Guidelines for School and Youth Group Tours
Please distribute these guidelines to all group chaperones, and review the appropriate sections with your students in advance.
Advanced Reservations. Requests will be scheduled based on availability. The number of student groups per day is limited. September, October and April, May are our busiest months. Please make your reservation as early in the semester as possible, and at least two to four weeks in advance. You may reserve a guided tour, Tuesday through Saturday. Large groups (60 or more) should plan to visit Konza Prairie over two days, if possible.
Chaperones. A minimum adult to student ratio is 1 adult per 10 students. The Konza Environmental Education Program will also provide 1 guide per 10 students.
Discipline. Discipline on-site is the responsibility of the teacher and other chaperones, including during the guided tour, restroom breaks, and lunch. Teachers are responsible for communicating site rules to their students and chaperones in advance. Teachers should make plans with all chaperones, including parents or guardians, for how to enforce the rules when school personnel are not present. Please have your students wear visible nametags, so chaperones and docents may easily communicate with them.
Advise your students of the following guidelines, in advance:
- Your guide is a docent, a trained volunteer of Konza Prairie Biological Station.
- While your docent is speaking, please be quiet and listen. Docents like questions!
- On the trail, your docent is the leader. Walk carefully alongside your docent.
- Follow any special rules your docent may specify for the group.
- Quiet voices are important, especially for a chance to see wildlife.
Outdoor Preparation. Please prepare your students to experience the prairie environment. There is no water available on the trails, little shade and often a lot of wind. Be sure students bring plenty of water. Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Long pants, close-toed walking shoes, layered tops and a hat are recommended. Other important outdoor protection includes: insect repellent and sunscreen. We recommend you bring extra protection for your students, including water.
Picnic Plans. Any picnic plans should be discussed upon making your reservation. Picnic tables are available outside at Headquarters, if you choose to bring sack lunches or a snack. Picnics are not allowed on the trails.
At lunch, a fresh trash bag will be provided, and groups are expected to bag and remove all trash generated by the group to our dumpster (located near the bison corral). Aluminum can and plastic recycling bins are available for your convenience. Please ask students to remove liquids and lids before recycling these items.
Restroom Facilities. A portable restroom facility is available at Station Headquarters, located on the southwest corner of the stone barn. If accompanied by a Konza Prairie docent or staff, the restroom in the laboratory building is available. There is a handicapped accessible facility in the Education Center. Teachers and chaperones are responsible for supervising students during restroom breaks.
Due to limited restroom facilities, if possible, please stop at a rest area before arrival on-site, as necessary. Interstate-70 rest areas near Konza Prairie are available at Exit #309 and Exit #294.
Special Needs. To help us accommodate your group, please inform us of any students with special needs in advance. Students on an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for behavior should be personally accompanied by a paraprofessional or other adult. Teachers should also make arrangements for individual supervision of students with behavioral difficulties.
Payment. User fees support the Konza Environmental Education Program and Konza Prairie Biological Station. An education program fee may apply to your visit and will be discussed upon making your reservation. You may bring payment the day of the tour, or we can invoice your group after the event. Please make checks payable to Konza Prairie. Receipt available upon request.
Weather. Please watch the weather forecast. We may need to rearrange trip itinerary or cancel for heavy rain, storm warnings, or water saturated soils. If there are questions concerning your visit, please call us before you cancel, even if the morning of the trip. Rescheduling availability is limited. We do not offer indoor activities in case of inclement weather.
Cancellation. Konza Prairie staff and docents arrive 30-minutes in advance of group arrival time. If you anticipate being more than 15-minutes late, please call ahead. Docents will wait only 30-minutes past your group arrival time, if the Education Program Office is not notified.
Confirmation. You will receive a trip confirmation and itinerary approximately one week in advance of your reservation. If you need to make corrections or adjustments for your visit to Konza Prairie, please contact the Education Program Office.
Preserve Rules. Please advise your students that during your visit, they are guests at a university research laboratory. Your help in preserving this natural environment and protecting the research conducted on Konza Prairie is greatly appreciated.
Continued access to Konza Prairie depends on your cooperation by observing the following rules:
- Remain on designated roads and trails at all times.
- Collection or removal of flowers, rocks, feathers, or other materials from the conservation area is prohibited.
- Pack it in, pack it out. Disposal receptacles and picnic areas are not available on the trail.
- Smoking, including inside buildings and vehicles, or any open flame is prohibited.
- Dogs and horses are not permitted on-site.
- Our trails are for hiking only. Bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted.
- Camping or overnight parking is prohibited.
- Advance reservation is required to enter Konza Prairie Station Headquarters.
- The bison corral at Station Headquarters is off-limits, unless you are accompanied by Konza Prairie staff or docents.