PEEC to host Vacation Nature Day Camp this December | Something to Think About
Almost half-way through the month of December! And how fast the year has gone by. The memory of when time stood still is fading now that life is returning to near normal, in a word: busy!
As the holidays approach — and the madness of here and there, this and that, start to wane — the kids are home from school. Let me say that part again— the kids are home from school.
Parents and guardians might just be looking for an activity that is positive, educational, and away from the screens as part of that holiday break.
You are in luck!
Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is offering Vacation Nature Day Camp on Monday, December 26 and Tuesday December 27.
Aimed at kids from grades 2 to 6, the theme of the days are “Frozen Fauna” and “Frigid Flora”. Campers will learn how animals and plants adapt to the winter weather as well as adventure in the park (weather permitting).
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The programs will be based out of PEEC’s 4-season heated Yurt classrooms and Craft cabin for the two days. Campers can sign up for one or both days and the cost is $40 per camper per day. This is a great break in the usual for the holiday week and sneaks a bit of education in while having fun.
PEEC is located at 538 Emery Road, just off Brisco Mountain Road in Lehman Township. It is part of the “heart” of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, so the treat is special as not many have such an opportunity to learn about nature!
If you are interested in registering a child(ren) for one or two of the days, head online to peec.org. Sign-ups can be done by clicking onto the “Click Here to Register for Camp” section on the webpage. Directions and contact information are available on the website as well.
PEEC is open year-round and hosts many interesting events and programs. If you have never been there, put it on your “to do” list for 2023 or check it out when you drop off the kids for vacation fun!
You're never too old for PEEC
Perhaps you are not in grades 2 to 6, but rather a college student or graduate with an interest in the environment or biology or perhaps you are considering a career with the National Park Service. In that case, consider checking out the 2023 seasonal naturalist positions that help staff PEEC. The Environmental Education Instructors are those with experience/education in Environmental Science and Biology.
Environmental Educators spend spring and fall teaching classes for overnight school field trips and during the summer they plan and 2 months of summer day camp programming for the local community. PEEC has programs that support many of the local college and university programs, thus earning participants educational credit. Or perhaps your college or university is not a partner, but would like to become one, this is always possible.
Full-time, seasonal employment begins March 6 and goes through September or October. There are limited full-time summer positions available starting May 15 and ending in August. For full-time, seasonal staff, the starting salary is $400 per week with room and board provided by PEEC in shared staff housing from March through the end of October. Part-time staff starts at $15 per hour and housing is not provided.
Stephanie Sherman, Director of Education for PEEC, says: “Working in a National Park and at a place like PEEC is a very important job. It is inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. If nobody speaks for the trees, we’ll have none left!”
To learn more about opportunities for employment at PEEC, contact Stephanie by emailing ssherman@peec.org. To learn more about PEEC and what it offers to the community-at-large, visit their website at: peec.org.
Debbie Kulick writes a weekly column for the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. She serves on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pocono Environmental Education Center hosting nature camp Dec. 26
