THE WILLARD G PIERCE AND

Community environmental education programs - in 2024, the institute continued to offer a variety of youth, family, and adult programs in virtual, self-guided, in-person, and hybrid formats. While the total number of programs decreased slightly from 135 in 2023 to 123 in 2024, participation remained strong. The trick or treat on the trails and the winter walk on candlelit trails both broke attendance records, drawing over 460 and 221 participants, respectively. Youtube views rose by 174%, showing strong engagement with digital content. The year also saw the successful pilot of the cedar creek book club.

School & group programs - in 2024, the institute continued to partner with hastings area schools, and the focus was mainly on supporting the many new elementary teachers as they learned to teach the science curriculum. Field trips grew from 222 in 2023 to 243 in 2024, with 11,092 student and teacher contacts.

Professional education - the institute had a strong year of professional outreach and conservation education. In 2024, staff gave 15 public presentations to audiences of up to 300 people at regional conservation conferences and community events and were honored with a national conservation partner award from the national wild turkey federation. The institute supported hands-on learning through climate resilient land management (crlm), engaging students, volunteers, and local partners in 495.5 hours of stewardship activities, including invasive species control, prescribed burns, plantings, and seed collection. Collaborations with groups like the air zoo, barry conservation district, and the match-e-be-nash-she-wish band of pottawatomi indians expanded conservation impact across barry county. Stewardship-led projects in prairie and oak savanna restoration and trail development also provided valuable field experience.