PrintShareE-Mail This Page

Prairie Burn

One of Knox College's most valued traditions is the annual spring Prairie Burn, which brings together students from all disciplines in a prairie restoration project that inspired the name for Knox College's "Prairie Fire" athletic teams.

The Prairie Burns, first conducted in the 1950s by Knox professor Paul Shepard, protect prairie grasses from intrusions of woodland scrub and competition with "exotic" species that have been introduced to Illinois from other regions or countries -- to the detriment of organisms that have evolved over millions of years in delicate balance with the environment and each other.

The Prairie Burns at Green Oaks are one of the factors making Green Oaks one of the oldest restored tallgrass prairie in North America.

Highlights from a recent Prairie Burn:

Stuart Allison

Professor Stuart Allison plans the burn with students and faculty.


Stuart Allison, Alicia Young

Professor Allison watches while Alicia Young sets a field on fire. Other students at rear maintain the fire line.


Maintaining line at prairie fire.

A student controls the edge of the burn.


Burned field at Green Oaks prairie

Blackened fields will heat up more quickly, and native prairie plants are better adapted to fire than non-native species.

Apply to Knoxundefinedundefined

Academic News

Panda-monium II: Knox's Godsil Photographs Pandas in France

A few weeks after completing an international assignment to take photos of newly arrived pandas in Scotland, Knox College instructor Michael Godsil is asked to document the delivery of two more pandas in France.

KnoxReads Online Book Club Makes Debut

Knox College introduces KnoxReads, an online book discussion. The first selection is "Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion across the Islamic World," by writer and foreign policy analyst Robin Wright, who visits Knox on February 28.

Knox in New York: Art Class Goes to NYC, Expands Possibilities

"Knox in New York students are exposed to different communities of artists and to a variety of art forms. This experience is transformative," says Professor Lynette Lombard.

More News

undefined
undefined
Independent Research
Knox on Youtube
Independent Research
 
Stephanie O'BrienI Am KnoxKnox Habitat is a great lesson in community development. What better way to lead than by example? I am Stephanie, Senior, and...
I AM KNOXI am Knox
Meet More Knox People