Nurture Nature Center

{{Short description|Science education center in Pennsylvania, US}} {{notability|1=Companies|date=February 2020}} {{coord|40.690940| -75.213708|region:US-PA|display=title}} {{COI|date=October 2019}}  {{Infobox organization | name = Nurture Nature Center | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = File:Nurture_Nature_Center_Sphere_Room.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | nickname = NNC | pronunciation = | pronounce_ref = | pronounce_comment = | named_after = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|2007}} | founder = [[Theodore W. Kheel]] | founding_location = | extinction =  | merger = | type = | tax_id =  | registration_id =  | status = | purpose = | professional_title = | headquarters = | location = | coordinates =  | origins = | region_served = | products = | services = | methods = | fields = | membership = | num_members_year = | language = | owner =  | secretary_general =  | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = Nurture Nature Foundation | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | num_students = | num_students_year = | website = {{URL|https://nurturenaturecenter.org/}} | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = | bodystyle = }}

'''Nurture Nature Center''' (NNC) is a science-based [[Museum education|education center]] focused on engaging the public on environmental risk topics.<ref name="LauerWilliams2012"/> NNC is located in the city of [[Easton, Pennsylvania]], roughly 55 miles (89 km) north of [[Philadelphia]] and 70 miles (110 km) west of [[New York City]]. It was founded by [[Theodore W. Kheel]] in response to [[Delaware River#Flooding|flooding]] in 2004, 2005, and 2006 in the [[Delaware River|Delaware River Basin]].<ref name="Heil2011"/><ref name="LauerWilliams2012"/><ref name="Huth2011"/><ref name="Jordan2007"/> The center's work today encompasses both national social science research and local community programming.

==Areas of work== NNC's social science research is conducted in partnership with the [[National Weather Service]] and other governmental agencies.<ref name="Bresswein2018"/><ref name="Rhodin2017"/><ref name="JohnHall2019"/> It addresses [[risk communication]] regarding natural hazards, particularly [[extreme weather]] events and flooding. The research focuses on how to communicate about such risks both in communities impacted by river flooding and flash flooding<ref name="Bresswein2018"/> as well as coastal communities like those impacted by [[Hurricane Sandy]].<ref name="Zimmer2017"/> The Nurture Nature Center has also worked with the local city government in Easton to complete a vulnerability assessment to fulfill the city’s [[Compact of Mayors|Global Covenant of Mayors]] commitment.<ref name="Bresswein2018b"/><ref name="Althouse2018"/><ref name="Tatu2018"/>

NNC also organizes focus groups, surveys, and public meetings in Easton and the larger Lehigh Valley region about community knowledge of and priorities regarding environmental issues.<ref name="Tatu2016"/><ref name="Miller2016"/><ref name="Pearce2017"/> The Center partners with other regional and state-wide organizations to create public education programs on topics like watershed protection.<ref name="Scheid2021"/><ref name="Weigel2020"/>

Since opening its location in downtown Easton to the public in September 2011, NNC provides science education using NOAA's [[Science on a Sphere]]<ref name="Nauroth2010"/><ref name="WFMZ2012"/> and exhibits art related to the environment.<ref name="Kuna2015"/><ref name="LauerWilliams2012"/><ref name="Miller2017"/> It is one of about 160 sites with the sphere world-wide.<ref name="NOAASOS"/> The Center receives federal grants<ref name="NOAAELG"/><ref name="IMLS"/><ref name="Merlin2016"/> as well as state support<ref name="Kuna2015"/> to develop science education and art programming.

==See also== * [[List of science centers]]

