Please join the Orleans Pond Coalition on Saturday, June 20 from 10 am to 1 pm for our Summer Kick-off Family Fun Tent at Depot Square (on Old Colony Way).
The theme of this event is “protecting the animals that live in and rely on our waters.”
The Tent will include fun and engaging activities for families with children to learn about efforts to protect the wonderful creatures who live in our waters. There will be displays on whales, dolphins, diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs, migratory seabirds, hermit crabs and more, along with games and crafts.
We are pleased to spotlight the amazing work being done by our partners:
The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding, preserving and protecting marine ecosystems and the coastal environment through applied research, education and public policy initiatives. CCS collaborates with local, national and international organizations and works with government agencies to promote environmental stewardship and develop policies and management strategies drawn from solid scientific research. CCS conducts research with emphasis on marine mammals of the western North Atlantic and on the coastal and marine habitats and resources of the Gulf of Maine, and provides educational resources and programs that encourage the responsible use and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The Friends of Pleasant Bay is a grassroots nonprofit organization established in 1985 whose mission is to preserve and advocate for the extraordinary environmental, cultural, and recreational significance of Pleasant Bay and its watershed. Our work is guided by CARE: Conservation, Access, Research, and Education. We support land conservation efforts that protect sensitive coastal and watershed properties, help maintain safe and responsible public access to this shared resource, fund scientific research that informs stewardship of the Bay, and provide educational grants to local teachers and programs that connect students to Pleasant Bay’s natural wonders. Our accomplishments over the past 41 years have been achieved entirely through the efforts of our board and volunteers and supported exclusively by the generosity of our members and business partners.
International Fund for Animal Welfare – Dolphin Rescue Center on Cape Cod: IFAW’s new Dolphin Rescue Center on Cape Cod is a first-of-its-kind rehabilitation facility for dolphins and porpoises, designed to fill a critical unmet need. This innovative pilot project seeks to improve post-release survival for stranded small cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises) suffering from acute conditions by providing short-term intensive care. Dolphins and porpoises are transported to the facility, supported and monitored continuously, and reassessed and released when their stranding-related conditions have sufficiently improved.
Manomet Conservation Sciences is a nonprofit conservation organization working throughout the Western Hemisphere to reverse the decline of shorebirds, strengthen coastal resilience, and empower the next generation of conservationists. Founded in 1969 as a bird observatory, we focused on unraveling the mystery of continent-scale declines in migratory birds. Our science and research have expanded to focus on coastal ecosystem management and resilience, shorebird conservation, and educating tomorrow’s leaders. From the north slope of Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina, our staff and scientists look for high-impact opportunities to make our world a more resilient place.
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries.
The New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) is an all-volunteer nonprofit that collaborates with interested members of the community to rescue and study the unique coastal marine wildlife found off our shores. NECWA focuses on species of marine wildlife that are overlooked by other organizations. These animals, which we call “marine misfits,” include ocean sunfish, basking sharks, and torpedo rays. Throughout the year, NECWA provides internships for high school and college students in all fields of study. And NECWA provides educational programs for schools, museums, colleges and other organizations. NECWA also participates in community events, such as festivals, farmers markets, beach cleanups, scientific meetings and workshops. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Krill Carson at krillcarson@mac.com.
The Orleans Conservation Trust is a private non-profit organization that protects and restores natural lands — for people and wildlife, the health of our waters, and the character of our community. Learn more about how to become an OCT member, volunteer with us, or join a free educational program at OrleansConservationTrust.org.
Orleans Marine and Fresh Water Quality Committee. The members of the Marine and Fresh Water Quality (MFWQ) Committee are appointed by the Orleans Select Board to monitor the ecosystem health of the Town’s marine and freshwater bodies. The MFWQ Committee identifies problem areas, recommends solutions and issues management reports and recommendations, in collaboration with the Select Board, Town staff and other advisory committees, as well as scientific consultants. In addition, a critical function of the committee is to recruit and train volunteers who sample our estuaries and ponds in accordance with established scientific protocols.
The Orleans Shellfish & Waterways Improvement Advisory Committee serves as an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen on all matters relating to the Town’s shellfish beds. Seven regular and two associate members with priority given to those possessing varied and related backgrounds in marine science, boating, shellfishing, fishing, dealers and aquaculture both commercial and recreational.
NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a wild ocean place near an urban world, sits east of Boston, Massachusetts between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. Historically important as a fishing ground, New England’s only national marine sanctuary now reigns as a premier whale watching destination and continues to support commercial and recreational fishing. Its shipwrecks serve as time capsules of our nation’s maritime history.