|
Press Releases WHAT'S NEW? - NJ DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE PRESS RELEASES Return to EEdNews Homepage CONTENTS: Help Protect Your Loved Ones from Air Pollution Exposure Great Outdoors Month/National Trails Day Celebrated Mobile Apps Make Field Trips More Interactive SECOND ANNUAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED Pennington School students, teacher discover two new viruses in soil Hackensack Riverkeeper 2013 Eco-Program Launch CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ONLINE & CENTRALIZED CALL-IN RESERVATION SYSTEM First Global Great Backyard Bird Count Shatters Records CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION IN REUSE MARKETPLACE NJ Environment News: Week in Review NJ Environment News: Week in Review Solving Global Warming Will Require Far Greater Cuts, and More Wedges, than Thought | MIT Technology Review Burning Fuel Particles Do More Damage to Climate Than Thought, Study Says - NYTimes.com The Buildings Industry Transportation Electricity Scenarios (BITES) tool Colleges and Universities Lead the Way in Sustainability Teacher use of social networks Barnegat Bay Partnership Moves to New Location Sun Power, Pole by Pole Rancocas Nature Center gets a three-month reprieve | |
| Help Protect Your Loved Ones from Air Pollution Exposure
(Posted: 6-3-13) With the long, hot days of summer before us, the unhealthful levels of outdoor ozone, also called smog, are set to return. Ozone, a pollutant formed in the outside air from other pollutants, is a problem for New Jersey and the entire northeastern United States. A strong respiratory irritant, it can bring on asthma attacks and be potentially deadly to sensitive members of the population. | |
| Great Outdoors Month/National Trails Day Celebrated
(Posted: 5-30-13) CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO ENJOY OUTDOORS IN CELEBRATION OF GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH AND NATIONAL TRAILS DAY | |
| Mobile Apps Make Field Trips More Interactive
(Posted: 5-28-13) Click HERE. | |
| SECOND ANNUAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED
(Posted: 5-13-13) Award Honors Schools and Districts for Reducing Environmental Impact and Costs; Improving Health; and Offering Environmental Education Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley and Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Bob Persiacepe joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today to announce the second annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees. Sixty-four schools were honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, 14 districts were honored for the first-ever District Sustainability Award. Duncan, Persiacepe, and Sutley made the announcement at Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School, in Washington, DC, one of the 2013 honored schools. The schools were confirmed from a pool of candidates voluntarily nominated by 32 state education agencies. The list of selectees includes 54 public schools and 10 private schools. The public schools include seven charter, five magnet and four career and technical schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 40 elementary, 23 middle and 19 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 29 states and the District of Columbia. Over half of the 2013 honorees serve a student body more than 40 percent of which is eligible for free and reduced price lunch. The list of all selected schools and districts, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here. A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found here. “Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs; improve health, performance and equity; and provide an education geared toward the jobs of the future. In fact, the selected districts are saving millions of dollars as a result of their greening efforts. And the great thing is that the resources these honorees are using are available for free to all schools." “Preparing students for success in the 21st century economy begins in our schools. The schools and districts being honored today are modeling the best practices in reducing environmental impact and cutting costs, creating a healthier learning environment, and providing students with an education geared toward the jobs of the future,” said Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley. "EPA is proud to join the Department of Education in recognizing our nation's U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools for their remarkable efforts to create healthier learning spaces and educate students on the importance of environmental protection," said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. "U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are not only cutting costs thanks to energy-saving practices and use of more efficient technology, but they're also reducing instances of pollution-related illnesses like asthma, a leading cause of student absence. The students who attend these schools are better prepared than ever to become the next generation of environmental stewards and bring about a healthier, more sustainable future." The Department is looking forward to a third year of award, and will be publishing updated competition criteria this summer, once again working closely with participating states, collaborating organizations and partner agencies. State education agencies are encouraged to indicate intent to nominate schools in 2014 by August 1, 2013. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars in which the 2013 honorees are exemplary can be found here.
New Jersey• Bedwell Elementary School, Bernardsville, NJ • Summerfield Elementary School, Neptune, NJ | |
| Pennington School students, teacher discover two new viruses in soil
(Posted: 3-25-13) Click HERE. | |
| Hackensack Riverkeeper 2013 Eco-Program Launch
(Posted: 3-20-13) Full season of fun, educational, active programming is ready to roll
Hackensack Riverkeeper is happy to announce the release of its 2013 Eco-Programs schedule. Once again the clean water advocacy group is poised to provide thousands of people with an up-close and personal experience of the river, its watershed and wildlife. Eco-Cruises, Guided Paddles, River Cleanups and Bird-Walks combine hands-on environmental education with public service and fun – and have since 1997. The 2013 Eco-Program season runs from Earth Day weekend (April 20-21) through the end of October.
“We were very fortunate in that Hurricane Sandy caused us very little damage,” said Captain Bill Sheehan. “We hauled and secured our pontoon boats before the storm hit; and our Paddling Center made it through alright. Captain Hugh and I are very anxious to get out on the water and see what changes – if any – there are on the river and in the Meadowlands.”
Hackensack Riverkeeper offers four unique and distinct Eco-Programs:
Eco-Cruises This is Hackensack Riverkeeper’s signature environmental education program. Thirty-eight Open Eco-Cruises are scheduled from May 4 through October 13 aboard the pontoon cruisers Edward Abbey and Robert H. Boyle. Open trips are great for individuals, couples and families and can be had for a donation of $25 per person for adults / $10 for kids 4-12. Three distinct Eco-Cruise itineraries are offered: Meadowlands Discovery, which explores the wetlands & creeks of the river’s estuary; Boating through Bergen, which runs upriver to the center of Hackensack and the museum ship USS Ling; and Excursion Around the Bay, a maritime history tour to Staten Island and back past the port facilities of Newark and Elizabeth.
