Stars and STEM Stories
Berks Nature Partners with GLOBE to Bolster Community Science Efforts
The Berks Nature
organization is an environmental stewardship group focusing on a range
of initiatives, including land management, water protection, and
environmental education. Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, its work aims
to ensure that nature is preserved and accessible to all.
Berks Nature uses the GLOBE Program as a central part of its
community science efforts. GLOBE provides standardized protocols for
data collection on local watersheds, the atmosphere, biosphere, and
pedosphere, all of which are integral to Berks Nature’s environmental
monitoring and conservation efforts. This partnership has also allowed
Berks Nature to train adult volunteers, known as “community
scientists,” to collect useful and reliable data. In 2024 alone, these
community scientists have made an enormous contribution to local
environmental initiatives by logging over 2,000 volunteer hours!
Berks Nature also oversees several watershed associations,
including those for Angelica Creek, Maiden Creek, Tulpehocken Creek,
and Hay Creek, where community scientists use GLOBE protocols to
monitor water quality and atmospheric conditions. These community
scientists collect data on key parameters, such as water temperature,
pH, nitrate levels, and dissolved oxygen, across varying conditions.
In addition, the organization has closely studied several local man-made environmental changes. Staff and community scientists have investigated the effects of dam removal on water quality in Tulpehocken Creek, conducted a temperature snapshot to assess areas needing tree planting for trout protection in Angelica Creek, and identified pollution sources from rock salt use along the local riverbanks.
You can learn more about the partnership between GLOBE and Berks
Nature community scientists by watching this YouTube
video!