Through the Years

Here is the Little Egg Harbor Environmental Resource Inventory completed in July 1978

An Environmental Resource Inventory of the Township of Little Egg Harbor.pdf

If you'd like to know more about Pineland's role in educating generations of students about the NJ Pine Barrens, several Pinelands teachers are featured in William J. Lewis' book Preserving The Pines: New Jersey and the Origins of Environmentalism!

Here is a brief history of the role of "The Bogs" as educational space for Pinelands Regional High School according to Pinelands' first Science Supervisor Mr. Tom McCormick in the Press of Atlantic City in January of 1980:

Pinelands Science Staff 7-12 and Curricula incorporating the Pinelands Bogs & Campus

Mr. Terry O'Leary

When Pinelands Regional High School opened in September of 1979, Mr. Terry O'Leary developed the first Environmental Science program and utilized the Pinelands Bogs as outdoor classroom space. He also helped establish the first Pinelands Experience for incoming 7th graders to learn about the NJ Pine Barrens. When Mr. O'Leary left in 1982, Mr. Geroge Young took over as our resident naturalist and Pinelands Experience coordinator.

Courses in Field Ecology & The Senior Science Seminar taught by Supervisor Mr. Tom McCormick, and Mr. Art Gruber's Science Clubs also utilized PRSD's large campus for various vegetation & wildlife surveys, survival skills, and stewardship activities through the 1990's

Mr. Tom McCormick

Mr. Geroge Young

Mr. Greg Brown

Once the JHS opened in September of 1991, Mr. Greg Brown took over the Environmental Science & Field Ecology classes. Industrial Arts teachers like Mr. Howard Berry also used the bogs for several projects including building bridges to enhance the Pinelands Bogs.

Mr. Howard Berry

For many years, PRHS Senior Class & Student Government officers would go into the Pinelands Bogs and tag an Atlantic White Cedar to be used as the HS Commons Christmas Tree. Buildings and Grounds staff would cut down the tree and help students bring it into the Commons where it would be fastened to the main stairs then decorated after the Senior Holiday Breakfast.

Mr. Shaun Wells

Mrs. Kristine Thurber

At the HS in the 2010's Mr. Shaun Wells started an AP Environmental program under then supervisor Mr. Chuck Morgan. Miss Melissa Yurowski currently teaches AP,

CP Environmental Science has been taught by Mrs. Kristine Thurber in the 2010's and Mr. Jim Ardoin and Mr. Greg Gates in the 2020's with Dr. Kimberly Clark as supervisor.

Mr. Jim Ardoin

Mrs. Merlo (Southern), Mr. MacPhee (retired), Mrs. DiFrancia at Open House

Mr. Greg Gates

Miss Melissa Yurowski

Miss Yurowski & Mrs. Conners (Barnegat) at Open House

Mr. George Young

Mr. John Steele

When the JHS opened, the 1st marking period of the 7th Grade Life Science program was designated for Ecology and NJ Pine Barrens studies to prepare students for the Pinelands Experience in early October. Teachers like Mr. George Young, Mrs. Terri Hamilton, Mrs. Christine Casseleman, Mr. Jim Ardoin, Mrs. Melinda Most, Mrs. Kristy Raber, Mrs. Toni Ann DiFrancia, Mrs Amanda Traina, and Mr. Alex Henderson have taught the 7th grade classes utilizing the JHS paths to provide students a chance to explore the campus.

Science teachers Mr. John Steele (79er), Mr. Greg Brown, Mr. Art Gruber (79er), Mr. Joe Palumbo, Mr. Gary Smith, Mrs. Jackie Stone, Mrs. Melinda Most, and Mrs. Traci Eggert have contributed their expertise to the field studies on the Pinelands Experience over the years.

Mr. Jim Ardoin