The Three Nancys (left to right - Ortiz, Condon, and Leland) assemble Cyano Aerosol equipment The BPC 2021 season of cyanobacteria pond monitoring and testing was record breaking on multiple fronts: number of ponds tested; samples collected; and number of volunteer citizen scientists participating -- who make this program possible! The program tested 18 ponds in our regular biweekly rotation, from May through October. Additionally, we tested four more ponds at the request of concerned members. From these ponds, our dedicated 50 person team of Citizen Scientists collected more than 300 samples for toxin analysis. We published results biweekly to: our members; the Town of Brewster Departments of Health and Natural Resources; and to the local pond association leaders. On the infrequent occasions when test results showed a HIGH cyanobacteria count, we immediately advised Town of Brewster officials. The success and expansion of our program is a credit to a community of BPC donors who know that their participation in citizen science initiatives benefits the town, our friends and neighbors, and the environment. The work contributes directly to scientific research, we provide scientists with large, diverse, usable data sets, and provide town officials with important information. Being a member of the team can be a catalyst for personal change and is both a social and fun activity! We will continue to rely on your help and support in 2022. Our plan for next year is to expand the pond cyanobacteria monitoring program, and to continue our airborne toxin research at the Mill Ponds. Your membership involvement is the key to getting things done! How can you help?Your $125 donation replenishes cyanobacteria testing and analysis supplies—like water collection bottles, plastic hoses vials, collection tote bags, and microscope slides—throughout the testing season. Your $250 donation equips the Citizen Scientist program with laboratory collection and analysis equipment including aerosol collection devices. Your $500 donation goes towards the cost of cyanoscope, fluorometer, and anatoxin kit purchases. Thanks to our supporters' generosity, the 2022 appeal has raised $24,000 to date towards a goal of $71,000, in support of Citizen Science and other BPC programs. Please renew your membership. It's easy—just press the button below or visit: brewsterponds.org Thank you! Your support makes a difference for Brewster’s Ponds!
Our "hats-off" to BPC member Susan Bauer! See this WBZ TV news piece about how the Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage take care of this problem in Cape Cod ponds.
Through the generosity of members like you, the Pond Education Team converted many of the pond field trip experiences and live lessons into virtual equivalents last year creating the Virtual Pond Education Curriculum for children. (Click here to see this amazingly creative program on the new BPC YouTube Channel! In 2022 we are looking forward to returning to live field trips for both 2nd and 5th grade students for observation, exploration, and hands-on research experiences. The Pond Ed Team constantly updates the curriculum through dialogue with teachers to provide an engaging experience for Brewster school children. Volunteers are also hard at work creating a new puppet show stage for the live presentation of the famous Pond Polly puppet show. Your $75 donation will help purchase new pond books and ensure curriculum updates for both grade level programs in Brewster school classrooms as well as materials for the hula hoop research stations on field trips. Your $150 donation will purchase arts and craft supplies for creating new signs, posters, and other educational display materials, and building macroinvertebrates models. Your $200 donation will help the building of the new live puppet theatre stage and its accessories. The puppets and the puppet theater will be used to produce an updated live pond health puppet show for the students, voiced by BPC volunteers. Your $400 donation will help fund bus transportation to and from the ponds for a pond field trips - the culmination of the Pond Education Curriculum for Brewster School Children. Thanks to generous supporters, the 2020 appeal has raised almost $16,000 to date towards our goal of $71,000 in support of the Pond Education and other BPC programs.
Please renew your membership or join us TODAY. It's easy--just press the button below or visit: brewsterponds.org/join--donate |
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