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="Althouse2018">Althouse, S. (2018, September 25). [https://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/easton-city-council-hears-about-flooding-potential/799556693 Easton city council hears about flooding potential]. ''WFMZ''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Bresswein2018">Bresswein, K. (2018, September 2). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/2018/09/how_this_easton_nonprofit_is_u.html How this Easton nonprofit is using $320K grant to better predict flooding]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Bresswein2018b">Bresswein, K. (2018, May 25). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/2018/05/easton_council_commits_to_cutt.html Easton council commits to cutting greenhouse emissions: 7 things you can do]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 3 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Heil2011">Heil, R. (2011, September 19). Preparing for flooding might just keep your company afloat. ''Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal''.</ref> <ref name="Huth2011">Huth, K. (2011, September 12). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment-general/2011/09/post_31.html Nurture Nature Center, a flood resource center, to open its doors Tuesday]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 3 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="IMLS">[http://imls.cg-devel.com/sites/default/files/imls_funding_report_pennsylvania.pdf Pennsylvania: Institute of Museum and Library Services Funding Report: FY 2011-2016] [PDF file]. ''IMLS''. Retrieved 3 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="JohnHall2019">John-Hall, A. (2019, July 2). [https://whyy.org/episodes/are-we-doing-severe-weather-alerts-wrong/ Are we doing severe weather alerts wrong?] [Audio podcast]. ''WHYY''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Jordan2007">Jordan, T. (2007, July 20). Museum to focus on Easton foe -- flooding. ''The Morning Call''. (Note: This source was written before NNC acquired its current name and therefore refers to the center as the Flood Museum and Resource Center.)</ref> <ref name="Kuna2015">Kuna, R. (2015, July 18). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment/2015/07/local_artist_makes_efforts_to.html Local artist packs 100 environmental issues into one mural]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="LauerWilliams2012">Lauer-Williams, K. (2012, August 10). [https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-xpm-2012-08-10-mc-nature-nurture-center-easton-20120810-story.html Nurture Nature Center in Easton explores flooding and other climate issues]. ''The Morning Call''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Merlin2016">Merlin, M. (2016, September 15). [https://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-nurture-nature-nasa-20160914-story.html Easton center awarded NASA grant]. ''The Morning Call''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Miller2017">Miller, G. & Scuffle, K. (2017, August 14). [https://www.wdiy.org/post/nurture-nature-center-lv-arts-salon Nurture Nature Center on LV Arts Salon] [Radio program]. ''WDIY 88.1''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Miller2016">Miller, R. (2016, June 4). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/2016/06/top_10_environmental_concerns.html The top 10 environmental concerns of Easton residents]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Nauroth2010">Nauroth, T. (2010, September 17). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/2010/09/nurture_nature_foundation_brin.html Nurture Nature Foundation brings global magic to Downtown Easton in 2011]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="NOAAELG">[https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/elp/grants/apply/2018-environmental-literacy-grants Environmental literacy awards: 2018-2019 Environmental literacy grants]. ''National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="NOAASOS">[https://sos.noaa.gov/What_is_SOS/sites.php SOS locations]. ''National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Pearce2017">Pearce, J. (2017, September 21). [https://www.wdiy.org/post/nurture-nature-center-lv-discourse Nurture Nature Center on LV Discourse] [Radio program]. ''WDIY 88.1''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Rhodin2017">Rhodin, T. (2017, September 03). [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/weather/2017/09/what_if_it_rained_50_inches_he.html What if Lehigh Valley experienced the rainfall Harvey brought to Texas?]. ''Lehigh Valley Live''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Scheid2021">Scheid, L. (2021, March 12). [https://www.berksmontnews.com/news/is-your-yard-watershed-friendly-theres-now-a-certification-for-that/article_ec9ce79a-e200-570b-b9b0-9ae36d9d8b78.html Is your yard watershed friendly? There's now a certification for that]. ''Berks-Mont News''. Retrieved 15 March 2021.</ref> <ref name="Tatu2016">Tatu, C. (2016, September 26). [https://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-matters-20160922-story.html What matters to Easton? Nurture Nature Center releases report on environmental concerns]. ''The Morning Call''. Retrieved 3 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Tatu2018">Tatu, C. (2018, May 25). [https://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-nws-easton-greenhouse-gas-emissions-20180525-story.html Easton goes green with commitment to reduce emissions]. ''The Morning Call''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Weigel2020">Weigel, G. (2020, December 10). [https://www.pennlive.com/gardening/2020/12/is-rainscaping-the-next-new-yard-trend-heres-how-to-make-your-yard-water-friendly.html Is rainscaping the next new yard trend? Here's how to make your yard water-friendly]. ''PennLive''. Retrieved 15 March 2021.</ref> <ref name="WFMZ2012">[https://www.wfmz.com/news/69news-at-sunrise/learn-more-about-science-at-the-nurture-nature-center/17169397 ''Learn more about science at the Nurture Nature Center''] [Television broadcast]. (2012, March 1). Easton, PA: 69 News WFMZ. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> <ref name="Zimmer2017">Zimmer, R. (2017, August 16). [https://www.app.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2017/08/16/hurricane-evacuation-sandy-risk-communication/571820001/ ‘Evacuate!’ isn’t enough: 5 ways to improve hurricane messaging]. ''Asbury Park Press''. Retrieved 1 October 2019.</ref> }}

==External links== * [https://nurturenaturecenter.org/ Official Website] * [http://focusonfloods.org/ NNC Official Flood Resources Website]

[[Category:Science museums in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:2007 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Easton, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:National Weather Service]] [[Category:Delaware River]] [[Category:Nature centers in Pennsylvania]]