We connect K-12 school groups to the prairie by site visits at the Konza Prairie Biological Station.
Now accepting reservations for all outdoor KEEP activities - Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025
Land and People Acknowledgement
The grasslands on which the Konza Prairie Biological Station is located have been home to people for many thousands of years, including named and unamed indigenous peoples who lived and hunted here prior to European colonization. The Konza Prairie Biological Station was named after the Kaw, or Kanza (“Kaáⁿze”) people, who inhabited and stewarded this area until their forced removal between 1846 and 1872. We acknowledge the connection of the Kaw Nation and other indigenous peoples to these lands, and we strive to respect and honor their legacies, knowledge, and past and current cultures.
Prairie Week Curricula:
These sets are intended to be a full week of curricula to guide students through the ecology of the prairie. Students will be introduced to ecological concepts and the use of data to find answers and solve problems.
All of the material is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards.
Elementary Prairie Week Curriculum targeting K-4th grade students
Middle School Prairie Week Curriculum targeting 6-8th grade students
Each day has a PowerPoint, Teacher's Guide, and Student Worksheet. Time needed: 45-60 minutes per lesson.
High School Storyline Curriculum - targeting 9-12th grade students
This series of lessons is meant to be driven by student inquiry rather than a strict outline. It may be altered or amended as desired by the instructor. Since it is student-driven the amount of time needed to complete the series varies. It may last as long as 9 weeks.
New Docent Training
Join the Konza Prairie docent program! Our volunteer docents form the heart of the our environmental education program by leading tours and assisting with the experiential activities on our site.
If you love the prairie and education, this might be a great place for you!
Learn more about becoming a Konza docent here...
KEEP's projects include:
- Docent/Volunteer Program - we provide training on the prairie ecosystem and Konza Prairie facts for community volunteers who become active as program guides;
- Teachers' Workshop- professional development for science and math teachers, grades 5-12, to incorporate ecological research and data collection into the classroom curriculum in accordance with science education standards;
- Schoolyard Long-term Ecological Research (SLTER) - student participation in long-term research and data collection on Konza Prairie (partially funded through National Science Foundation LTER).
Donate to the Konza Environmental Education Program
The Konza Environmental Education Program is committed to providing Kansas communities with quality environmental education opportunities centered on prairie ecology and long-term ecological research.
If you would like to support the Konza Environmental Education Program financially, go here.
Director of Education – Jill Haukos
Asst. Environmental Educator - Monica Shaffer
