Lake Hopatcong Foundation honored with Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for field trip program
LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ – The Lake Hopatcong Foundation has been named a Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award winner in the category of “Environmental Education (Educator-Led)” for their environmental student field trip program.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced winners in eight categories during a virtual ceremony Thursday, Dec. 22.
“Our environmental field trip program is one of our favorite and most impactful initiatives,” said Lake Hopatcong Foundation Executive Director Kyle Richter. “We are thrilled to share this honor with the entire team of educators and volunteers who create this educational experience on Lake Hopatcong each spring.”
Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards are given annually to individuals and organizations that demonstrate commitment and leadership on a variety of environmental issues, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability, education, and protection of natural resources.
Their field trip program offers a unique, hands-on experience at Hopatcong State Park, highlighted by data-gathering trips aboard our 40-foot Floating Classroom, “Study Hull.”
Students also get to wade into the Musconetcong River to look for aquatic macroinvertebrates or freshwater insects, take an educational hike through the State Park, and use an interactive watershed model to learn about pollution and how to protect water resources.
Launched as a pilot program in 2015 for 200 students from towns surrounding Lake Hopatcong, their field trip program has grown to serve thousands of students across New Jersey.
“The goal of the program is to open students’ eyes to the power of their actions and what they can do to protect our precious freshwater resources,” said Lake Hopatcong Foundation Grants and Program Director Donna Macalle-Holly. “We can’t think of a better place to do that than here on New Jersey’s largest lake.”
