Pocono Environmental Education Center - Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania Large Center for Environmental Education

The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is located at Brisco Mountain Road in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, in Pike County. Its unique location provides visitors with an incredible opportunity to experience nature and increase knowledge and awareness of the outdoors in a fun and hands-on way.

PEEC is situated on the Pocono Plato in northeastern Pennsylvania and is within the boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and 20 miles southwest of the tri-state junction of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The PEEC offers visitors a number of formal and informal programs all year round. These programs are tailor-fitted to the needs of the individual or group.

There are academic programs, which are geared for school students, adults, scouts, church, and youth groups. These programs are aimed to provide participants with educational and recreational activities. Academic topics covered include forest ecology or botany, geology or soils, aquatic ecology, wildlife study, interpretive hiking, astronomy, canoeing, orienteering, and introduction to camp.

The programs of PEEC range in topics and in prices depending on the selected activity and duration of stay. Amongst some of the programs offered by PEEC are programs in natural history, birding, activities in nature study, nature arts and crafts, outdoor recreation, photography, quilting and knitting, and sustainable living activities.

In addition to the programs, there are also six hiking trails. These trails all begin and end at the PEEC Campus. They vary in distance and difficulty. The Ridgeline Trail is around 4.5 miles and is mainly hilly in terms of terrain. Hikers walk through oak-hickory forests, shady hemlock ravines and a number of vernal wetlands. Tumbling Waters is approximately a 3 mile trail and hikers are exposed to a number of different forests, waterfalls, and an amazing view overlooking the Delaware Valley and Kittatiny Mountains in New Jersey. The Scene Gorge Trail consists of a 2 mile trail where hikers wander through a hemlock forest. The Fossil Trail is 1.25 miles trail, which allows hikers to pass by a vernal pool and leads them into a beautiful ravine. Crossing the ravine, hikers see a sign containing information on marine organisms, which can be spotted as fossils in the rocks by the sign. The Two Ponds Trail is a 1.5mile hike and is the least demanding due to the flat terrain. Hikers walk through pine plantations to reach the two ponds. During this hike, wildlife and bird life can be seen. The Sensory Trail is a short trail, in which hikers are blindfolded and guided by a rope. The purpose of this trail is to increase and enhance sensory awareness of the environment and nature.

PEEC hosts events and workshops throughout the year. These workshops and activities cater to naturalists, educators, families, seniors, home schoolers, and scouts.

PEEC also provides activities geared towards teaching and promoting team building. Furthermore, PPEC is an ideal place for family retreats, reunions, and weekend getaways. PEEC also provides programs on natural history and a number of leisure activities for seniors. In addition, PEEC provides the facilities and environment that enables boy and girl scouts to meet their badge requirements.

The PEEC consists of a number of facilities, which are: the main education building, the nature lodge, the dining hall, the food service, the lodges and guest accommodation, the Yurt village, the group tenting area, the outdoor teaching and meeting venues, and the facility rental information.

The Public PEEC hours are from 9am to 5pm from Saturday through Sunday. During winter, the office hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9am to 4pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the hours are from 10am to 3pm. The PEEC can be reached by calling (570) 828-2319.