Ripon College is hosting a celebration of the Ceresco Prairie on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 9:00 am until 5:00 p.m. High school students interested in participating in this celebration can attend one of two unique tracks for different sessions: a STEM track and a Music track.
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the celebration schedule |
+ Additional Information |
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+ What is the Ceresco Prairie? |
The Ceresco Prairie is a 130 acre conservancy focused on restoring the land to its native prairie, oak savannah, and wetlands habitat since 1996. Since the first restoration seeds were planted in the spring of 1996, hundreds of passionate students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends have shared in the tradition of reseeding the prairie, battling invasive species and enjoying the serenity and beauty the conservancy offers. Each season is special: the wildflowers of spring; the verdant lushness of summer; the stark, white beauty of February; and the oranges and reds of autumn, when George “Skip” Wittler, professor of biology and director of the conservancy project, leads volunteers to the conservancy to collect seeds for the next season’s planting “There’s a spiritual aspect to the prairie,” Wittler says. “It’s more than just plants and animals — it’s humans, too. When combined with the protected 30 acres of South Woods, the entire area serves is a distinct place of study and recreation that includes public hiking and mountain bike trails as well as the Patricia Kegel ’56 Environmental Classroom, donated by Paul Kegel ’57, who also was an ardent conservancy volunteer. Learn more at ripon.edu/civic-engagement/ceresco-prairie-conservancy. |