Current students

Stories from the field and the top 10 photos you need to see

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Stories from the field and the top 10 photos you need to see Rachel Stewart Mon, 2026-09-28 - 08:00

From breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife encounters to unforgettable moments with new people and communities, Environment students captured the very best of their local and international field experiences this year. This year’s submissions take us from the rugged coastlines of Ireland, to the vibrant streets of Singapore, and the natural beauty of the South Bruce Peninsula. From the photos it's clear why field courses are a cornerstone of the environment experience. Now we need your help to crown the top three winners!

Start by exploring each entry and read the story behind the photo. To vote, head to our Instagram page and comment the number of your favourite photo.

Best of luck to our top 10 finalists, Yelyzaveta, Rida, Matthew, Marissa, Erick, and Clare!

Click on the photos to enlarge and see the full composition.

#1 Yelyzaveta Kucheryava

I took many high-quality photos on my camera throughout the trip, capturing the scenery, cultural sites, and animals. Yet, one of my favourites remains this one: a fun, nostalgic moment when my peers, who had by then become friends, and I went to see the iconic Temple Bar strip in Dublin. We all realized we were wearing our “Wacky Woollies” sheep keychains, which had become the "it" souvenir of our trip that everyone wanted. This photo reminds me of my last night in Ireland, when we stayed up late with friends, reminiscing about all the lessons and memories we had gained and trying to prolong the trip for as long as we possibly could. More than any carefully composed photo, this one showcases what made the trip so meaningful to me. It reminds me what a privilege it is to learn, meet new people, and experience moments so special that you never want them to end.

ENVS 476A Emerald Transitions: Climate, Culture, and Sustainability in Ireland

#2 Rida Zainab

Amongst Giants: Gougane Barra’s large conifers give the impression of an ancient forest. Yet, we learned that these trees are a result of reforestation efforts that took place less than a century ago. During the course, we learned a lot about Ireland's history with deforestation, and getting to see various conservation efforts provided an interesting contrast.

ENVS 476A: Life as a City in a Garden

#3 Rida Zainab

This Grey Heron eyed us from the harbour before we embarked on our boat tour. It was the first of many seabirds and marine animals we saw on the journey, including dolphins and basking sharks!

ENVS 476A: Life as a City in a Garden

#4 Matthew McAnanama

Blarney Castle through the hole in a stone along the entrance path. The castle was probably my favourite part of the trip (breathtaking building and gardens), and so the wonderfully placed stone with a very convenient camera hole made the perfect picture to remember it.

ENVS 476A Emerald Transitions: Climate, Culture, and Sustainability in Ireland

#5 Matthew Britton

This photo depicts the Super-trees at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, with a full moon peaking through a gap in the night sky. The fact that the Super-trees not only look amazing but function to collect rainwater and are integrated into the area’s cooling system is just one of many examples of some of the innovative ways Singapore practices urban sustainability.

ENVS 476A: Life as a City in a Garden

#6 Marissa Lozzo

This picture was taken at Boat Lake in Southern Bruce Peninsula. I felt completely at peace sitting on the dock, watching the purple and pink sky reflect in the water over the lily pads. I was able to share this moment with a classmate I had grown close to over the period of our field course. Everything was so still, and I was simply so grateful to be there and experience this.

ERS 283 Ontario Natural History: Species and Patterns

#7 Marissa Lozzo

After deciding to leave the trail we were walking on, we stumbled across the bones of what we assumed is a juvenile deer. There was still surrounding the bones, as well as its antlers. There was evidence of scavengers as there were tooth marks embedded into the remaining bones. While it's sad to see the remains of an animal, it is necessary to sustain the life of other forest critters!

ERS 283 Ontario Natural History: Species and Patterns

#8 Erick Ortiz

Captured from the Merlion at sunrise, this view of the iconic Esplanade—Singapore's famous"Durian"—showcases the peaceful side of Marina Bay. The soft purple hues of the morning sky reflected across the water, creating a calm contrast to the bustling city that would soon come to life.

