We welcome the public on guided tours of Cedar Creek to experience the diverse natural habitats of the area and to learn about our research. Each month from spring to fall our resident naturalist highlights interesting ecological topics of the season during the tours.
The Schoolyard Ecology Explorations program aims to combine scientific research and science education. Two local public schools have established native prairies that serve as outdoor classrooms. The schoolyard program is helping the schools develop simple projects and protocols for teachers and students to understand science, gather data, and discover the dynamics of the prairie.
During the summer field season over 100 college students, post-graduate students, and scientists work on Cedar Creek experiments and projects. The college students work as ecological research interns, learning job skills as well as gaining experience in research methods, theory, and presentation. Internship Opportunities
It is important that scientists communicate their findings not only with other scientists, but also with governments and the public. Cedar Creek research is repeatedly featured in major media outlets, including the New York Times, the London Telegraph, National Public Radio, Public Television, and many more. Cedar Creek researchers give public talks at schools, universities, and museums, as well as testimony at state and national legislatures, and have participated in White House meetings.
Cedar Creek maintains a large Web site that serves as a resource for students, scientists, and the general public. The Web site contains information on Minnesota’s habitats and wildlife, along with an extensive photo library of plants and insects found in the area. Some beautiful high resolution photos are available. The site also gives descriptions of past and ongoing research projects at Cedar Creek.
