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Lenape Program at PEEC!
November 12, 2012
LEHMAN TOWNSHIP, DINGMAN’S FERRY, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will present “Lenape of the Eastern Woodland” on Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 1:00-3:00pm.
Mike Dennis of Traditional Earth Skills will teach participants about the day-to-day activities of the Lenape culture. The food, clothing, and shelter of the local hunter gatherers will be presented, along with handmade artifacts. The program is $20 per person and pre-registration is requested.
In 1998, Mike Dennis began an intensive study of native wilderness skills and botany. Within a year of beginning courses at the Tracker school, Mike started working on the Indian Island of Waterloo Village. There tourists were able to benefit from Mike’s knowledge and skills. In 2005 Mike took all of his woodworking knowledge to Spokane Washington where he built his first birch bark canoe.
Traditional Earth Skills offers a variety of living history as well as wilderness skills workshops and presentations. These programs are combined with a genuine concern for recent climate changes occurring world-wide, ultimately hoping to create solutions we can all live with.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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-line at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
If you go into the woods the weekend of October 19-21, you’re in for a big surprise!
September 21, 2012
DELAWARE WATER GAP, PA – The North American Orienteering Championships will be held from Friday October 19 to Sunday October 21, 2012. NAOC 2012 headquarters will be at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in connection with the host club, the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association (DVOA). Orienteers from the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe will compete in three World Ranking Events. DVOA expects over 500 competitors and support staff in the woods around PEEC on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Everyone will be watching world-class runners go head to head – but there will be plenty of excitement in every age and skill class.
PEEC will be the headquarters, and the final event on Sunday will be an exciting spectator-friendly relay between national teams right on the PEEC campus. Their award winning new dining facility will be the heart of the social activities for the weekend. The Poconos will be especially beautiful in October, and competitors and their families will be “out and about” enjoying everything the area has to offer.
Anyone heading out into the woods for hunting or a quiet hike from October 18 to the 21st in the areas of PEEC, Adams Creek or Egypt Mills might be surprised to encounter race workers setting up water stations and controls with orange and white flags and score boxes, or doing take-down, as well as competitors in club or national team uniforms. Shuttle buses will also be in action, ferrying runners to the remote starting points.
If you are not familiar with the sport, orienteering competitors are issued a detailed map and use only their map and compass skills and speed in the woods to find control points in order in the forest. It’s a timed race and a great workout for body and mind, and all ages and fitness levels can participate.
DVOA has had a great season so far, sending both a men’s and women’s relay team to the world’s largest orienteering relay event in Finland, Jukola 2012. Masters and Juniors from the US, with a strong representation from the Delaware Valley, competed in Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now it is DVOA’s turn to host competitors from around the globe on our world class orienteering terrain in the Delaware Water Gap NRA.
Everything you want to know about NAOC 2012 is on the event website, WWW.NAOC2012.ORG.
Pocono Environmental Center Announces Partnership with 1% for the Planet
September 18, 2012
DINGMANS FERRY, PA – Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is a new nonprofit partner of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of over 1,380 member companies in 43 countries that give 1% of revenues to environmental causes.
PEEC is now eligible to receive donations from 1% member companies, placing them among a diverse, global network of environmental organizations. 1% member businesses fuel this non-profit network through their annual contributions, which totaled over $22 million in 2010. Partnership with 1% greatly expands the potential pool of funding to which PEEC can look to for support.
Newly approved PEEC contributes to a healthier planet by providing numerous year-round activities, opportunities, and programs for persons of all ages and abilities to study, become engaged in, and become connected to nature and natural systems. PEEC opens doors to nature.
Over 2,300 non-profits worldwide are included in the 1% network, and over $70 million has been funneled to its nonprofit partners to date. “The intent of 1% for the Planet is to help fund these diverse environmental organizations so that collectively they can be a more powerful force in solving the world’s problems,” Yvon Chouinard, founder of 1% for the Planet.
It is our belief at PEEC that, through ‘direct experience’ with the natural world, all PEEC participants will not only gain increased knowledge of natural science, techniques for scientific inquiry, and familiarity with local flora, fauna, and ecology, but will become connected to their natural world and (hopefully) create and establish their personal land ethic and actively become involved in conservation and stewardship. As John Burrows once said, “Knowledge without love will not stick. But if love comes first, knowledge is sure to follow.”