FCIT610: International Field School

#9 Clare McNally

One of the most memorable parts of Mizen Head was seeing the coastal geology that I had previously studied in lectures. The rugged cliffs and exposed rock layers made it much easier to understand the geological processes that shaped the landscape over thousands of years. I also learned that the rocky coastlines provide many microhabitats, allowing more marine organisms to thrive despite the harsh conditions. This visit showed me that geology isn't just about rocks, it influences biodiversity and ecological function. Seeing these concepts in the field made classroom learning feel more meaningful.

ENVS 476A Emerald Transitions: Climate, Culture, and Sustainability in Ireland

#10 Clare McNally

The Macroom Buffalo Farm demonstrated how sustainable agriculture can benefit both the environment and local food production. I learned that the farm uses its buffalo for milk, cheese, and yogurt, with buffalo milk containing more protein than traditional cow's milk. What impressed me most was how sustainability has been incorporated into nearly every aspect of the farm. The cheese plant is located 20 metres from the milking area, reducing transportation needs, while the farm also relies on its own water wells, produces fodder, and grows kale for winter grazing. Native trees, enhanced hedgerows, wildflower meadows, wildlife nesting boxes, and a freshwater pond all provide habitat for various species. Seeing these practices showed me that agriculture and biodiversity can support each other through proper land management.

ENVS 476A Emerald Transitions: Climate, Culture, and Sustainability in Ireland

Prizes

First place: Waterloo merch, $50 gift card and a disposable camera
Second place: UWaterloo back to school bundle
Third place: $50 gift card

Check out more of our latest news →

What became of Canada's very first generation of University of Waterloo trained community planners? Terry Crowe (BES ’72) discovered the answer.

Bria Wong-Armstrong, Chloe Stroh, Prishaa Rajalathan, Sadia Mohammad and Zoraiz Sheikh participated in Map the System, a global learning program and competition that challenges students to examine complex social and environmental issues through a systems lens. After winning the University of Waterloo's Map the System competition, the team earned the opportunity to represent the university at the global finals hosted by the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School.

Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing

Rachel Stewart — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:17:06 +0000

Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing Rachel Stewart Tue, 2026-09-22 - 09:17

Do viable solutions to the housing crisis exist?

Join us for a free screening of Dr. Brian Doucet's feature film Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing.

As the conversation around affordable housing grows more urgent and municipal elections approach, Dr. Doucet's film explores policies, programs and projects across Canada working to ensure housing is a human right.

Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with Dr. Doucet and Jim Poling, Editor-in-Chief of the Waterloo Region Record.

Please note:

Registration is required
Free to attend
Doors open at 6:30, flim begins at 7:00

Canadian peatlands as natural climate solutions: Stewardship of our carbon storehouse

Rachel Stewart — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:55:54 +0000

Canadian peatlands as natural climate solutions: Stewardship of our carbon storehouse Rachel Stewart Wed, 2026-09-16 - 14:55

Join Dr. Maria Strack for the next GEM Seminar where she shares her research on Canadian peatlands!

Peatlands are wetland ecosystems that store thick layers of organic matter in their soils and therefore are a globally significant carbon sink. Canada is home to a quarter of the world’s peatland area, with Canadian peatlands storing an estimated 150 billion tonnes of carbon. Protecting this carbon storehouse is key to climate action. However, existing and future land-use pressure and ongoing climate change put Canadian peatland carbon stocks at risk of release to the atmosphere.

This talk will explore the state of our knowledge on Canadian peatland carbon storage and greenhouse gas (GHG) exchange, quantify potential GHG emissions arising from peatland disturbance and provide examples of actions that can help manage peatlands for GHG emission reductions.

This event is hosted as part of Geography and Environmental Management's GEM Seminar Series. Stay tuned for more events later this term.

Please note:

No registration is required
All are welcome
Free to attend

International Exchange Info Session

Rochelle DeSouza — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:13:57 +0000

International Exchange Info Session Rochelle DeSouza Mon, 2026-09-14 - 10:13

Calling all Environment undergrads!

Curious about studying abroad during your time at Waterloo? Join us for an International Exchange Info Session to learn more about exchange opportunities and get answers to your questions. If you're in your second or third year of studies, this is a great time to start exploring how you can enhance your education through an exchange!

Event highlights

Learn about the exchange application process and the important deadlines for this year's application cycle.
Understand eligibility requirements to apply and participate in an exchange.
Discover how to choose an exchange destination/program that fits your academic goals.
Learn about the GLIDE certificate and the IC4E training program and how they can relate to going on an exchange.

