MECT Awards Grant to Kestrel Educational Adventures
Grant will help bring outdoor science education to every first, second, and third grader in Manchester Essex Public Schools
Manchester Essex Conservation Trust (MECT), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving ecologically important land and wildlife habitat in Manchester and Essex, Massachusetts, is proud to announce a 2026 grant to Kestrel Educational Adventures to fund outdoor environmental science programming for every first, second, and third grade student in the Manchester Essex Regional School District (MERSD).
The grant builds on a 15-year partnership between the two organizations and will enable Kestrel, a Beverly-based natural science education organization, to deliver its exciting programming directly to local classrooms and field sites — ensuring that early elementary students in the district have access to hands-on, inquiry-based learning in the natural world.
Through the grant-funded programming, students will venture into local habitats — from tidal coastlines to woodlands and waterways — to conduct scientific investigations aligned with Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) standards. All sessions are led by Kestrel’s professional naturalist-educators and include custom curriculum support materials for classroom teachers.
“MECT’s mission is not only to conserve our local green spaces for future generations but also to ensure that young people understand the natural world and can enjoy it in a deep and meaningful way,” said Patrice Murphy, Executive Director, Manchester Essex Conservation Trust.
“The impact of getting young people outside is transformative, and we are so grateful for MECT’s continued partnership and vision,” said Jessica Kagle, Founder and Program Director, Kestrel Educational Adventures.
This partnership reflects a shared belief that children who develop a direct, meaningful connection with the natural world grow into engaged stewards of it. MERSD serves the communities of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex — towns whose character and identity are shaped by the forests, wetlands, and coastline that MECT has worked to protect since 1963.
About Manchester Essex Conservation Trust – MECT is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to preserving ecologically important land and wildlife habitat in Manchester and Essex, Massachusetts, and promoting its use for quiet recreation, education, and research.
About Kestrel Educational Adventures – Kestrel Educational Adventures is a natural science education organization based in Beverly, Massachusetts, connecting young people with meaningful outdoor learning experiences. Kestrel’s school programs engage students as real scientists — investigating local habitats, asking genuine questions, and developing a lasting sense of wonder and care for the natural world.