On June 18, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center hosted its first prairie BioBlitz, bringing together members of our prairie volunteer team, led by the amazing Vivien Smith, and campers from the Topeka Zoo summer camp for a day of discovery, exploration, and science.

A BioBlitz is a community effort to find and identify as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Scientists, volunteers, students, and curious nature lovers work together to document plants, insects, birds, fungi, and other living things. The goal is to better understand the biodiversity of a place while helping participants connect with the natural world around them.

Our BioBlitz took place in the Discovery Center’s tallgrass prairie restoration. Once part of the largest ecosystem in North America, tallgrass prairie now covers only about four percent of its original range. By maintaining a prairie on our grounds, we help preserve this important habitat while giving children opportunities to experience Kansas nature up close.

What We Found

Top 10 Most Observed Species

1. Bindweed 6
2. Common Milkweed 6
3. Grey-headed Coneflower 6
4. Illinois Bundleflower 6
5. Lemon Mint Bergamot 6
6. Purple Poppy Mallow 6
7. Red-Winged Blackbird 6
8. Black-Eyed Susan 6
9. Cup Plant 5
10. Goldfinch 5

More data can be viewed at: BioBlitz Spring 2026 Ranked

One of the most exciting finds of the day was a brown-belted bumblebee, a native pollinator that thrilled both volunteers and campers. Discoveries like this remind us that even small patches of habitat can support an incredible variety of life.

Throughout the event, participants used observation skills, field guides, and technology to identify species and contribute valuable information about the prairie ecosystem. Every observation helps build a clearer picture of the wildlife that calls our prairie home.

More importantly, the BioBlitz helped young people experience science as something they can do themselves. By slowing down, looking closely, and asking questions, campers became citizen scientists for the day.

We are grateful to Vivien Smith and our dedicated prairie volunteers for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm, and to the Topeka Zoo staff and summer campers for joining us in the search. Together, we documented biodiversity, celebrated Kansas wildlife, and created new connections to one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems.

The next time you visit the Discovery Center, take a walk through the prairie. Our prairie is located outside our gates and does not require admission. You never know what you might discover!