Nurture Nature Center

THE NURTURE NATURE CENTER IS A SCIENCE-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON HOW TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RISK TOPICS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

A SIGNIFICANT PART OF NNCS 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 AND IMPARTING SCIENCE-BASED KNOWLEDGE. NNCS WORK IN THIS AREA ALSO INCLUDES FOLLOW UP TO DISSEMINATE AND HELP PUT INTO PRACTICE THE RESEARCH FINDINGS. MANY OF NNCS 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 THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BY DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PARTICIPATING IN TRAINING WITH NWS NATIONWIDE. IN 2021, NNC ALSO BEGAN A NEW MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ENTITLED BUILDING INSIGHTS THROUGH OBSERVATION: RESEARCHING ARTS-BASED METHODS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH DATA. THIS RESEARCH IS INTENDED TO DEVELOP, TEST AND ULTIMATELY REFINE AN EDUCATIONAL MODEL THAT WILL INTEGRATE ARTS-BASED TEACHING APPROACHES WITH SCIENCE INSTRUCTION TO IMPROVE DATA LITERACY. THE RESEARCH IS BEING CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS ACROSS THE NATION AND WILL CONTINUE OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD.

AT ITS FACILITY IN EASTON, NNC OFFERS A VARIETY OF EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO FOSTER DIALOGUE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. NNCS PERMANENT EXHIBITS INCLUDE NOAAS ACCLAIMED "SCIENCE ON A SPHERE," FOR TEACHING ABOUT EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE; AN SOS EXPLORER TOUCH SCREEN KIOSK; AN INTERACTIVE WATERSHED EXHIBIT; AND A LARGE LIVING LOCAL MURAL INCORPORATING 80 ENVIRONMENTAL TALKING POINTS. IN ADDITION TO THESE PERMANENT EXHIBITS, NNC OFFERS ROTATING ART SHOWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES, AS WELL AS SPEAKING EVENTS, FILMS, WORKSHOPS, AND CLASSES ON URBAN GARDENING AND OTHER SUBJECTS. OUTSIDE OF ITS FACILITY, NNC CONDUCTS LOCAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH IN MANY FORMS, WITH PROJECTS DESIGNED TO BUILD RESILIENCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS. IN 2021, THIS OUTREACH INCLUDED CONTINUING WORK UNDER A MULTI-YEAR NOAA-FUNDED CREATE RESILIENCE PROJECT FOCUSED ON PROMOTING YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON WEATHER AND CLIMATE SCIENCE, THE RISKS FROM LOCAL HAZARDS, AND STRATEGIES FOR HAZARD MITIGATION. NNCS COMMUNITY PROJECTS DURING 2021 ALSO INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF A WATERSHED-FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PENN STATE EXTENSION, WHICH WILL BE EXPANDED IN 2022 TO ADDITIONAL TYPES OF PROPERTY THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF EASTON.

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. NNCS LOCAL FOODS WORK ALSO SEEKS TO IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY. IN 2021, NNC RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE'S FINI AND FMPP PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SEVERAL NONPROFITS, TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. ALTHOUGH FARMERS MARKETS BEGAN TO REBOUND SOMEWHAT IN 2021, ATTENDANCE DID NOT REACH ITS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. DURING THE PERIOD, NNC CONTINUED TO SUPPLEMENT ITS IN PERSON WORK WITH OTHER FORMS OF OUTREACH, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE VIDEO CONTENT AND OTHER MESSAGING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL FOODS AND SHOP FOR IN-SEASON ITEMS.