Dordt University has received a Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Education Grant aimed at expanding environmental education opportunities in Iowa classrooms and libraries through a game-based learning project centered on tallgrass prairie ecosystems.
The grant, awarded through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will support the statewide distribution of “Perennial,” a prairie-themed board game developed by Dordt faculty, staff, and students.
Building Environmental Education through Gaming
The project began during the summer of 2024 when Dr. Jeff Ploegstra, dean for foundational and health sciences and professor of biology at Dordt, collaborated with alumni Emma Nydam and student Kaeley Meyer, along with Brittany De Ruyter, instructor of environmental studies, and Dr. Brad Hickey, director of gaming.
The team created “Perennial,” a strategy board game where players build diverse prairie plant communities while navigating ecological restoration challenges.
Players take on the role of prairie specialists with unique abilities and work to complete biodiversity objectives while responding to environmental constraints. The game is designed to teach ecological systems, conservation concepts, and prairie restoration through hands-on interaction.
“The Tall-grass Prairie is filled with beauty and interest, but its scarcity means most people will never see it,” explains Ploegstra. “We hoped by bringing a bit of the beauty and complexity of the prairie to students, we could tap into their curiosity and imagination—nudge them into going and experiencing the real thing.”
Expanding Access Across Iowa
With support from the REAP grant, classroom game sets and supporting educational materials will be distributed to schools and public libraries across Iowa.
Supplemental resources will include flash cards, posters, and classroom slide decks designed to help teachers integrate prairie ecology concepts into lessons.
According to the project proposal, many Iowa educators currently lack engaging and locally focused environmental education tools related to native plant diversity and ecological stewardship.
“The Perennial Project addresses these gaps by providing an interactive, classroom-ready game that fosters ecological fluency and systems thinking,” Ploegstra says. “Modeled after the tallgrass prairie ecosystem that historically covered most of Iowa and helped build its rich topsoil, the game helps students connect with the state’s natural history and fosters responsibility for restoration, conservation, and sustainable agriculture.”
He adds that the project is intended to complement the traditional curriculum while encouraging students to engage more directly with the outdoors.
Next Steps
The Dordt project team plans to submit a production request for the game in late November to place classroom sets into schools by spring.
Ploegstra also plans to offer both virtual and in-person educator workshops throughout the spring to help teachers incorporate the game into classroom instruction.
