Green Oaks - About Knox - Knox College

Green Oaks - About Knox - Knox College
Green Oaks
Green Oaks is both a research and recreation area consisting of 700 acres of forest, grassland and aquatic habitat and is the second site in the nation where a tallgrass prairie was restored.
Green Oaks Mission
Green Oaks History
Green Oaks Mission
Green Oaks Renovations
Green Oaks Facilities
Learning at Green Oaks
Green Oaks Rules & Regulations
Directions to Green Oaks
The History of Green Oaks
Our Prairie Campus
Knox College's Green Oaks is a place of serene beauty and exceptional natural diversity that has become, for many, a deeply valued part of the Knox experience.
Its trails lead through stretches of uncut native forest, past centuries-old oak trees, and along placid lakes and ponds where strip mines once scarred the land. Open fields that once grew corn have given way to one of the Midwest's oldest and most successful prairie restorations. The forests, streams and prairies of Green Oaks are home to rare native plant and animal species.
Located near the Spoon River in eastern Knox County, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Knox campus, Green Oaks is both a research and recreation area. It encompasses 700 acres (283 hectares) of forest, grassland and aquatic habitat and is the second site in the nation where a tallgrass prairie was restored.
And yet the land is not reserved exclusively for academic use; any member of the Knox community may hike along its well-marked trails, fish in its ponds, or stay overnight in its camping area.
Learning at Green Oaks
Green Oaks is a site of learning in various forms—from student Honors projects to day trips to the 10-week interdisciplinary Green Oaks Term—in disciplines ranging from environmental studies to art to philosophy. Green Oaks has also become a place for community-building gatherings of students and faculty, such as the annual Prairie Burn.
Green Oaks Term
Prairie Burn
Green Oaks Curriculum
Exploring Green Oaks
The land at Green Oaks is not reserved exclusively for academic use; any member of the Knox community may hike along its well-marked trails, fish in its ponds, stay overnight in its camping area, or reserve the newly built Knight Living & Learning Center.
Knight Living & Learning Center
Directions
Green Oaks Rules & Regulations
Investing in Our Prairie Campus
Thanks to the generous funding from an anonymous lead donor, Green Oaks will be home to a newly constructed facility that will be available for year-round use by both the Knox and Galesburg communities.
From Campus to Green Oaks
Take a ride from Knox College campus to Green Oaks! Enjoy this timelapse drive that evolves into beautiful aerial drone footage of the local bioregion. Knox College's Green Oaks Biological Field Station is a place of serene beauty and exceptional natural diversity that has become, for many, a deeply valued part of the Knox experience.
Interested in Using Green Oaks?
Green Oaks facilities are available for use by members of the Knox and surrounding communities. Reach out to Teagan Springer to learn more about reservations or inquire about dates or fees at tespringer@knox.edu.