March 31, 2008 (rt23 news) - The Pequannock River Coalition has been selected to receive an Environmental Quality Award from the Region 2 Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These awards are presented each year to groups or individuals that “...have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting and enhancing environmental quality in our region.” This is the highest recognition presented to the public by their office.



PRC was chosen for their successful and innovative “River in the Classroom” school program. This program educates children on the importance of water as aquatic habitat and how human activity can impact water quality, aquatic life and ultimately our own health through changes to our water supply. Using photos, lectures, aquarium set-ups and hands-on examination of aquatic organisms the program truly brings the river inside the classroom, and has been received enthusiastically by both students and teachers.



Initiated in 2004, “River in the Classroom” has reached thousands of students in West Milford, Kinnelon, Butler, Bloomingdale, Pequannock, and Riverdale. Funded primarily by PRC members, the program received a boost last year with an EPA grant, allowing additional schools to be targeted and expanding the classroom experience with tree planting projects to enhance local waterways.



Michelle Brook, PRC’s Education Director, has run the program since inception. Ms. Brook said “What a privilege it is to play a part in opening the eyes of our children to the wonders of the special environment in their own backyards. It says a lot about the quality of our program when every school we visit is eager to have us return. Now, to have this added recognition is just fantastic.”



This is actually the second time PRC has been honored by the EPA. In 2004 their cutting edge water monitoring program earned them the same Environmental Quality Award.



This year’s award will be presented in a ceremony on April 25th at the EPA’s office at 290 Broadway in Manhattan. For more information on the award and the EPA, visit their website at www.epa.gov or contact Chris Sebastian at (212) 637-3597 or Sebastian.chris@epa.gov. Additional info on the Pequannock River Coalition can be found on the web at www.pequannockriver.org.