“Down the Drain”Ecole St. Avila’s Sustainability Project

Sustainability: Educating for ACTion Conference November 15 & 16, 2012Manitoba Association of School Superintendents and Manitoba Education

Presenters: GordonCampbell gcampbell@pembinatrails.ca

Janice Lukes jlukes@shaw.ca

Initiated action in 2007 & 2009

• St. Avila Home and Schools Association (parent Committee) constructed 3 planters & planted trees

• Successful & sparked an interest to do more to the school grounds overall

Continued building on initial project• Added more trees and

shrubs on school grounds

• Parent Committee decided to improve overall grounds - shared use with:– School – Community Centre– Day Care– Neighbourhood park

Created organizational structure• School sub committee was

formed

• Stakeholders directly impacted by the project were identified

– Richmond Kings Community Centre

– Agassiz Child Care Centre– École St. Avila School Age Child

Care (pre-post child care program located in school)

– École St. Avila teachers– Parents

The Challenge• Needed a solid

foundation to build on

• Virtually no drainage• 14 acre site plagued

with sitting water

Technical Expertise• Approached parent• Derek Murray, Landscape Architect –

Scatliff Miller Murray Landscape Architects

• Extensive expertise in ‘naturalization alternatives’ to urban landscapes - Royalwood, Sage Creek, Point West, Bridgewater Forest

• Developed Children’s Nature Playground at Assiniboine Park

Royalwood - naturalized of retention ponds

Developed of Concept• Parent committee hosted a

series of consultations with key stakeholders

• Identified ‘wish lists’ for the grounds

• Scatliff Millar Murray Landscape firm developed a series of ‘concept’ boards to visually articulate

Consulted on Concept• Engaged in broader consultation

with – Pembina Trails School Division– Landowners– Levels of Government– Area residents– Groups who used the grounds as a

park / recreation area

• Process enabled– Refinement of conceptual plans– Increased awareness for funding

opportunities– Increased media / general public

awareness

Common Themes Guided Project Development

1. Improve entire site drainage in an environmentally sustainable manor

2. Increased physical activity/recreational opportunities

3. Increase natural play opportunities - ability to connect closer with the environment

4. Increase educational opportunities outdoors

Natural Drainage vs ‘Traditional’

NATURAL FIT

1. Natural Drainage

2. Natural Play / Outdoor Education

3. Funding

Funding1. Partners /

supporters

2. Phase One - bulk of funding 2009-2010

3. Additional phases / funding 2011-2013

Construction (2010 – 2011)

The Bio swale

• The bio swale is a ‘drainage ditch’ or valley in the land that is used to channel water. Native plants are planted in the swale which cleanses rain and snow runoff as it is channeled into the larger raingarden area.

Dry Creek Beds

• Rocks and stones are placed in a swale to created a ‘dry’ creek. The grading design of the dry creek bed captures capture roof / surface runoff and channels the water to the lowest point on the land.

Berms/ Hills

• Soil that is removed to develop the swales / ditches is relocated to create berms/ hills. The combination of swales and berms are designed to move water to the lowest land point – the raingarden.

The raingarden• The raingarden is a lower

indentation in the centre area of the grounds. The combination of bioswales and berms enable water to drain into the low land- the raingarden. The raingarden is planted with native plants which have deep root systems that remove toxins (nitrates/ phosphates) from the water. A catchbasin has been installed at the lowest point to remove excess water during heavy rains.

Native grasslands

• Native Plant Solutions, a division of Ducks Unlimited planted native plants/grasses.

• To establish their root system, the children could not walk on this area for a 2 year period.

• Grasses vary according to their location and micro-ecosystem

Education / Sustainability

• Teacher education seminars / presentations / curriculum

• Programming initiatives / curriculum development, GPS, events, etc.

• Ecole St Avila School Grounds Guide– Identifies trees / grasses– Unique factor identification– Maintenance / engagement

Far more than just a ‘funky playground’

Unique play structures

Before

After

‘How to’ Guide For Others

• Water on the Land (English & French)

• Hard copy mailed to all schools

• Download at: www.riverswest.ca