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Open house celebrates decade of Free State High School prairie restoration project

by Nathan Kramer
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
A group participates in a scavenger hunt during an open house Aug. 3, 2025 for the Free State Prairie.
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Local wildlife appeared and wildflowers were in bloom on Sunday as community members toured the decade-old Free State High School prairie.

Free State has used the prairie as an ecology research area for students since biology teacher Julie Schwarting launched the project with University of Kansas researchers, including Helen Alexander. Schwarting and other staff, students and community partners continue to nourish the space.

“I’m a really strong believer in getting people outside,” Schwarting said. “I think it helps with emotional issues. It helps with just stress relief, and it gives you more sensory input than just being locked up in little classroom. Plus, you get to learn about nature.”

The open house Sunday evening welcomed all ages to observe the prairie’s diversification through 10 years of a restoration project there.

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Julie Schwarting, Free State High School biology teacher, and Helen Alexander, University of Kansas professor emerita, celebrate the prairie restoration projected they founded.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Before being planted with native glasses and wildflowers, the 1.4-acre area sat unused as a football practice field. In 2013, students first planted seeds and other plants sprouted naturally, and they took a few years to grow.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times The land is divided into 18 plots in three groups. Each group was planted with a different mix of prairie grasses and wildflowers.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times The Free State prairie is home to deer, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, birds and more.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Art supplies were available for attendees to create butterflies.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times In a game called “Play Like A Pollinator,” players wore glasses that simulate a bug’s compound eye and attempted to match the flowers together.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times A structure at the prairie was a collaborative effort between Free State students and the Evergy Green Team.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times A preserved common garter snake sits next to multiple sizes of white-tailed deer skulls brought by Wendy Holman, education program coordinator for the KU Field Station.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Foxglove beardtongue seed pods release a “stinky feet” smell after blooming in late spring.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times A grasshopper rests in a compass flower.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Queen Anne’s Lace is an invasive species in Kansas that spreads by forming “seed balls.”
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Senna is a primary ingredient in many over-the-counter stool softeners.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Rattlesnake master plants have tough, fibrous leaves that were used to make woven footwear as far back as 7,000 years ago.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times A sign at the entrance of the athletic facilities at Free State High School shows the path to the prairie.
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Nathan Kramer (he/him), a multimedia student journalist for The Lawrence Times since August 2024, is a senior at Free State High School. He is also a news photo editor for Free State’s student publication, where he works as a videographer, photographer and motion designer. See more of his work for the Times here.

— Reporter Maya Hodison contributed to this post.

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