Nature Naturally

Leonardo da Vinci may have said it best when he wrote, “Nature is the source of all true knowledge.” If he were around today, he would probably be a fan of Emporia State University’s Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center.

Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center (PAROC) is dedicated to making knowledge about nature available and enjoyable for everyone. Located on the northern edge of the ESU campus, the center offers programs and events that are free and open to the public.

Children’s programs feature hands-on learning opportunities ranging from summer camps to monthly Science Storytime.

“One Science Storytime was about pollinators,” said Daphne Mays, ESU director of Outreach. “We read a story about bees, then the children crafted flowers while we talked about pollination and what pollinators do for flowers. After that, we went outside to our pollinator garden, and they got to observe pollinators doing the things they had just learned about.”

Curious souls of all ages can catch talks about topics as vast as sharks, severe weather and tardigrades –microscopic animals known by the adorable nicknames of water bears and moss piglets. Other programs include authors, musicians, and artists sharing how art can incorporate and draw inspiration from nature.

For those eager to learn more about the local environment, PAROC hosts events and activities related to local plants and animals, soil ecology, invasive species, and native restoration. They even hold a native plant sale each year.

Visitors are welcome to drop in on weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The center has hands-on educational displays that are fun and engaging for kids of all ages. There are live animal displays featuring native fish, lizards and turtles, to name a few.

And just try to resist playing with the interactive sandbox. An augmented reality projection turns the sand you shape into mountains, hills and valleys and shows how water and weather move across the natural landscape.

But what if you want to get out into nature?

Visitors can get their steps in on the Dale Greiner Nature Trail that begins at PAROC and winds through a reconstructed prairie and on into Campus Woods.

Or you can enjoy the water. PAROC is situated on King Lake, which is stocked with trout and channel catfish. All you need is your fishing poles and your fishing license. The lake is also open to non-motorized boats, so it’s perfect for kayaking or canoeing. Check out their website to see the rules before you go.

PAROC is not just an aquatic research laboratory for students of ESU; it has something fun for everyone. Whether you are a student, a researcher, an outdoor enthusiast or just someone curious about the world around you, PAROC is a natural resource.

Check out the events calendar, reserve the space for an event, take a virtual tour and see a live stream of Ruby, the red-eared slider turtle, at esuparoc.com and on Facebook @esuparoc.