Student Conservationists’ Impact Rewarding

Aside from juggling homework, co-curriculars, and weekend plans, a group of Marksmen are tackling something much bigger — restoring a piece of Texas’s native Blackland prairie. The Prairie Restoration Crew, a passionate team of young environmentalists, is working to bring back a vanishing ecosystem, one patch of North Texas at a time.

“I joined the Prairie Restoration Crew because I wanted to take direct action in restoring ecosystems rather than only learning and talking about environmental issues,” said Nathan Tan ’27. “St. Mark’s has provided essential support from Mark Adame [Cecil H. and Ida Green Master Teaching Chair in Science and club sponsor] and by offering the Arthur Douglas Greenhouse for native plant restoration. Many of our hours are spent in the greenhouse carefully propagating, transplanting, watering, cold-stratifying, etc.”

What started as a small, student-led initiative several years ago has grown into a full-scale conservation effort. The Crew has dedicated countless hours to clearing invasive species, reintroducing native plants, and ensuring the restored prairie can thrive. Their most recent area of focus has been along the Northhaven Trail. Their work doesn’t just benefit the environment — it serves as a hands-on learning experience that connects students to their local ecosystem in a deeply meaningful way.

“I believe that history is important to know – not just social, political, world, country history, but also natural history,” said Max Yan ’25. “Otherwise, we’ll never understand what we’re truly losing. One of the best examples of this came from a local native plant expert who told me how, decades before, drivers would have to wipe their windshields clean of bugs after a drive; that doesn’t happen anymore, and it’s because of habitat destruction.”

Their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. The Prairie Restoration Crew was recently named a Youth Finalist in the 2025 American Climate Leadership Awards, recognizing its dedication to climate action and environmental restoration. This honor includes a $5,000 award, which the group plans to fund further prairie initiatives.

“We will use the award to expand our prairie restoration efforts by purchasing more gear, a new watering system, or fund a controlled burning project,” Tan said. “Additionally, we want to look into creating educational resources and outreach programs to involve more students and local community members in restoration efforts.”

Beyond the physical work of restoration, the Marksmen are committed to education and advocacy. They’ve engaged with other students, teachers, and the local community, spreading awareness about the importance of native ecosystems and sustainable land management. Their goal? Inspire others to act and protect the natural world through prairie restoration or other environmental initiatives.

“Looking at it from a more social and community perspective, I hope that our actions and projects can bring the issue into the public’s eye and create more activists,” Yan said. “The botanical and restoration aspects of the club are equally as important as the outreach and educational angles, and each one affects the other.”

In an era where climate challenges can feel overwhelming, the Prairie Restoration Crew proves that local action can make a real difference. By reclaiming native landscapes, they’re not just restoring prairies — they’re restoring hope for the future.

“I take pride in the fact that we’re a club of action. We’re going out there in the field and creating physical and tangible change,” Yan said.