Applications for exchange will be open from October 1–31, 2026. Whether you are just beginning to explore your options or are ready to apply, this session is a great opportunity to get informed and take the next step toward studying abroad. Mark your calendar and let us know whether you're coming!

Can't wait to apply for exchange? Finish the first step to apply by completing the mandatory information session on LEARN.

Please email Rochelle DeSouza at env-exch@uwaterloo.ca should you have any questions about this event.

2026 Faculty of Environment Alumni Awards announced

Dheana Ramsay — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:38:33 +0000

2026 Faculty of Environment Alumni Awards announced Dheana Ramsay Wed, 2026-09-02 - 10:38

From changing how children learn about the world around them to rethinking how cities grow, strengthening connections between research and practice and investing in the next generation of environmental leaders, the 2026 Faculty of Environment Alumni Award recipients demonstrate the many ways knowledge can create change when put into action.

Established in 2008, Environment’s annual Alumni Awards recognize graduates and partners whose achievements, leadership and contributions reflect the Faculty’s commitment to driving transformative change for people and planet.

This year, six recipients join a community of more than 40 previous honourees. Across education, research, planning, community engagement and conservation, their work reaches far beyond the University of Waterloo, creating impact in communities across Canada and around the world.

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Douglas Jones (BES ’93) has spent his career reimagining where and how children learn. As principal of Limehouse Public School, he has helped embed outdoor and sustainability-focused learning throughout school life, building on an interest first sparked during a Waterloo co-op term in outdoor education. His leadership has helped Limehouse earn EcoSchools Platinum certification for five consecutive years while influencing educators and school leaders well beyond his own school.

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Dr. Reiko Omoto (PhD ’13) is a professor, researcher, farmer and lifelong learner whose work bridges scientific research and the knowledge of people who live and work closest to the land and sea. From fisheries and food systems to rural sustainability, her research across Japan, Southeast Asia and the United States explores how global approaches can learn from local knowledge and lived experience.

Recent Alumni Inspiration Award

Dr. Jo Fitzgibbons (MES ’19) has built a career at the intersection of research and professional practice. A planner and researcher with the City of Vancouver, she brings together ecological science, community knowledge and planning practice to help bring more nature to the city and shape healthier urban environments. Her work is grounded in the belief that better environmental decisions emerge when different perspectives and ways of knowing have a meaningful place in the conversation.

Recent Alumni Inspiration Award

Dr. Kate Linden (PhD ’18) is an ecological economist, educator and community-engaged researcher challenging conventional ideas about how we define progress. Now an Associate Professor at Cape Breton University, she works alongside communities on issues ranging from rural aging to ecological footprints. Across her work, she returns to the same idea: lasting change depends less on speed and optimization than on care, relationships and the communities that sustain them.

Friend of the Faculty Impact Award

Adam Clark (BAS ’06, MArch ’09) has created a bridge between Waterloo classrooms and real-world city building. Through years of collaboration as a project client, guest lecturer, critic and mentor, the City of Kitchener urban designer has given students opportunities to tackle active planning challenges while bringing their research and ideas into municipal decision-making. That relationship has contributed to projects including Growing Together, Kitchener’s award-winning framework for growth around its ION light rail stations.

Friend of the Faculty Impact Award

KEEN Footwear has supported Faculty of Environment students and community partners for more than a decade. Through scholarships, internships, co-op experiences and conservation partnerships, KEEN has helped students put their learning into practice while increasing the capacity of organizations working to protect ecosystems and communities. Its longstanding partnership demonstrates how investing in students can extend environmental impact far beyond campus.

Matt Merko, Director, Insights & Engagement Canada, will accept the award on behalf of KEEN Footwear.

The Faculty of Environment will celebrate the 2026 award recipients at the Evergreen Awards banquet on November 17 at Federation Hall.

Know an Environment alum or friend making a difference? Nominations for the Faculty of Environment Alumni Awards are accepted year-round.

Investing in the next generation of environmental leaders

Dheana Ramsay — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:19:30 +0000

Investing in the next generation of environmental leaders Dheana Ramsay Wed, 2026-09-02 - 10:19

A University of Waterloo student pauses on the shoulder of a Norfolk County road, records the location of an endangered reptile and moves it safely out of traffic before the next vehicle arrives.

