Keep your eyes peeled for a shiny new van on local roads, painted the vibrant blues of water and sky with a bright white wave. It’s Raritan Headwaters Association’s new mobile classroom, and it’s ready to take the organization’s education and outreach programs on the road!
“We’re very excited to put our conservation programs on wheels, because we can now engage so many more children and adults in our mission of protecting clean water,” said Cindy Ehrenclou, executive director. “We’re extremely grateful to the donors who made this happen.”
The van contains microscopes, educational materials, displays, a model of the upper Raritan River watershed, nets, buckets, waders, and water sampling kits. It will travel to the schools in the watershed region and beyond, where Raritan Headwaters conducts its popular “WaterWays” and “RiverFest” stream ecology programs for children.
“We will also bring the van to Community Well Test events, local fairs and farmer’s markets to spread the word about our work,” said Ehrenclou. “It will be our traveling billboard to pique interest in and raise awareness about watershed protection.”
Funding for the van was raised by the “2121 Club,” an organization of major donors who support Raritan Headwaters’ mission. The club takes its name from the address of RHA’s Fairview Farm headquarters: 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster.
About Raritan Headwaters
Raritan Headwaters has been working since 1959 to protect, preserve and improve water quality and other natural resources of the Raritan River headwaters region through efforts in science, education, advocacy, land preservation and stewardship. RHA’s 470-square-mile region provides clean drinking water to 300,000 residents of 38 municipalities in Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris counties and beyond to some 1.5 million homes and businesses in New Jersey’s densely populated urban areas.
Raritan Headwaters recently was accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, meaning it has been recognized as a strong and effective organization committed to professional excellence and maintaining the public’s trust.
To learn more about Raritan Headwaters and its programs, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org or call 908-234-1852.
School districts interested in the WaterWays and RiverFest programs can find more information by visiting www.raritanheadwaters.org/school-programs/ or contacting Lauren Theis, education director, at ltheis@raritanheadwaters.org or 908-234-1852 ext. 314.