Wetland Wednesday
May 20, 2020
It is with a heavy heart that I must write to you today to tell you of the demise of the New Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC). Montclair State University has announced the permanent closing of the school effective July 1, 2020. It was 71 this year succumbing to complications associated with COVID-19. It had underlying conditions that stemmed from the State of New Jersey’s withdrawal of financial support going back to 2010 leaving Montclair solely responsible for its welfare. However, recent budget shortfalls arising out of the pandemic have forced the University to pull the plug on the school’s life support. The school is survived by 20 now unemployed staff and tens of thousands of students who have benefited from the knowledge and experienced shared at NJSOC over the past 71 years.
The New Jersey School of Conservation was born out of the idea that, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
In 1949, the School was built from an abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. Its primary mission at the time was to provide a place to educate inner city children about the outdoors. In the subsequent years it had evolved into a teacher training facility that all NJ state college students would attend. Montclair Normal School was New Jersey’s teaching academy and had very close ties to NJSOC that eventually lead to Montclair State College assuming control of the school in 1981. Along with this assumption came an annual state grant to sustain the school. The grant was to be provided by the NJ State Legislature in perpetuity however, in 2010 the grant was revoked by the state. Since then, Montclair State University was solely responsible for the school’s upkeep.
From its founding NJSOC taught environmental stewardship values and science. It was one of the largest centers of its type in the world and was the birthplace of environmental education. There are many educators, scientists, authors, legislators, artists, and more who have had their lives inexorably changed because of their time at NJSOC. From summer camp experiences to teacher training workshops, to school field trips NJSOC has been there to educate and inform its students about the importance of conservation of natural resources.
I find it ironic and quite sad that in this age of environmental awareness the school would succumb to neglect. There are very few places, especially in New Jersey where students can immerse themselves in the beauty of a hemlock forest and learn about stream ecology. Then, spend an evening listening to barred owls calling before going to bed. It heralds an ancient time when we were much closer to the ecology we are very much a part of.
How important is it to learn about the trees and wildflowers around you? Do you really care what that bird is? Does wetland or stream ecology really matter all that much?
Without places to teach these things the knowledge will be lost. We see this every day. How few of us know our birds, or flowers or trees. We expect someone out there should know them, but this needs to be handed down from generation to generation. Without a place to teach this, it will be forgotten.
I am writing this from North Carolina. About a decade ago North Carolina closed the Office of Environmental Education. There was a big letter writing campaign to keep it open. While there were some cutbacks, the program remains today stronger than ever. Your opinion matters. So, if you are in New Jersey write your representative and tell them to fund the New Jersey School of Conservation as was promised in 1981. If you are not from New Jersey, spread the word that places like NJSOC are important and need to be supported.
In lieu of flowers, please send a letter of environmental education support to your elected representatives.
Thanks,
Marc Seelinger, NJSOC Camp Wapalanne Staff, 1985
Montclair State College Class of 1987
Breaking News!
Surrounded by extended family and friends the patient is showing signs of life! It is well attended by many loving caretakers and with your help we may well save it. Keep those letters coming in! They really help. To keep up to date on how the school is doing visit The Friends of the NJ School of Conservation page for all of the latest news.