Welcome to LCMR Nature Trail & Environmental Field Station

by Mia Teng, Kaitlyn Nordberg - Class of 2027

Introduction

The planet is currently dealing with the impacts of climate change: heat waves, extreme rainfall, and sea-level rise. In New Jersey specifically, as precipitation has increased in recent years, the damages of flooding have also directly impacted local communities. In response, in 2020, New Jersey made the decision to become the first state in the nation to incorporate education about climate change from grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. The expanding field of climate education centers around one goal: to teach the youth today how to fight the climate battles of the future. This entails being climate literate—having enough knowledge to guide them in understanding the environment they live in.

Main Explanation

As a result of this new initiative for climate education, Lower Cape May Regional High School was chosen as one of the few schools in the state to be funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Education to build a Wetlands Research Bridge. This bridge not only acts as a pedestrian nature trail, but it also serves the larger purpose of being an environmental field station, concentrated on climate research and teaching. Here, this bridge facilitates the collection of data by students, the studying of their local ecosystems, and observations of the direct impacts climate change has on their coastal community. Essentially, the bridge acts as a living, breathing classroom for students to engage in their environment and climate around them, providing priceless experiences for those who could be the climate engineers of the future. This project could not have been possible without the leadership of Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Christine Teeney; Superintendent Gregory Lasher; Business Administrator Mark Mallett; teachers Jeff Martin, Travis Davis, and Evan Rundgren; and of course, the Lower Cape May Regional Board of Education.

Directions

As students and visitors traverse through this interactive nature trail, there will be a multitude of signage at locations of interest. Signs along the nature trail will give a brief description of their surroundings along with a QR code. By scanning these codes with a phone or other electronic device along the trail's signs, visitors will gain a better understanding of their natural, changing surroundings. All signage and detailed explanations have been given by Lower Cape May Regional’s very own students through rigorous research and peer-driven collaboration. Through LCMR’s collective mission in the student and faculty bodies, this nature trail gains not only greater access, but comprehensive, credible knowledge at the click of a button.

Conclusion

As a school based in a coastal town, it is vital for our local community to understand and observe the impacts of climate change firsthand. We invite you and our students to participate in this climate education initiative as you walk this trail!

References

https://dep.nj.gov/seeds/teachers/climate-change-education/