI hosts hundreds of students from urban and rural schools, engaging them with numerous hands-on environmental education experiences. The pavilion and refreshed trails will be integral to USI’s summer STEM camps, held annually with the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, while also supporting K-12 field trips during the academic year.
Beyond serving students as learners, the project also brings students and community members together to help shape the space itself. The footbridge will be designed and built by USI engineering students with decommissioned telephone poles. The content for the interpretive signage will be student-generated through an environmental studies course. The grab-and-go learning kits will be developed with input from USI faculty and local K–12 teachers to give educators practical tools to bring students to the USI nature preserve for hands-on learning. A citizen science initiative will further engage community members in real-world environmental research.
The funding is part of NEEF’s Community Impact Grant program, which expands access to environmental education. Support includes outreach to Title I schools to expand opportunities for students to learn at the nature preserve. The grant will provide transportation, supplies, and lunch for annual field trips for students. Volunteers, including USI alumni, and community members, will assist with trail expansion and educational programming.
Among the goals of the project is to educate the broader community through free public events and targeted outreach. Events like Earth Day, World Environment Day, National Public Lands Day and USI Environmental Science Day will feature hands-on activities, guided hikes, citizen science demonstrations and family-friendly exhibits. Community members will be invited to connect with nature on the trails and learn about environmental stewardship.
A public kick-off event for the grant-funded improvements is being planned for Fall 2026.
