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Announcements 2026
The NJ School of Conservation is proud to announce a new partnership with the New Jersey Forest Service to revive Project Learning Tree (PLT) in New Jersey. PLT is a nationally recognized environmental education program that uses hands-on, interdisciplinary activities to help PreK–12 students build critical thinking skills, environmental literacy, and a lifelong connection to nature.
This year is especially meaningful as PLT celebrates its 50th Anniversary, honoring a program with deep roots in New Jersey.
In 2026, we invite educators to join us at NJSOC for immersive, hands-on PLT professional learning workshops set on our beautiful forested campus. Participants will explore activities from the Environmental Education Activity Guide for New Jersey Teachers and learn how to integrate tree-based and environmental concepts across science, literacy, math, and social studies, all aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards and Climate Change Standards.
Optional overnight experiences are available, offering additional time for outdoor learning, evening activities, and meaningful community building. Educators will leave feeling confident, inspired, and equipped with ready-to-use lessons for their classrooms or programs.
These workshops are ideal for classroom teachers and nonformal educators working with K–8 students who are seeking engaging, developmentally appropriate environmental education.
Workshop Dates: March 20th-21st |
Grades K-5
Click Here for Full Workshop Description and Registration Information
Workshop Dates: June12th-13th |
Grades 6-8
NJSOC will also be offering a workshop for NJ's nonformal educators in May:
Climate Change Education: Empowering New Jersey's Nonformal Educators.
Have a field trip in mind and need hep with transportation? The Wheels for STEM program from EarthShare New Jersey is taking applications until March 31. The fall cycle will accept application from August 1 – October 31.
The Clean Waters, Strong Communities: A Toolkit for Water Quality Advocacy and Education is now available on the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed's website. It is a comprehensive resource designed to support advocacy, education, and outreach around clean water and the essential role of water utilities.
The Xerces Society has opened applications for their Mid-Atlantic Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kit Program. The Xerces Habitat Kit Program is offering habitat kits in the Northeast containing native milkweed and various nectar plants to project partners who are willing to provide the time, labor, and land to create pollinator habitat. Proposals due by February 17th.
It's almost time for our Spring Skype a Scientist Livestream Series to begin!
Here's what we have planned:
Feb 10: City Lizards with Princeton Vaughn
March 5: Helping the Ocean with Ocean Wise
April 21: Freaky Flowers with Molly Edwards
May 11: Physics with Alexa Lachmann and Jamie Xia
In each of these sessions, the scientist introduces who they are, what they do, and why they like it, then we open it up to questions submitted by livestream attendees like your students!
Each session is ASL interpreted and posted to our youtube channel after the session.
As always, you can sign up to get matched with a scientist for JUST your class! You can get a match here.
The New Jersey KidWind Challenge is an annual event that allows students to explore wind energy through a hands-on, STEM competition. This is a hands-on student challenge to design, construct and test a small scale wind turbine.
In this competition, teams will design and build their turbines before attending a regional KidWind Challenge. At the challenge, teams will test their turbines for energy output in a wind tunnel, present their turbine design and build process to a panel of judges, and participate in a hands-on task. Learn More
Super Science Saturday—known as the “Greatest Science Extravaganza in Northern New Jersey”—is seeking volunteers to help make this year’s event a success! Opportunities include community outreach, business support, presenter coordination, event planning, and on-site support. Volunteers play a key role in spreading the word, boosting attendance, and strengthening community support for future science events. Educators, students, parents, businesses, and community members are all encouraged to get involved. Learn More
The Terra North Jersey STEM Fair is seeking volunteer judges for its 2026 exhibition, taking place March 21–22 at Kean University in Union, NJ. Since 1983, the Fair has supported and recognized high school students (grades 9–12) across 10 northern New Jersey counties for excellence in STEM research. Judges play a vital role in providing meaningful feedback to student researchers, whose projects span fields from biochemistry and engineering to computer science. Top student finalists advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the GENIUS Olympiad. Volunteers must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline. Learn More
Join us as we kick off NJ STEM Month 2026 with a statewide gathering of STEM educators, industry leaders, nonprofits, and community partners.
Friday, February 27, 2026Genmab | Plainsboro, NJ
Registration is now open and free, and NJ STEM Month swag will be given to the first 100 registrants— so be sure to sign up early! Register Here
Innovation Fund Grant Now Open
The New Jersey STEM Strategic Advisory Board is now accepting applications for its Innovation Fund Grant, awarding up to $20,000 to support high-quality, innovative STEM education initiatives across New Jersey. Since launching the fund in 2023, the NJSSAB has invested over $245,000, reaching nearly 92,000 learners in 16 counties statewide. Information sessions will be held on February 10 at 10 AM and 3 PM. Apply Now
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