Soil Tunnel
Kansas has three different styles of soil tunnels for use in soil education programs:
- Soil Tunnel Trailer
- Inflatable Soil Tunnel
- Non-Inflatable Soil Tunnel
The Soil Tunnel Trailer
is a self-contained, enclosed trailer featuring soils and the interactions of our natural resources underground. The Soil Tunnel Trailer educates youth and adults about the relationship between their daily activities and the resulting effects on soil and other natural resources. The professional design, inside and outside, brings the world of soil to life by giving the appearance of being in an underground tunnel. Inside of the trailer educates viewers about the natural history of soil with larger than life 3-D worm, roots, and organisms. Human impacts on soil and soil formation and structures are featured on one wall of the trailer as well. The top of the trailer holds eye-catching, hand-made replicas of native prairie and wetland plants, and the exterior displays hand-painted soil profile horizons. The Soil Tunnel Trailer serves as a handicap accessible, walk-through learning tool and is designed to be applicable for visitors of all ages.
KACD owns two Soil Tunnel Trailers. The Soil Tunnel Trailers are available for conservation districts across the state to use for school and community events as well as fairs and earth day festivals. Scheduling is managed through the two host Counties: Pawnee County (Larned) and Franklin County (Ottawa)
Find your conservation district to schedule the soil trailer at your school or event.
Eastern Kansas Soil Tunnel Trailer website
Follow The Soil Tunnel Trailer on Facebook
Both trailers were built in Lawrence, Ks by local Artist Randall Bennett of Tallgrass Museum Services prior to his retirement. Randall also fabricated exhibits for the Flint Hills Discovery Center and the Dry Tortugas National Park-Sea Turtle Exhibit.
The Inflatable Soil Tunnel
provides a walk-through experience for children and adults to learn about the importance of our soil. It teaches how soils form, their biological composition and benefits to people and the environment. As the name suggests the tunnel is inflatable, with a provided high powered fan, so electricity is required for this set up. The KACD owned inflatable soil tunnel is housed in the State Office in Salina* and is available for use statewide, outside or in gym. A few counties also own Inflatable Soil Tunnels. *will be housed in Hays once they move to new AO.
- Jackson Co (Holton)
- Lincoln Co (Lincoln)
- Lyon/Chase Co (Emporia)
- Wilson Co (Fredonia)
The Non-Inflatable Soil Tunnel
is an excellent teaching tool for indoor venues, soil health conferences, and kid’s events. The non-inflatable soil tunnel provides all the same great information about soils and soil health as the inflatable soil tunnel, but without the loud blower that makes it relatively unusable in most indoor situations. A walk through the soil tunnel will teach everyone about the soil beneath your feet. KACD owns two non-inflatable soil tunnels available in Kansas, they are both stored in Salina at the MLRA Office and are available for statewide use. A few conties also own non-inflatabel soil tunnels.
- Harvey Co (Newton)
- Lincoln Co (Lincoln)
- Lyon/Chase Co (Emporia)
