One of my favorite natural places near Lincoln is the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. Whenever a friend or family member from out of state comes to visit, I take them here. I can't think of a better way to convince them that natural tallgrass prairie can, in fact, be beautiful. And it is! According to their website, the Center covers 808 acres of preserved tallgrass prairie (650 acres of which have never been plowed), with miles of walking trails, ponds, wetlands, wildflowers, grasses, and a high diversity of birds and wildlife. There are even a few preserved wagon ruts from the nineteenth-century!
The Spring Creek Audubon Center is also a big proponent of education. Their on-site education building is built of green materials (reclaimed construction material, straw-bale insulation, etc.), and here school students of all ages come on field trips and are taught about the scientific method, introductory concepts of ecology, investigation of habitats and species adaptations, and general problem-solving skills.
The Center also hosts a variety of public events to raise conservation awareness and build a sense of community based around the prairie. Classes are offered in papermaking and basket weaving, and there are wildflower, bird, and insect walks throughout the year. Each autumn, there is an annual "Twilight on the Tallgrass" prairie festival with a variety of events, booths, crafts, food, music, and educational programs.
For more information, photos, and directions, visit their website:
http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/
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