2008 Press Releases
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August 2008 – PEEC Receives NCAC Annual community Award
June 2008 – PEEC in the New York Times
May 2008 – PEEC Offers Dinner & Show with Scott Weidensaul
April 2008 – Dining Hall Project at PEEC Receives AIA Award
March 2008 – Spring Break Camp at PEEC
January 2008 – Winter Birding with PEEC
PEEC Receives NCAC Annual Community Award
Lehman Township, PA – The Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Community (NCAC) honored the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) with an award during the 2008 Community Awards Program in June.
The Center received first place in the Environment & Animal Welfare category for the Green construction of its new dining hall. The community award highlighted the new building’s sustainable design and the benefits of this Green design on the Earth. Aside from its positive effect on the environment, the dining hall is also used as a learning tool for the 24,000 students, teachers, families and individuals who visit PEEC annually.
PEEC’s Executive Director/CEO Jim Rienhardt accepted the award, “Through over $7 million of Congressional, State, County and private funding sources, PEEC has made improvements to its facilities that will benefit our guests and the environment. We are very honored to receive this award and to be recognized by NCAC and NEPA for our efforts.”
The community awards highlight local nonprofit organizations that make an extraordinary impact within NCAC’s seven-county region, which includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties. For more information on NCAC or the NEPA Alliance call (570) 655-5581.
PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information call (570) 828-2319. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC featured on TravelMeredith.com
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PEEC in the New York Times
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Learn to Live Lightly
Lehman Township, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, PA is offering a new series of programs in 2008 called Living Lightly on the Land. This oft coined phrase means drastically different things to different people. What does it mean to you? To some people it might mean reverting back to the dark days of hardships and living without basic amenities. Our American culture is one of the most affluent in the world and living on less seems to be a step backwards. To Earth-conscious people, it means choosing to use alternatives where they exist in order to reduce our impact on the land we live on. It means taking steps towards an awakening of the effects our behaviors have on the Earth. Chief Seattle spoke the truth when he said “Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.”
To give you a few examples of what his words mean in terms of today’s world, let’s take a look at this simple concept in a different way. Go to a grocery store and look down the cleaning products isle. Now imagine taking the lids off of every bottle on the shelf and pour all of it into the local water ways. Eventually, that’s where all the products end up. Some of those man-made chemicals do not break down in the environment and are extremely harmful. Do the same for the products in the personal hygiene isle. Just pour the shampoo right down the drain and skip the middle-person…us. Do you drink water? How would you change the way you lived your life if you believed what Chief Seattle said? Would you start to think about the ingredients in the products you are purchasing and how they might affect the environment and then ultimately, you and your family?
Just as stylish clothing changes in the fashion industry, the buzz words in the Earth-conscious field change too. A new term that you may be seeing flashing across the computer screens these days is “body burden.” Body Burden is the amount of a harmful substance that is permanently present in a person’s body. Unfortunately, children usually have the highest body burdens. Another new idea and marketing focus is women’s roles in consumerism. Women are the main shoppers for new clothing, items for the household including personal care products and cleaning agents, and food. Women wield immense power in their choices of what to buy and what not to buy. We can make an educated choice about what to buy, which not only includes what’s good for our families, but what is good for the Earth too.
Making more educated choices means living more lightly on the land and a lower body burden for you and your family. In the words of Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day, “The ultimate test of man’s [and women’s] conscience may be his [and her] willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” It has always been about the choices we as individuals make and in today’s world, we need to make more educated and informed choices.
Join the PEEC staff for the LLOL Summer Outdoors program on Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 1-4 p.m. A part of the new Living Lightly on the Land series, the program will help participants learn how to prepare for and enjoy a day or overnight summer trip in a way that has less of an impact on the Earth. Topics will include hydration and Leave No Trace (LNT) travel and camp practices. This program is $8 for PEEC Members and $10 for non-members. Call PEEC to register at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org for more information. PEEC is located off of Route 209 inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). Click here for driving directions. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC Offers Dinner and Show with Scott Weidensaul
Lehman Township, PA – From the moment Europeans arrived in North America, they were awestruck by a continent awash with birds – great flocks of wild pigeons, woodlands alive with brilliantly colored songbirds. Join naturalist and author Scott Weidensaul at the Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, during the Origins of Ornithology Dinner & a Show with Scott Weidensall on May 30, 2008 from 6 – 9 p.m.
