Free State Prairie
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Lawrence Free State High School
Free State Prairie is a tallgrass prairie restoration experiment developed through a collaboration between Lawrence Free State High School and the University of Kansas. High school and university students, their teachers, and the greater Lawrence community have worked together to design, create, and maintain both the experiment and the demonstration garden at Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence, Kansas. The Free State Prairie provides an accessible, outdoor educational and research opportunity for students while also restoring the local, native biodiversity of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.
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About Free State Prairie
Free State Prairie grew out of a desire to connect people with their natural environment. Through the ongoing efforts of high school teachers and university faculty, hundreds of high school and university students enjoy the opportunity to observe, gather data, and participate in authentic community ecology research.
The Idea
The Opportunity
Thanks to forward-thinking school leaders, available outdoor space, and generous financial support from the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund, a determined team of students, educators, researchers, and community members planted the first prairie seeds on the Free State High School campus in 2014.
Elizabeth Schultz and Helen Alexander at Prairie Celebration 2017
The People
The Free State Prairie project is led by Julie Schwarting (Free State High School) and Dr. Helen Alexander (University of Kansas). Many other people and organizations have helped over the years, including Applied Ecological Services, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, the Douglas County Conservation District, and the Grassland Heritage Foundation. We thank the Lawrence Public Schools and the University of Kansas for their support. For the latter, we particularly highlight the support of scientists and staff at the Kansas Biological Survey (including the University of Kansas Field Station) and at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Julie Schwarting
Free State High School teacher
I teach Biology, Environmental Science, and AP Environmental Science. I strive to engage students in real world science through hands-on projects that inspire environmental awareness and appreciation while improving the natural ecosystems within our community.
Helen Alexander
Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Kansas
I do research in plant ecology and have taught diverse classes at the university (Kansas Plants, Conservation Biology, Biostatistics, and Research Methods). My outreach and service activities often involve outdoor education and interactions with secondary school teachers.