Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center

Carroll University's Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center and Greene Field Station includes a stunning new facility for teaching, exploration and research—as well as 75 acres of natural springs, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands along Genesse Creek. Located in the Town of Genesee, it’s about 10 miles from the university's main campus in Waukesha.

A Resource for the Community Offering Educational and Recreational Programming

exterior of the Paul Fleckenstein Research Laboratory

A center for exploration, education and reflection in the heart of nature

15 minutes from Carroll University's main campus

Two female middle school students investigate the contents of a net just pulled from the Genesse Creek

Prairie Springs Programming

The center offers educational opportunities, activities and events for Carroll University classes, students of all ages and members of the community. Groups that come to Greene Field Station for research and field studies also have access to an amazing building for lectures, discussion and scientific exploration. See below for the programming currently offered and feel free to contact us to explore other partnerships and opportunities:

Monthly Contests

Drawing, photography, designing and more. Join in a monthly contest to show us your skills. Adult and youth competitions offered.

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Parents' and Teachers' Corner

Books, crafts, activities, and outdoor fun for teachers at school and/or parents/guardians at home.

Explore resources

blurry photo of two Carroll Students conducting research

Pioneers Expand their horizons

Carroll Student Opportunities

Many options for student research and involvement through courses, internship and work study are available.

Discover Now

map of the Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center

Center Facilities

The Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center includes facilities for exploration and learning both indoors and out. Just a 15 minute drive from Carroll University's main campus, you'll find more than 75 acres of land to discover.

Google Maps Directions to Prairie Springs

Paul Fleckenstein Research Laboratory

The Paul Fleckenstein Research Laboratory includes two large classrooms, a teaching laboratory for storing equipment and processing samples and a wet lab for analyzing samples.

eight people conducting a science investigation in Genesse Creek

Greene Field Station

The Greene Field Station has over two miles of trails for exploring Genesee Creek and surrounding springs, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands.

Guest House

The Guest House on the property includes meeting space and a kitchen for catered events, as well as two bedrooms for overnight guests.

A group of female middle school students conduct an experiment at Greene Field Station

Field investigations taking place in Greene Field Station by six people

two students conduct research in the Paul Flecknestein Research Laboratory

Genesse Creek during the winter covered in snow and ice

Facility Background

Members of Paul Fleckenstein's family at the dedication of the Paul Fleckenstein Research Laboratory

In 2012, Carroll University purchased a three-acre property immediately to the south of the Greene Field Station that included a woodshop and a house. With a $244,055 grant from the National Science Foundation and a $1 million endowment from the Paul Fleckenstein Trust, Carroll University renovated the buildings into a state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratory and a guest house. In fall 2016, the property was dedicated as the Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center and the laboratory was dedicated as the Paul Fleckenstein Research Laboratory. An additional 11 acres was also added to create a 75-acre recreational and learning laboratory.

Contact

Todd Levine, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Director of Greene Field Station & Prairie Springs Environmental Education Center
Education Scholar & Certified Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America
262.524.7283 | tlevine@carrollu.edu

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