Kansas City Wildlands
Conserve, Protect, Restore.
Program Mission
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.
KC Wildlands Projects
Learn more about the KC Wildlands Projects, and how YOU can get involved!
Kansas City WildLands FY 20-21 Accomplishments
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1,375
hours of restoration work by volunteers
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20
Restoration Workdays Hosted
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118
Pounds of seed collected representing 130 native species
Hike a Wildland
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.
Find a Hike Near You.
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 WildlandVolunteer with WildLands!
Join us in conserving, protecting, and restoring our wildlands.
Calling 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.
1,800 people volunteer with BTG each year. Be part of the movement!
Find Volunteer OpportunitiesInvasive Species
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
KCWL Steering Committee
Matt Garrett
Field Biologist
Johnson County Parks and Recreation District
Lance Jessee
Naturalist
Citizen Representative
Ginevera Moore
Midwest Field Representative
The Conservation Fund
Mary Nemecek
Conservationist
Burroughs Audubon Society
Larry Rizzo
Biologist
Habitat Architects
Chad Scholes
Biology Professor
Rockhurst University
Megan Shumaker
Environmental Chair
Shumaker Family Foundation
Kansas City WildLands Staff
- Linda Lehrbaum
Program Manager
- Ginger Werp
Program Coordinator
KCWL sponsors + partners
What's happening now
The Season’s Reflections
Hey Kansas City. It’s Jacob here, the coordinator for Kansas City WildLands’ Seed Team. We’ve spent the last year out in the field searching for and collecting seed, or in the barn cleaning and sorting our harvest. Finally, the seed has found its destination – public lands undergoing restoration. Places in our city that are … Continued
Kansas City’s WildLands need you
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
Vote for BTG with Target Circle!
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
DIY National Prairie Day Celebration!
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
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