Toward Sustainability Foundation Supports Lloyd Center with $10,000 Grant

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The Lloyd Center has received a $10,000 grant from the Toward Sustainability Foundation in support of the Center’s Climate Science Learning Project (CSLP). Aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks in science and engineering, the CSLP focuses on the projected effects of climate change on local biodiversity, introducing age-appropriate math, writing, critical thinking and life skills into core climate science lessons. With the support of the Towards Sustainability Foundation, students from underserved, high-need areas will continue to benefit from unique, research-driven science education.

In their fourth year of supporting the Lloyd Center’s CSLP, the Toward Sustainability Foundation Grant will once again, help the Center reach its annual goals. These goals are improving an understanding of the region’s ecology and threats from climate change among elementary school students, as well as among residents of all ages. The CSLP engages people of all ages from Fall River and greater New Bedford, as well as residents of Dartmouth, Westport and other Massachusetts towns, in collecting data about local fauna and their habitats in the Slocum and Westport River watersheds through CSLP and activities such as the Center’s Summer Youth Programs, summer jobs program (South Coast Youth Conservation Corps), and internship program.

The Lloyd Center’s CSLP currently serves approximately 8,000 elementary students overall. In addition to expanding the program to serve more Greater New Bedford third and fifth grade classes this year, funding will support a multi-year pilot project (entering its second year) to introduce interactive, web-based learning tools that have the potential to transform Science, Technology, Engineering and Mat (STEM) teaching methods across the state and the nation.

The pilot project, to develop environmental education and web-based management/community-planning software tools, will provide access to the biodiversity data collected by participating students and teachers, staff, interns and volunteers. Students, teachers and ultimately, the public, will be able to access the biodiversity data through a web site. Others will be reached through professional development programs, targeted outreach and the media.

Funding will also support the program system-wide in the Fall River Public Schools and schools in the Greater New Bedford area.