Nurture Nature Center

THE NURTURE NATURE CENTER IS 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY THAT FOCUSES ON HOW TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RISK TOPICS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

A SIGNIFICANT PART OF NNC'S WORK CONSISTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, SCIENCE MUSEUMS AND OTHERS. THE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON FINDING THE BEST TECHNIQUES FOR COMMUNICATING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, INCLUDING CLIMATE AND WEATHER-RELATED HAZARDS, AND FOR APPROACHES FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCY. NNC'S WORK IN THIS AREA ALSO INCLUDES FOLLOW UP TO DISSEMINATE AND HELP PUT INTO PRACTICE THE RESEARCH FINDINGS. MANY OF NNC'S RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE FLOOD AND WINTER FORECAST PRODUCTS IT USES IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC. NNC HELPS IMPLEMENT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BY DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PARTICIPATING IN TRAINING WITH NWS NATIONWIDE. IN 2023, NNC WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER TO IMPLEMENT FINDINGS FROM FOCUS GROUPS AND SURVEYS NNC HELD WITH PROFESSIONALS IN FIVE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NNC'S RESEARCH TEAM ALSO CONDUCTED A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS AND SURVEYS IN SIX FLOOD-PRONE, HIGH VULNERABILITY COMMUNITIES NATIONALLY TO IDENTIFY USER NEEDS FOR FLOOD FORECAST INFORMATION. THE FINDINGS FROM THOSE FOCUS GROUPS WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE WEATHER SERVICE, WITH FOLLOW UP RESEARCH ANTICIPATED IN 2024.

AT ITS FACILITY IN EASTON, NNC OFFERS A VARIETY OF ART AND OTHER EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO FOSTER DIALOGUE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. NNC'S PERMANENT EXHIBITS INCLUDE NOAA'S ACCLAIMED "SCIENCE ON A SPHERE," FOR TEACHING ABOUT EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE; AN SOS EXPLORER TOUCH SCREEN KIOSK; A LARGE LIVING LOCAL MURAL INCORPORATING 80 ENVIRONMENTAL TALKING POINTS, AND AN INTERACTIVE WATERSHED EXHIBIT. IN ADDITION TO THESE PERMANENT EXHIBITS, NNC HOLDS ROTATING ART SHOWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES WITH PRESENTATIONS BY THE ARTISTS. IT ALSO OFFERS SPEAKING EVENTS BY EDUCATORS, FILMS, WORKSHOPS, AND CLASSES ON A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS, AND MAINTAINS AN URBAN GARDEN THAT IT USES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. OUTSIDE ITS FACILITY, NNC CONDUCTS LOCAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH IN MANY FORMS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WITH PROJECTS DESIGNED TO BUILD RESILIENCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS. IN 2023, NNC WORKED WITH SIX MUNICIPALITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY AS PART OF A FEDERALLY FUNDED CREATE RESILIENCE RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY LEARNING HUB" PROJECT. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED ROUNDTABLE EDUCATION SESSIONS FOR MUNICIPAL LEADERS ON RESILIENCY TOPICS, A YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT, AND RESEARCH AND PLANNING WITH A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS AND ASSETS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES. NNC ALSO INITIATED THE NEXT PHASE OF ITS CREATE PROGRAMMING WITH THE LAUNCH OF CREATE CONNECTIONS, A NEW FOUR-YEAR PROJECT FOCUSED ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLANS IN EASTON AND BETHLEHEM, AND HOSTED A LARGE CLIMATE-FOCUSED ART EXHIBITION IN 2023, ENTITLED "RISKY BEAUTY: AESTHETICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE."

NNC ADMINISTERS A PROGRAM KNOWN AS BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL FOR THE LEHIGH VALLEY (BFBL-GLV), WHICH IS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS IN THE LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON AND BERKS COUNTIES ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HEALTHY, LOCALLY-GROWN FOODS, WHILE SUPPORTING THE FARMERS AND LANDS THAT PRODUCE THEM. NNC'S LOCAL FOODS WORK ALSO SEEKS TO IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. IN 2023, BFBL-GLV REVAMPED ITS WEBSITE TO IMPROVE ITS LOCAL FOODS FINDER, WHICH CONNECTS RESIDENTS TO AREA GROWERS OF HEALTHY, LOCALLY GROWN FOODS, AND ADD MANY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. BFBL-GLV ALSO HOSTED MONTHLY FOOD AND FARM FORUM DISCUSSIONS TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS, PARTNERS AND GROWERS IN DIALOGUE ABOUT IMPORTANT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES RELATED TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY.