November 2010 - Game Dinner to be Held at PEEC
September 2010 - Bio Blitz at PEEC
August 2010 - Girls 'n Gowns, Gents in Jeans?
July 2010 - PEEC Instructor Find Health in a Natural World
June 2010 - Women Making Waves: River Trip for Young Philadelphis Females
May 2010 - PEEC's Summer Day Camp
April 2010 - Bio-Battle!
February 2010 - PEEC Offers Over 30 Free Programs in 2010
Game Dinner to be Held at PEEC
November 2nd, 2010
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry PA - The growing season has come to an end in the Poconos. The colorful leaves are drifting to the ground and the temperatures are cooling. Celebrate the fall season with friends & family at a community game dinner being held at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC).
This relaxing and enjoyable evening will take place at PEEC on Saturday, November 13 from 7:00-9:00pm. The menu will feature some fun dishes that may be new to your palate: Bacon-Wrapped Quail Legs, Butternut Squash Soup, Rabbit Pot-Pie, Venison Stew, Apple & Pumpkin Pies and more. Dinner price is $25 per person.
Pre-registration is requested, so call PEEC for more information or to register – (570) 828-2319. Please visit Events by Subject for a complete list of all upcoming PEEC events and programs.
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!
Bio-Blitz at PEEC – Volunteers Needed!
September 15th, 2010
Lehman Township, Dingmans Ferry PA - What is a BioBlitz? It is a 24-hour field survey to find and identify thousands of local plant and animal species in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Who can volunteer? Everyone!! Outside volunteers will be needed to find plants & animals at field sites. Inside volunteers will be needed to record information & photos.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will be hosting a BioBlitz, beginning at 6:00pm on September 24 and ending at 6:00pm on September 25, 2010. A variety of volunteer shifts and options are still available; however, evening and night volunteers will be able to search for plant & animal species with night-vision goggles!
Family-oriented BioBlitz hikes will be available on Friday evening (including a 9:30pm nocturnal insect search) and all day Saturday.
Volunteers are asked to pre-register at peec.org/bioblitz. If you need any further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 570-828-2319. Additionally, you can visit our Events page for a complete listing of all upcoming PEEC events and programs.
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!
Girls 'n Gowns, Gents in Jeans?
August 9th, 2010
The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will host an informally formal fundraiser on Saturday, August 28 beginning at 7:00pm. The theme will be "Girls 'n Gowns, Gents in Jeans" and the fundraiser will be hosted in PEEC's international award-winning "green" dining hall.
As a fun twist to the fundraiser, "Girls" will wear summer dresses and flip flops. "Gents" will wear jeans and top hats. (Top hats will be provided.) The event will include an auction of PEEC staff-led adventures and a dinner of foods from around the world. A few sample menu items are fresh, chilled gazpacho; asparagus wraps with smoked salmon, goat cheese, and dill; & Caribbean-style jerk chicken lollipops. Local Shawnee Craft Beer and local wines will also be featured. The price will be $40 per person with the proceeds to benefit PEEC.
For reservations, please call PEEC at 570-828-2319 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Pre-payment is requested.
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 for a complete list of all upcoming PEEC events and programs. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC instructor Heidi Normand Finds Health in a Natural World
By Melanie Vanderveer Pocono Record Writer
July 19, 2010
Heidi Normand of Dingmans Ferry loves the outdoors. She loves it so much that she found a way to make a career of not only being at one with nature, but also teaching others how to also.
As the associate director of education at the Pocono Environmental Education Center, or PEEC, she helps others to realize the beauty of the area and all the natural world has to offer.
Just coming off the Delaware River with a group of teen girls from Philadelphia as a part of the Women on the Water program, Normand had a few minutes to talk about why she loves what she does, what she wishes everyone knew about PEEC and how she feels about the wildlife in the Poconos.
Full Article at Pocono Record Online
Women Making Waves: PEEC Creates River Trip Program for Young Philadelphia Females
June 24th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA - This past week, 11 young women from the Philadelphia area spent time at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) to prepare for their upcoming Delaware River trip. Women on the Water (WOW) is a program created by PEEC and funded by a grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF) in which the participants will learn about and deepen their experiences with the natural world.
