At the start of this school year, the 9th grade Ecology classes embarked on a new journey to officially become Prairie Partners. Working in lab groups, they have established 18 four-square-meter research plots on our short grass prairie. They are working to inventory the existing plant and animal communities within their plots and apply this knowledge to the broader 800 acres of similar habitat. Students will develop a treatment plan for their plot, actively remove invasive species, and test best practices for increasing native plant diversity. This experiment can be replicated annually so that Ecology classes can build a database showing human impact and best practices for managing our short grass prairie.

This Biodiversity Hotspot Experiment is based on the Plains Conservation Center’s Prairie Restoration Project in Aurora, Colorado on a property very similar to that of Fountain Valley School. They were recently awarded the Blue Grama Award from the Colorado Open Space Alliance for Outstanding Achievement in Ecological Restoration or Recreation Management, as well as the Colorado Parks and Recreation Columbine Award for programming from Colorado Fish and Game.

We are very excited to be able to replicate this project here on our short grass prairie in a way that engages all 9th grade students. Through projects like this at Fountain Valley School, students have the opportunity to develop a modern sense of Western conservation and recognize the inherent worth of the natural world. Here, we can observe Sandhill cranes migrating south in the fall, nesting bald eagles, great horned owls serenading us in the winter above snow-covered fields, waterfowl that frequent our ponds and canals, at least three species of goose, and four subspecies of juncos. 

The bird life here and on adjacent Big Johnson Reservoir draws attention from the local Audubon Society through the Christmas Bird Count and the Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival’s (PPBNF) guided walks in May. Pictured are some of the species you may have the opportunity to observe on a walk through our prairie. For more information on the PPBNF, visit www.pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org. We’d love to see you on the prairie!