US Green Building Council New Jersey hosts Environmental Education and Climate Science Day for underserved youth

The US Green Building Council New Jersey (USGBC NJ) hosted an Environmental Education Day for children from underserved households on Thursday, August 17th at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Sandy Hook Beaches at Gateway National Recreation Area. This is the 7th consecutive year that the Summer Social has raised funds for a day of green education for underserved youth from around the state.

USGBC NJ is a State-wide organization of professionals, businesses, innovators and community leaders working to accomplish a bold vision: healthy, green, and energy-efficient buildings and communities.

On Thursday, August 17, 2017 the kids toured the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and marshes, and Sandy Hook Beaches at Gateway National Recreation Area. The primary mission of the Howard Laboratory is to conduct research in ecology, leading to a better understanding of both coastal and estuarine organisms and the effects of human activities on nearshore marine populations.

The NOAA Lab is one of the few national labs engaged in ocean acidifation research--tied to Carbon-pollution and warming--and will engage the kids in a lab experiment by NOAA scientists and fisheries biologists. The tour also included birding (and wading) in the NOAA coastal salt marsh. The day included time for the kids to enjoy the beaches at Sandy Hook, close to the lab.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Asbury Park/ Redbank, Newark, and Trenton explored both the natural and human history and landscape of Sandy Hook. The Clubs, consisting of 110 school-aged children, ages 8-14, explored stations that exemplify the historical and natural resources of a barrier peninsula. The stations included a tour of the NOAA Fisheries lab; Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Mortar Battery; a botany and wildlife walk to Gunnison Wetland; and beach seining on the bayside at Horseshoe Cove. At the conclusion of the trip, the children and their chaperones departed for independent activities at one of the life-guarded swimming beaches. Photos of the event are available here.

“USGBC New Jersey is pleased to bring this environmental education opportunity to underserved students in NJ. I am especially excited about this year’s unique program, which will provide hands-on experiences related to resilience, sustainability and our local ecosystem” stated Faith Taylor, SVP, Global Corporate Social Responsibility, Wyndham Worldwide and USGBC NJ’s Board Chair.

The goal for this year’s environmental education day is to inspire children, instilling an understanding of our fragile coastal resources, and the impacts of climate change on a local and global scale and the role that USGBC NJ has in reducing the Carbon Footprint—better protecting these resources.

“In the advent of climate change— sea level rise and greater storm intensities, USGBC NJ’s mission to promote green building and transform the state’s built environment into an ecologically resilient and sustainable system, reduce energy consumption and carbon inputs, to result in healthier, greener communities. Through education, advocacy and growth of its LEED program, and collaboration with our partners, this can be achieved,” said Marc Matsil, Executive Director, USGBC NJ.