Litzsinger Road Ecology Center

   (affiliated with Missouri Botanical Garden)

 
 

The Litzsinger Road Ecology Center (LREC)  is an outdoor laboratory for environmental education, research, and restoration.

Its 34-acre site and facilities, located in the center of the St. Louis suburb of Ladue, was established with the mission of promoting science teaching and learning, environmental literacy, and stewardship of the Earth.

This unique study area encompasses a rich variety of natural habitats - including bottomland forest, restored prairie, and an urban stream (Deer Creek).

The site also is home to a diverse population of animals (including deer, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, numerous birds, and various aquatic creatures - turtles, fish, ducks, geese, frogs).

 

Children’s Nature Experiences at LREC

The Litzsinger Road Ecology Center offers a comprehensive suite of programs designed to:


  1. 1) Serve as a learning organization for those individuals developing place-based educational programs, fueling growth and improvement of such programs within the local community and beyond

  2. 2) Develop, identify, and disseminate techniques for accurately evaluating the effectiveness of place-based educational programs

  3. 3) Contribute to the research base underlying the field of place-based education and school change.


Locally, LREC staff and volunteers work with teachers and youth leaders to develop and implement programs - both at the LREC site and in the community.  These programs promote scientific inquiry, reconnect children with nature, and foster a stewardship ethic among participants.  Whether through conducting investigations at LREC, establishing and maintaining natural habitats at schools, or participating in community-based ecological restoration programs - the mission is consistent with best practices in place-based education.


On a larger scale, presentations and publications by LREC staff promote place-based education on a national scale.  The Center is a partner in the Place-Based Education Evaluation Collaborative (PEEC) and also provides editorial leadership for the “Promise of Place” website .


LREC operates with the support of a local foundation, as well as the National Science Foundation; and is affiliated with the Missouri Botanical Garden.


The Center is open only to groups involved in pre-arranged programs and research; however, it should be noted that LREC is not open to the public.

Place-based Nature Education at LREC