Weidensaul will trace the unpredictable history of bird study in America, from frontier ornithologists (one of whom barely escaped pursuing Apaches with a precious hawk egg hidden in his mouth) to society matrons who organized the first effective conservation movement; from luminaries like Alexander Wilson (a convicted blackmailer) and Audubon (an accomplished liar) to modern geniuses like Roger Tory Peterson.
Based on his new book Of a Feather, this whirlwind history shows how ornithology and birding grew from eccentric hobbies into something so completely mainstream they’re now (almost) cool.
Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Living on the Wind, about bird migration, Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent’s Natural Soul, and his newest book, Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding. Weidensaul writes for such publications as Smithsonian, Audubon, Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife; he lives in the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, where he studies the migration of hawks, owls and hummingbirds.
This program is $15 for PEEC members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required, call (570) 828-2319 to register. PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information call (570) 828-2319 or visit PEEC on the web at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Native Plant Sale
Lehman Township, PA – Spring is finally here and the world is turning green again. The birds are chirping, screeching, and hooting, the ladybugs and mosquitoes are emerging, and drips and drabs of color are sprouting forth all around us. Shades of periwinkle, violet, and rose are showing up in our communities. The source? Spring wildflowers!
Spring wildflowers provide us not only needed visual beauty after a long winter, but are important parts of our local ecosystems. Violets, for example, are eaten by the caterpillars of several moth species. Red columbine is an attractor of hummingbirds, and in fact often relies on hummingbirds for pollination. Clover, though often disliked by religious lawn tenders, is great food for a variety of species from robins to the white tailed deer as well as the ruffed grouse and other birds. This late spring bloomer is also frequented by honey bees.
One species worth mentioning is Pennsylvania’s state flower, the mountain laurel. Technically a shrub, the Mountain Laurel is one of our state’s most beautiful flowers. The white or pink flowers stand out brilliantly as the shrub blooms and smell wonderful. The shrub itself is sometimes used by black bear and ruffed grouse as winter forage, and also by the eastern cotton tail. Be careful though, the Mountain laurel is poisonous to people and livestock.
Unfortunately, not all the wildflowers blooming this spring are beneficial to our environment. Many invasive species from other continents have found their way to PEEC and are choking out our native plants and biodiversity. The Multiflora rose, native to Asia, was brought to America in the 1860s as an ornamental plant. However, it grows quickly and forms dense thickets that crowd out our native plants. Another beautiful but invasive species is the Purple loosestrife. This plant crowds out essential native food plants in our wetlands and affects the food chain of many animals. Because of the damaging effects of this flower, it is illegal to sell the seeds in most states. Unfortunately, the seeds are sometimes sold to unsuspecting consumers under the name “European Wand loosestrife”.
Fortunately, most plant centers and seed distributors are run by honest business people, but it is not always clear which plants are native and which are potential invasive species.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PeEc) is making it easy for local residents to plant with natives this year! PEEC is hosting its fifth annual Native Plant Sale on May 17, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Choose from a wide variety of native wildflowers, plants and shrubs to make your garden beautiful.
By selecting native plants for your backyard or garden, you will be able to promote more biodiversity not only in your plants, but also in the types of birds and other wildlife that visit. Come join us and celebrate the blooming beauty of native spring wildflowers!
Call PEEC for more information on the Native Plant Sale at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org.
PEEC Receives $30k From The Dodge Foundation
Lehman Township, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA received a $30,000 grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. These funds support a year-round integration of environmental and ecology studies with partner schools.
This funding allows PEEC to continue a learning program with students and teachers from PS14 in Bayonne, NJ, which began in 2006 with a previous grant from the Dodge Foundation. This year’s funding will also expand the program to several more NJ elementary school.
During this year-round program, students and teachers will have the opportunity to attend a 5-day Summer Science residential camp at PEEC. The PEEC staff also provide outreach programs for students and training sessions for teachers throughout the school year.
Jim Rienhardt, PEEC’s Executive Director/CEO, stated, “Once again, we thank The Dodge Foundation for its generous donation and their continued support of the community. We hope that this program will provide children with an experience that will enhance their academic knowledge, environmental awareness and promote lifelong learning.”
