The Larry R. Yoder Prairie Learning Laboratory is situated at The Ohio State University at Marion, in the north-central portion of the state. This is within a region that once included substantial areas of natural grasslands with scattered trees, a region called the “Sandusky Plains.” In 1976, recognizing that only a few remnants of this ecosystem type were remaining in the area, and that the OSU students and community members would benefit from there being a living laboratory for study and relaxation, an Ohio State Marion faculty member in the Department of Botany, Dr. Larry R. Yoder, together with his students, established a prairie on campus using locally collected seeds and plants.
Fast forward nearly a half-century and we have a beautiful 12-acre prairie enhanced by a small (approx 0.1 acre) pond and an open-air shelter house used for OSU classes and as a relaxing spot for students and community members to meet and socialize. The grounds is maintained by the science laboratory support staff operating out of the Science and Engineering Building.
A visit to the Prairie Learning Lab can be just what you make it. With a variety of different opportunities, each experience can be totally new or tried-and-true.
Planning Your Visit
Which season is best?
When you choose to visit the Prairie Learning Lab depends on what you’d like to see and they type of visit you’d like to have. If you’re curious what wildflowers will be in bloom during your visit, take a look at our PRAIRIE FORBS page (link).
What Should We Wear?
Because you’ll be outside and near tall plants on hiking trails its best to wear comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing appropriate for outdoor activities. Sunscreen and bug repellent are especially important during spring and summer. If the weather is warm, consider bringing water or other refreshments
Activities for your visit
Hiking
We encourage you to explore the prairie from every angle by taking a hike on our trail system. Don’t worry about getting lost out there because all trails connect back to the shelter house near the parking lot.
Self-Guided Opportunities
Self-guided tour opportunities are currently being developed. Once the planning is complete additional information will be added to our website
Wildlife viewing & bird watching
The Prairie Nature Center is important habitat for a variety of flora and fauna (aka plants and animals). With native plants and animals throughout the center, you will experience some of Ohio’s nature at its finest. We encourage you to be a naturalist, and enjoy and observe! The nature center is home to a wide array of birds, including water fowl like mallards and song birds like Red Winged Blackbirds and Barn Swallows. You can help us monitor our bird population and their activity by completing a Birder’s Checklist. You can print a checklist from here. Fill it out during your visit, and share the results with us after your visit. A great reference for bird watching can be found at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds.
Picnicking
Do you have a new picnic basket you’ve been dying to try out? Would you like to spend some quiet time with friends or family enjoying a meal outside? Pack up your food and head to the Prairie Nature Center and enjoy the area while you enjoy your meal! We do ask that you remove your trash following your visit as we have limited trash receptacles and infrequent trash pick up.
Prairie Nature Center Guidelines
For your safety, preservation of our natural resources, and consideration for other visitors, please observe the following guidelines:
1. Please no bikes or motorized vehicles on the trails
2. If you choose to bring food or drinks with you during your visit, we ask that you take the remaining trash out with you. Do not litter because food remains and trash can be harmful to animals.
3. No smoking at the Prairie Nature Center. The Ohio State University campuses are tobacco free areas. To learn more: http://tobaccofree.osu.edu/
Help your dog be a good Prairie Nature Center guest
The Prairie Nature Center is absolutely animal-friendly! You are welcome to bring friendly dogs on leashes and enjoy the trails in the park.
We’re always glad to see our four legged visitors and happy you’ve chosen PNC as your place to get outdoors with your dog! All visitors, including dogs, can enjoy their experience at PNC by respecting each other and the guidelines we’ve put in place to keep our visitors, wildlife, and pets safe.
Clean up after your dog and carry the bag to the nearest garbage can. Pooch poop can contain harmful bacteria and parasites that can infect humans and other dogs, as well as toxins that can leach into the soil and end up in groundwater. PNC provides waste bags and waste receptacles. Your dog is a guest at this property, but the wildlife lives here. Don’t allow your dog to chase animals or dig up plants.
Check your dog for ticks and burrs before you leave for home. Natural materials can easily get caught in your dog’s coat or paws.
Following proper pet protocol ensures safety, cleanliness, and enjoyable hiking experience for all guests–humans and canines alike.
Directions to Campus and the Prairie
From the North: Travel south on U.S. Route 23, exit west on State Route 95 and travel 1/2 mile west on route 95 to the campus.
From the South: Travel north on U.S. Route 23, exit west on State Route 95 and travel 1/2 mile west on route 95 to the campus.
or
Travel north on Route 4, turn east on Barks Road. Travel east on Barks and turn left on Delaware Avenue (Route 423). Travel north to the Harding Memorial (on your right). Turn right on Vernon Heights Blvd. and right again on Mount Vernon Avenue (Route 95). Follow Mount Vernon Avenue to the Marion Campus.
From the East: Travel to the intersection on State Route 95 and U.S. Route 23. Follow Mount Vernon Avenue (State Route 95) west to the Marion Campus.
From the West: Travel east on State Route 309/95, which becomes West Center Street just past the second set of railroad tracks, turn right on Park Blvd., and almost immediately turn left on West Church Street. Follow Church Street (Route 95) to Mount Vernon Avenue, turn right and follow Mount Vernon to campus.
Parking
The Prairie is located at the south edge of the campus. Parking is encouraged in the paved parking lots prior to the entrance to the Prairie. There is limited parking at the end of the gravel drive.
Contact Us
Operating hours & seasons
The Learning Laboratory grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Entrance is free. If you want a guided tour, or to reserve the Prairie Shelter for use by your nature study group or for some other special event, please contact Katie Rask (rask.4@osu.edu).
Research on the Prairie
The Ohio State University at Marion welcome researchers from all disciplines to conduct short- or long-term research at the Larry R. Yoder tall grass prairie. Recent research projects include:
- An investigation on the effect of the age of prairie patches on soil organic carbon, recalcitrant carbon (chemically resistant materials and organic remnants) and coal carbon (due to the prairie burning process).
- Research characterizing the biogeochemical evolution of dissolved organic matter in the prairie pond under different climate regimes.
- Measuring the effect of water supplementation on honeybee hive productivity.
- Contributing seeds to the Project Baseline seedbank project at the University of Minnesota at Duluth.
If you are interested in conducting research on the Larry R. Yoder prairie, please contact Susan Gershman (gershman.6@osu.edu)