Lloyd Center For The Environment Inc

THE MISSION OF THE LLOYD CENTER (THE "CENTER") IS TO INSTILL A LIFE-LONG RESPECT AND AFFECTION FOR NATURE IN ALL PEOPLE THROUGH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH:SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE CENTER HAS FOCUSED ITS RESEARCH ON ASSESSING AND DOCUMENTING THE DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON RARE SPECIES LISTED UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND THEIR HABITATS. SPECIALIZATIONS HAVE INCLUDED LEPIDOPTERA (MOTHS, BUTTERFLIES), FOR WHICH SURVEYS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND, AND THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED PIPING PLOVER, FOR WHICH RESEARCH, MONITORING, AND PROTECTION EFFORTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON BEACHES IN BRISTOL COUNTY. NEWER VENTURES ARE "MASS MOTHS", A PROJECT AIMED AT IDENTIFYING AND MAPPING THE PAST AND CURRENT DISTRIBUTION 2,800+ SPECIES OF MOTHS IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND THE "BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE", AN EFFORT TO DOCUMENT ALL TAXA WITHIN SLOCUM AND WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHEDS AT SET SAMPLING LOCATIONS THAT CAN BE MONITORED LONG-TERM TO ASSESS LANDSCAPE RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.IN 2021, MOTH WORK WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH A FEDERAL CONTRACT THAT FOCUSES ON SITES UNDER RESTORATION IN NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND, AND ON NANTUCKET IN MASSACHUSETTS. IDENTIFICATION OF MOTHS COLLECTED BY THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD LAND BANK COMMISSION ALSO CONTINUED, ALONG WITH WORK ON MASS MOTHS. CONTRACTED PIPING PLOVER WORK CONTINUED AT WEST ISLAND VIA SEPARATE CONTRACTS WITH THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN, AND A SUBCONTRACT THROUGH MASS AUDUBON FOR THE-STATE-OWNED PORTION, AND AT BAKER'S BEACH IN WESTPORT, FOR THE 36TH YEAR OF MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF PIPING PLOVERS IN BRISTOL COUNTY.OTHER VOLUNTEER-BASED MONITORING PROJECTS THAT CONTINUED IN 2021 INCLUDED THE 11TH YEAR OF BIRD FEEDER SURVEYS AS PART OF DATA COLLECTION FOR THE BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE (INCLUDING CORNELL FEEDERWATCH PROGRAM), OSPREY MONITORING, BEACH BIRD MORTALITY SURVEYS FOR THE SEABIRD ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT NETWORK (SEANET), AND WATER TESTING IN SLOCUM AND LITTLE RIVERS FOR THE COALITION FOR BUZZARDS BAY BAYWATCHERS PROGRAM. THE ANNUAL WINTER WATERFOWL COUNT WATERFOWL SURVEY ENTERED ITS 35TH SEASON, WITH AN UPDATE ON A 25-YEAR SUMMARY UNDERWAY.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:THE CENTER CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A NUMBER OF UNIQUE HANDS-ON SCIENCE PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN OVER 20 DIFFERENT NEW ENGLAND CITIES AND TOWNS, AT LEVELS RANGING FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE. EVEN WITH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE THIS PAST YEAR, THE CENTER WORKED WITH OVER 25 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE REGION, TO TEACH INTERACTIVE LESSONS ON RELEVANT AND CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. PROGRAM OFFERINGS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO NOW INCLUDE A VARIETY OF VIRTUAL CLASSROOM LESSONS.THREE OF THE CURRICULUM-BASED OFFERINGS, FEATHERY FOCUS (AN ORNITHOLOGY PROGRAM SPECIALLY CREATED FOR THE THIRD-GRADE LEVEL) AND TURN-THE-TIDE (A PROGRAM DEALING WITH THE ECOSYSTEMS OF LOCAL ESTUARIES, TAUGHT ON THE FIFTH-GRADE LEVEL), AS WELL AS THE INNOVATIVE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEARNING PROJECT, HAVE PROVEN TO BE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE. ALL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE MASSACHUSETTS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/ENGINEERING AND IN HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES. FOR CHILDREN AGES 6-12, THE CENTER'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY PROVIDES UP TO 15 DISTINCT SUMMER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE AND A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE NEED TO PROTECT THE FRAGILE NATURE OF OUR COAST. EVERY YEAR, AS MANY AS 13,000 STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THE PARTICIPATION IN LLOYD CENTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH:EVEN WITH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE THIS PAST YEAR, THE CENTER OUTREACH STAFF INTERACTED WITH 864 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CENTER ENGAGED THE PUBLIC AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE WHILE ON THE PROPERTY WITH IMPROMPTU OWL PRESENTATIONS, UPDATES TO BIRD ACTIVITY ON SITE, AND NATURAL HISTORY INFORMATION ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING PRESENCE AT SCHOOLS OFFERING SCIENCE FAIRS AND OTHER STEM EVENTS. THE CENTER NOW FEATURES A STORYWALK TRAIL ON THE PROPERTY.OVER FIVE MILES OF RUSTIC HIKING TRAILS, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY FROM DAWN TO DUSK ON THE CENTER'S HARDSCRABBLE NATURE PRESERVE, AND A BROAD VARIETY OF LIVE MARINE ANIMAL EXHIBITS, COMPLEMENTED BY PROGRAMS AND SEMINARS, CONTINUES TO DRAW A GROWING NUMBER OF CITIZENS OF ALL AGES TO OUR VISITOR CENTER. IN ADDITION, OUTREACH COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUES TO PROVE EXCEPTIONALLY EFFECTIVE IN PROMOTING LIFESTYLE CHANGES AIMED AT A MORE SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. THE CENTER'S UNIQUE WEBSITE PROVIDES A VAST AMOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO SEEK IT ELECTRONICALLY.