About 1% for the Planet
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet is a growing global movement of over 1,350 member companies in 43 countries that donate one percent of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide. Each day, more than one new business joins the 1% for the Planet movement. As a network, the 1% community has become a frontrunner in funding the work of environmental groups around the world. To learn more about 1% go to: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org
About PEEC
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 online at www.peec.org for a complete list of all upcoming PEEC events and programs. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Moonlit Drumming at PEEC
June 25th, 2012
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry, PA. The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will be hosting a “Moonlit Drumming” program on Saturday evening, July 14, 2012, from 7:00-9:00pm. Master Drummer, Maxwell Kofi Donkor, will lead this inspiring event.
Participants in Moonlit Drumming will enjoy an introductory lesion and a drumming circle under the moonlit sky. No experience is necessary! Prices are $30/adult and $15/child. Please call PEEC at 570-828-2319 to register and reserve a drum – spaces are limited, so call early!
For a complete list of all upcoming PEEC events and programs, please visit the events by date page.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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!
Park History Tour at PEEC
May 31st, 2012
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry, PA. – Explore the history of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area! The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is holding its annual Park History Tour on Saturday, June 23, from 9am-3:00pm. The cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.
Allison Owczarczak, PEEC’s Director of Education, is scheduled to lead this interesting and in-depth look at the historic buildings of the Park. This year, the tour will be focusing on historic sites located in the New Jersey section of the recreation area, in addition to a stop at the Marie Zimmerman House. Marie Zimmerman, a nationally acclaimed metal crafts artist in the late 19th century, retired to her home in the Milford area in the late 1940’s & 1950’s. The house is currently being restored by the Friends of Marie Zimmerman. Bring a camera for great photo opportunities!
Pre-registration for the Park History Tour is required and spaces are limited. Please call PEEC at 570-828-2319 to register or check www.peec.org for further details.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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-line at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
2012 PEEC Summer Day Camp
The long, lazy days of summer are fast approaching and the staff at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) are preparing for PEEC’s popular Summer Day Camp.
Summer Day Camp begins at PEEC on June 25 & continues through August 17, 2012 from 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. Campers ages 3-11th grade will have up to 8 weeks to explore, play, and learn about the natural world in which they live. Parents can choose individual weeks or register their children for the entire summer with the assurance that PEEC staff members are fully trained in CPR/First Aid and have completed all background checks.
Tadpoles (3-5 years) will have 5 weeks of camp available. Parents can choose from among such themes as “Fantastic Frogs”, “Bugs & Blooms”, or “Amazing Animals”. Tadpoles stay at PEEC for either a morning half-day or whole day sessions. They will enjoy games, crafts, and outdoor discoveries. A PEEC instructor oversees a maximum of 12 children with the help of camp counselors & volunteers.
The Wet & Slimies (1st – 4th grade) can choose from camp weeks such as “Fossil Frolic”, “Water World”, and “Creepy Crawlies” during 8 sessions. They will experience weeks full of crafts, games, hikes, and nature discover sessions. They will be encouraged to explore the natural world around them, while being closely supervised by our experienced camp staff.
Junior Naturalists (5th – 7th grade) will participate in creative activities that nurture their natural curiosity about the environment. Included will be the ever-popular “Camouflage!” week, as well as “Fishing Frenzy”, and “Outdoor Living Skills”. During these 8 weeks, campers will participate in activities such as interpretive hikes, educational games, fun projects, and more. Junior Nats will also have a weekly late night and several of the weeks will include an overnight stay at PEEC’s tent sites.
Senior Naturalists (8th – 11th grade) will have 5 weeks of activities. Themes will include “Ultimate Adventure”, “River Rendezvous”, and “Outdoor Survival Skills”. The Senior Nats will have weeks filled with exciting adventures & challenges, plus amazing trips at the end of each camp week. The “Backpack Explorer” week will even include a 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip.
PEEC also has a Volunteer Counselor Program for teens ages 15 & up. Volunteer Counselors will learn the expectations of a real job while guiding children & changing lives. Please see the PEEC website for details or call 570-828-2319.