July 10th through the 16th, 2010, the girls will head to the river guided by Kittatinny Canoes. They will spend 4 days rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and camping along the Delaware. Throughout the trip, the girls will be blogging about their adventures on the water. You can meet the participants and learn about their recent trip to PEEC, as well as follow their adventure at http://womenonthewater.blogspot.com.
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!
Celebrate PEEC's 9th Annual Golf Outing!
June 18th, 2010
Lehman Township - Celebrate the Pocono Environmental Education Center's (PEEC's) 9th Annual Golf Outing at the Great Bear Golf & Country Club! Enjoy a relaxing day of golf on a course designed by Championship Golfer, Jack Nicklaus – the only Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the region. Proceeds will benefit PEEC's year-round Youth & Family Programs.
On Monday, July 19, registration will begin at 8:00am with a shotgun start, scramble format at 9:00am. Registration fees include continental breakfast, lunch buffet, prizes, green fees, & cart. Before July 15, registration will be $125. On-site registration on July 19 will be $140.
Any sponsorship or donations will be gratefully accepted and acknowledged. To register, become a sponsor, or donate a prize, please call 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 or visit PEEC on the web at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Yoga Classes Now Available at PEEC
June 17th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA - Three FREE yoga classes will be available at the Pocono Environmental Education Center over the next several weeks. Join yoga teacher Meredith Hutter Chamorro for a light-hearted, balanced yoga practice with special attention to alignment. Come open your heart and achieve a new level of vitality and peace. All levels of ability are welcome.
Yoga classes held from 7:00-8:00pm on June 24, June 28, & July 1 will be free of charge. Classes will continue to be held Mondays & Thursdays thereafter at $10 per class. Pay for 5 classes and receive your sixth class for free. You may bring your own yoga mat or rent one for $1. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early for your first class to discuss any special health considerations.
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!
The "Bear" Bones of Recycling
By Jessica Snyder & Will Rode
June 10th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA – The recovery of a dead bear from its final resting place is not something that one can truly prepare for. The days leading up to such a task were ones filled with gathering naive volunteers and bear wrangling essentials. The day of recovery began with an early morning voyage to the bear's final resting place, followed by failed attempts to get the bear to willingly release himself from his place of rest. This particular bear is one that had died of natural causes in the fall of 2009. That is the main reason he was so stubborn; plus the fact that he weighed an impressive four hundred pounds. In his slightly decayed state he was, needless to say, not the most pleasant sight or smell in the forest that morning, but after much determination we were successfully back at PEEC with our prize.
You may be asking, "What are your motives?" The motives behind recovering such a large specimen are inspired by a bigger picture. The plan is to use the bear's skeleton as part of a new educational discovery room, which is currently a work in progress. The bear's skull is currently on display and can be viewed as it is cleaned by Dermestid Beetles. In a matter of months, these unassuming beetles will eat everything but the bones of the skull. The plan is to use the bear's skeleton as a "build-a-bear" exhibit. Using rare earth magnets, visitors will be able to reassemble the bones of the bear and learn the skeletal anatomy of the North American Black Bear. The bear is again at rest here at PEEC and the hope is that this bear will bring enjoyment for years to come. For those of use that have taken part in this great adventure, we will surely never forget the experience.... or the smell.
For more information, contact the Pocono Environmental Education Center at 570-828-2319 or visit us online at www.peec.org.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Gem and Keystone Beer Tasting Party to Support PEEC
June 3rd, 2010
Lehman Township, PA - Enjoy handcrafted, premium, chemical-free beer; try to win valuable prizes; and support spreading awareness of the environment, all in one evening. The Gem and Keystone Beer Tasting Party to benefit the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will make it all happen staring at 6:30pm on June 11.
Five ShawneeCraft® Beers paired with Season-Ale™ cuisine will be provided while certificates and tickets to the Gem and Keystone, River Room, and Spa Shawnee; Shawnee Playhouse; canoe trips on Shawnee River; golf outings at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, and Tillinghast Approach Course; and overnight stays at the Shawnee Inn, and the Legacy collection will be among the prizes raffles to attendees.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center advances knowledge and appreciation for wildlife and the environment for children and families through day camps, lectures, workshops, hikes and other adventure trips.
