The big blue sky of the prairie, diverse plants and native Wisconsin wildlife will be depicted in an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point opening Tuesday, May 14.

The exhibit showing various aspects of a prairie, its life cycle and the benefits of keeping it healthy will be in the museum throughout the summer. The museum is open to the public free of charge.

Museum hours through May 17 are Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Beginning May 18, museum hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to noon. The museum is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the summer. Hours may vary from the published schedule, so it is advisable to call in advance if you are planning a visit to the museum during the summer. Museum hours and visitor information are available by calling (715) 346-2858.

The exhibit�s eight display panels were researched, created and designed by 23 students in a museum methods class led by Ed Marks, curator of education at the museum.

State budget cuts are having an impact on the class, Marks reports. The class had planned to have the display at Jordan Park, but the facility will not be open for the summer. In the past exhibit sites have included the Central Wisconsin Wildlife Center, Portage County�s Jordan Park Nature Center and the Portage County Historical Society�s Heritage Park. This year the class will display their projects on campus in the museum auditorium, which has been converted to a display area.

In the original design, the students would have used taxidermy specimens that are housed in the nature center. Since there was a change of plans in the midst of designing the displays, the students have substituted illustrations of the animals.

A landscape of prairie flowers is illustrated in a panel entitled "Little House on the Prairie." The panel shows the aesthetic differences between a conventional lawn and a prairie garden as well as the benefits to wildlife in a prairie habitat. Basic information about how to grow prairie plants is part of the display.

Two panels show the prairie underground. One illustrates the importance of fire in the life of a prairie, demonstrating how prairie plants are equipped to survive fire while other vegetation is destroyed. Another panel, "The Dirt About Dirt," shows a cross section of earth illustrated with boxes of soil from various layers. The panel also depicts the tiny creatures who live in prairie dirt. The students acquired the soil samples from the soil science area in the College of Natural Resources.

Two panels illustrate prairie animals. A display on endangered and threatened species includes representations of a fox snake, a prairie chicken, a Karner Blue butterfly, a common barn owl and a loggerhead shrike (a predatory bird). Another shows wildlife that is not endangered, including a snake, a 13-line ground squirrel, a sandhill crane, a kestrel in a tree and a badger in an underground den. The panels also have sound buttons with recordings of the calls of the sandhill crane and the prairie chicken. The recordings were created in an ornithology class taught by Bob Rosenfield, professor of biology and wildlife.

Native and non-native species of plants also are displayed. Milkweed, one of the most common prairie plants, is a Wisconsin native. The students researched uses of the weed, including filling life vests with the down of its seeds during World War II and deer calls made from the roots. Since the plants can grow as tall as five feet, a ruler is available so visitors can compare themselves to the plant.

"Prairie Invaders" are illustrated on a panel about the degrading effects of non-native plants. Viewers can identify plants and find the answers to questions about them. The panel also has suggestions to stop the spread of invasive species.

A covered wagon is depicted in a panel that presents "Voices of the Prairie." The students collected reactions of pioneers who first came to the prairie through research in the University Library and on the Internet.

During the class, students learn about preparation, use and care of natural history materials for research and exhibition. In addition to building the museum display, the students learn to prepare educational programs for museums, nature centers and schools.

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