PECI Learning Garden

Helping students to connect with nature

An interior courtyard at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI) has been converted into an outdoor learning space thanks to the efforts of teachers, students, parent volunteers and community partners. The new Learning Garden and Outdoor Classroom was officially opened last Thursday with a symbolic planting in the redesigned space. Principal Kim Myderwyk welcomed students, staff and community collaborators to the official opening, which was scheduled so that current Grade 12 students would be able to take part in the celebration. Ms. Myderwyk said the project began in 2024 after Lindsay Forsey, Molly Jamieson and Scott Wentworth started thinking about how to make better use of the space. The project was funded in part by The County Foundation Vital Impact Fund. In 2025, fifty-five students from Grade Four through Grade 12 took part in a design challenge on how best to use the space. Their ideas were used by designers at Wentworth Landscapes to create a plan for the space, which was then brought back to the students for a final vote. “The students got to vote on which design they liked and then we merged the different concepts together and came up with the final design,” said landscape designer Laura Twomey.

Last fall, the hardscape elements were installed by Wentworth, and this past spring the garden beds, pathways and green spaces were installed. The existing trees in the area were preserved during the project.

Scott Wentworth said he was honoured to be involved in the project. He said the Learning Garden was a way to invite nature into the school area, and that it has the potential to become a place of discovery while giving students a sense of ownership. Principal Myderwyk said that the students were kept involved and engaged at all stages of the project. “Their creativity, enthusiasm and thoughtful input directly influenced the final design. This space was designed with students, not simply for students,” she said. She also thanked Dropseed Nursery, Wild by Design and Vicki’s Veggies for their donations. “This courtyard represents the best of what a school community can achieve together. It is a place for learning, connection, creativity and reflection. It will serve as an outdoor classroom, a gathering space and a living reminder of what is possible when people invest in young people and the future,” she said.
A more extensive planting will take place in the fall at the start of the school year. Ms. Twomey said that Dropseed Nursery has created a native plant palette that will be able to adapt to the conditions of the space. Pollinatorfriendly plants and plants that will bloom in early spring will be featured in the selection. The school will take responsibility for maintenance of the garden. Ms. Myderwyk said there are many possible uses for the Learning Classroom: a place for outdoor reading; arts activities including drawing, painting and photography; or as a quiet place to unwind.