Established in 1974, the mission of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is “to support and encourage those educational, cultural, social, and environmental values that contribute to making society more humane and our world more livable.” The Trustees have focused grant making in the areas of the Arts, Education, the Environment, Local Projects in Morris County, and Welfare of Animals, the latter supporting animal shelters in New Jersey. Programs in education directly impact children, teachers, parents, and schools in New Jersey, or support programs and projects that hold promise to impact New Jersey students in the future. For more information about the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, including how to apply for grants, visit www.grdodge.org or call 973-540-8442.
The Dodge Foundation President/CEO David Grant said, “We are impressed by PEEC’s ability to strengthen student-to-student, student-to-teacher and student-to-parent relationships, as well as its focus on youth asset development. The Center itself if becoming a learning site for sustainable design and development and parents are now serving as docents at the Center. The complementary development of a “living lightly” curriculum is another exciting development, and we applaud your leadership in this area.”
PEEC is located off of Route 209, near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Lehman Township). PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. PEEC provides unique environmental experiences to families and groups of all ages. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally! For more information call (570) 828-2319.
Kindred Spirits Concert with David Amram
Spring has returned to the Delaware Valley. It brings with it the sounds of the land and its native peoples in spoken word, music, and song when Kindred Spirits Arts Programs presents ” Native Sounds are Back” Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC).
Featured in this celebration of nature’s rebirth are pianist and composer David Amram accompanied by his friends, musician Victorio Roland Vargas Moussa, and native drummers and story tellers Matoaka Little Eagle and Powhatan Swift Eagle. Since the 1950’s, the multitalented David Amram has embraced a variety of musical styles and a wide range of cultural traditions in his quest to reveal the universal and the eternal. He has collaborated with the likes of Jack Kerouac, Langston Hughes, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Willie Nelson, and Tito Puente. Currently he is working on a new setting of the Mass, the” Missa Manhatten” with author Frank McCourt.
The performance is sure to be a spontaneous and varied celebration of the Great swirl of Life in this season of renewal. The concert starts at 3 pm in PEEC’s strikingly beautiful Visitors’ Activity Center located on PEEC’s campus within The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and is the perfect setting for a program devoted to the wonders of nature as expressed in Native Cultures.
To enhance the experience, a pre-concert nature hike will be held at 1:30 pm to discover the sights and sounds of spring. Participants are reminded to wear comfortable hiking boots and bring lots of water. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children age 7 to 11, and students with a valid Student ID. Children age 6 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at Born To Be, located in Forest Hall on the corner of Broad and Harford Streets Milford PA.or at The Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans’ Ferry. For reservations call (570) 296-4299 or (570) 828-2319.
PEEC’S 2008 Summer Day Camps
Lehman Township, PA – How would you like to give your child a summer adventure close to home? The Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) is looking forward to another great year of its Summer Nature Study Day Camp for children ages 3 to 15 years. Your child will enjoy traditional camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, eco-crafts, and games, but PEEC doesn’t stop there! Campers will also learn to identify insects during pond exploration, learn to work together on our teambuilding course and learn how to use a map and compass during orienteering class.
If your child is 3-5 years of age or moving into kindergarten, they will love PEEC’s Tadpoles camps. This year’s Tadpoles will enjoy the following camp themes: Eco-Explorers, Water Adventures, and Bugz and Slugz! These half-day camp sessions last from 9 a.m. – Noon and are $70 per week for PEEC members and $75 for non-members and are a great way to begin your child’s adventures with nature. An adult 16 years or over must accompany Tadpole campers.
Let’s hear it for the Wet & Slimy Campers! Boys and girls entering 1st – 4th grade will enjoy a summer packed with learning and plenty of outdoor fun at PEEC. These weeklong camp sessions will highlight themes such as Flying Friends, Nature Games, Poconos Wild Kingdom, Creepy Crawlies and more. Do not let them stay inside all summer, get them out to PEEC and into nature!
How would your child like to be an NSI: Natural Scene Investigator or a Watershed Explorer or go on a Wilderness Exploration or Photo Safari? Campers entering grades 5th-7th will explore the world of nature as Junior Natural Scientists this summer at PEEC. PEEC’s day camps will give them the chance to explore the outdoors and keep their imaginations active this summer, while enhancing their awareness of science and natural history.
Do you have a teen at home that would love to spend time outdoors this summer? Boys and girls in 8th-10th grade will have a great time at PEEC enjoying an Adventure Buffet week, spend the day hiking the Appalachian Trail and campout overnight while learning about Ecology & Awareness, explore caves and old farms during the Before There Was PEEC natural history week and they even have the opportunity to learn how to be a CIT: Counselor in Training. This is your chance to get them outside and keep their minds active over the long summer break.
