06/13/2026
Friends,
We are more energized, hopeful, and inspired about the future of Prairiewood than ever before.
Over the years, so many of you have attended music performances and group yoga, art openings and poetry readings, looked for woodcocks at dusk and learned to cook with edible wild plants, walked the trails, connected with nature, celebrated community, and, along the way, have become part of the story of Prairiewood. We are deeply grateful for the love and support this community has shown us throughout the years.
As we look ahead, we want to share an important update with you regarding open trails and community programming at Prairiewood.
Behind the scenes, our team is growing, Prairiewood Connect Foundation’s board is expanding, and exciting new developments are already underway. We are dedicating this season to strengthening our vision, refining our future, and ensuring that when we do offer public events, we can provide the community with an experience at a level and standard we believe it deserves—that you deserve.
While 2026 will be a quieter public programming season, and we will not be hosting weekly open trail days from spring through the fall as in years past, this decision comes from a place of intention. As our nonprofit board expands and our vision for the future grows larger, we believe that sometimes it is important to take a thoughtful pause to regroup, to strengthen our foundation, and to ensure we are building something truly lasting for our future as well as the community’s. However, we will still have two exciting opportunities to gather with us this year:
August (Date TBA)
Summer Celebration at Prairiewood
October 22
Swing Time with The Thundering Cats at Union Hall
Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to each event!
We are also thrilled to announce that an independent documentary film about Prairiewood is currently in production by internationally recognized filmmakers Nathaniel Wilder and Tom Attwater. The film captures the mission and deeper story behind Prairiewood founders Rebecca and Kail Katzenmeier's 25-year mission to protect and share native tallgrass prairie right here in Manhattan, Kansas. We look forward to sharing more details about its release in the coming months!
We invite everyone to stay connected, continue following along, and be part of this exciting next chapter as it unfolds.
From all of us at Prairiewood Preserve, Prairiewood Connect, and Union Hall: Thank you for believing in us. Preservation is at the heart of everything we do, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support in helping us steward, protect, and care for this extraordinary tallgrass prairie landscape and its deep-rooted history for generations to come.
If you would like to learn more about the work we do through our nonprofit organization, please visit prairiewoodconnect.org
