Celebrating the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy
Ripon College’s largest outdoor classroom turns 25 this year! The 130-acre Ceresco Prairie Conservancy west of Willmore Center was established in 1996, a partnership with the Department of Natural Resources as part of its Glacial Habitat Restoration Program. The aim is to restore this tract of land to the native prairie, oak savannah and wetlands habitat that once covered a large portion of Fond du Lac County. It has served students in Ripon’s botany, ecology and animal biology courses, and those doing research projects on plants and animals. There also have been projects involving English, art, theatre and economics students. Each year, hundreds of passionate students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends assist in maintaining the prairie, battling invasive species and enjoying the serenity and beauty of the conservancy. Here, Ripon College alumni share some of their special memories.
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