Two new water features now adorn campus grounds thanks to applied learning in action and the generosity of an industry expert.
On October 10, a second-year Horticulture Technician – Landscape class dug into a water feature installation project that will help beautify campus grounds for years to come. Phil Jackson, owner of Burlington-based pond and waterfall contractor Jackson Pond, donated the two striking water structures which now stand on the north culinary patio (across the parking lot from the Marotta Family Innovation Centre) at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. He spent the morning guiding students, step by step, through the installation process. By noon, the water was turned on and the water features proved to be fully operational.
“I like to give back and it’s great to be involved with student learning at the College,” said Jackson, who noted that his son is enrolled in the first year of the same NC program. “It’s a win-win. Students get their hands dirty in the type of work they’d do if they worked for a landscape company and, by the end of the day, there will be two beautiful new water features on campus.”
The activity took place as part of a Landscape Construction Installation class. Professor Jeff Bax noted how the project builds on their learnings from first year when they learned how to survey, dig and do base work.
“The water installation is another good opportunity for our students to apply their skills alongside industry experts like Phil who are willing to help,” said Bax.
He applauded Jackson’s donation and for his visit to campus to work with the students. Bax noted that students gain numerous practical learning opportunities in the program through community landscape design and construction projects – from water feature installation, to laying down natural stone walls and flagstone, to planting greenery, and more. Students have had the opportunity to learn lighting installations, water features and flagstone, from other businesses and contractors as well, including Select Stone (Burlington), Lindzel Distributing (Hamilton).
“Our students are not just sitting in a class; they’re out there, doing the work,” said Bax. “They’re making contacts in the industry, meeting contractors and business owners like Phil [from Jackson Pond], and learning from them, is a big part of it.”
Students valued the experience and found it rewarding.
“It was all brand new to me,” said Brady Campbell, who hopes to own his own landscaping company someday. “It was really cool to build something for the school that will still be standing here after I graduate.”
“I’m going into design, so I think it’s beneficial to know about water feature installation,” said Sonja Graar . “It’s also beneficial to my classmates who want to go into construction because they’re going to be building something like this. It all works together.”
Horticulture Technician – Landscape is a two-year diploma program based at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake where the campus serves as a living lab for unique practical learning opportunities. Graduates are in high demand – and, with an additional year of study, they can pursue Pathways to earn a diploma in greenhouse or horticulture fields.
