Summer is busy thanks to the industrious work and research of our fellows and interns. Whether they were monitoring fish populations in Kansas streams, planting native flowers at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, researching soil in Nicodemus, or checking over 75 miles of fence at Smoky Valley Ranch, they were invaluable to our conservation efforts this summer. We wish them all the best in their future studies and careers.
Saiph Sorell, Healthy Streams Fellow
"In addition to the professional experience I've gotten, I explored a lot of Kansas, a place I once thought of as a flyover state filled with corn and cows in fact has a rich American history and hidden beauties found nowhere else globally."
Saiph's work at TNC in Kansas focused on adding another year of data to the Sustainable Rivers Program, particularly related to the impact dams have on the flow of rivers and streams, which affects reproductive cycles in fish. A few of Saiph’s highlights include a visit to Nicodemus Homestead, a national historic site, and her work at Tuttle Creek, including estimates on when fish are spawning and how frequently, and data collection on sediment disruption and its impacts to the surrounding creek ecosystem.
Dominic Sankuba, Healthy Soils Fellow
As the 2025 Healthy Soils Fellow, Dominic’s main projects were enhancing soil health at Terrace Lane Farm and participating in Rattlesnake Creek research. In addition to soil health assessments on the farm, Dominic looked at grazing systems and pasture management and conducted a variety of tests, including an experimental soil temperature test in areas with cover crops vs exposed ground. At Rattlesnake Creek Basin, he studied reverse river depletion reports and completed a watershed plan and environmental impact statement. While visiting Nicodemus for the Soil Health & Organic Farm Field Day, he introduced regenerative agriculture practices and took soil samples,
Dominic thanks his mentor Adam Bauer for his guidance, knowledge and support this summer.
Make a Difference in Kansas
The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. For more than 30 years, we’ve worked in Kansas to do just that. We've permanently protected 161,000 acres across the state, including six preserves that are open to the public.
Bobby Rathke, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Intern
"Working with TNC has definitely been the most rewarding experience I've ever had. It has taught me a lot and deepened my love for conservation and wildlife."
Spending summer on the prairie provided Bobby with a variety of projects and experiences, including learning how to manage invasive plant species and completing his type II firefighter training. He also assisted with moving cattle to create areas free from grazing, as this improves habitat for grassland birds, and collected virtual fencing data on this process. Additional highlights for Bobby included routinely identifying prairie grasses and forbs, the Native Prairie Plant Nursey project and visit to Nicodemus Homestead. Bobby was also fortunate to attend the Bison network meeting, hosted at TPNP.
Patrick Geyer, Smoky Valley Ranch Grassland Conservation Intern
Patrick joined the team at Smoky Valley Ranch as a graduate student from Fort Hays State University. Late May through June, he spent early mornings on the ranch conducting breeding bird surveys at different sites and utilized a tool that quantifies vegetative structure measured through visual obstruction. This is used in association with bird surveys because it helps visualize bird habita
Continuing a former graduate research project on the ranch, Patrick also studied bat activity on and off prairie dog colonies using acoustic detectors. Interestingly, prairie dog colonies are major hubs of bat activity due to foraging opportunities of insects and underground burrows. A related project of Patrick’s was the yearly prairie dog density count, which identified large black tailed prairie dog colonies and assessed the management of the species.
Reuven Frances, Smoky Valley Ranch Seasonal Conservation Steward
"The first time I saw bison on the ranch, that was one of the coolest things I witnessed. It was an incredible moment that is now carved into my mind. It’s been the summer of my life."
Traveling all the way from Brooklyn, NY, Reuven assisted the Smoky Valley Ranch team with ongoing parking lot construction and clearing a large number of invasive trees. A labor-intensive but engaging project of Reuven’s was checking over 75 miles of fence, moving cattle into pasture and cleaning out the cow tank. He also learned to drive a tractor and operate a chainsaw, two necessary skills for conservation on the ranch but also fun. Throughout the summer, he shared how consistently awed he was at the wildlife, from seeing a salamander post-rainstorm, to observing prairie dogs and bison.
Explore More
At the Intersection of Art and Conservation
The Nature Conservancy in Kansas partners with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Linda Hall Library to explore the powerful connections between art, science and conservation.
Summer Seed Collection at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Helps Endangered Butterfly
Learn about The Nature Conservancy's work to protect the Regal fritillary through native seed collection and prairie restoration.
Q&A with Tony Capizzo: Flint Hills Initiative Director
The Flint Hills of Oklahoma and Kansas nurture some of the greatest biological diversity in the world. TNC’s Tony Capizzo is leading the charge to protect and preserve this incredible ecoregion.