Further information is available on-line at http://www.peec.org/day-camp.html, along with registration forms & on-line registration. For additional details or to have information mailed, call PEEC at 570-828-2319. Weekly registration fees range from $150 – $250 depending upon the camper’s age & the activities included in each week. Options available to parents, for an additional charge, are bagged lunches provided by PEEC & transportation from several area locations.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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!
THE POCONO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER WINS “TAKE ME FISHING AWARD” TO CONNECT YOUTH TO RECREATIONAL FISHING
May 4th, 2012
Dingmans Ferry, PA The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) received a Take Me Fishing™ Award from Outdoor Nation, a national organization that reconnects youth to the outdoors. The Take Me Fishing Award will fund family fishing programs, an idea that Molly Check, Public Program Manager at PEEC, developed to increase youth participation in recreational fishing and reconnect youth to the outdoors. The award is made possible by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a nonprofit whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating.
PEEC will use the funding to offer several fishing programs throughout the year. These programs will offer opportunities to experience the art of fishing in a safe, fun environment. PEEC instructors that trained with the Fish and Boat Commission will lead the fishing classes and provide the necessary equipment. Fishing programs that are open to the public will be held on Saturday May 19, Saturday June 2, and Saturday September 22, from 10am-12pm.
“Fishing is one of the top gateway activities which often leads to participation in other outdoor pursuits,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re pleased to support these awards as a way to connect youth with the outdoors and create future anglers and boaters who will cherish and protect our outdoor spaces.”
Outdoor Nation selects Take Me Fishing Award winners through a competitive application and review process. Ten projects from across the country were chosen for the awards. The projects serve various audiences and activities include therapeutic recreation, ice fishing, university programs, and environmental educational.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for PEEC to teach the basics of fishing to visiting groups, summer campers, and members of the community,” said Molly Check. “I hope that our public programs will be well-received and full of eager fishermen of all ages.”
Outdoor Nation is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation and was founded with initial support from The North Face, RBFF, The REI Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service.
“We are proud to continue empowering young people to champion the outdoors and become leaders in their communities,” said Chris Fanning, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation, the organization that oversees Outdoor Nation. “Thanks to RBFF, America’s youth will help inspire young fishing enthusiasts, engage their diverse and underserved peers and provide valuable skills that will last a lifetime.”
THE POCONO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER WINS “TAKE ME FISHING AWARD” TO CONNECT YOUTH TO RECREATIONAL FISHING
April 30th, 2012
Dingmans Ferry, PA The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) received a Take Me Fishing™ Award from Outdoor Nation, a national organization that reconnects youth to the outdoors. The Take Me Fishing Award will fund family fishing programs, an idea that Molly Check, Public Program Manager at PEEC, developed to increase youth participation in recreational fishing and reconnect youth to the outdoors. The award is made possible by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a nonprofit whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating.
PEEC will use the funding to offer several fishing programs throughout the year. These programs will offer opportunities to experience the art of fishing in a safe, fun environment. PEEC instructors that trained with the Fish and Boat Commission will lead the fishing classes and provide the necessary equipment. Fishing programs that are open to the public will be held on Saturday May 19, Saturday June 2, and Saturday September 22, from 10am-12pm.
“Fishing is one of the top gateway activities which often leads to participation in other outdoor pursuits,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re pleased to support these awards as a way to connect youth with the outdoors and create future anglers and boaters who will cherish and protect our outdoor spaces.”
Outdoor Nation selects Take Me Fishing Award winners through a competitive application and review process. Ten projects from across the country were chosen for the awards. The projects serve various audiences and activities include therapeutic recreation, ice fishing, university programs, and environmental educational.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for PEEC to teach the basics of fishing to visiting groups, summer campers, and members of the community,” said Molly Check. “I hope that our public programs will be well-received and full of eager fishermen of all ages.”
Outdoor Nation is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation and was founded with initial support from The North Face, RBFF, The REI Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service.
“We are proud to continue empowering young people to champion the outdoors and become leaders in their communities,” said Chris Fanning, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation, the organization that oversees Outdoor Nation. “Thanks to RBFF, America’s youth will help inspire young fishing enthusiasts, engage their diverse and underserved peers and provide valuable skills that will last a lifetime.”
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Warbler Weekend at PEEC
April 23rd, 2012
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry, PA – As spring arrives in the Pocono Mountains, many species of birds are returning from warmer climates. Birders of all levels, novice to experienced, are invited to spend the weekend of May 11-13 at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in search of warblers, raptors, and other migrating birds.
