YOUTH STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

Nachusa Grasslands runs a small educational program to connect local 4th grade students with stewardship and restoration of our natural communities.

The students participate in stewardship and activities at Nachusa Grasslands on two seasonal visits (Autumn and Spring) as well as doing several activities in the classroom before and after the visits.   On the visits the students are lead by volunteer leaders in small groups of 5-8.  They harvest seed, take measurements and make sketches to compare various habitats at Nachusa (prairie, wetland, and woodland).  They also explore and search for the plants they have “interviewed” in the classroom, adding first-hand knowledge to what they’ve researched.

During Winter the students sort the seeds from the seed heads and store them. They learn about local birds from backyards and prairies. They read from pioneer journals and read about other children and people working to steward the land in other parts of the state and country.  

In their Spring visit to Nachusa Grasslands they plant the seeds in the habitat to which they are suited.  Also they see, in the field, some of the birds they learned about in the classroom and visit the earliest flowers.

This program allows local young people to explore and get to know this part of their natural heritage and to feel that they’ve contributed meaningful service to their community through stewardship.