NEWS

LCTI Partnership Brings Repairs & Renovations

A Win-Win for Accessible Nature & Real-World Learning

Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary received some much-needed repairs and renovations this spring thanks to a partnership with Lehigh Career & Technical Institute.

You may have heard the sound of power tools at the preserve alongside the playful calls of black-capped chickadees and song sparrows.

“The nice part is instead of it being in a lab, this is real-world application,” said Steven Ring, LCTI CAP Building Trades Maintenance Instructor.

“We’re running into work other people did,” Ring said. “That’s something we can’t duplicate in labs.”

Ring’s students spent nearly two months securing and replacing boards.

A Preview of a Lasting Partnership

It’s one piece of a broader restoration plan taking shape, and it provides a preview of a win-win partnership, offering a pipeline of skilled talent to Wildlands and real-world learning for LCTI.

“The property is in much better shape today than it was prior to the LCTI students and faculty beginning their work. Aesthetically and functionally, they really helped improve the overall condition of the preserve,” Wildlands’ Preserve Manager Michael Hock said.

Enhancing the Visitor Experience

Visitors will notice improved lighting along sidewalks, landscaping improvements and trail upgrades, but Hock said there were also a number of improvements made behind the scenes including lighting in the barn and in office spaces.

According to Hock, those upgrades will help the staff at Wildlands Conservancy work more efficiently.

“They have done a tremendous amount of work that we simply don’t have the resources or expertise to do ourselves,” Hock said.

Students said they’re proud to be a part of the project and happy to get in touch with nature during their training.

“It’s good that we can implement all of the things we’ve learned through the whole school year and come out here to work as a team,” said Daniel Rodriguez, a senior at Parkland High School.

“Also, we’re doing it for a good cause,” Dhante Correa, a senior at William Allen High School, said. “This project is really helping us see how the world can be built together.”

Sought After by Thousands & Supporting Access

The boardwalk along the Floodplain Trail is one of the most sought-after features at Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary. Each year, it is enjoyed by thousands of students, families, and nature lovers, bolstering the organization’s community and school programming while aiming to make the outdoors accessible for all.

There are plans in the works to fully restore the boardwalk, to build an extension to a to-be-constructed ADA-compliant parking area and to upgrade other pathways and signage around the property.

Grateful for our Giving Community & Getting Involved

A $180,000 gift from a generous donor, along with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, is making significant advancements possible.

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