The Aldrich Prairie Research Site is located 40 miles west of Crete near Fairmont in the environmentally-challenged rainwater basin region of Nebraska. It consists of about 50 acres of wetland and prairie. The site also includes a black-tailed prairie dog colony. This combination of habitats in one location is unique to this area and provides many opportunities for student research projects and class field activities. The prairie dog colony, for example, is the eastern-most colony in Nebraska. It is therefore extremely rare and of high conservation value.
The Environmental Education and Research Building at the prairie site was constructed by faculty volunteers, Doane maintenance staff, and Building Tech Inc. of Beatrice, Nebraska.