Roots of Change: Creating a Prairie Ecosystem at School

St. Andrews EcoSAS Club

Starting a prairie on school grounds transforms an underused lawn into a vibrant, living classroom that supports biodiversity, pollinators, and hands-on learning. By replacing traditional turf with native grasses and wildflowers, schools can create habitat for butterflies, bees, and birds while reducing mowing, water use, and long-term maintenance costs. Students can be involved in every step—from site preparation and seed selection to planting and monitoring—building connections to ecology, conservation, and local landscapes. Over time, the prairie becomes a dynamic outdoor space for science, art, and observation, demonstrating how small actions can restore ecosystems and make a meaningful environmental impact.