The weekend will begin on Friday evening, May 11 & continue through Sunday afternoon, May 13. Guided field trips will bed led by Darryl Speicher & Peter Wulfhorst, experienced birders who will identify birds by sight, sound, and habitat.
Join us for a weekend with the birds! To register, call PEEC at 570-828-2319. The cost of the weekend is $195, which includes 2 nights of lodging & 6 meals. Commuter & day rates are also available.
Additional birding programs will be available at PEEC the weekend of May 19 & 20. “Introduction to Birding” programs will be held Saturday, May 19, from 8-10am and Sunday, May 20 from 9-11am. These programs will be free for PEEC members and $5 for non-members. The programs will focus on bird ID, their unique natural history, and the reasons behind annual bird migration. Please visit http://www.peec.org/events-date.html for a complete list of all upcoming PEEC events and programs.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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 online at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC’s 2012 Earth Day Celebration
April 18th, 2012
Lehman Township, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA will host its 17th Annual Earth Day Family Festival on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Joining the celebration is a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
Families can enjoy and participate in any of the day’s many activities. A great variety of activities and projects will be available along with guided nature hikes and recycled crafts and games.
The festival will include family-oriented hands-on learning stations, sustainable living ideas, and environmentally-friendly products, businesses, and much more.
Featured events during the day-long celebration include a live animal presentation by Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Guided Nature Hikes.
Kittatinny Canoes from Dingmans Ferry, PA will be available to introduce families to canoeing and kayaking on PEEC’s front pond.
Also, plan for summer at Earth Day! Register your child for PEEC’s Summer Day Camp and receive an Early Bird Rate. If you sign up at Earth Day, you will receive a $5 per week per child discount on summer camp. The event lasts from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and will be held rain or shine. A barbeque lunch will be available for a nominal fee, so plan to spend the day! Visit www.peec.org, email peec@peec.org or call (570) 828-2319 for driving directions and more information.
Admission to the festival is $5 per carload for all programs and activities. All proceeds from the festival will benefit PEEC’s Youth and Family Education Programs.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit facility, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC advances environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Drumming Culture at PEEC
April 17th, 2012
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry, PA – The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will be offering a “Drum Making Workshop” the weekend of May 4-5, 2012, led by Master Drummer, Maxwell Kofi Donkor.
This wonderful weekend begins the afternoon of Friday, May 4 and continues through Saturday, May 5. Donkor will lead participants through the steps of making their own drums, from selecting the natural materials and soaking the skins to heading the shells. Enjoy introductory drumming lessons, sunrise drumming, historical drumming culture, & more. No experience necessary. Registration is $250 ($200 commuter rate) and this amazing program includes 1 night of lodging & 4 delicious meals.
Master Drummer Donkor will return to PEEC throughout the summer for additional drumming programs. “Moonlit Drumming” will be held at PEEC on July 14, 7-9pm. Registration is $30/adult and $15/child, and participants will enjoy an introductory lesson and a drumming circle under the moonlit sky. “Full Moon Drumming” on August 31, 7-10pm, will be $30/adult and $15/child. This program will also include an introductory lesson and drumming circle, as well as teaching the basics of drumming and its rich cultural heritage, all under the brilliant full moon.
To register, call PEEC at 570-828-2319 with your information. Please visit http://www.peec.org/events-date.html for a complete list of all upcoming PEEC events and programs.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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-line at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC’s 3rd Annual Community Fish Fry
April 2nd, 2012
Lehman Township, PA – Celebrate the opening of day of trout season with a delicious community event. The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will be hosting its 3rd Annual Community Fish Fry on April 14, 2012. From 5-7 pm, family & friends can meet at PEEC for a fish fry dinner. After a delightful dinner, enjoy the spring evening with a short canoe paddle on Front Pond.
During the day, while the fishermen & women are wading in the local streams searching for the first catch of the season, there is an additional program available at PEEC. Salamanders have begun stirring in the woods, so join the PEEC staff as they explore nearby breeding pools for salamander egg masses. This $5 event begins at 1:00pm on April 14. Nets & collection jars will be provided for up-close study.
