PEEC awarded $20,000 grant from Dodge Foundation

DINGMANS FERRY - The Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) in Dingmans Ferry, PA has received $20,000 from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. These funds will support an innovative, year-round experiential and interdisciplinary Environment and Ecology Studies program that focuses on student and teacher development in urban areas. The center’s pilot school partnership is with PS 14 in Bayonne, N.J. PS 14 teacher Barbara DeBenedictis helped obtain the grant and will be working with the center to make the new program a success. Barbara commented on the new program, “This is an exciting opportunity for the students and teachers in our school and community. PS14 has enjoyed a long relationship with PEEC and hopefully this will strengthen our partnership even more.” In January, Barbara was honored with the “Outstanding Environmental Educator for 2005 Award” during the Alliance For New Jersey Environmental Educators (ANJEE) Conference Dinner. Her passion for the Environment has brought Barbara and her students back to the center year-after-year. Jim Rienhardt, the center’s Executive Director/CEO, stated, “We thank The Dodge Foundation for their generous donation and look forward to implementing this new partnership program. We hope this pilot program will continue to grow and help educate a large number of New Jersey teachers and students on the importance of environmental education and awareness.” 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. PEEC is located at mile marker 8 within the boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, south of Milford. The center’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique environmental experiences to families and groups of all ages. For more information call (570) 828-2319 or visit PEEC on the web at www.peec.org.