DINGMANS FERRY, PA — The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) has been awarded an Open Outdoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS). Through this grant, PEEC and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area staff plan to involve 4,000 elementary school students across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

This grant responds directly to growing demand for field trips in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a press release notes. At PEEC, local teachers can choose from many topics, including but not limited to forest ecology, geology or soils, watershed study, wildlife study, winter ecology, interpretive hikes, night hikes and astronomy. All programs include pre-trip orientations, classroom and field trip programming, and post-visit assessments. 

Building on a child’s innate wonder and curiosity about the world around them, Open Outdoors for Kids helps national parks and park partners create new education experiences or expand existing ones to complement what students are learning in school. The NPF is supporting projects like PEEC’s to introduce students to national parks at a young age, fostering an appreciation for the outdoors and inspiring the next generation of park stewards, PEEC said.