Dear Friends,
After more than 75 years of leading the world in outdoor education, the gates of New Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC) are at risk of closing forever. Governor Sherrill’s proposed budget eliminates all funding for NJSOC.
This isn’t just about a school, it’s about New Jersey’s future. NJSOC is:
- A Mental Health Lifeline: At a time when our youth are facing a mental health crisis, we provide the social and emotional learning tools they need to build resilience.
- Advancing Equity in the Outdoors: More than half of our students come from low-income schools. We are breaking down the barriers that have historically kept underprivileged youth from the outdoors.
- A Workforce Pipeline: We are preparing the green-energy workforce and environmental scientists of tomorrow.
Closing NJSOC won’t save the state money — it will instead create a massive liability. If we close, the state inherits the maintenance of a $34 million asset, including a mandatory $3 million dam repair and hundreds of thousands in annual holding costs. We are asking for a $3 million investment, which we are leveraging with $500,000 in our own private fundraising.
Can you send a message to your legislators urging them to restore funding for the New Jersey School of Conservation?
Sincerely,
Kerry Kirk Pflugh
Executive Director