Inspired by their time as Research Experience for Teachers program at the Kellogg Biological Station, two Michigan teachers are using schoolyard prairies as outdoor classrooms to engage students and provide hands-on experience with science.
Now in its fifth year, MiSTRIPS has made a lasting impact that extends beyond the 11 participating farmers who have planted more than 50 acres of prairie strips. While the program’s core focus is demonstrating the benefits of integrating native prairie into agricultural systems, its influence reaches well beyond crops and soil health. MiSTRIPS has also become a valuable resource for educators, two of whom – Melissa Frost and Gabe Knowles – expanded their understanding of prairie strips through the NSF Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at the KBS LTER.
The RET program provides K–12 teachers with hands-on opportunities to participate in active, NSF-funded research. At the KBS LTER, Melissa and Gabe worked directly with scientists to explore the ecological value of prairie strips and their role in promoting biodiversity and resilience in agricultural landscapes. They then translated this research into classroom and community projects, establishing native prairie gardens at their schools where students could gain first-hand experience with plant diversity, pollinators, and ecosystem restoration.
This ripple effect demonstrates how collaborative research can generate benefits far beyond its original goals. By connecting researchers, educators, and farmers, MiSTRIPS fosters a network of learning and stewardship that strengthens both communities and ecosystems. Moving forward, MiSTRIPS will continue to partner with teachers to inspire students, support outdoor learning, and cultivate the next generation of conservation-minded leaders.
Read more about the teachers impacted by MiSTRIPS:
Melissa Frost, KBS LTER RET (2022-2023), Buchanan High School (Buchanan, MI)
Melissa Frost was selected as a RET participant in 2022, working alongside Jennifer Jones and members of Sarah Evans’ lab at KBS. During her fellowship, Melissa contributed to research on climate change and soil microbes, gaining hands-on experience with field work. Recognizing the importance of connecting research to education, she developed engaging classroom materials that translated complex scientific concepts into accessible lessons for students. Drawing on her research findings, she helped create an activity for Data Nuggets and led sessions at teacher workshops to help other educators integrate real-world research into their teaching. She connected her RET experience to her students through classroom visits from KBS LTER scientists, and field trips for students to see prairie strips in action. Her commitment to both science and education culminated in the opportunity to present her work at the American Geophysical Union Annual Conference in 2023, sharing her approach to bridging research and classroom learning with a national audience.
Building on her research experience and inspired by the prairie strip plantings at the KBS LTER, Melissa collaborated with her students to design and establish a schoolyard prairie restoration at Buchanan High School. The Habitat Restoration Project serves as both a living laboratory and a community conservation effort, providing habitat for local pollinators while offering students the chance to engage directly with ecological science. The prairie features the same diverse native plant mix used at the LTER, creating realistic connections between classroom learning and active field research. Over the next decade, students will conduct experiments in the garden, tracking biodiversity and plant community changes over time. Through this project, Melissa has created a sustainable outdoor classroom that deepens student understanding of ecology, conservation, and climate resilience.
In recognition of her exceptional leadership in integrating research, education, and community engagement, Melissa Frost was named the Michigan Department of Education’s Region 7 Teacher of the Year for 2024–2025. She is also providing important leadership to help guide the future of the KBS LTER K-12 Partnership and the creation of a distributed research network across school yards focused on prairie restorations. Her work exemplifies how research experiences can inspire students and empower teachers to get engaged.
“A lot of what gets done out in the prairie, the students do, and even the most reluctant students end up doing it. I typically use that as a teaching opportunity, so it becomes another classroom that I use. We don’t worry about knowing the names of everything at first, but instead focus on how things are different and what students are noticing. I think some of it is durable, but I think the observation skills are what last the longest.” – Melissa Frost on the impact on her students at Buchanan High School
Gabe Knowles, KBS LTER RET (2020-2021), Ealy Elementary School (Whitehall, MI)
Gabe Knowles was selected as a RET participant in 2020, working alongside Nate Haan and members of Doug Landis’ lab at KBS. Before joining the RET program, Gabe had already been involved with KBS as a teacher-in-residence through the Teaching Science Outdoors program, organized by the KBS K-12 Partnership. During his RET fellowship, he contributed to the ReGrow Milkweed for Monarchs Project, a collaborative citizen science initiative designed to identify the most effective strategies for improving monarch butterfly habitat. He and his students helped gather data on milkweed growth and monarch use across the Whitehall community, transforming local landscapes into living laboratories.
Inspired by his research experience, Gabe helped develop Data Nuggets classroom activities that allows elementary students to analyze authentic datasets and practice scientific reasoning, and presented this activity at the Michigan Science Teachers Association annual meeting. He also designed an elementary summer enrichment program focused on monarch butterfly conservation, giving students the opportunity to engage directly in field research while learning about life cycles, pollination, and habitat restoration. In addition, he led professional development sessions for fellow teachers, helping them bring current ecological research into their classrooms. His innovative approach to science education and dedication to hands-on learning were recognized when he was named the Michigan Elementary Science Teacher of the Year in 2020.
In 2024, he partnered with KBS K–12 Partnership Coordinator Kara Haas to secure more than $20,000 in grant funding to expand pollinator education at his school. With his fourth-grade students, he launched two large-scale projects: constructing a rain garden to manage stormwater runoff and revitalize a nearby drainage area, and enhancing an existing native pollinator garden in the school courtyard. These projects have become outdoor learning spaces where students can observe pollinators, measure plant growth, and learn about ecological relationships firsthand.
“Using local outdoor spaces for our learning environment provides an authentic, relevant and engaging learning space. Taking the role as a facilitator, the learning is driven by the students’ curiosity and engagement with the environment. Other positive notes are that the teachers and students embrace the idea that they are scientists, and that this is taking place within the community of the school.” – Gabe Knowles reflecting on his Teacher-in-Residence experience at KBS