Over four months, Faculty of Environment student Katja Kubasta completed 586 roadside surveys, documenting wildlife and helping identify where future infrastructure could better protect species at risk.

Her work with the Long Point Biosphere Region was made possible through a KEEN Global Citizen Internship. Under the guidance of Waterloo researcher Chantel Markle and road ecologist Kari Gunson, Kubasta monitored roads and habitat used by endangered Eastern Fox Snakes, whose largest Carolinian population in Ontario is found in the Long Point area. Long Point President Brian Craig said the organization would not have been able to undertake the research and monitoring without KEEN's support.

It's one example of a partnership between KEEN Footwear and the Faculty of Environment that has created opportunities for students while extending the capacity of environmental organizations.

KEEN has supported Waterloo students through graduate scholarships, Global Citizen Internships and co-op opportunities. Following its initial commitment, the company renewed its partnership with the Faculty for another five years, extending its support for scholarships and experiential learning.

The partnership reflects KEEN’s broader commitment to using business as a force for environmental and social good. Through the KEEN Effect, the company works across its business to reduce environmental impact, improve how its products are made and create lasting value for people and the planet. In Canada, that commitment includes another priority: inspiring the next generation.

“At KEEN, we have always believed that business has a responsibility bigger than the bottom line,” says Matt Merko, Director, Insights & Engagement Canada. “That responsibility is reflected in how we design our products, operate our business, invest in our communities and engage on the issues that matter.”

The Global Citizen Internship model puts that commitment into practice. Students gain paid, hands-on experience applying what they have learned while non-profit partners gain additional capacity to advance environmental work in their communities.

Environment student Shayne Poleyko removes invasive Phragmites during a 2019 KEEN-supported internship with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. KEEN-supported internships have connected Waterloo students with hands-on conservation work across Canada.

At Long Point, that meant research to protect species at risk. At the Nature Conservancy of Canada, students have contributed to hands-on conservation work, while at rare Charitable Research Reserve, KEEN’s support has created experiential learning opportunities and contributed to work across more than 1,200 acres of protected land.

KEEN’s support also reaches students before they are in the field, providing financial support as they pursue work on environmental and sustainability challenges.

When KEEN Canada added “inspiring the next generation” to its KEEN Effect values, the company chose Waterloo as one of its primary partners.

“We have been inspired hearing about all the projects and programs that happen each year,” Merko says, pointing to the Faculty’s environmental leadership and teaching as reasons for the partnership.

KEEN’s relationship with the Faculty has grown through campus visits that bring team members face-to-face with the students and researchers their support helps. Merko remembers the company’s first visit in 2018, when the team met students and faculty and learned about projects, programs and research underway across Environment.

“We left the campus that day inspired and amazed that a group of young adults were tackling the world’s most pressing issues,” he says.

For its sustained investment in student learning and its partnership in advancing environmental action, KEEN Footwear is a recipient of the 2026 Friend of the Faculty Impact Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations whose volunteerism, promotion, philanthropic leadership, collaboration or active participation strengthens the Faculty of Environment and its mission.

Turning environmental research into urban action

Dheana Ramsay — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:34:42 +0000

Turning environmental research into urban action Dheana Ramsay Wed, 2026-09-02 - 09:34

During a particularly difficult season of her life, Jo Fitzgibbons (MES ‘19) wandered into a Toronto ravine. Below the traffic and city noise she found marshland, red-winged blackbirds and something she hadn't realized she'd been missing.

Growing up, she'd been what she laughingly calls a "bog child," happiest catching frogs and exploring wetlands. Somewhere along the way she'd lost that connection. Walking through the ravine reminded her how supported she'd always felt by nature.

The ravine reconnected Fitzgibbons with a sense of purpose that had already begun shaping her career.

Her first formative career steps in Nova Scotia involved helping communities collect and use their own environmental and social data to advocate for the places they cared about.

“It showed me how community and local knowledge is just as important and impactful as scientific knowledge grown in universities," she says. “And when we work together, we can be more effective at driving change.”

Fitzgibbons brought her interest in community-engaged research with her to the University of Waterloo's School of Planning, where Associate Professor Carrie Mitchell taught her the skills to study issues she cared most about.

