Dale Hemminger

Hemminger's "Heartland Prairie Gardens and Heritage Center" brings generations together to preserve the historic significance and ecological importance of the prairie ecosystem. Students interview senior citizen mentors to better understand the agricultural, educational, political, economic, and domestic aspects of life on the prairie. Their discoveries are documented in electronic portfolios and integrated into the center's archives. Students and mentors also tend native prairie gardens and maintain a variety of other exhibits emphasizing prairie ecology. The project gives students a greater understanding of the past, as well as fosters mutual respect between generations.