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Local voices matter. Help us amplify them by contributing to your local newsroom. PEOSTA — Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) invites the public to explore and enjoy the Outdoor Learning Lab (OLL), a unique environmental education and conservation space open daily from sunrise to sunset at the Peosta campus. Originally established in 2007 on former agricultural land, the OLL serves as a living demonstration of ecosystem reconstruction and sustainable land use. Located in a rich ecological transition zone between the Mississippi River valley and Iowa's prairie landscape, the restored area includes four reconstructed native ecosystems: forest, savanna, prairie and wetland. These represent the biodiversity of the region and serve as a vital educational and research resource for students, educators and nature enthusiasts alike. With 3.5 miles of soft trails, the OLL is a public space that blends education, conservation and recreation, according to Matt Simon, NICC science faculty and Sustainability Committee member. "The Outdoor Learning Lab offers many benefits for groups and individuals. The accessibility to nature is important for health. Being in suburban Dubuque County, the opportunity for folks to have ready access to natural areas is dwindling as our land-use practices change in agricultural areas and residential communities sprawl into the landscape," Simon said. "As a restored diverse landscape, the OLL holds a variety of examples of the ecosystem types that would have been found prior to European colonization. The biodiversity that is present can introduce visitors to a host of species they may not be familiar with, including plants, animals and fungi." NICC instructors, local school groups and students visit the OLL, as do Peosta community members with their pets for a relaxing nature walk. Science classes use the OLL during the year to catalog species in the area. A variety of birds utilize the site and amphibians appreciate the mix of terrestrial as well as aquatic features that they need for their lifecycles. Foxes and other species are also encountered in the OLL, according to Simon. The forest, covering six acres, was planted in 2009 and mimics three key local woodland types, including moisture-loving willows and cottonwoods, cool-climate sugar maples and pines and drought-tolerant hickories and oaks. Adjacent to this, the six-acre savanna—a mix of prairie grasses and fire-resistant trees—provides insight into a rare ecosystem shaped by fire, grazing and topography. The prairie section spans 24 acres, with plantings in 2009 and 2015. With less than 0.1% of Iowa's native prairie remaining, this effort contributes to statewide prairie reconstruction science, replicating natural cycles like fire and grazing. The wetland—a six-acre site developed in 2009 and 2015—features a freshwater food web, water-filtering bioswales and critical stopover habitat for migrating waterfowl. The OLL supports the College's commitment to multidisciplinary education, sustainability, cost-effective grounds management and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage. It is used by a wide range of academic disciplines and is a model for community-engaged environmental stewardship. NICC invites individuals, families, group leaders and educators from local schools and colleges to experience the Outdoor Learning Lab firsthand—no appointment required. Visitors are encouraged to follow "leave no trace" principles to protect the site's research integrity. Activities such as hunting, fishing and off-trail exploration are not permitted. Pets must be leashed and cleaned up after. More information is available at nicc.edu/outdoorlearninglab. Stay informed, stay inspired! Newsletter sign up is free and join hundreds of free subscribers who rely on DecorahNews.com for trusted information and fresh perspectives.

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Northeast Iowa Community College Outdoor Learning Lab Open to the Public for Exploration and Education