Kansas City WildLands is a coalition of resource professionals, private conservation organizations and conservation-minded citizens established to restore and conserve the remnants of Kansas City’s original landscape by involving people in the stewardship of the land.
Relatively undisturbed prairie, glade, savanna and forest natural communities still exist on public lands in the metro area, but they need our help! Over time, these remnant wild places have been overtaken by trees and brush, invaded by exotic plants and deprived of the natural processes that maintained them.
In addition to a lack of management, these natural communities also suffer from a lack of recognition and appreciation by the urban public. An equally important dual goal of the WildLands coalition is to involve citizens and metro communities in the care of these lands that represent Kansas City’s natural heritage.
Learn more about the KC Wildlands Projects, and how YOU can get involved!
1,932
Volunteer Hours Worked
18
Restoration Workdays Hosted
159
Native local ecotype plant species collected by our Seed Team
250+
Invasive Cedar Trees Removed at our Annual Cedar Tree Event
The wild lands await! Many people are unaware that there are so many beautiful, undisturbed natural areas in the Kansas City region. Come out and take a walk and visit these living natural history lessons.
Currently WildLands volunteers help to restore thirteen remnant sites within the Kansas City metropolitan region. These are some of the most diverse, beautiful places in the Midwest ... we challenge you to visit all 13!
Hike a WildlandCalling all nature enthusiasts! Volunteer with Bridging The Gap’s Kansas City WildLands (KCWL) program! At our workdays, we explain why it’s important protect and restore our native ecosystem, then we split into small groups to remove and treat invasive plants. We work on designated WildLands (native forests and prairies) throughout the metropolitan area, on both sides of the state line.
An under-story shrub in woodlands, Asian bush honeysuckles invades quickly and out-competes native plants. Because it leafs out so early, the shrub steals light from native plants that need a sunny forest floor in spring in order to flower, fruit, and gather energy for the next year. Birds and small animals eat the berries and deposit the seeds elsewhere, spreading this noxious weed. Learn to identify this aggressive invader, and then kill it before it spreads more seeds elsewhere.
Learn more
Field Biologist
Johnson County Parks and Recreation District
Naturalist
Citizen Representative
Midwest Field Representative
The Conservation Fund
Conservationist
Burroughs Audubon Society
Biologist
Habitat Architects
Biology Professor
Rockhurst University
Environmental Chair
Shumaker Family Foundation
Program Manager
Program Coordinator
Kansas City is home to stunning landscapes, wide prairies, sunny woodlands, shaded forests, and rich wetlands. Our unique natural systems are part of our heritage and our identity as Kansas Citians, and we take care of our land and take pride in its natural history. Bridging The Gap’s Kansas City WildLands program preserves and restores the healthiest … Continued
We are honored and excited to announce that Bridging The Gap has been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have a chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us! Now through June 30, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help … Continued
The first Saturday in June is National Trails Day AND National Prairie Day… two of our favorite things! Celebrate on June 5th with a self-guided walk at Jerry Smith Prairie – a perfect way to spend time with family and friends or alone! We’re supplying a few ideas and downloads to help you do it. And … Continued
By Ben Carpenter, HTA Program Associate My little brother is getting married in July. I know, poor timing. If only he had considered the possibility of a global pandemic upsetting his years-long engagement. However, the show must go on, albeit from a distance. This is a situation in which a thoughtful gift from … Continued
By Ami Freeberg, Volunteer Program Manager This week, May 3-9, 2020, we celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, a global initiative to educate and inspire people about composting. I grew up composting in a big pile at the back of our large backyard garden – piling food scraps and grass clippings together to break down and … Continued
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