Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 18 text:

; After pointing out a herd of bison, Dean Hargett, Konza Docent, or trained tour guide, explains where they roam on the Konza Prairie. The bison were kept separate from the walking routes by fences, but were still visible from certain points on the prairie. (Photo by Shane Keyser) 14 -Konza Prairie-

Page 17 text:

running swimmi t r a i n i n v aspect of the athlete lines A smoke cleared from the gun, more than 150 students and community members began a long and difficult journey. The Wildcat Sprint Triathlon, a swimming, cycling and running competition, raised $500 on Sept. 9 for the Manhattan Marlins Youth Swim Team. Dana Townsend, women ' s division winner and junior in dietetics, was in her fifth full season of triathlon competition. You are actually training in three sports. It does take a tremendous time commitment, Townsend said. Running 25-30 miles, cycling 100 miles and swimming 9,000-10,000 yards, Townsend averaged between 11 and 12 hours per week training. I probably enjoy the training the most, and you have to compete to train well, Townsend said. I don ' t think you can do your best unless you race. Instead of participating in the triathlon, students could work as one of 60 volunteers, Alberto Delgado, race volunteer coordinator and associate professor in mathematics, said. The volunteers were used to helping with timing, registra- tion, water stops, directing traffic, transition areas and race statistics, he said. Safety was a major concern of the coordinators. The swim is one of the most dangerous parts because it is an open swim, Harvard Townsend, race coordinator and systems administrator in computing and information sciences, said. The other danger is when the triathletes take corners on their bicycles. The competition attracted different types of people - some out for fun, others out for competition and experience. It would be a great race for students to try, Dana Townsend said. You put yourself on the line, and you will be tested. This will teach you something about yourself. by J.J. Kuntz and Katie Thomas -Triathlon- 13

Page 19 text:

wildlife and through g u IK d tours o I u n t e flln g f n attract visi (eauty Touring the Konza Prairie, students learn about preserving tallgrass prairies. The prairie offered year- round learning experiences. (Photo by Shane Keyser) Wild turkeys on the Konza Prairie peek out of the tallgrass as Hargett ' s tour passes by. The prairie was home to more than 290 animal species and 500 species of flowers, shrubs and trees. (Photo by Shane Keyser) ild turkeys ran through the grass as a doe stood among the shadows V T and peered down the well-traveled trail at the Konza Prairie Natural Research Area. Docents, or trained tour guides, led tours down the trails of the Konza Prairie. Dean Hargett, senior in history, was die only student out of about 25 docents. He gave his first tour in September, but his first visit to the Konza Prairie was about 10 years ago. My favorite part of the prairie is the hilltop, Hargett said. There is a long climb to the top and you can see all to the south and out west to Fort Pviley. When you reach the top it is magnificent with the wind blowing through your hair. The content of the tours depended on the age of die participants. The tours are available for any group, John Zimmerman, coordinator of the docent program and professor of biology, said. There are tours for fourth and fifth grades, high school students, college students or adults. Docents added information to the tours which were set up on an appointment basis, Hargett said. There are quite a number of training hikes with the docent program. We familiarize ourselves with die prairie by reading about and listening to the experienced docents, he said. Becky Burton, graduate student in biology, said she became interested after volunteering. I volunteer for the burning. My job is I run die drip torch for the fire, Burton said. It is a good experience to help out and feel more connected to what ' s going on in the area. College-level tours focused on plant species and experiments. We have 8,600 acres widi 60 different units all subjected to burn units, David Hartnet, director of the Konza Prairie, said. The whole purpose is to study the effects from die fire on ecology, different species and the effects of burning vegetation. Students worked on the Konza Prairie and gained hands-on experience through research projects. My research is on die aquatic system through die streams, ponds and ground water, Ken Fritz, graduate in biology, said. It is definitely experience. Hargett shared his knowledge about die Konza Prairie and die experiments widi other students he encountered during tours. I like getting odier people out there and helping them know about the prairie instead of just watching it as they drive past, he said. by Maria Sherrill -Konza Prairie- 1 5