Dec 30, 2019
Are
you concerned about the environment and want to learn how to make a difference?
The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) offers local residents a chance
to participate in the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program with weekly
classes that will begin on January 28, meeting Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m., at
the ACUA’s Environmental Park located at 6700 Delilah Road in Egg Harbor
Township.
The
Environmental Stewards program is designed to explain and analyze the
environmental issues affecting New Jersey. Using science, teamwork and natural
resources, the Stewards will create plans to address some of these problems in
their local communities. You don’t have to be a scientist to be a Steward; all
you need is passion for the environment and an interest in learning and
volunteering.
Training
sessions are taught by experts from Rutgers University, and non-profit and
government organizations. To become a certified Rutgers Environmental Steward,
graduates of the classroom portion of the program complete a 60-hour volunteer
internship on a topic of their choice. Internships are unique and intended to
align with the interests of the individual, the needs of the program and the community.
Class
topics include climate change, soil health, renewable energy, waste management,
water resource protection, invasive species, wildlife management, habitat
conservation, environmental policy and more. Field trips to environmentally
significant sites are included as part of the program.
Examples
of volunteer projects include:
- Mapping
and eradicating invasive species in local parks
- Engaging
policy makers on reducing plastic waste
- Restoring
native dune vegetation in shore communities
- Building
green infrastructure, such as rain gardens or rain barrels
- Protecting
and creating habitat for threatened and endangered species
Registration,
payment and program details for individuals or municipalities are available at
acua.com/stewards. The program and materials fee for the course is $260.
Registration
is also open for classes in Passaic, Union, Mercer and Somerset Counties which
will begin early in 2020.
For
more information on the Atlantic County program, please contact Amy Menzel at amenzel@acua.com or call 609-272-6950. Learn more at http://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/, and https://www.facebook.com/groups/RutgersEnvironmentalStewards/