LLOYD CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INC

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:THE LLOYD 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. THE LLOYD CENTER WORKED WITH OVER 40 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.THE CURRICULUM-BASED OFFERINGS, FEATHERY FOCUS (AN ORNITHOLOGY PROGRAM SPECIALLY CREATED FOR THE THIRD-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 RESEARCHHISTORY/BACKGROUND:SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE LLOYD 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 BEYOND, AND WORK WITH THE FEDERALLY-ENDANGERED PIPING PLOVER, FOR WHICH RESEARCH, MONITORING, AND PROTECTION EFFORTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN BRISTOL COUNTY SINCE THE MID-1980'S. WATER QUALITY MONITORING, ESTUARY AND SALT MARSH SURVEYS, VERNAL POOL CERTIFICATIONS, DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN MONITORING, BEACHED-BIRD MORTALITY SURVEYS VIA THE SEABIRD ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT NETWORK (SEANET), BIRD FEEDER SURVEYS FOR CORNELL FEEDERWATCH PROGRAM, AND A WINTER WATERFOWL SURVEY ARE OTHER MULTI-YEAR HISTORICAL OR CURRENT EFFORTS. NEWER VENTURES INCLUDE THE "BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE", AN EFFORT TO DOCUMENT ALL TAXA WITHIN SLOCUM AND WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHEDS AT SAMPLING LOCATIONS MONITORED LONG-TERM TO ASSESS LANDSCAPE RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND "MASS MOTHS", A PROJECT AIMED AT IDENTIFYING AND MAPPING THE PAST AND CURRENT DISTRIBUTION 2,800+ SPECIES OF MOTHS IN MASSACHUSETTS. RECENT PROJECTS:IN 2023, MOTHS WERE COLLECTED AND SENT TO FORMER RESEARCH DIRECTOR, MARK MELLO, BY BOTH THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD LAND BANK COMMISSION, AND FROM CAMP EDWARDS, WHILE MELLO CONTINUED COLLECTION EFFORTS AT CHOSEN LOCATIONS WITHIN MASSACHUSETTS (MASS MOTHS). CONTRACTED PIPING PLOVER WORK CONTINUED AT WEST ISLAND WITH THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN, AND AT BAKER'S BEACH IN WESTPORT, MARKING THE 6TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR FOR THOSE CONTRACTS. NEW PLOVER SITES WERE ACQUIRED INCLUDING SALTERS POINT IN DARTMOUTH, AND BOTH RICHMOND AND COCKEAST PONDS IN WESTPORT, ALL SITES HISTORICALLY MANAGED BY THE LLOYD CENTER. WINSEGANSETT HEIGHTS IN FAIRHAVEN, DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH WEST ISLAND, REMAINED THE ONE PLOVER SITE MANAGED BY THE LLOYD CENTER SINCE THE MID-1980'S WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. OTHER VOLUNTEER-BASED MONITORING PROJECTS THAT CONTINUED IN 2023 INCLUDED THE 13TH YEAR OF BIRD FEEDER SURVEYS AS PART OF DATA COLLECTION FOR THE BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE (INCLUDING CORNELL FEEDERWATCH PROGRAM), OSPREY MONITORING ON SLOCUM AND LITTER RIVERS, AND WATER TESTING FROM OUR PIER ON THE SLOCUM RIVER FOR THE BUZZARDS BAY COALITION BAYWATCHERS PROGRAM WHICH COMPLETED ITS 32ND SEASON. THE ANNUAL WINTER WATERFOWL COUNT WATERFOWL SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED FOR THE 37TH SEASON, BOTH IN EARLY DECEMBER AND LATE JANUARY.