"The impact of this year's Citizen Scientists program shows that people are willing to spend time doing sampling and care about water quality in town." 
--Karen Malkus-Benjamin, BPC Citizen Scientists program lead

Cyanobacteria form blooms in ponds that may release biotoxins that can cause skin rashes upon contact and serious illness when ingested in contaminated pond water.

BPC Citizen Scientists tests Brewster ponds for cyanobacteria, alerting local officials about blooms & contributing to cutting-edge research that predict blooms & to estimate their toxin levels.

The 2018 Citizen Scientist volunteers are involved in testing ten ponds for cyanobacteria, either on their own or in partnership with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC).
- Water sample collection and analysis preparation by Citizen Scientists at a Brewster pond.
- Sample processed to determine amount and toxicity of cyanobacteria in the pond water. either at a volunteer's home testing area or municipal lab.
- Notification of health officials, if needed, of the presence of toxic cyanobacteria in the ponds to issue public warning. 
- Samples and testing results shared with researchers, Dr. Nancy Leland at Lim-Tex and Dr. Jim Haney at University of New Hampshire.
- Presentation of predictive cyanobacteria modeling research by Dr. Haney at the Cape Coastal Conference in December 2018, to help local official identify potential blooms early on. 

Your support equips and expands the 2019 program: 
- Supplies to Collect Water Samples: Funding for supplies like water collection nets, water sample vials, and microscope slides. 
- Lab Equipment to Analyze Results Locally: Investment in new lab equipment like cyanoscopes, fluorometers, and digital microscope interfaces.
- More ponds tested in 2019: More equipment enables more volunteers to test more ponds.
- Expanded monitoring in 2019: New tests will collect air samples to monitor aerosols produced by cyanobacteria.

Please renew your membership to support the Citizen Scientists and other BPC Programs.

​It's easy! Press the button below or visit: brewsterponds.org/join--donate

“This was the best field trip of the year!"
--a Brewster student as he boarded the bus after his Long Pond outing.

Today's school children are tomorrow's pond stewards; and your support of the BPC Pond Education Program helps students understand early on the importance of pond water quality protection.  Teachers and students praised the program! 

The 2018 BPC Pond Education Program engaged almost 200 Brewster public and private school 2nd and 5th grade students: 
- Introduced students to pond ecology during classroom sessions. 
- Held four half-day fun and educational field trips at a Long Pond Beach that included a sing-along, puppet show, and hands-on pond creature exploration.
- Provided takeaway bags to continue the pond ecology lesson st home with family and friends.

Your support equips the 2019 Pond Education Program: 
- Classroom materials: Tubs containing curriculum guides, pond books, and hands-on activities. 
- Pondside Hula Hoop Research Centers:: Everyday items like turkey basters, spoons, magnifiers, and yogurt cups for students to  observe pond creatures in basins of pond water.
- Canvas tote bags:  Takeaway bags filled with pond-friendly practices as well as pond ecology and exploration information
- School bus rental: Student transportation to and from the field trip 

The 2019 appeal has raised almost $12,000 to date to support the Pond Education and other BPC programs.

Please renew your membership. It's easy--just press the button below or visit: brewsterponds.org/join--donate. Thank you for your Support!