PEEC is also offering a new opportunity for teens to volunteer this summer in the Volunteer Counselor Program. This new program will run from June 9th – August 15th (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) and will give young adults the opportunity to learn how to guide children, develop good working habits and help make the summer fun for PEEC’s campers. An interview is required for those interested in participating. Teens interested in taking part in this program must contact PEEC’s Camp Director Mike Liese.
PEEC’s Day camps are available from June 16 through August 15, 2008 and run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Wet & Slimy and Jr. Natural Scientist camps are $135 per week for PEEC members and $145 for non-members. Senior Natural Scientist Day camps are $155 for members and $165 for non-members. Single day rates, early drop-off (8:00 a.m.), late pick-up (5:00 p.m.), bagged lunches and a pick-up in Milford are all available at an additional fee per week. For more information, contact Mike Liese at (570) 828-2319. Applications and camp schedules are available on our Day Camps page or call PEEC to have these forms mailed to you. Don’t forget to ask about our Spring Break Day Camp in March!
PEEC is located off of Route 209, near mile marker 8, inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Lehman Township). PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. PEEC provides unique environmental experiences to children, families and groups of all ages. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes “naturally”!
PEEC’s Dining Hall Receives National Architectural Award
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Lehman Township, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center’s dining hall has once again won an award for its sustainable design. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment and PEEC’s building was on the list!
Projects for the awards were selected because they highlight both the design innovations and sustainable strategies, along with the metrics achieved in terms of reduced carbon emissions, reduced energy consumption and improved building functionality. These projects also have a positive effect on their community, improve comfort for visitors and utilize sustainable design to reduce its impact on the environment.
The Wilkes Barre based architect firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) designed PEEC’s award winning building that opened in 2006. The building was designed to reinforce PEEC’s mission to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. Through a great deal of research, material selection and analysis, BCJ focused on the principles of sustainable design for the multi-purpose dining hall which is also used for lectures, conferences and special events. As part of the site design, native grasses were also planted to provide a landscape that is low maintenance and integrates the project into its natural surroundings.
AIA Judge Susan Rodriguez commented on various aspects of the building and was especially impressed with the use of discarded tires to cover the north wall of the new building. The re-used tires have been cut into strips and converted into exterior shingles, providing a waterproof seal that is long lasting and maintenance free. These tires are especially important to PEEC and the Park Service because the majority of the tires used were fished out of the Delaware River during river clean-up days.
PEEC’s Executive Director/CEO Jim Rienhardt commented on the award, “We were very fortunate to have such a talented firm as Bohlin Cywinski Jackson design our building. PEEC is very proud of our Green dining hall and it is good to see other organization’s acknowledging this amazing building and highlighting the importance of Green architecture.”
The building also won an AIA Architectural Honor Award in 2006 for its unique design. The projects will be honored this May at the AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition in Boston. For more information on PEEC’s award winning/Green dining hall call (570) 828-2319.
PEEC Earth Day and Family Festival 2008
Lehman Township, PA – Are you looking for a fun event where you and your family can celebrate Earth Day this year? The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA will host its 13th Annual Earth Day Family Festival on Sunday, April 20, 2008.
During the festival, children and adults will have a chance to see a live animal presentation from Pete Machevich from the Pocono Snake & Animal Farm; listen to live music from “Wooden Spoon” and take part in a hands-on cultural drumming program with drummer Obi Kaye.
Families will also enjoy guided nature walks, composting presentations, eco-crafts and games, and hands-on learning stations that will teach children and adults about sustainable living, natural history and more! Of course what would PEEC’s Earth Day Festival be without the tie-dye station? Bring your cotton shirts, socks, pillowcases and other items to be tie-dyed with your very own colorful design or you can purchase a t-shirt at PEEC to decorate.
Admission to the festival is $5 per vehicle. A barbeque lunch will be available for a nominal fee, so plan to spend the day! The event lasts from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will be held rain or shine. Please contact PEEC for directions or more information at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org. All proceeds from the festival will benefit PEEC’s Youth and Family Education Programs.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands on experiences in an outdoor classroom. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Get Outside This April!
