CAMBRIDGE – The rare Charitable Research Reserve expresses its gratitude to the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation for its support at the start of the pandemic, allowing the land trust and research institute to pivot its education programs to different platforms.
“[Before] the pandemic, rare had been running its Nature School and March Break and Summer ECO Camps,” explained James Bow, Communications Officer at rare.
“These had been growing steadily and were a key part of our mission… We also had events like the Conversations for Conservation series where people would gather to hear an expert speak and watch a movie on a related subject”
COVID-19 restrictions required rare to shut down many of its in-person events and activities. “We had to look for other venus to keep that contact,” said Bow. “And we saw it as an important service, not just to continue our educational mandate, to engage with children, their parents, and anybody within the community… who were trying to cope with the pandemic themselves. This is why the funding from the Hallman Foundation was so helpful.”
The Hallman Foundation provided rare with $49,939 to pursue educational efforts on different venues, such as producing online videos and virtual fieldtrips.
“We’re producing a growing library of lessons thanks to this funding,” says Jenna Quinn, Program Scientist for Research & Education Priorities, Partnerships & Monitoring at rare. “Subjects range from elementary school topics… all the way to topics for high schoolers.”
“The Conversations for Conservation have also continued,” Quinn added, “now as online webinars where people tune in for the discussion. These have been very popular evening events.”
“Now that the pandemic is easing,” said Bow, “the in-person programs are coming back. We’ve had full cohorts for our nature schools. Our Summer ECO Camp have almost sold out, and we had a successful in-person Conversation for Conservation at the Slit Barn with Nicola Ross on May 27.
However, the online component of our educational mandate remains important to us. It’s a different way to educate and it helps spread that spark of wonder in nature to a wider audience. None of this would have been possible without support from funders like the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, and we are truly grateful.”
As an urban land trust and environmental institute, the rare Charitable Research Reserve protects over 1,200 acres of environmentally sensitive lands throughout Waterloo Region and Wellington County while engaging with the community to help build support for understanding and protecting these lands.
The reserve maintains over 12 km of trails, and runs research and education programs to build an appreciation of these lands for everyone’s health and wellbeing in the minds of community and the generations to follow.
More information about rare’s Summer ECO Camps and other events are available at rare’s website at raresites.org.
