Frances Owen with Johnson County Conservation and a volunteer with Pleasant Grove Heritage Park helped guide Lisbon students through an activity at the prairie Tuesday, April 22.

Owen and students took to explore the prairie and document the different plants, insects, invertebrates and other animals they might encounter at the park to highlight the biodiversity.

Ahead of heading into the park, Owen asked students’ favorite activities to take part in at the nature park. Fishing, walking, spending time at the gazeboes were among the favorite activities.

Owen showed youth a picture of full size of some of the plants you might find in a prairie, including the deep root systems those plants have.

“Those roots help keep things like moisture, soil and other items from going to other locations,” Owen said.

Prairies have different plants and animals that use them as habitat, compared to turf grass.

Students were tasked with taking photos of the plants, insects, invertebrates, trees and other items they could find at the prairie or park to help highlight the biodiversity in the prairie.

Students said they were hoping to see things like snakes, frogs, birds, bugs and bees.