“Carrie really taught me how to be a situated researcher,” Fitzgibbons recalls. “I was never fully gratified by just being in school or just being in practice. Carrie coached me on how to weave the two worlds, so I could do both without burning out.”

Through an internship with the City of Toronto, representing Waterloo in international competitions, and research on equity in resilience planning, she tested those ideas in real-world settings. Her master's research earned the Governor General's Gold Medal.

As her research evolved, so did the questions she was asking.

"Who is deciding what is the public interest?" she says. "Are we, as planners, assuming we know what is in the public’s best interest? Or are we asking people—and who are we asking?"

Those questions remained foundational to her doctoral research at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she moved beyond asking how communities participate in environmental decisions to exploring whose knowledge is recognized and valued in the first place.

Through UBC's Public Scholars Initiative, Fitzgibbons partnered with municipal staff and fellow researchers to co-design a workshop where planners, ecologists and local knowledge holders shared their knowledge and visions for the city. The workshop doubled as both a public engagement exercise and an experiment to study what helps and hinders diverse knowledge holders to express themselves in such settings.

It wasn’t research designed to sit on a library shelf. Some of Fitzgibbons’ dissertation chapters present findings through a hands-on toolkit and an artistic zine, departing from the traditional peer-reviewed paper format she argues is often inaccessible to the people whose knowledge contributes to research in the first place.

At the same time, Fitzgibbons was building her own career between those same two worlds. She became a Registered Professional Planner and completed her PhD while working for local government.

Today, Fitzgibbons brings her "pracademic" approach to the City of Vancouver, where she works across departments to embed ecology into land-use planning, development and public infrastructure.

“We work across disciplines, with engineers, planners, finance people, social policy people … it raises many of those same questions I grappled with in my PhD,” she says. “Whose knowledge gets a chance to shape our city?”

Working in government has given her an appreciation for what she calls the “deeply unsexy, tiny incremental kinds of change”: changing a process, navigating an institutional barrier or shifting someone’s thinking. She has come to see that work as part of transformative change, rather than separate from it.

“Incremental work can be transformative work,” she says. “We often think of them as separate, but small, careful changes build up over time.”

"I'm pretty much in my dream job," she says. She notes that some of the most rewarding moments are simple: restored wetlands, returning wildlife and creating more room for nature in the city.

“Nature has taken care of me, and my work is how I get to say thanks.”

Jo Fitzgibbons is a recipient of the 2026 Recent Alumni Inspiration Award, recognizing emerging leaders whose professional achievements, community contributions and environmental impact inspire others.

Welcome to ENV!

Anamika Prince — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to ENV! Anamika Prince Tue, 2026-09-01 - 09:00

This fall, over 400 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students will begin studies in Environment. But whether you are a new or returning student, we want to support you in your transition to campus. Start by reviewing campus resources.

Undergraduate resources

ENV How-To Program offers workshops throughout the year on various topics to support transition to university

Environment Academic Advisors for academic support

Email the Student Engagement Officer for transition resources and getting involved in the community (Environment Student Society, Environment Ambassador, ENVigorate Volunteer, etc.)

Email the Student Success Advisor for students struggling academically or on conditional standing in first year

Instructor office hours are located on the course outline, for help with specific course materials.

Peer Success Coaches for help mastering academic skills

WUSA Advocacy Groups

Graduate resources

Department/ Program Graduate Coordinators

GSPA current student resources website (Including information on funding and awards)

Graduate Student Association

Environment Graduate Student Association (EGSA) – GEM, SERS, SEED

School of Planning Association of Graduate Planners (AGP)

Information for Teaching Assistants

Student Success Office Graduate Orientation

Resources for all students (undergrad and grad)

Ombudsperson for confidential, impartial assistance to students related to academics, policies, rules, procedures, interpersonal challenges

Campus Wellness

International student resources

Student Success Office Resources

The Library

Writing and Communication Centre

Should you have questions, please reach out to Dana Elrick, Undergraduate Student Engagement Officer, or the Administrator, Graduate Studies at env-grad-studies@uwaterloo.ca.

