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I consider myself an outdoors person and a nature lover. The moment the weather stops being freezing cold and the geese return to campus, I start looking for places to study outside, where I can enjoy the natural scenery and the company of nature and wildlife.
One of my favourite things about North Campus is that I don’t have to go far to enjoy a walk in nature, appreciate the beauty of plants and flowers or greet the diverse animals that return in the spring. I can do all this while on my way to class or while reading and having lunch outdoors.
While I also frequent outdoor study spaces during the fall and winter terms, spring and summer present the most vibrant colours, floral scents and bird songs. I particularly appreciate sharing my outdoor study spaces with squirrels, bunnies and birds that often pass by; I imagine them showing up for encouragement when I’m struggling to understand a reading or come up with ideas for a paper. Sometimes I even receive the surprise of greeting a friendly campus goose frequenting the same study spots I do! Once I was lucky enough to spot a goose and her goslings walking around!
Here are my favourite greenest and sunniest spots on North Campus. Add them to your list so you can enjoy the warm weather while studying, reading and hanging out with friends.
Main Quad
- Enjoy lunch or do some reading at one of the many tables and benches on Main Quad close to the Sweetgrass Bear, or near CCIS. There’s plenty of sunlight, but the trees also offer lots of shady spots on hot days. Listen to the birds sing in the background and delight in the calm, natural study soundtrack. Sit on the grass to relax after class, study for an exam – or greet a rabbit stopping by to eat some lunch!
Humanities Quad
- Greet the ducks as they swim in the refreshing waterfall. Enjoy the relaxing sound of the water flowing down through the rocks. Sit to have lunch, with plenty of shade provided by the trees above. Enjoy the floral scent and bright colours of the plants and bushes close by.
Arts/Business Quad
- Visit the ducks, pigeons and birds swimming together in the pond in the fresh water on a hot summer day. Listen to the relaxing sound of the flowing water and the birds singing. Look out for the geese who are always standing outside of Tory waiting to greet students on their way to class!
Engineering Quad
- Rest on the benches during your walk around campus, and watch the squirrels running around the trees, along with the beaver signs all across the engineering area. Delight in the natural scenery of the bushes and flowers that offer company to the tall green trees. Take in the inspiring floral scents that change and intensify during the spring as flowers bloom and change colour and shape. Identify the different scents as you gather ideas for a paper and review notes for a test.
The Geoscience Garden
- Enjoy the view of the plants and rocks on the back side of CCIS, close to Saskatchewan Drive. Learn about the history of the Earth’s crust and rocks relevant to the Canadian landscape, like an outdoor (and free) museum! Sit down on the grass near the rocks to take pictures of these important sediments, and enjoy the shade and the view. Get close access to hiking and biking trails going to the North Saskatchewan River. It’s great to visit the rocks before going hiking!
CAB and Triffo Hall waterfall
- Study or eat lunch while enjoying the relaxing sound of the waterfall. Appreciate the calming view of the water movement flowing down, and the squirrels stopping by. Spot ducks swimming on the small pond, and pigeons gathering to refresh their feathers.