Location: River Road, Shawnee on Delaware. Admission: $25 in advance, $30 at the door (includes one raffle ticket). Additional $5 raffle tickets can also be purchased. For tickets and more information, call 570-424-0990 or visit GemandKeystone.com. For more information on PEEC, call 570-828-2319 or visit peec.org.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC Summer Day Camp
May 11th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA – In the ideal world, all learning is fun, organic, and sparks a child’s innate curiosity. In fact, that’s the philosophy behind all that we do at PEEC, especially when school children come here on day or overnight trips to learn about the environment.
Kids will come from as far as New York City or as close as East Stroudsburg and they’ll spend time hiking, asking questions about the frogs they find in the pond, and thoroughly enjoying spending time in nature. All the while they will learn about habitat, ecology, and the natural world around them. In the end, they’ll go back home remembering the PEEC experience for the rest of their lives.
But that experience doesn’t have to end when the children return from a school trip. PEEC offers many programs to entice a child’s wonder about the outdoors and our best is easily the Summer Day Camp.
PEEC’s Summer Day Camp offers children of all ages the opportunity to grow and challenge themselves at their own pace and at their own level. We will go to the pond to find frogs and Red Spotted Newts or catch macro-invertebrates (insects) of all shapes and sizes. With staff help, the kids will be able to identify whatever they find. Our help is only needed for a short while, as the campers take the nets back into the pond to catch more and are able to identify these critters for themselves.
During this time we keep our natural treasures (the macros & amphibians) in a bucket to watch their interactions and so we can share them with everyone. In the end, we release everything we find so that we can explore, but not harm, the environment.
Older campers, known as Jr. & Sr. Naturalists, will be canoeing around our ponds. They will also go through the National Park to explore the Delaware River or Appalachian Trail. They get the opportunity to experience nature in many locations in new ways -- like learning the Native American technique of camouflage by covering themselves in mud and then trying to hide.
PEEC Summer Day Camp is an exciting, interesting, educational, and affordable experience for children from age’s 3 to 10th grade. Registrations begin at $150 a week and are less for Friends of PEEC Members.
For more information, contact the Pocono Environmental Education Center at 570-828-2319 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Call or e-mail for a registration form. Forms can also be downloaded directly from the website at www.peec.org and on-line registration is available.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC’s Native Plant Sale
May 7th 2010
Lehman Township, PA – Beautify your garden! The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will host a Native Plant Sale on Saturday, May 8 from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Browse from a variety of native flowers, shrubs, and grasses and choose plants that are perfect for your home. Shade plants, sun plants, and deer-resistant plants will be available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors -- over 40 different types. Foxglove, Creeping Phlox, Japanese Painted Ferns, and Shrub Roses are only a few options.
Additionally, if you enjoy gardening, plan to return to PEEC on May 16 from 1:00-5:00pm for our Volunteer Day. We will be planting and maintaining our gardens at PEEC. You can meet other volunteers to enjoy a “spring planting” afternoon.
For more information, contact the Pocono Environmental Education Center at 570 828-2319 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
BIO-BATTLE!
April 29th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA – “I spend my summers running around Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) like a cottontail rabbit who just noticed a red-tailed hawk. It’s my favorite part of the year because there’s so much happening and many amazing things being learned at the Summer Day Camp. As the years have progressed, there have been more and more additions to the programs. However, all of that will pale in comparison with what we have planned for the summer of 2010”, says By Mike Liese, Summer Camp Manager.
This summer everything is evolving.
It’s always been our focus to excite young children about the outdoors. Tadpoles (ages 3 to Kindergarten) will be able to stay all day to get the full PEEC experience and have the best possible time in the outdoors. The Wet & Slimies (1st – 4th grade) will catch frogs, take hikes, and create new crafts with reused household items and materials from nature. They may even discover the mystery of how Pocono Sea Glass is made.
In 2010, the Jr. Naturalists (5th – 7th grade) will be able to spend even more time at PEEC. With bi-weekly late nights, we’ll have cookouts, additional swim time, dusk hikes, and more. The Jr. Nats summer will conclude with their very first rafting trip on the Delaware and an overnight in PEEC’s tent sites.
