Children Discover Nature at Environmental Center

DARTMOUTH, MA – The Lloyd Center for the Environment, located on 82 acres along the Slocum River estuary, has been dedicated to environmental education for over 40 years. The center aims to foster a deep respect and affection for nature among children, offering a variety of programs that include walks, talks, and hikes. Each year, approximately 15,000 students from southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island participate in coastal field studies, exploring four distinct environmental stations. Educators like Mauricio, who teaches science and math, have been bringing students to the Lloyd Center for years. During their visits, students engage in hands-on learning experiences, such as studying the behavior of box turtles. "Today the fourth graders were really looking at all the connections in the ecosystem here," said Stronach, a representative of the center, highlighting the importance of these educational interactions. In addition to its educational programs, the Lloyd Center is set to open a new welcome center later this summer, which aims to achieve the Living Building Challenge certification. This innovative building is designed to generate more energy than it consumes, making it one of only 29 such certified structures worldwide. The overarching mission of the Lloyd Center is to inspire the next generation to take responsibility for the environment. "They're the generation that has to grow up and take care of it," Mauricio emphasized, underscoring the center's commitment to nurturing environmental stewardship among young learners.