Willard G Pierce And Jessie M Pierce Foundation

BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION PROGRAMS - IN 2021, DESPITE THE CONTINUED CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THE INSTITUTE SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED ITS SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM. DUE TO STRATEGIC PLANNING, RESEARCH GRANTS CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON LAND MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP. A TOTAL OF NINE PROJECTS AND FOUR NATURAL RESOURCE FELLOWSHIPS WERE FUNDED IN 2021. STUDENTS AND FACULTY MENTORS CONDUCTED SUMMER RESEARCH PROJECTS ON WILD RICE GENETICS, EASTERN BOX TURTLES, FRESHWATER MUSSELS, AND TICK SURVEYS, FOR EXAMPLE. PROJECTS WITH A FOCUS ON ART AND WRITING WERE ALSO COMPLETED. TWO LAND MANAGEMENT FELLOWS AND TWO WATER TECHNICIANS CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND PROVIDED VALUABLE DATA ON THE PROPERTY FOR LAND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS. OUTSIDE RESEARCH INCLUDED EASTERN MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE MONITORING AND INSECT HERBIVORY ON PLANT STUDY.

SCHOOL & GROUP PROGRAMS - THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, INSTITUTE STAFF CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SCIENCE CURRICULUM SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COACHING SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS IN THE 49 HASTINGS AREA SCHOOL SYSTEM ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS. THROUGH THE SCIENCESTRONG PROGRAM, THE INSTITUTE PROVIDED 142 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, MAKING 4,318 CONTACTS. STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH) KITS WERE CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE INSTITUTE AND LOCAL LIBRARIES. THE NUMBER OF KITS DISTRIBUTED WAS: SPRING BREAK (659), SUMMER BREAK ENGINEERING KITS (266), NO FAMILIES LEFT INDOORS STROLL AND READ (230), AND WINTER BREAK (644). THIS IS AN INCREASE IN YOUTH AND FAMILY OUTREACH OF 240% FROM 2020 TO ABOUT 2,000 CONTACTS.

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS - IN 2021, THE INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND REINSTATED IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING. NEARLY 230 PROGRAMS WERE HELD, WITH 13,044 IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE EXPANDED ITS YOUTUBE CHANNEL WITH ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AND INITIATED SELF-GUIDED TOURS. IN ADDITION, A PERMANENT STORYWALK INSTALLED ALONG A TRAIL AT THE INSTITUTE CHANGED REGULARLY AND PROVIDED FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE PROPERTY.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED CONCERN WITH IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN 2021, THE NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO BE LOW. THE INSTITUTE DID PRESENT A VIRTUAL HERPETOLOGY CONFERENCE THAT ATTRACTED OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE HOSTED NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION LEARN TO HUNT EVENTS, PLEIN AIR PAINTING RETREATS, WRITING RETREATS, AND AN HERBAL CONFERENCE.