Pennsylvania DCNR Names New Manager at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources today named Robert Neitz as manager of the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center in Wind Gap, Northampton County. He had been assigned as a Bureau of State Park's regional environmental education coordinator for Region 4, based in Perkasie, Bucks County.

"For the past four and one-half years, Rob has brought invaluable experience and a unique personality to overseeing environmental education and information in the Eastern section of the state," said DCNR Secretary Richard Allan. "Working in close proximity to several urban areas, he has excelled at taking the outdoors message to inner-city youth through Exploring Careers Outdoor and Adventure camps, and other DCNR programs."

Headquartered on 1,168 acres, the environmental education center is one of four operated by the bureau. They provide outdoor recreation and offer environmental education programs ranging from preschool environmental awareness to high school- and college-level problem solving.

A variety of historical presentations, teacher workshops and public interpretive programs round out daily activities at Jacobsburg, which also is encouraging and helping shape open-space preservation efforts on a regional scale as a keystone of the Lehigh Valley Greenway Initiative.

Once the site where the famous Henry Rifle was made, the Jacobsburg National Historic District lies almost entirely within the center's grounds. Original land for the center was purchased by the former Department of Forests and Waters from the City of Easton in 1959.

"I'm very much looking forward to continuing the center's strong message of conservation and expanding its outdoor recreation programming," said Neitz. "I am particularly excited be working with all of DCNR's conservation partners to continue promoting and protecting our public lands for the citizens to enjoy."

Neitz succeeds Michael Jones, who retired.

Having worked 12 years with the Bureau of State Parks, Neitz began his employment in 2000 as an environmental education specialist assigned to several eastern state parks. Since 2007, he oversaw coordination of environmental education from regional headquarters on the grounds of Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County.

Neitz, 37, a native of Emmaus, Lehigh County, is married and has two sons. He holds a bachelor's degree in ecology from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, and master's degree in environmental education from Montclair State University in New Jersey.

For more information on Jacobsburg and Pennsylvania's other 119 state parks and education centers, call 1-888-PA-PARKS between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; or visit DCNR's website at www.dcnr.state.pa.us and choose "Find a Park."

Media contact: Terry Brady, 717-772-9101

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources