Students Discover Nature Close to Home
Early prairie growth after a prescribed burn at Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park this spring
Anthony Acres School is located on Highway 37, halfway between Eau Claire and Mondovi. Teacher Cody Curry reached out to Landmark Conservancy after our recent prescribed burn at Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park and expressed interest in taking a student group to visit the property. “Nearly all of our scholars pass by this site twice per day but may not have asked themselves what was going on there,” he said.
Since 2017, Landmark has been working at the Fitz Park to convert the pine plantation and fallow fields to prairie.
The benefits of prescribed fire include reducing competition of woody and invasive species, stimulating the growth of native grasses and wildflowers, and improving grassland habitat for birds such as bluebirds, woodcocks, and dickcissel.
British soldier lichen at Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park.
The charter school values connections to the natural world, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. For this visit, Mr. Curry aimed to build students’ ecological awareness while teaching observation and field journaling. He also wanted to help them recognize nearby natural areas, so they might return on their own and perhaps become future stewards someday.
After visiting the Fitz property, the school group continued on to visit Landmark’s Elk Creek Bottoms Preserve, which is 5 miles west of Eau Claire. There they had the opportunity to see a much different landscape that also has significant restoration underway.
Sara Norman shares about conservation and restoration efforts.
Students at the Elk Creek Bottoms Overlook.
Community Engagement Manager Sara Norman gave a site tour and talked with the students about Landmark’s efforts to restore the dry bluff prairie and open oak woodland by removing trees and invasive species that have encroached on these habitats over the years.
“Landmark’s legacy continues through the next generation,” she said. “It’s really important for teenagers to unplug and just enjoy being outside. This time helps them see and learn about the natural world, sparking their curiosity and awe.”
Mr. Curry shared some insights from their journaling and says that he looks forward to bringing students out onto the land again in the future.
“There is definitely something living in there!”- Logan, 8th Grade, after observing a large burrow in the prairie and taking a picture, Fitz Site
“It’s like every place we go is just as cool as the last one. I just want to go back and explore.” – Sam, 10th Grade
“There is nothing better than an overlook.” – Rose, 10th Grade