The Sr. Naturalists (8th- 10th grade) will have 6 weeks of programs that include climbing, a river overnight, and a two-night overnight on the Appalachian Trail. During the week of “Experienced Backpacking”, campers will be enjoying 3 days and 2 nights on the Appalachian Trail while making memories of a lifetime.
We’re excited about all of our summer plans, but if there is one program that will make this summer at PEEC absolutely extraordinary: the Bio-Battle.
Now you may ask, “What is the Bio-Battle?” There will be just two during the summer and to win the Bio-Battle teams will need as much skill in a canoe as they will knowledge of nature. And never discount the ability of finding, catching, sharing, and releasing frogs.
But then the question comes up: “But what are we going to do?” To that I must answer, “It will include a Bio-Blitz, but you must come to camp and see the rest”. All age groups will participate, but as for when…. That’s something only time will tell.
Although we are already affordable starting at $150 a week ($135 for Friends of PEEC Members), we’d like to add the additional savings for families who register early. So all registrations between now and April 24 will receive a $5 early bird discount per week.
For more information, contact the Pocono Environmental Education Center at 570 828-2319 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Call or e-mail for a registration form. Forms can also be downloaded directly from the website at www.peec.org and on-line registration is available.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Innovative Conservation Program Teaches Urban Youth About Restoring Native Habitats
April 8th, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC (April, 19th 2010) – Area youth from the East Stroudsburg, Middle Smithfield and Bushkill areas will be planting a garden of native plant species in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA) on April 24th, 2010 as part of the National Park Foundation’s First Bloom program and as a part of the Pocono Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) Earth Day Celebration that day.
First Bloom gives students firsthand experience in national parks, and teaches them about native and invasive plant species. “The young people that have been part of First Bloom at our park have learned and grown tremendously,” said Molly Check, PEEC’s Naturalist and Public Program Manager. Heidi C. Normand, PEEC’s Associate Director of Education stated “The park and our center have really valued their enthusiasm and their hard work as we have designed and planned this native garden, which will restore this area of land to its natural beauty and give the thousands of visitors that come to PEEC each year a chance to learn about native plants and wetland ecology.”
“One of the most important things anyone can do for the environment is to connect young people to parks,” said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Kids, who are forging connections with the national parks today, are likely to have lasting relationships with the parks and the outdoors for their whole lives.”
First Bloom connects kids between 4th and 6th grades to national parks and natural environments. The nationwide program is currently taking place in 26 national parks in partnership with 31 youth groups across the country. Most First Bloom kids meet with park rangers monthly over one program year, approximately September 2009 to June 2010 to engage in outdoor, hands-on activities and learn to love the outdoors and their national parks. PEEC’s program is different in that their First Bloom participants meet with PEEC’s environmental educators and partake in 2 overnight program experiences at PEEC’s 38 acre residential environmental education center located in the park. Toward the end of the program, youth involved plant a native landscape at a national park. That landscape is a lasting connection for those youth, a transferable experience, and a feature that all future visitors to the park will enjoy. In addition, the PEEC / DWGNRA First Bloomers are also helping to start the planting of an “outdoor” wetland ecology “natural” classroom adjacent to their garden. This parcel of land was designed to manage storm water runoff from pavement on the PEEC Campus. Basic Pennsylvania wetland plant species will be planted in the area and interpretive signage installed to help educate the public about native wetland ecology.
To learn more about the First Bloom program, visit www.first-bloom.org. First Bloom programs around the nation were generously supported by the UPS Foundation, ARAMARK Parks and Recreation, and gifts from private donors and foundations.
ABOUT DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
The recreation area encompasses 67,000 acres of mountain ridge, forest, and floodplain on both sides of the Delaware River in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Among the more surprising species of animals in the park are black bear, timber rattlesnakes, bald eagles, and, recently, nesting peregrine falcons. Ecosystems include hemlock ravines with bountiful rhodendron and ridge tops with prickly pear cactus.