At the end of the day, fishermen, friends, & family can relax and enjoy the fish fry. At $12 for adults and $8 for children 10 & under, it is a great way to end the day. Fish will be provided and, weather permitting, canoeing on PEEC’s Front Pond is included at no extra charge. Please call 570-828-2319 to register for the Salamander Egg Search and the Fish Fry.
PEEC is located on Emery Road in Dingmans Ferry – just minutes from many of the ponds & streams in Lehman Township. For more information, call 570-828-2319, email peec@peec.org, or check www.peec.org.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit facility, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC advances environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Contact:
Janine Morley
Marketing Coordinator
Pocono Environmental Education Center
Sugar Shack Scramble at PEEC
February 23th, 2012
Celebrate the end of winter at the Sugar Shack Scramble! The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is hosting its 3rd annual Sugar Shack Scramble on Saturday, March 10, from 9am-12:30pm. The cost is $15 per adult and $10 per child.
Enjoy an orienteering expedition that leads to a sugar shack in the woods! Participants will travel in guided groups, using a map and compass to find the sugar shack. Upon arrival, you will learn about the maple sugaring process, see the maple sap as boils down to syrup, and enjoy hot cocoa and pancakes with fresh PA maple syrup.
Pre-registration is required and spaces are limited. Please call PEEC at 570-828-2319 to sign up for a 9:00am or 9:30am start time.
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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-line at www.peec.org PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
JESSICA SNYDER AWARDED GRANT FROM OUTDOOR
NATION TO RECONNECT YOUTH TO THE OUTDOORS
February 16th, 2012
Dingmans Ferry, PA (2/9/12) Today Jessica Snyder from Dingmans Ferry, PA was awarded an activation grant from Outdoor Nation, a national initiative that reconnects youth to the outdoors. The Outdoor Nation activation grant will fund Women on the Water, an idea Snyder developed to reconnect youth to America’s natural and cultural heritage. The winning project supports the goals of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, which aims to create a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda, and the grant was made possible by the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, the community assistance arm of the National Park Service.
Women on the Water provides 45 female high school students from urban Philadelphia, New York City, and rural Pennsylvania the opportunity to explore and learn about the Delaware River and its associated riparian ecosystems from its beginnings in upstate New York all the way to the bay in Philadelphia. The young women will have many opportunities to learn about environmental education while paddling and sleeping on the river, volunteering in the National Park visitor centers, and participating in a 2- 4 week mentor/internship program at the Pocono Environmental Education Center.
“We are very proud to turn our young people’s ideas into actions,” said Chris Fanning, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation, the organization that oversees Outdoor Nation. “The Outdoor Nation activation grants will help empower youth to take on their generation’s most significant outdoor challenges by removing barriers to outdoor participation, making the outdoors more relevant, and engaging more young people in outdoor activities.”
Outdoor Nation awards grants through a competitive application and review process. Twenty projects from across the country were chosen for the Outdoor Nation activation grant. The projects serve various audiences and activities include kayaking, photography, inner-city outreach, hiking, painting, biking, environmental education, and map and compass skills.
“I envision these young ladies gaining a better understanding about the outdoor world and its opportunities, as well as having many powerful experiences that they can build upon later in life,” said Jessica Snyder, Summer Camp, Special Events, and Volunteer Coordinator at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC). Snyder has been working at PEEC for the past 2 years. She attended Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania, and graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies. She is looking forward to the opportunity to share her outdoor experiences with the particpants.
Outdoor Nation is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation and was founded with initial support from The North Face, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, The REI Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service.
January & February Eagle Watches at PEEC
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry, PA.
January 25th, 2012
Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will lead several Eagle Watches during January & February. Each of the Eagle Watches will include several stops, including the Eagle Institute in Lackawaxen, PA. The program will provide opportunities to see eagles soaring, feeding, and nest guarding. The events will be held Saturday, January 28 & Saturday, February 4, from 9:00am-3:00pm and the cost is $25 per person.
Also, on Sunday, February 12, PEEC will host an additional Eagle Watch as a part of its monthly “Sundays for Singles” programs. This $25 event will also be held from 9:00am – 3:00pm
Also, on Sunday, February 12, PEEC will host an additional Eagle Watch as a part of its monthly “Sundays for Singles” programs. This $25 event will also be held from 9:00am – 3:00pm
PEEC’s mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC provides unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. The environmental center 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-line at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!