Some of the participating schools planted water lilies and shoreline plants such as pickeral weed, but most allowed the wetlands to re-vegetate naturally. Michigan once had over 100,000 acres of native prairie, but that natural resource has all but disappeared. Some of the schools in northern and western Michigan established meadows of five acres or more. The wildflower plantings are maintained by mowing in fall. The prairie grasses are maintained by prescribed burning in early spring.
Prairie management can be passive or intensive.
Some of the schools have opted to involve students in regularly scheduled management and research. The project sponsors provided technical assistance in both the design and construction. Some wetlands were constructed by excavation. Wetland plants were then added. They developed this outdoor education area with help from the Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation at the edge of the city next to a complex of soccer, softball, and baseball fields.