Forty miles of the Middle Delaware River are within the park, as well as trout streams, lakes, ponds, and some of the highest waterfalls of either state. Water quality is exceptional in this section of the valley. The river's path through the mountains includes the S-curves of Walpack Bend and the Delaware Water Gap.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
You are the part-owner of 84 million acres of the world’s most treasured landscapes, ecosystems, and historical sites -- all protected in America’s nearly 400 national parks. Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks. We work hand in hand with the National Park Service to help connect you and all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow. Join us – This is Your Land. www.nationalparks.org
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/nationalpark
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/goparks
PEEC's Earth Day Celebration 2010
April 8th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA - The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA will host its 15th Annual Earth Day Family Festival on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 from 10 am – 4 pm. This year’s theme is “I Can Make A Difference”. And through a great variety of activities, crafts, and projects we all can make a difference… together. It’s a great event where you and your family can celebrate Earth Day this year.
Families can enjoy and participate in any of the day’s many activities. There will be guided nature hikes, on-going bird walks by the Northeast Audubon Society, and recycled crafts -- including making jewelry and wind chimes out of our local Pocono Sea Glass. Home Depot will be here providing materials and assistance in making Bird Houses to take home.
Hands-on learning stations will teach children and adults about sustainable living, exhibits, and more. We’ll be gardening all day and will be able to show you a variety of ways to reuse household materials to make a beautiful garden.
Another popular activity will be the tie-dying station! Bring cotton shirts, socks, pillowcases and other items to be tie-dyed with your very own colorful design. Or you can purchase an Earth Day t-shirt at PEEC to decorate.
Featured events during the day-long celebration include a recital by the wonderful children’s troop the Delaware Dancers and a live animal presentation from Kathy Uhler of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Advanced Recovery, from Port Jervis NY, will be on-hand all day to help folks recycle any old electronics. This is a terrific way to appropriately recycle electronics – the earth is spared and electronic parts are re-used. Kittatinny Canoes from Dingmans Ferry, PA will be available to introduce families to canoeing and kayaking on PEEC’s ponds.
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 a.m. – 4 p.m. 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (570) 828-2319 for driving directions and more information.
Admission to the festival is $5 per carload for all programs and activities; $10/carload for all programs, activities and all the electronic recycling your car, not truck, can hold. 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. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
Fish Fry & Float!
April 7th, 2010
Lehman Township, PA – A great community event will be taking place at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC), on April 17, 2010 – Fish Fry & Float! From 4-6 pm, family & friends can meet at PEEC for a fish fry dinner. After a delicious dinner, enjoy the spring evening while paddling a canoe on Front Pond.
While the fishermen & women are wading in the local streams waiting for the first catch of the season, there are several additional events happening at PEEC. Spend some time volunteering to clean-up the yard at PEEC between 9am & 4 pm. Lunch will be provided for the volunteers. Or join the search for salamander eggs. This $5 event begins at 1:00pm. Explore our swamps & ponds while searching for the large egg masses left by hopeful salamander parents.
At the end of the day, fishermen, friends, & family can relax and enjoy the Fish Fry & Float. At $14 for adults and $7 for children 10 & under, it is a great way to end the evening. Fish will be provided and canoeing on PEEC’s Front Pond is included at no extra charge.
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 us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit us online at www.peec.org.
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, between Milford and Bushkill, PA. PEEC enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experiences in an outdoor classroom. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
How Do Amphibians Cross the Road?
April 1st, 2010
Lehman Township, PA – There are many opportunities to connect with nature at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC). There are 5 easy-to-moderate hiking trails that pass beautiful hemlock ravines, pristine ponds, and gorgeous waterfalls. PEEC compliments the science curricula of NY, NJ, & PA with hands-on environmental programming in the outdoors. Our workshops include photography, quilting, hiking, and more. There are events for Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts, the Earth Day Festival, and Summer Nature Day Camp!
But there is even more happening at PEEC . . . For example, did you know that the PEEC staff helped amphibians cross the road to avoid cars? We found 69 Spotted Salamander's, 35 Spring Peepers, 6 Green Frogs, 2 Bullfrogs, 1 Red Eft, 1 Pickerel Frog, and 4 American Toads. We also found 2 Four-Toed Salamanders!!! All-in all, it was a good night for saving the migrating Spotted Salamanders!
The staff at PEEC loves the environment and the outdoors. Not only do we have a passion for nature, but we love to be able to share that excitement with everyone! We try to do that via our events, free hikes, and other programming. But we also have another wonderful outlet for sharing our love of the outdoors -- Facebook. The results of our salamander rescue, along with other information and photos, were shared on our PEEC Facebook page. We also have some amazing pictures of the beaver at Front Pond taken by our Director of Education, Allison.
