Organization Partners with New Jersey School of Conservation in the Stokes State Forest
Hamilton, New Jersey – The New Jersey School of Conservation was proud to partner with Outdoors on Purpose to celebrate Juneteenth by leading a group of youth and families on a series of outdoor adventures at the school’s historic Stokes State Forest campus. The day’s activities included Interpretive Hiking, Boating, and Water Ecology over a full day.
In recent years, NJSOC has partnered with Outdoors on Purpose to help reduce barriers that prevent people of color from enjoying the outdoors. While NJSOC worked with Outdoors on Purpose to carry out two Martin Luther King Days of Service on campus, this is the first time the two organizations collaborated on a Juneteenth celebration.
Founded in 2020, Outdoors on Purpose is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between People of Color and the great outdoors. Founded four years ago, the organization is expanding its focus beyond its Essex County roots and is now serving families statewide to lead its program participants to new and exciting outdoor spaces across New Jersey.
“It was special to celebrate the legacy of Juneteenth and the achievement of freedom by connecting youth and families to the outdoors,” said Outdoors on Purpose founder Tenisha Malcolm-Wint, who is also a board member at the New Jersey School of Conservation. “NJSOC is a special place, where all are welcome to enjoy the wonders of nature.”
“NJSOC was founded more than 75 years ago with a particular focus on expanding access to the outdoors for urban families and people who have traditionally faced obstacles in enjoying nature,” said NJSOC Executive Director Kerry Kirk Pflugh. “Our partnership with Outdoors on Purpose helps us build bridges with New Jersey’s many diverse communities and aligns with our strategic mission and a strong desire to return to our roots as an institution that promotes ‘outdoor education for everyone, everywhere.’”
The New Jersey School of Conservation is an internationally recognized learning center that provides environmental and conservation education to thousands of students from schools across New Jersey each year with a range of outdoor education experiences, from day trips to multi-day, overnight field trips. More than half of the schools NJSOC serves are from low-income communities.
Press Contact: Anthony Campisi
anthony@walnutlanestrategies.com
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