WHAT IS PROJECT PRAIRIE WILD

This past year has been a great time of expansion and change at CSAC, one big project that has started on campus is the Prairie Wild Project. A goal of 3RF Sciences has always been to venture into other sciences, make a positive impact on our community and to create an experience that encourages learners of all ages to further themselves through science. The Prairie Wild project is introducing biology, environmental sciences, ecology and conservation to our educational outreach programs. The next time you are on campus you will notice that we have residents - turtles, and prairie dogs.
The Ornate Box turtle is on the Texas Endangered Species list simply because of agricultural practices on their native habitat, so we have built a habitat that allows the turtles to continue on as they would in the wild with the hopes of breeding, collecting data and releasing the offspring in the ranch prairie lands where they are safe from tractors and plows. These turtles will be used in several levels of our educational outreach programs, K-12, to teach the scientific method of data collection, ecology, biology and conservation of our Texas Prairies.
In October, prairie dogs moved in on the south side of campus. The prairie dog town is an exceptional way for students to see an eco-system at work, and as our colony grows we plan to use cameras to create an opportunity for study of their behavior, and install an underground observatory for students to see the hidden town at work. Over 144 species live in a prairie dog town, 12 of those are considered endangered, and through our colony we will be able to further the understanding of ecology and conservation in our area.
Lastly, a very large greenhouse has been donated to 3RF Sciences to be used for landscaping plants for campus, vegetation for wildlife, and botany curriculum, so the opportunities for students and life learners continues to grow! The next time you are coming out to campus come early to enjoy the view and visit the residents.