Returning to Our Roots

The Camp Tyler Prairie Restoration Project

In 1991, several of the camp staff conferred with faculty from the University of Texas at Tyler, and the U. S. Soil and Water Conservation Service, to concluded that a prairie restoration project might be a suitable long term project through which to enhance science education for the fifth grade students that participate in the residence camping program at Camp Tyler. The 35 acre site was set aside for prairie restoration by the Camp Tyler Foundation Board in 1996. Since its inception, several small scale plantings of tallgrass and wildflower seeds had been carried out thanks to several small gifts from the Texas Garden Clubs Inc. and from propagule gathered by the camp maintenance staff. In 2005, we received a matching grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the restoration of prairie and implementation of education day programs and residence camp lessons on prairie restoration as well as two workshops that were designed for local landowners to learn how they might benefit from prairie restoration on their property.

Continue reading About Our Project.

Learn how to start your own Prairie Restoration project.

Special Thanks to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for making this project possible.

We are also grateful for support from the Texas Master Naturalists, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Tyler Building Systems, The American Hiking Association, Tyler Independent School District and The University of Texas at Tyler Biology Department.

The prairie in early spring.	Switchgrass, one of the "Big 4"
Toad Flax and early spring flower.	Field Investigations Day Program

"Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I may remember. Involve me, I will understand."  This is the idea upon which the Returning to Our Roots program has been founded.

Learning the Experimental Method - Data is gathered from three treatments on 20m x 20m plots. Students observe the influence of disturbances by comparing a burned plot, mowed plot and a control plot. There are three replicates of each plot in our prairie.

Cover boards are used to monitor the occurrence of small animals.  Most of the time we only find insects. However, occasionally there is a mouse, a skunk or a snake.

Drift fences are also an effective method for monitoring small animals. We catch a lot of snakes, rodents and frogs.

"Seed balls" are one of the recommended ways to plant a prairie. Seeds are mixed with powdered potters clay and compost in the rotating plastic drum. As the drum turns, water is sprayed on the mixture and balls begin to form. The kids have a good time throwing them!

Thanks to the grant form the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation we have been able to purchase seeds and equipment, hire staff, install drinking water, build picnic tables and signs.

The Bobby Curtis Pavilion has been donated by Tyler Building Systems to provide shelter from the rain and hot summer sun. TylerTransit Mix, Rudd Plumbing, and Billy Moss Concrete also made significant contributions to the project. Many thanks!