Check out more of our latest news →

In July, a Faculty of Environment delegation led by Dean Bruce Frayne and Dr. Simron Singh travelled to Mauritius to assess progress across key research initiatives, strengthen partner engagement, and shape the next phase of implementation for the RECOVER project.

Congratulations to Samantha Bray, a PhD student in Geography and Environmental Management, for winning the P.E.O. Scholar Award to advance her research focusing on destination stewardship, where public, private and civil sectors collaborate to protect the existing community and environment.

Orientation is more than a welcome week

Anamika Prince — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Orientation is more than a welcome week Anamika Prince Mon, 2026-08-31 - 08:00

Tracy Tran takes a photo every year with friends she met during Orientation.

They're dressed in different faculty colours and spirit wear, a reminder of the week they first met as new students at the University of Waterloo. What began as a shared excitement about Orientation has become an annual tradition.

For Tran, an Honours Planning student in the Faculty of Environment, those friendships are one of the lasting benefits of an Orientation experience that helped turn a new campus into a community.

"As a first year, I was the type of student who was eager to get involved in all the programming and loved celebrating school spirit," Tran says. Living in residence introduced her to students from across the University and gave her a glimpse into the unique cultures that define each faculty. But it was Environment Orientation that quickly made her feel at home. Environment's welcome has been shaped by traditions that are unlike anywhere else on campus.

One of the best-known is the story of the Big Banana. Faculty lore traces its origin back to an enthusiastic first-year student nicknamed "Goatball," who found a banana costume and wore it throughout Orientation Week. Over time, the Big Banana became a symbol of Environment's community spirit. The tradition lives on today. First-year students receive green "Banan-danas," and the Goatball Award recognizes students who bring enthusiasm, leadership and kindness to Orientation activities.

While the faculty recently introduced a new official mascot, the Bee, the spirit behind those traditions remains the same. That spirit can often be found at the Bee Stand, formerly known as the Banana Stand. Situated along Ring Road during Orientation Week, the stand functions as a home base for students and leaders, but it also attracts parents, alumni and curious visitors passing by. Tran remembers it as a place where small moments of connection happened naturally.

One year, a group of runners passed by the stand and stopped long enough to accept bananas and encouragement from volunteers. Soon afterward, parents pulled over to ask questions about the faculty and student life at Waterloo. The interactions were brief, but they reflected the welcoming atmosphere that defines Environment Orientation. "The best part was how unique the energy is," Tran says. "This is the only time of the year when this many students are outside on campus at once and the excitement of a new beginning is felt by all students, not just first years."

The experience made a strong enough impression that she decided to return as a volunteer. Some of the first upper-year students she met during Orientation became mentors and friends. Years later, she still remembers seeing familiar faces around campus and feeling a little more confident because of it.

Since she began volunteering at Orientation, one experience in particular reinforced her belief in its value. While helping families during move-in, she met parents who spoke the same language as she did. As they asked questions about university life and living away from home for the first time, she noticed their worries begin to ease. The conversation reminded her of her own family's experience when she first arrived at Waterloo.

"Seeing impacts like these is the reason why orientation is so important to me," she says.

Today, Tran volunteers alongside some of the friends she made during her first Orientation. Together, they work on creating the same welcoming experience they once received. As another group of Environment students prepares to arrive on campus, Tran hopes they'll take a chance on something new.

"Your university experience is what you make of it," she says. "Actively decide to put yourself in a position to experience new things."

For her, that decision started with Environment Orientation, a week that introduced her to faculty traditions, lifelong friendships and a community she calls home.

Check out more of our latest news →

Transforming education through outdoor learning and sustainability

Dheana Ramsay — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:13:12 +0000

Transforming education through outdoor learning and sustainability Dheana Ramsay Thu, 2026-08-27 - 12:13

It was the last job Douglas Jones (BES ’93) wanted to end up in. As a first-year Geography student, he remembers telling a classmate, “I would lose my marbles if I had to teach geography to high school kids and that is not happening.” But that conviction changed during his third co-op term.

Jones found himself working at Boyne River Natural Science School, a residential outdoor education centre where he led students from urban schools through environmental and adventure-based activities. While he confesses he “didn’t love” working with the older kids, the week a group of Grade 5 students arrived changed the trajectory of his life.

