This 'Conservation Wagon' Will Soon Be Roaming Middletown Streets

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Look for this cute van to be making the rounds soon on local Middletown and county roads, as the Monmouth Conservation Foundation debuts its "Conservation Wagon" this January.

Beginning in spring 2025, the Conservation Wagon will be available for community events, environmental fairs and park and school visits throughout Monmouth County. The Sprinter van will deliver hands-on environmental education and classes for kids.

Prioritizing underserved communities, the Conservation Wagon hopes to be booked at qualifying schools, municipal parks and community events. Want to have the van come to your child's school? It will also be available on a fee basis for arranged school visits, field trips and private events.

(Monmouth Conservation Foundation is currently looking for sponsors and underwriters to help carry out this vision.)

Like open space in Monmouth County? You can thank, in large part, the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County. The non-profit works with all 53 towns in Monmouth County to preserve open space, and just recently saved Scudder Preserve, a 90-acre natural site in Middletown that Monmouth Conservation Foundation preserved in April 2024.

MCF is currently run by executive director William "Bill" Kastning.

MCF has plans to restore the natural habitat at Scudder Preserve, enhance public access and offer a living laboratory for educational activities, using the Conservation Wagon.

The Sprinter van was donated by Ray Catena Auto Group of Edison.

“We support organizations that focus on families and their well-being. This vehicle will support Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s environmental education initiative, which in turn benefits Monmouth County communities,” said Ray Catena himself.

“Ray Catena has graciously funded the MCF Conservation Wagon — a Sprinter Cargo Van — allowing us to bring important conservation programming to students and residents of Monmouth County, with a particular emphasis on reaching our most underserved communities,” said Kastning. “Topics will complement school lessons with activities that demonstrate the importance of green space and how each of us can create positive change and build hope for a sustainable future.”

In other news, Monmouth Conservation Foundation also just announced a brand-new partnership with Monmouth University to create a lesson plan framework focused on the importance of green space, natural climate solutions and individual action to create climate resiliency.

MCF’s new Director of Educational Outreach, Doug Caum, will design public-friendly educational materials, based on these preK-12 lesson plans that meet New Jersey state standards. To help deliver the educational programming, Caum will develop an intern and docent program of Conservation Wagon ambassadors. Students and families will ultimately participate in activities that teach actions they can take in their own home or backyard to promote the health of our environment, and in turn, improve the quality of our air and water and emphasize overall well-being and sustainability for the community – via the Conservation Wagon. Learn more: www.monmouthconservation.org/wagon