Environmental Education
Stewardship Through Leadership: Backyard Adventures!
After school environmental education programs for youth of the city of Lowell, 'Where Earth Day is everyday!'
The goal of the program (STL): To expose urban youth to the outdoor classroom where they will build upon their in-school curricula, become engaged in constructive environmental stewardship in their community, and build self-esteem through team and leadership opportunities.
Where we explore and make a difference: The City of Lowell is our outdoor classroom where our field studies are carried out. Lowell is home to a multitude of natural resources, ecosytems and geological features, which are the sites and subjects of our studies and action-based environmental protection projects.
Study sites include LP&CT-owned properties, such as West Meadow Conservation Land, the Concord River Greenway Park, local community center and school yards, urban forests and parks, and the Merrimack River.
STL Program Handbook: Please take a look at the program handbook (PDF)to find out more about our studies of Lowell's natural side and environmental history.
STL - Breaking News
Winter Ecology: It's Time to Explore!
What a fun winter we are having already! Our STL adventures are being carried out at Girls Inc. and the Robinson Middle School this winter. The girls of Girls Inc. are exploring and observing the amazing adaptations of plants and animals in Lowell, those adaptations which help them to endure long, cold New England winters. Their field studies include trips to Harmony Park, the Concord River Greenway, and the LP&CT-owned West Meadow Conservation Land. Robinson youth are geared up to observe and record the seasonal changes of their school yard. The Robinson school yard is a wonderful place for exploration with its urban forest habitats, which the youth have been improving over the years with tree plantings and other various stewardship projects. These "citizen scientists" are leading the way by learning about nature; maintaining a relationship with nature by gaining and understanding of it through hands on learning; and teaching back to their peers about the actions they are taking to protect it.
Spindle City Corps at LPCT's West Meadow Conservation Land
Last spring and summer, STL took learning and action-based projects to a whole new level. Youth from Spindle City Corps participated in the program, learning about the natural environment along the Concord River and LP&CT's West Meadow Conservation Land. After multiple field studies at each "outdoor classroom" the youth brainstormed ways in which they could improve the natural state of these open, green spaces, and bring more positive attention to them. Their ideas poured out with passion to make these special places of Lowell more accessible and visitor friendly for the community.
Based on their environmental education background within STL and their brainstorming sessions, the group completed several projects at West Meadow including extensive trail maintenance, the creation of a new forest trail, signage to deter motor vehicles from destroying trails and natural habitats, and LP&CT's first interpretive trail guide. You can access this trail guide by clicking here (PDF).
The youth also made a visit to MAS's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, where they toured the farm and wildlife facilities. They also made great strides to complete a service project designed to maintain access to a white-tail deer enclosure and viewing platform.
Overall, the youth also contributed an amazing 468 hours of service towards LP&CT's and MAS's missions of "improving the quality of life for the people of lowell" and "protecting the nature of Massachusetts."
Excellent work!
Concord River Greenway (Outdoor) Classroom - Web Site
Check out the Concord River Greenway Classroom web site, loaded with information about the science and history of the Concord River in Lowell. As an "outdoor classroom" the Greenway is an amazing natural resource in the City of Lowell, which provides an excellent platform for environmental studies. The Greenway Classroom and laboratory is vibrant with a biodiversity of plants and animals and offers opportunities for youth to explore the wonders of the natural world right here in Lowell.
For complete PDF versions of the Greenway Classroom topics and other outdoor classrooms, additional information is available on LP&CT's outdoor classrooms page. Click Here.
STL: Environmental Education Program Wins Award
Certificate of Excellence: April 2009, LP&CT's Stewardship Through Leadership: Backyard Adventures! environmental education program, , led in partnership with Mass Audubon, was awarded honors at the State House from Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles at the "Secretary's Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education".
The "Certificate of Excellence" award was received in recognition of our dedication, commitment, and contribution to energy and environmental education, while working with Lowell youth.
Our STL Partner
Stewardshp Through Leadership: Backyard Adventures! (STL) is carried out in partnership with Mass Audubon Society - Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts (Concord River watershed).
Our Sites
Stewardship Through Leadership: Backyard Adventures! (STL) is implemented at several sites in Lowell, Massachusetts during all seasons. Sites, current and past, include: Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell; Community Teamwork Inc. (CTI)/Citizen Schools-Robinson Middle School and Wang Middle School campuses; CTI-Phoenix Ave; UMass Graduate School-Bartlett Community Partnership School campus; Light of Cambodia Children; United Teen Equality Center (UTEC); and Spindle City Corps.
Thank You to our funders!"
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The Greater Lowell Community Foundation - Water Resources Grant Initiative. |
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"This program is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council's YouthReach Initiative." |
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Women Working Wonders: It is with great appreciation that we thank the Women Working Wonders Fund, who selects one organization each year to receive $5,000. The Trust received this award Spring 2007 for our work with Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell. See the Women Working Wonders Fund on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation Web Site. We also thank the following for their generous support of STL:
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