“Their energy was different,” he says. “They seemed very interested in what was going on. They had just this endless enthusiasm that I didn't really see with the high school kids.”

He returned to Boyne River for a second co-op term and later based his honours thesis on the lasting impact of outdoor education. Published in the Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education, his research explored why experiences in nature stay with children in ways most classroom lessons do not.

More than 30 years later, he still uses one example to explain what he means.

“You probably cannot remember the moment you learned to add or subtract or to read. It just sort of evolved for you. But you probably can remember the moment that you stood outside and learned about where maple syrup comes from by tapping a maple tree.”

That lesson has stayed with Jones throughout his career as a teacher, vice-principal and principal. He believes students learn best when they can experience what they're learning for themselves.

Today, it shapes his leadership at Limehouse Public School, a small rural elementary school bordered by the Bruce Trail and Limehouse Conservation Area. When Jones arrived in 2021, students were emerging from months of pandemic disruption. He saw the school’s natural surroundings as an opportunity to support their well-being while rethinking where and how learning happened.

Jones gave his teachers permission to reconsider the boundaries of the classroom. Their guiding question became simple: “Where will kids learn this best?”

Sometimes the answer is inside. Often, it’s outside.

Mornings at Limehouse begin outdoors. Teachers use the surrounding land for lessons across the curriculum. Older students mentor younger ones and whole-school outings make learning a shared experience.

The shift hasn’t come at the expense of academics. In the first year, Limehouse’s academic results began outperforming both board and provincial averages. For Jones, it reinforced something he has seen throughout his career. Academic achievement, student well-being and meaningful learning don’t need to compete.

Sustainability has become equally embedded in the school’s culture. Under Jones’s leadership, Limehouse has earned EcoSchools Platinum certification for five consecutive years, placing it amongst the top schools in Canada. It became one of five schools in the region to adopt Learning for Sustainable Futures, bringing the UN Sustainable Development Goals to the classroom and inspiring students to think about real-world problems.

In 2025, researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University's Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability assessed Limehouse at the threshold of what they called Stage 4: Collective Action and Widespread Practice. At that stage, sustainability is no longer a collection of individual initiatives but part of an organization’s culture.

His influence now extends beyond the school's walls. Jones mentors teachers, principals and administrators interested in outdoor and sustainability education, while educators visit the school to see its approach firsthand. The school has also been approved as the future Northern Centre for Environmental Leadership, creating new opportunities to share what it has learned.

Jones describes his influence as a “cascading effect.” Students carry what they learn into high school and beyond, while teachers and administrators go on to shape learning in their own schools. He may never know how far that influence reaches.

“You see light bulbs go off in people's minds…that's the spark. That's the reward for inspiring someone else.”

Douglas Jones is a recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing alumni whose professional achievements, community contributions and environmental impact exemplify the Faculty of Environment.

Current students

Stories from the field and the top 10 photos you need to see

#1 Yelyzaveta Kucheryava

#2 Rida Zainab

#3 Rida Zainab

#4 Matthew McAnanama

#5 Matthew Britton

#6 Marissa Lozzo

#7 Marissa Lozzo

#8 Erick Ortiz

#9 Clare McNally

#10 Clare McNally

Prizes

From Planning’s first classrooms to Canadian communities

Master of Development Practice Students Compete at Map the System Global Finals at Oxford University

Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing

Canadian peatlands as natural climate solutions: Stewardship of our carbon storehouse

International Exchange Info Session

Calling all Environment undergrads!

Event highlights

2026 Faculty of Environment Alumni Awards announced

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Recent Alumni Inspiration Award

Recent Alumni Inspiration Award

Friend of the Faculty Impact Award

Friend of the Faculty Impact Award

Investing in the next generation of environmental leaders

Turning environmental research into urban action

Welcome to ENV!

Undergraduate resources

WUSA Advocacy Groups

Graduate resources

Resources for all students (undergrad and grad)

Environment researchers build capacity on climate change adaptations and partnerships in Mauritius

PhD scholar receives prestigious P.E.O. Scholar Award to advance tourism research

Orientation is more than a welcome week

Environment researchers build capacity on climate change adaptations and partnerships in Mauritius

PhD scholar receives prestigious P.E.O. Scholar Award to advance tourism research

Transforming education through outdoor learning and sustainability