About Us

Litzsinger Road Ecology Center (LREC) is an established educational site with land and facilities dedicated to promoting science teaching and learning, environmental literacy, and stewardship of the Earth. While located in the heart of the St. Louis metropolitan area, just 10 miles west of downtown St. Louis, this unique 34-acre study center encompasses a rich variety of habitats including bottomland forest, restored prairie, and an urban creek. In addition, classrooms and an on-site computer laboratory offer research and instructional experiences that increase the scope of learning for students and teachers.

LREC, under the management of the Missouri Botanical Garden, is available to educators and students for research and field science programs. Financial support is offered on a competitive basis to promote and support educational activities performed at the site. Grants may fund transportation costs, scientific supplies, and teacher release time.

Litzsinger Road Ecology Center is part of the Place-Based Education Evaluation Collaborative (PEEC) which aims:

• To serve as a learning organization for program developers, fueling internal growth and program development for the individual organizations;
• To develop, identify and disseminate evaluation techniques, tools and approaches that can be applied elsewhere; and
• To contribute to the research base underlying the field of place-based education and school change.

Download the PEEC report The Benefits of Place-based Education or visit the Promise of Place website.

Litzsinger Road Ecology Center is not open to the general public. You must have an appointment to visit the site. Contact us.