FortWhyte Alive’s Outdoor Classroom Welcomes a New Season of Learning

Tucked behind the Richardson Interpretive Centre at FortWhyte Alive sits a new space that’s already becoming a community favourite. Built with natural timber and open-air views across the lake, the new outdoor classroom is a place where education, family connection, and nature all converge. 

Supported by the Conservation Trust, administered by MHC, this open-air shelter was designed with both programming and accessibility in mind. “FortWhyte has always been about getting people outside in all seasons,” says Liz Wilson, CEO of FortWhyte Alive. “COVID made it clear, we needed a safe, weather-protected gathering space that still felt immersed in nature.” 

The classroom, completed as part of a larger retrofit to the Interpretive Centre, complements its surroundings with a matching roofline and natural materials that blend seamlessly into the site. It offers cover while letting sunlight through, making it ideal for both structured learning and quiet reflection. 

Since its completion, the space has become a vital hub. It’s used for school programming, family picnics, climate-focused workshops, and even fundraising dinners.A private catered dinner was even auctioned off beneath the shelter during a migration BBQ fundraiser in migration season. 

“We see families making it a regular outing, kids eating lunch under the timber beams, musicians playing during goose flights,” Wilson shares. “Thats what we want, wwant people to plan to come and visit and plan to spend time outside with their family and have experiences in nature.” 

MHC’s Conservation Trust funding was key to making the project happen, especially during a time when construction costs and material availability were unpredictable. “[The support] was instrumental,” Wilson says. “It was critical to being able to expand our vision and ensure visitors have a space that’s both beautiful and functional.” 

This isn’t the first time FortWhyte and the Conservation Trust have partnered. Past projects have included shoreline restoration, wetland trail revitalization, and even a controlled prairie burn that helped regenerate feed for FortWhyte’s bison herd. 

But this project in particular, Wilson notes, is already shaping how visitors engage with the site. “What I love is that you don’t have to come for a full program,” she says. “You can just sit under the shelter with your family, eat lunch, watch the geese, maybe spot a deer walking by. That’s what we hope people take from this, a reason to be outside a little longer.”