There are many ways to get involved and support Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The preserve offers many rewarding experiences and opportunities in how you may contribute. Interesting discoveries are within your reach when you get involved through volunteering or giving in other ways. The preserve gains from your expertise and talents. Opportunities can be found as an individual or through group efforts. Whether it is providing citizen science through butterfly counts, giving interpretive tours and programs, hands on labor such as fence repair or litter pick-up, maintaining trails, reducing the impacts on the environment through recycling or other means of support and donation, volunteer prospects abound. Your efforts give additional value for other visitors to experience. In return, you get the satisfaction of knowing that your contributions assist in the protection and conservation of the natural, cultural and historical resources of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Examples of some of the opportunities are listed below:

History of the Howard and Helen Marr Bequest for Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

In the spring of 2010, the estate of Howard and Helen Marr provided a substantial financial gift for the benefit of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which is a congressionally established public-private partnership between the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. To pay tribute to both Helen and Howard Marr, this web page section is dedicated to recognizing the philanthropy provided from the Marr estate. Helen's philanthropy will have long-lasting benefit to the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. First and foremost, Helen planned this grand financial contribution as a final tribute in honor of her beloved husband Howard, who was an avid outdoorsman and whom had preceded her in death. Helen revered Howard. 

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Volunteers preparing to collect prairie seeds with direction from Dr. Tom Eddy

2011 Summer Natural Resource Volunteer Opportunities

Prairie Seed Harvesting - Help the staff harvest prairie seeds from 9 a.m. to noon on July 7th and September 8th. 
Please call ahead (620-273-8494) to verify program availability due to staffing and construction constraints. 

The seeds collected will be used to restore bottomland prairie areas at the preserve. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing, wear sturdy shoes and sun hat, bring drinking water, and wear bug spray. Training will be provided by the staff before the activity begins.

NPS Photo

Boyscout troop working on the Southwind Nature Trail

Trail Workers Always Needed

The preserve is always in need of assistance on various projects, especially with over 41 miles of trails to maintain. Please call ahead (620-273-8494) to see how you may assist and make a difference.

NPS Photo

Greater prairie chicken at the preserve

Volunteer Birders Needed with Bird Monitoring on the Preserve

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and the Heartland Network Inventory and Monitoring Program of the National Park Service are seeking the assistance of volunteer birders to augment an ongoing region wide bird monitoring program.  Volunteer birders will apply standard monitoring techniques to determine the annual distribution and abundance of breeding birds on the preserve.  Volunteers will work closely with the parks Natural Resource Staff and the Heartland Networks project supervisor in this bird 
                                                                           monitoring effort.

Please contact David Peitz, Wildlife Ecologist
(417) 732-6438 ext. 276
for questions specific to bird monitoring

Kristen Hase, Chief of Natural Resources
(620) 273-6034

Eric Patterson, Volunteer Coordinator
(620) 273-8494