The Green Forester > Campus Ecosystems

Natural and Restored Ecosystems of Lake Forest College Campus

The campus of Lake Forest College contains excellent examples of two of the region’s most rare and distinctive native ecosystems: The Ravine Woodlands and the Shooting Star Savanna.  These areas represent important educational, biological, and aesthetic assets of the College that enrich and enhance the value of our campus environment for the College community and beyond.


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Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) create an abundance of resources for pollinators in the Shooting Star Savanna.  Contrary to popular belief, their pollen is not aerially distributed and so does not cause allergy problems.  The true culprits are mostly ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.), widespread along roadsides and other disturbed areas, which also bloom in September.