Blog

Lakeland campus focuses on sustainability

May. 7, 2026

As part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, Lakeland University has added a beehive on the west side of its main campus in Sheboygan County.

The hive was established in late April from a hive nucleus of about 10,000 bees from Steinthal Valley Honey by apiary founders Coty Pyawasay and Nick Jensen, the latter a member of Lakeland’s building and grounds team.

Lakeland plans to expand up to half a dozen hives over the next few years. Honey will be harvested once the hives are established and healthy.

Science faculty will be able to incorporate the hive into curriculum to show the project to students.

Other recent sustainability efforts include:

• Creation of no-mow spaces and planting wildflowers and other native flowers to develop pollinator friendly areas. The project was initiated by graduating senior biology major Serena Brunner for her honors project with the support of LU’s grounds crew and will be taken over this fall by junior Gretchen Augustine.
• Installation of bicycle racks so students, faculty and staff can bring their bikes from home. Lakeland will also be making university-owned bikes available this fall.