Go on-line and join us! Become a fan of the Pocono Environmental Education Center to see what we have found in the natural habitats outside our doors. Maybe you'll find something interesting outdoors and have a question, or see something amazing that you want to share. Trust me . . . we'd love to hear about it!
PEEC's mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through a hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. We provide unique, year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located off Route 209, 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's website at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!
PEEC will be Offering Over 30 FREE Programs throughout 2010!
February 11th, 2010
Lehman Township, Dingman Ferry PA - The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA has something new planned for 2010! PEEC will be offering over 30 FREE programs throughout the year that will inspire and teach about the natural world. Join PEEC’s knowledgeable staff for any of these upcoming events – there’s something for everyone!
Moonrise Walk – February 28, 5-7pm
Plan Your Garden Day – March 20, 1-3pm
Tumbling Waters Hike – April 18, 9-noon
Wild Flower Walk – May 1, 9-noon
PEEC Big Sit and BBQ – May 2, 8-noon
Streamside Stomp – June 12, 10-noon
Music of the Night – June 27, 8-10pm
Moonrise Walk – July 25, 8-10pm
Fossil Trail Hike – September 4, 10-noon
Rhythms of Nature Festival – September 12, 10-5pm
BioBlitz – September 24, 4pm start
Nature at Night – October 2, 6-8pm
Harvest Moon Potluck – October 16, 6-9pm
Moonrise Walk - November 27, 5-7pm
Tumbling Waters Hike – December 11, 1-4pm
Christmas Bird Count – December 26, 8am
PEEC will also be hosting a new event called “Sunday for Singles.” This monthly hike is a great way to meet new people while enjoying the beauty of nature. This program will run from 10am-noon on April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12 and October 10.
In addition to the variety of free programs, PEEC has a full calendar of activities that cost a small fee. This includes the “Sugar Shack Scramble” on March 13. The program costs $20 for adults and $10 for children, and will run from 9-noon. Join PEEC staff on an orienteering expedition to Two Saps Sugar Shack and enjoy PA maple syrup and pancakes. Register early!
The complete 2010 calendar of events can be found at www.peec.org.
PEEC is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit in partnership with the National Park Service, Delaware Water National Recreation Area. 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!
Family Nature Getaway Weekend
February 2nd, 2010
Lehman Township, Dingman Ferry PA - The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is hosting its next Family Nature Getaway weekend from February 12-15, 2010. Join PEEC's enthusiastic staff for a weekend of environmental programs, delicious food and relaxing activities. The theme for the weekend is "Winter Luau" and will include discussions on climate change and energy audit tips, as well as fun Hawaiian crafts and activities.
The schedule includes all the PEEC favorites – come and learn about astronomy, local wildlife habitat, geology or winter tree identification. There will also be off-campus trips to search for eagles and explore local waterfalls. Each time slot has three activities you can choose from – everyone is sure to find something they are interested in!
The weekend will begin on Friday, February 12, with registration from 3-6 p.m., and continue through Monday, February 15. It is designed with families in mind, so don't worry about your little ones. There will be plenty of activities designed for young children, including open craft sessions and wildlife games.
The cost for the weekend is $190 per adult, which includes three nights of lodging and nine meals. Children who are 7-10 years old will receive 25% off. Children ages 4-6 years receive 50% off, and children under 3 are free!
This great experience is part of a series at PEEC. Throughout the upcoming year, PEEC will have five other Family Nature Getaway weekends, each with a different theme. Don't miss any of these great events!
May 28-31: Memorial Day weekend "Spring Fling"
July 2-5: Fourth of July weekend "Celebration with a bang"
August 6-8: "Dog Days of Summer"
September 3-6: Labor Day weekend "Migrate to PEEC"
October 8-11: Columbus Day weekend "Falling Leaves"
The Pocono Environmental Education Center, a non-profit center, is located in Dingmans Ferry, PA within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Pocono Environmental Education Center enhances environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands on experiences in an outdoor classroom. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally! Questions? Check www.peec.org or call PEEC at 570-828-2319.
