Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable

Lighthouse Camp for Natural Resource Education — Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education

Each year, teachers, environmental educators and nature enthusiasts from around the Barnegat Bay watershed (and around the state!) look forward to the Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable, OCSCD’s annual professional development event. The Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable is held each year in April, at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education, Waretown, NJ (corner of 7th Street and Navajo Drive). Registration will open in January. We hope you will join us in 2027 for our 30th annual event celebration!

Agenda:

3:00-4:30pm Open House: Dozens of local environmental organizations exhibit in the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education, offering guests an opportunity to peruse their tables and speak to professionals about the educational resources and services they offer to teachers.
3:00-4:15pm Dinner: Enjoy a delicious catered dinner, provided by the Ocean County Soil Conservation District.
4:15-4:30pm Welcome Remarks: OCSCD will welcome and address attendees prior to workshops.
4:30-5:30pm Workshops: Session One Workshops (*2-hour Field Excursions run from 4:30-6:30pm)
5:40-6:40pm Workshops: Session Two Workshops
6:45-7:00pm Dessert: Sweet snacks, goodies, coffee and tea are served in the Locandro Lodge.
7:00-7:45pm Keynote Presentation: Be inspired by a 30-40 minute presentation that highlights the event’s theme
7:45-8:00pm Door Prizes: Registered guests receive a ticket at the door for a chance to win a Door Prize as our Thank You! for attending this year’s Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable.

History of the Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable:

The Ocean County Soil Conservation District has been effectively coordinating and implementing this professional development event since 1997. It is specifically designed for educators to enhance their knowledge of local natural resources, culture and history, and gain valuable tools that support environmental topics in the classroom, through participation in hands-on, experiential workshops and field trips. The Roundtable helps promote a commitment to environmental stewardship in educators and the students they teach.

This Professional Development program is Ocean County Soil Conservation District’s annual signature event. The Open House hosts nearly two dozen exhibitors, and dinner and desert are served to our hungry Educators. Each year offers a different theme that guides the focus of our workshops and field trips. Our Keynote Speaker concludes the evening with an inspirational presentation, followed by Door Prizes.

The Roundtable has a proven success rate with Ocean County educators. The educational programs and opportunities available from all participating agencies, organizations and groups allows a comprehensive approach to watershed education and provides educators with a “one-stop-shop” approach. It is well known that educators are more likely to present and teach topics with which they are familiar and comfortable. The main goal and objective of the annual Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable is to provide this opportunity for teachers and to spur action to improve and protect the health of the Barnegat Bay watershed.

We hope you will join us in 2027 for our 30th Annual Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable. For more information, contact education@soildistrict.org. In addition, please peruse our Lesson Plans & Resources for Educators webpage to find pertinent teaching and learning materials for your classroom or outdoor learning experiences.

Terry O’Leary and McDuffy Barrow, of the Forest Resource Education Center, teach a group of educators about bees at the 2010 Environmental Educators Roundtable.

“Excellent workshops! I will use the lessons in my own class and will share with other teachers in my school. Thank you!!” ~Anne B. Stafford Intermediate School