Charter Eco-Cruises can be arranged for groups of up to 26 people for any available date/time May 1 through October 28. Hackensack Riverkeeper asks a donation of $300 per boat for Adult Charter Eco-Cruises and $250 for Youth Charters. Half-day Combo Programs are also available for schools. Those interested can call Program Director Captain Hugh Carola at 201-968-0808 for more info or to book a trip. Open Eco-Cruise dates/times are not available for charters.
Paddling Center Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Paddling Center, located on the river at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus, NJ will be open weekends April 20 through October 28 weather permitting. The Center offers canoe & kayak rentals ($25 per paddler w/ a 2-paddler minimum) as well as Guided Paddles conducted by manager John Sailer and his team. Twenty-two tours are scheduled including five popular Full Moon paddles. Costs: $30 per paddler / $15 per paddler for those their own boat(s). Private Group Paddle tours at reasonable rates can be arranged by calling Capt. Hugh at 201-968-0808 or e-mailing hugh@hackensackriverkeeper.org. In addition to Paddling Center events, Hackensack Riverkeeper’s 5th Annual Reservoir Challenge takes place Saturday, June 1 at Oradell Reservoir; the 3rd Annual Lake Tappan Paddle Day is set for Saturday, August 10; and the 3rd Annual SPLASH event takes to the water at Overpeck Park in Teaneck on September 7. Call 201-968-0808 for details or go to: www.hackensackriverkeeper.org. River Cleanups These active conservation events, which give people the opportunity to give back to the environment, take on additional meaning this year in our post-Sandy world. River Cleanups are scheduled at eight different waterside locations within the Hackensack River Watershed from April 13 through October 20. Hackensack Riverkeeper provides cleanup tools and supplies as well as refreshments for all volunteers. All they ask is that everyone pitch in and help rid local waterways of litter and other debris. For more information about River Cleanups including group participation and the organization’s Corporate River Stewardship Program, call Events and Outreach Coordinator Sarah Menchise at 201-968-0808 or e-mail her at Sarah@HackensackRiverkeeper.org. Bird-Walks For groups interested in birding and bird study, Captain Hugh Carola is available to lead Bird-Walks or hawk watches at local birding hotspots within the Hackensack River Watershed region. For more information, including itinerary options, call 201-968-0808. Costs: $150-$200 depending on location and duration of trip; for up to 12 people. Indoor Presentations Captains Bill Sheehan and Hugh Carola are available to conduct multimedia presentations to groups of any size at any date and time. They have a wealth of materials including PowerPoint slideshows and video screenings that are appropriate for all age groups. Presenters will be sure to bring informational literature for all attendees. Costs: $150 if presented within the Bergen, Hudson, southern Rockland, eastern Passaic or greater Newark areas; $200 - $300 if presented further afield. Call 201-968-0808 for more information. “All of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper are looking forward to a great new season on and about the water,” said Program Director Captain Hugh Carola. “You can do, you can learn, you can work out, or you can just sit back and let the boat and your captain do all the work; but whatever you prefer, we know that you’ll go home with a new appreciation of your Hackensack River.” All Hackensack Riverkeeper Eco-Program info including schedules is available at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org. Founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. A founding member of the internationalWaterkeeper Alliance, the group engages in a four-point clean water strategy (Action, Advocacy, Education and Litigation) in its ongoing work to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River. Eco-Programs focus on environmental action and education. | |
| CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ONLINE & CENTRALIZED CALL-IN RESERVATION SYSTEM
(Posted: 3-18-13) CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ONLINE AND CENTRALIZED CALL-IN RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR CAMPING AND CABINS IN STATE PARKS AND FORESTS | |
| First Global Great Backyard Bird Count Shatters Records
(Posted: 2-21-13) Click HERE. | |
| CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION IN REUSE MARKETPLACE
(Posted: 2-21-13) Web-based Resource to Exchange Reusable Items, Reduce Waste, Capture Value and Save Money for Businesses and Institutions in the State | |
| NJ Environment News: Week in Review
(Posted: 2-6-13) Click HERE. | |
| NJ Environment News: Week in Review
(Posted: 2-1-13) Click HERE. | |
| Solving Global Warming Will Require Far Greater Cuts, and More Wedges, than Thought | MIT Technology Review
(Posted: 1-24-13) Click HERE. | |
| Burning Fuel Particles Do More Damage to Climate Than Thought, Study Says - NYTimes.com
(Posted: 1-17-13) Click HERE and apparently, even biodiesel produced black carbon: HERE. | |
| The Buildings Industry Transportation Electricity Scenarios (BITES) tool
(Posted: 1-16-13) Click HERE. | |
| Colleges and Universities Lead the Way in Sustainability
(Posted: 1-16-13) US Dept of Ed blog | |
| Teacher use of social networks
(Posted: 1-16-13) Click HERE. | |
| Barnegat Bay Partnership Moves to New Location
(Posted: 1-16-13) It's official! The Barnegat Bay Partnership office has moved to its new location on more than forty acres of preserved land along the Toms River and Long Swamp Creek. We are excited about the many opportunities for expanding our program at the new location. | |
| Sun Power, Pole by Pole
(Posted: 1-14-13) Click HERE. | |
| Rancocas Nature Center gets a three-month reprieve
(Posted: 1-2-13) Click HERE. | |
| Archived PRESS-RELEASES are available upon request throught the webmaster. | |