Morning begins as sunlight pokes through tree branches and people rush into their daily routines, past well-trimmed lawns and tidy trash receptacles to their residence hall home, classroom, or office with the piece of mind that this day will be like any other on the Winona State University campus. What often goes unnoticed is the team of people that maintain this home away from home.

Eric Barnard doesn’t need windows, because the outdoors is his home.

Barnard has had a love for the outdoors since he was a child and plans to share that with the people of Winona, Minnesota. Barnard, who is an outdoor education professor at Winona State University, is teaming up with the city of Winona to build a new outdoor education and recreation center this summer.