panelists, from left to right: Jennifer Keefe, Jocelyn Kleinman, and Kyle Troy
Local Summit, October 15, 2024
By Randal Ikeda
The Larchmont-Mamaroneck community, nestled along the shore of Long Island Sound, is not only rich in natural beauty but also boasts two remarkable institutions dedicated to environmental education and stewardship: the Marine Education Center and the Sheldrake Environmental Center. These centers play a crucial role in fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the local environment among residents. In the face of invasive species and climate change and its impact on our community, the work of these centers has never been more vital. During the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Local Summit program on October 15th, Kyle Troy (Director of the Marine Education Center in the Village of Mamaroneck), and Jennifer Keefe (Executive Director) and Jocelyn Kleinman (Director of Education) from the Sheldrake Environmental Center, located in the Town of Mamaroneck, spoke about the many programs they offer and shared their insights on both the wonders of our local natural resources and how we can all learn to be better stewards of these resources.
Located at Harbor Island Park, the Marine Education Center serves as a beacon of marine conservation and education. Under the leadership of Kyle Troy, the Director, the Center offers a myriad of programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the community’s appreciation for local marine ecosystems, together with building an understanding of the challenges they face.
The Center provides a diverse array of educational programs for children: class field trips, 9th grade science projects, summer camps, and high-school internships; and for adults, there’s bird-watching, and marine workshops and seminars. The Center ensures that marine education is accessible to all. These programs cover topics such as marine biology, ecology, and conservation, equipping participants with the knowledge to protect and preserve marine environments.
One of the Center’s key strengths is its emphasis on hands-on learning. Visitors can engage in activities such as seining, where they use nets to catch and release marine creatures, restoring oyster beds, removing invasive plants and animals, or participate in tours of the local shoreline. These interactive experiences allow individuals to connect with marine life directly, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship.
The Marine Education Center is an integral part of the Mamaroneck community, partnering with local schools, the Girl Scouts, the Community Resource Center and others to offer field trips and educational outreach programs that make marine science accessible to the community. Additionally, the Center hosts weekly beach clean-ups (Friday) and environmental fairs, encouraging residents to take an active role in preserving their coastal environment.
Situated amidst the serene landscape of Sheldrake River, the Sheldrake Environmental Center is a sanctuary for local flora and fauna. Executive Director Jennifer Keefe and Jocelyn Kleinman, the Director of Education, offered examples of the wide range of nature programs designed to immerse participants in the local ecosystem. These include family nature walks, bi-lingual programs partnering with the Community Resource Center, a giving garden where the food raised goes to the Mamaroneck Food Pantry, tree walks, and habitat restoration to create a native plant meadow. There is also wonderful birdwatching where one can spot bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, cormorants and more. By involving the community in these activities, Sheldrake aims to cultivate a deep appreciation for the natural world and the need to protect it.
Education is at the heart of Sheldrake’s mission; it aspires to offer fun and educational experiences for all, aimed at developing a generation of environmental stewards. These programs are designed to align with school curricula, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that enhance their classroom education. The overall message is that each level of the ecosystem matters – a message that deeply resonates with our children.
Sheldrake’s gardens and restoration projects showcase the beauty and importance of native plants, which play a critical role in supporting local wildlife. By educating the community about the benefits of native plants and animals, the Center helps us recognize the impact we have on our environment and teaches us that we have the power to protect and preserve it for future generations.
The Marine Education Center and the Sheldrake Environmental Center are more than just educational institutions; they are pillars of environmental stewardship in the community. Through their programs and initiatives, they inspire residents to take an active role in protecting their local environment whether it be volunteering to be an environmental educator, clearing invasive plants, participating in cleanups, or in any of the other volunteer opportunities offered by these organizations. Both organizations depend on community support for their work, work that is critical to building a sustainable and resilient community. More information is available on their websites: the Marine Education Center: https://www.marineeducationcenter.org/index.html and the Sheldrake Environmental Center: https://sheldrakecenter.org/ .
The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit is an informal community council that seeks to make a better life for the community by keeping it informed of major issues of concern. Traffic safety will be the topic of the November 12 meeting. For more information: https://www.localsummitlm.org/ To view recorded programs on LMC Media: https://lmcmedia.org/.