Lehman Township, PA – Spring has sprung and the staff at the Pocono Environmental Education Center are ready to celebrate the new season with a variety of nature treks and weekend programs in April.
Join PEEC for a different kind of egg hunt during the Spotted Salamander Egg Search on Sunday, April 13, 2008 from 1-4 p.m. Explore the many temporary spring pools and glacial bogs near PEEC’s campus for hundreds of egg masses deposited by these striking salamanders. Come find out about their natural history and enjoy hiking around PEEC and the beautiful Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Wear waterproof boots and dress for the weather. This nature trek is $6 for PEEC members and $8 for non-members.
Hide out at PEEC for a weekend to finish needlework projects that are languishing at home during the Flying Needles U.F.O. Retreat April 18-20, 2008. All UnFinished needlework Objects are eligible! Quilters, crocheters, rug hookers, embroiderers and beaders are all welcome. Lodging rates for the weekend are $155 for PEEC members and $170 for non-members and include Friday & Saturday night lodging at PEEC, meals and program. Non-lodging rates are $95 for members and $110 for non-members and include all meals and program. Pre-registration is required, call PEEC at (570) 828-2319.
Learn how to use the Newcomb’s Guide to identify all of the beautiful wildflowers that flourish in our area during the Newcomb’s Guide Workshop on Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Visit PEEC’s book store to purchase your own Newcomb’s guide before the hike. This workshop is $6 for members and $8 for non-members.
Jeepers Creepers…It’s time to go looking for those Spring Peepers! Learn about these vocal spring amphibians and have fun trying to catch them carefully on Friday, April 25, 2008 from 7 to 9 p.m. during the popular Spring Peepers Search. This program is $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Waterproof shoes are suggested.
Take a survey to assess your carbon footprint and discuss strategies and methods for reducing it during the Sustainable Living Series Carbon Footprint workshop on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 1-4 p.m. This workshop is $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Call to register at (570) 828-2319.
Explore Pleistocene geology in a variety of locations around the area during the Geology of the Delaware River Valley workshop Sunday, April 27, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Transportation is provided for 12 participants and carpooling is suggested after that. Bring a bag lunch and comfortable shoes. Call to register at (570) 828-2319.
Learn how to hike and play outdoors in an environmentally friendly way during PEEC’s Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills Home School Adventure on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 from 9 a.m. to Noon. These programs are for boys and girls ages 6-10 years. A parent or guardian must accompany children during the adventure. The program is $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Call to register at (570) 828-2319.
PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information call (570) 828-2319. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Programs For Educators at PEEC
Lehman Township, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will offer two educational programs for teachers and outdoor educators in April. These programs will give teachers an opportunity to increase their environmental education skills in the classroom and learn new ways to teach and connect with students of mixed ability levels. The education programs are free for formal and non-formal educators in the tri-state area.
Join presenter Dan Kriesberg as he explores Integrating Environmental Education Across the Curriculum on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Learning about the environment does not mean it has to be about faraway places and environmental problems and it does not have to add a whole new subject to your curriculum. Dan will show educators how environmental education can be integrated throughout the curriculum in a way that increases a child’s sense of wonder, knowledge, reverence and joy for the area in which they live.
“Spending time outdoors provides many benefits for children. By integrating outdoor education throughout out the entire curriculum, children reap both the benefits of the outdoors and learn more about each subject area. They will also become better stewards of the earth,” said Dan.
This daylong workshop will provide practical, hands-on environmental education activities and lessons that will help meet learning standards in a variety of curriculum areas. The Integrating Environmental Awareness workshop is free for educators and ACT 48 hours are available for PA teachers. The cost for non-educators is $20 for PEEC members and $25 for non-members.
Make sure that ALL of your students are excelling! Join Presenter Kathy Ambrosini for the Designing Outdoor Education Programs for Mixed Ability Levels program on Saturday, April 12, 2008. Kathy, an Educator for Special Education at the Mohonk Preserve, will show educators specific strategies that can be used to make their programs more inclusive of people with disabilities. The workshop will look at a variety of challenges to learning, and the aids and interpretive strategies that will enable ALL your participants to get the most from their outdoor experience. This training is a must for any staff, director or educator that provides programs for people in the outdoors.
When asked about the need for inclusionary training for educators, Kathy commented, “Nature beckons to us all, but it’s up to us to provide the forethought to make nature accessible to everyone. Although the ADA was passed in 1990, many parks and outdoor centers are just beginning to consider accommodating people with disabilities. Inclusion, regardless of age, goes beyond physical access and focuses on the services, techniques or aids necessary for people with disabilities to participate in our programs.”
