New Swaner exhibit will turn wetlands ecosystem into an interactive ‘supermarket’ – TownLift Park City

Report on the “Wetland Supermarket” Exhibit Initiative

Introduction

This report details the launch of the “Wetland Supermarket,” a new interactive exhibit by the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter. The initiative is designed as an immersive educational experience to highlight the essential services provided by wetland ecosystems. A primary focus of the exhibit is its direct alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting environmental literacy and stewardship.

Exhibit Overview and Educational Objectives

Inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass,” the “Wetland Supermarket” reframes the ecological functions of a wetland into the familiar context of a supermarket. This approach aims to make complex environmental concepts accessible to a broad audience, particularly younger visitors.

Core Activities

• Participants assume the role of a wetland animal (“critter”).
• Using a “shopping list,” they gather items representing essential resources for survival.
• The experience includes interactive elements such as dressing up and using a checkout register.

The primary objective is to foster a deeper understanding of the “goods and services” that wetlands provide to both wildlife and human communities, thereby encouraging conservation efforts.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The exhibit’s design and content contribute directly to advancing global sustainability targets.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The initiative promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities by:

• Providing hands-on, play-based learning about ecology and environmental science.
• Making complex ecosystem concepts understandable and engaging for all ages.
• Fostering knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation & SDG 14: Life Below Water

The exhibit underscores the critical role of wetlands in the water cycle, supporting the protection of water-related ecosystems.

• It educates visitors on the natural water filtration services provided by wetlands, a key component of clean water availability.
• It raises awareness about the importance of protecting and restoring freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The “Wetland Supermarket” directly addresses the goal to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• It highlights the rich biodiversity within the Swaner Preserve.
• It illustrates the interdependence of species and their reliance on a healthy habitat for survival.
• It promotes the conservation of local ecosystems as a vital action to halt biodiversity loss.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

By connecting the local community to its natural heritage, the exhibit supports the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• It emphasizes the value of natural spaces like the Swaner Preserve within the community.
• It educates on how healthy ecosystems contribute to community resilience and well-being.

Operational Details

1. Institution: Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter
2. Location: Park City, Utah
3. Initial Exhibition Period: November 28 to January 4
4. Operating Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
5. Future Availability: The exhibit is scheduled for seasonal display in subsequent years.
6. Admission: Free to the public.

Conclusion

The “Wetland Supermarket” exhibit is a significant educational tool that effectively translates critical environmental principles into an interactive and memorable format. By explicitly connecting local ecosystem functions to global sustainability frameworks such as the SDGs, the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter provides a powerful platform for fostering environmental awareness and inspiring conservation action within the community.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article focuses on the “Wetland Supermarket,” an “immersive educational experience” at the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter. Its primary purpose is to educate the public, including children, about the importance of wetland ecosystems. This directly aligns with SDG 4’s goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, especially in the context of education for sustainable development.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The exhibit’s theme is the wetland ecosystem, highlighting its value to both people and wildlife. The Swaner Preserve itself is an area dedicated to protecting a terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystem. By educating visitors on what wildlife needs “to survive from the wetland supermarket,” the initiative promotes awareness about protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  While not explicitly stated, wetlands are critical water-related ecosystems that provide essential services like water filtration. The exhibit’s goal to highlight the “essential ‘goods and services’ wetlands provide” implicitly includes these water-related benefits. Educating the public on the value of wetlands contributes to the broader goal of protecting and restoring these vital ecosystems.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter is a community asset in Park City, Utah. By providing a free, accessible, and educational public exhibit, it strengthens efforts to protect and safeguard the area’s natural heritage. It also contributes to providing access to green and public spaces for the community, making the city more inclusive and sustainable.

2. Specific SDG Targets Identified

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  1. Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development.

     The article describes the “Wetland Supermarket” as an “opportunity for learning through play” that educates visitors on the value of ecosystems. This is a direct implementation of education for sustainable development, providing learners with knowledge about environmental preservation.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  1. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands.

     The exhibit is located at the “Swaner Preserve,” an area dedicated to wetland conservation. The educational program is designed to build public support and understanding for the conservation of such ecosystems.

  2. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

     The interactive experience invites visitors to “‘shop’ for everything you need to survive” as a wetland animal. This activity directly raises awareness about the specific needs of local wildlife and the importance of their habitat for survival, which is fundamental to halting biodiversity loss.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  1. Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

     The entire initiative is centered on a wetland, a key water-related ecosystem. By creating an engaging exhibit, the EcoCenter fosters public appreciation and support for the protection and restoration of these environments.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

     The Swaner Preserve is a piece of local natural heritage. The EcoCenter’s exhibit is an effort to safeguard this heritage by educating the community about its value and importance, thereby strengthening protection efforts.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

• Implied Indicators for SDG 4 (Target 4.7)

  The article does not provide quantitative data, but it implies indicators of progress through its description of the educational program. The existence and operation of the “Wetland Supermarket” exhibit, which is “free,” “interactive,” and will be “displayed seasonally for years to come,” serves as a qualitative indicator of an ongoing educational program for sustainable development being mainstreamed in the local community.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 15 (Targets 15.1 & 15.5)

  The existence of the “Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter” itself is an indicator of land area being conserved. Furthermore, the development of a unique and original exhibit focused on biodiversity (“become a critter of the Preserve”) is an indicator of actions being taken to raise awareness and promote the protection of local ecosystems and wildlife.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 6 (Target 6.6)

  The primary implied indicator is the implementation of an educational program focused on a water-related ecosystem. The exhibit, which highlights the “goods and services” of wetlands, is a measure of the effort being put into raising public awareness, which is a crucial first step toward long-term protection and restoration of these ecosystems.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 11 (Target 11.4)

  The article states that the “free exhibition” is open to the public (“Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm”). This serves as an indicator of the public expenditure and effort being dedicated to the preservation and safeguarding of local natural heritage through accessible educational initiatives.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: townlift.com