New Glarus residents interested in local history, ecology and the ancient origins of the Driftless Area will have an opportunity to experience York Prairie State Natural Area in a unique way next month.

Wisconsin Conservation is offering a field trip titled "Deep History of a Prairie: York Prairie SNA" on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will be led by Jim MacDonald and will examine York Prairie through the lenses of anthropology, paleontology and prairie ecology.

York Prairie State Natural Area is located in the Town of York west of New Glarus and is one of the largest remaining examples of native prairie in southern Wisconsin. The site preserves a rare remnant of the tallgrass prairie landscape that once covered much of the region before European settlement. Today, the prairie supports a wide variety of native grasses, wildflowers, insects and wildlife while providing a living window into Wisconsin's ecological past. According to the Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program, York Prairie is recognized for its high-quality native prairie habitat and long conservation history.