The program will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes training and refreshments. The inclusion workshop is free for educators and ACT 48 hours are available for PA teachers. The cost for non-educators is $20 for PEEC members and $25 for non-members.
Pre-registration is required for the educator programs, call PEEC at (570) 828-2319. PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information on PEEC’s programs, visit our Programs page. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Spring Break Camp at PEEC
Lehman Township, PA – Camp is back! Why wait for the summer to have fun outdoors? Come join the staff at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) on your days off from school to relive some of those fun, summer memories and make a few new memories as we explore the woods and trails around PEEC in early spring.
This new day camp is for boys and girls currently in 1st – 6th grade. The camp will take place Thursday, March 20th, Friday March 21st and Monday, March 24th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each camp day will have its own theme including; Outdoor Fun on Thursday, Animals in Transition on Friday and Wildlife Games on Monday. Campers can sign up for one day or all three days! The cost for this new Spring Break Camp is $45 per day and pre-registration is required. Please be sure to dress for the cold weather, bring a bag lunch to enjoy with your camp friends and PEEC will provide the fun!
For more information, contact PEEC’s Camp Director Mike Liese at (570) 828-2319. Or call PEEC to receive a copy of the camp forms by mail. Don’t forget to ask about our Summer Day Camps!
PEEC is located off of Route 209, near mile marker 8, inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Lehman Township). PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. PEEC provides unique environmental experiences to children, families and groups of all ages. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes “naturally”!
Orienteering ‘Eggs’travaganza!
Lehman Township, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA will be holding their 4th Annual Orienteering Eggs’travaganza on Sunday, March 22, 2008 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. During this family ‘oriented’ event, children ages 9-years and up will learn to navigate PEEC’s orienteering course with a map and compass, and find rewards all along the way. Don’t worry…we haven’t forgotten our younger hunters! Children 8 years and under, accompanied by their parents, will navigate around PEEC’s campus using a map and will find plenty of surprises along the way.
Crafts and egg dying will be available before or after your adventure and ‘egg’cellent refreshments will also be available for a nominal fee. Spaces are limited, so pre-registration is highly recommended. This popular family event is $5 per person and children 3 years and under are free. Call PEEC today to register for a time slot at (570) 828-2319.
PEEC is located inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area off of Route 209 near mile marker 8 in Lehman Township. PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. PEEC provides these unique environmental experiences to families and groups of all ages. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes “naturally”! For more information call (570) 828-2319, email: peec@peec.org or visit www.peec.org.
Birding Programs at PEEC
Lehman Township, PA – Bird watching is quickly becoming one of the most popular hobbies in the world. If you are interested in beginning a new hobby, or if you are already a birding fanatic, then The Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) invites you to come out and participate in its upcoming birding day treks and weekend workshops. All you have to do is keep your eyes to the sky and let PEEC do the driving!
Grab your binoculars and enjoy a day full of birding with Peter Wulfhorst and the PEEC staff during the Middle Creek Wildlife Refuge birding trip on Saturday, March 15, 2008 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Middle Creek is a rest stop for thousands of snow geese returning to the arctic as well as other fascinating birds. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly, wear waterproof shoes, and bring a bag lunch for this daylong trip. This program is $40 for Friends of PEEC Members and $50 for Non-members. Transportation is provided and seating is limited to the first 12 registered participants. Pre-registration is required for these programs. Call PEEC at (570) 828-2319 to register or for more information.
Interested in a full weekend of bird watching? Then come out for PEEC’s Warbler Weekend 1 on May 2-4, 2008 or the Warbler Weekend 2 on May 9-11, 2008. A multitude of Warblers visit the Pocono Mountains every spring as they migrate to their summer homes. These colorful birds are a popular draw for many birders. Guided walks with experienced field leaders will emphasize identification by sight, sound and habitat. Evening programs compliment day excursions. Sightings of over 25 species of warblers and 100 total species are possible. The cost for each weekend program is $150 for members and $160 for non-members and includes all meals and lodging in a PEEC cabin. Non-lodging rates are also available at $90 for members and $100 for non-members and include all meals and activities. Pre-registration is required, call PEEC today to register at (570) 828-2319.
