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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Valerie Wright, 785-532-0381, kondaed@k-state.edu

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

BIENNIAL VISITORS DAY SEPT. 27 AT K-STATE'S KONZA PRAIRIE

MANHATTAN -- The opportunity for an up-close look at the Kansas Flint Hills and the tallgrass prairie will come when Kansas State University's Konza Prairie Biological Station holds its biennial Visitors' Day, Saturday, Sept. 27.

The Konza Prairie Biological Station is a preeminent center for grassland research. The 8,600-acre native tallgrass prairie preserve is dedicated to a three-fold mission of long-term ecological research, education and prairie conservation.

For Visitors' Day, the Konza will open its gates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering guided access to its restricted areas and giving everyone the opportunity to see the bison herd or hike the trail system. Visitors also will see live animal displays and research exhibits at the station headquarters, while learning about tallgrass prairie conservation and management. Konza Prairie researchers, docents and staff will provide information about research being conducted at the Konza, history of the site, Flint Hills geology, tallgrass prairie flora and fauna, and other natural history.

Other activities to be offered include driving tours of the bison enclosure, hay wagon rides, tours of the Hokanson homestead along Kings Creek and guided hikes. Special activities for youth will be at the Hulbert Education Center in the lower level of the ranch house.

"There's something for the whole family," said Valerie Wright, environmental educator for the Konza Prairie. "Kids can become a junior ecologist by completing some fun activities or collect grasshoppers for the hopper display."

The Friends of the Konza Prairie will be on hand to offer Konza Prairie T-shirts, hats, posters, mugs and other items for sale. The Nature Conservancy will host an information booth and offer book sales.

The Konza Prairie Biological Station is owned by The Nature Conservancy and K-State, and is operated as a field research station by the K-State Division of Biology. Konza Prairie is six miles south of Manhattan along McDowell Creek Road. To get to the station headquarters, take Konza Lane past the nature trail kiosk. The headquarters is located around the corner to the right.

While most of the Konza is closed to visitors the rest of the year, a six-mile series of nature trail loops is open to the public year round from dawn to dusk. For more information, contact Wright, at 785-587-0381 or konzaed@k-state.edu. More information on the Konza also is available online at http://www.k-state.edu/konza/keep/visit/visitors.htm