The Soil Tunnel Trailer is a self-contained, 12’ x 8.5’ enclosed trailer featuring soils and the interactions of our natural resources underground. The professional design, inside and outside, brings the world of soil to life by giving the appearance of being in an underground tunnel. One wall of the trailer illustrates the natural history of soil with 3-D worms, roots, and other organisms. The other wall shows human impacts on soil, such as toxic waste and septic system contamination. The top of the trailer holds eye-catching, hand-made replicas of native prairie and wetland plants, and the exterior displayed hand-painted soil profile horizons. The Soil Tunnel Trailer serves as a handicap accessible, walk-through learning tool and backdrop for a variety of lessons at schools, field days, county fairs and other events. It is designed to be applicable for visitors of all ages.
In 2023 the Miami County Conservation District agreed to transfer ownership of the Soil Tunnel Trailer to the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. KACD oversees insurance, upkeep and coordination of many other statewide educational tools including the Earth Balloon, Rainfall Simulators and AR Sandboxes so this was a natural partnership for KACD to include the STT. Local staff will assist KACD with scheduling and local maintenance issues. Contact KACD representative at 785-241-7201 ext.3 or via email if you would like to have the Soil Tunnel Trailer at your educational event.
In 2023 the Miami County Conservation District agreed to transfer ownership of the Soil Tunnel Trailer to the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. KACD oversees insurance, upkeep and coordination of many other statewide educational tools including the Earth Balloon, Rainfall Simulators and AR Sandboxes so this was a natural partnership for KACD to include the STT. Local staff will assist KACD with scheduling and local maintenance issues. Contact KACD representative at 785-241-7201 ext.3 or via email if you would like to have the Soil Tunnel Trailer at your educational event.
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The professional artist who made our vision of a traveling museum focused on soil come to life was Randall Bennett of Tall Grass Museum Services in Lawrence, Kansas. Randall fabricates dioramas, murals, sculptures, and illustrations. He has completed most of the exhibits in the Flint Hills Museum, Clinton Lake Visitors Center, Hillsdale Lake Visitor Center, and the Dry Tortugas National Park-Sea Turtle Exhibit.
The Miami County Conservation District and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (through Clean Water Neighbor Grant) funded the majority of the cost of the original Soil Tunnel Trailer in 2010. Additional sponsors of the original project included: No-Till on the Plains, KFRM Radio -550 AM, Kansas Soybean Commission and Agriland as well as generous donations from the Douglas, Franklin, Montgomery, Crawford, Lane, Osage and Wyandotte County Conservation Districts.
In 2023 the Miami County Conservation District agreed to transfer ownership of the Soil Tunnel Trailer to the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. KACD oversees insurance, upkeep and coordination of many other statewide educational tools including the Earth Balloon, Rainfall Simulators and AR Sandboxes so this was a natural partnership for KACD to include the STT. The STT will still be housed in Ottawa and local staff will assist KACD with scheduling and local maintenance issues. Contact a KACD representative at 785-241-7201 ext.3 or via email if you would like to have the Soil Tunnel Trailer at your educational event.
In lieu of a rental fee, donations are accepted to help with insurance and upkeep, are always appreciated. Contact KACD to learn how you can make a tax-deductible donation to help keep the STT available for educational events in your area.
In 2023 the Miami County Conservation District agreed to transfer ownership of the Soil Tunnel Trailer to the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. KACD oversees insurance, upkeep and coordination of many other statewide educational tools including the Earth Balloon, Rainfall Simulators and AR Sandboxes so this was a natural partnership for KACD to include the STT. The STT will still be housed in Ottawa and local staff will assist KACD with scheduling and local maintenance issues. Contact a KACD representative at 785-241-7201 ext.3 or via email if you would like to have the Soil Tunnel Trailer at your educational event.
In lieu of a rental fee, donations are accepted to help with insurance and upkeep, are always appreciated. Contact KACD to learn how you can make a tax-deductible donation to help keep the STT available for educational events in your area.