PEEC is located inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area off of Route 209 near mile marker 8 in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. PEEC provides these unique environmental experiences to families and groups of all ages. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally! For more information call (570) 828-2319 or email: peec@peec.org
Sustainable Living Series
Lehman Township, PA – Think, Play and Live Green! Join the staff at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) in Dingmans Ferry, PA for its new Sustainable Living Series (SLS) and learn how to incorporate the GREEN philosophy into your daily life.
During the March 15, 2008 SLS Green Buildings program, residents, officials and business leaders will learn how to utilize and incorporate renewable energy and green building techniques to make facilities Earth-friendly and energy efficient. This program takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is $20 for PEEC Members and $25 for Non-Members and includes lunch.
What is your carbon footprint on the Earth? How do your actions affect our environment? Take a survey to assess your carbon footprint and discuss strategies and methods for reducing it during the SLS: Carbon Footprint program on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost for this program is $6 for PEEC Members and $8 for Non-Members.
If you would like to pass on the gift of sustainability to others, PEEC is also presenting a Leave No Trace Trainer Program June 7-8, 2008. This LNT training is a great way for camp counselors and others who will be working outdoors for the summer to get certified as an LNT trainer. Call PEEC for more information on this training program at (570) 828-2319.
Learn how to reduce the amount of solid waste you send to the landfill during the SLS: Composting program Sunday June 15, 2008 from 1 to 4 p.m. Find out how easy it is to compost your vegetable scraps in this hands-on workshop and re-use them for gardening. The cost for this program is $6 for PEEC Members and $8 for Non-Members.
How do you know what can be recycled and what can’t? Where can recycled products be taken? What happens to materials after they are recycled? Learn all this, and how you can produce less trash all around during the SLS: Recycling program on Sunday, June 22, 2008 from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost for this program is $6 for PEEC Members and $8 for Non-Members.
Participate in activities and discussions that will provide an introduction to the principles and practices of Leave No Trace (LNT) camping during PEEC’s LNT Awareness program on Saturday, July 19, 2008. This program takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is $20 for PEEC Members and $25 for Non-Members. Please bring a bag lunch.
Pre-registration is required for these new SLS programs. To register for a program, or for more information, contact PEEC’s weekend manager at (570) 828-2319 or visit www.peec.org.
PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township).
PEEC’s March Events
Lehman Township, PA – Spring is on its way and the staff at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry are ready to shake off the cold winter and greet the new season. The Center will provide a number of fun and educational programs for children and adults in the month of March.
Join naturalist John Serrao for the first of his free 2008 programs at PEEC on March 9, 2008 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Explore the great outdoors with John as he searches for Signs of Spring that are unfolding around us in the Pocono Mountains. Spaces are filling quickly for these events, call PEEC today to register at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org.
What can you do to support the Earth? Take part in PEEC’s new Sustainable Living Series programs and find out how you can make a difference for the environment and your wallet. Learn how to reduce the fossil fuels that you use in your home or business during the Green Buildings program on March 15, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This educational and informative program is $20 for PEEC members and $25 for non-members and includes lunch in the Center’s award-winning environmentally-friendly dining hall. Pre-registration is required, call PEEC at (570) 828-2319.
The northern migration of the Snow Goose occurs from February to May and is an exciting time for avid avian-watchers! See the huge population of geese that overwintered in the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area located in southeastern PA during the March 15, 2008 Middle Creek Birding Trip. Join presenter Peter Wulfhorst for this daylong trip and see thousands of beautiful white Snow geese and a variety of other birds. This daylong trip will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Please wear warm clothing and bring a bagged lunch for the day.
Celebrate the changing of the season during the Equinox Hike at Rattlesnake Swamp on Thursday, March 20, 2008 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. This trail provides miles of beautiful terrain and gorgeous views of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. During the hike, participants can see the signs of spring taking place along the trail including; blooming skunk cabbage and the ferns that begin to cover the area after the long winter. We will hike outdoors in celebration of the first day of spring on the Equinox, the day the sun is positioned directly above the equator making the length of day and night the same. Come celebrate spring by taking a hike! The Equinox Hike is $10 for PEEC members and $15 for non-members. Transportation is provided for the first 12 participants and carpooling is suggested after that. Call PEEC to register at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org.
