Party for the Planet 2026

Every Earth Day, the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, MA hosts a “Party for the Planet”. The NES-LTER has hosted a table of fun outreach activities for families each year, involving grad students, research associates, and scientists (+ their families) for many years. From IFCB image matching, doing a “thumb count” from catching an inflated Earth, looking at fresh plankton under the scope, to co-constructing our SST and Lobster Catch Quipu, the curious were entertained and engaged. Of course, the food web tattoos are rewarded to those who dive into all of it. A special shout-out to Adriano, Alyssa, Elena, Eydis, Susanne, Tatiana, and Annette for sharing this year’s event with the families of New Bedford!