Prairie Improvement Day January 16, 2010

The Jennings staff is looking for individuals willing to spend a Saturday morning outdoors to help manage the unique prairie ecosystem. Participants must be age 12 or older and should dress for the weather, including gloves and sturdy shoes. Please register for this program no later than January 8th. Jennings Environmental Education Center has the only preserved prairie in Pennsylvania. A unique ecosystem, it is home to the massasauga rattlesnake and stunning wildflower, the blazing star. A variety of management techniques are used to preserve this distinctive prairie habitat. One such technique is to clip and remove the woody invaders that may eventually out-compete native flowers and grasses. This activity is best accomplished in winter when the soil is frozen and vegetation is reduced. For lunch, generous local restaurants will provide plenty of warm, hearty soup. Each participant will receive a commemorative soup mug as a special thank-you.