Search hot spots around PEEC’s campus for a chance to see one of the area’s most peculiar birds during the Woodcock Walk on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the amazing spring mating ritual offered by the well-camouflaged Woodcock. At dusk, PEEC staff will lead the participants to a field area offering a grand view of the male Woodcock, his acrobatic flying display and the soft twittering and “peent” sound he makes in the hope of attracting a mate. This nature walk will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and is $6 for PEEC members and $8 for non-members. Call PEEC to register at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org.
How would you like to escape to an island paradise for an evening? Enjoy dinner in PEEC’s award winning, environmentally-friendly dining hall and then join professional photographer and presenter Kevin Loughlin for the Galapagos Islands Adventure Dinner & a Show. A showcase of the evolutionary theories brought to us by Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands are home to unique wildlife found nowhere else in the world. Volcanic islands that rose from the sea offer an incredible geologic backdrop to view Blue-footed Boobies, sea lions, penguins, frigate birds and so much more! Kevin will share the photos and memories that he has collected during his adventures to the island. This dinner and a show program will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2008 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. The cost for this program is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required, call PEEC at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org for more information.
PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information call (570) 828-2319. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Journaling Workshop for Educators at PEEC
Lehman Township, PA – Now it’s your turn to learn! Join fellow educators at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) for a hands-on introduction to cross-curricular journaling during PEEC’s Observational Creative Journaling Professional Development Workshop on March 8, 2008.
This hands-on program will show formal and non-formal educators how to make journals their students will want to use and how observational and creative journaling can help students fully “own” their learning.
During the first session, Presenter and Educator Mark Baldwin, from the Roger Tory Peterson institute (www.RTPI.org), will demonstrate how the observation process can be amplified through scientific journaling.
After lunch, PEEC Instructor Justin Timmers will lead participants through the journal-making process. Then in session three, PEEC’s program planner Heidi Normand will explore the outdoors with teachers and show them how beneficial journaling can be for students. Educators will venture outside and participate in a journaling experience to learn methods that help engage students in the creative journaling process.
“The goal of the workshop is to open our eyes to nature and the powerful teaching tool that is journaling. We want educators to understand how important journaling is and the power that a personal journal can give students in all aspects of their lives inside and outside the classroom.” said Heidi Normand.
This daylong workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost for the program is $20 for PEEC members $25 for non-members and includes journal making supplies, lunch and the education sessions. Pre-registration is required. Call PEEC to register at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org for more information.
PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. For more information call (570) 828-2319 or visit PEEC on the web at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Winter Birding With PEEC
Lehman Township, PA – Winter is a great time for birding! The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will offer a variety of programs this winter to highlight the amazing birds that can be found in the Pocono Mountains and the surrounding tri-state area. All you have to do is keep your eyes to the sky and let PEEC do the driving!
Grab your binoculars and enjoy a day full of birding with Peter Wulfhorst and the PEEC staff during the Pine Island Birding Trip on Saturday, January 26, 2008 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Participants will explore areas within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and make their way up north to Pine Island, NY. Birders will have the opportunity to view wintering Bald Eagles along the Delaware River, Common Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Short-eared Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Tree Sparrows, and Horned Larks.
Join the PEEC staff and the Eagle Institute for a Winter Eagle Watch on Saturday, February 2nd from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Why do eagles come to this area every winter and why are more staying to breed? Join the PEEC staff at the Eagle Institute and help collect data and identify eagles. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be provided. Transportation provided from PEEC’s campus to the Institute.
On Saturday, February 23rd, birding enthusiasts can join Peter Wulfhorst for another adventure during the Barnegat Birding Trip from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Search for winter waterfowl along the shores of Barnegat Bay, NJ.
The Middle Creek Wildlife Refuge is a rest stop for thousands of snow geese returning to the arctic as well as other fascinating birds. Enjoy this spectacular sight with Peter Wulfhorst and the PEEC staff during the Middle Creek Birding Trip on Saturday, March 15 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to dress warmly, wear waterproof shoes, and bring a bag lunch for these winter birding programs. Each daylong birding trek is $40 for Friends of PEEC Members and $50 for Non-members. Transportation is provided and seating is limited to the first 12 registered participants. Pre-registration is required for these programs. Call PEEC at (570) 828-2319 to register or for more information.
PEEC is located inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area off of Route 209 near mile marker 8 in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. PEEC provides these unique environmental experiences to families and groups of all ages. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally! For more information call (570) 828-2319 or email: peec@peec.org