Who Are Our Founding Fathers?

> The Signing of the Declaration of

Independence, by John Trumbull, 1928

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

framers were considered “Founding Fathers”, but not all Founding Fathers were framers. Today I believe we consider “Founding Fathers” to be anyone who had a significant impact on our U. S. Constitution either directly or indirectly at this crucial time in American History.

“Those who made significant intellectual contributions to the Constitution are who we are referring to when we say “Founding Fathers.”

This July 4th let’s be thankful that America had such highly intelligent, moral, and level-headed individuals, who beginning with the Declaration of Independence which led to a Revolution to win our Freedom from Tyranny, and wrote a Constitution which has resulted in our Democracy today, has become a standard for freedom of peoples all around the world.

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POCONO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: WHERE LEARNING COMES NATURALLY

By Amanda Kuhn

This is the third of a series of features that will appear in Pocono Living about the agencies, organizations and associations that function to preserve and protect our lands and waters and promote the wise and safe use of our natural resources.

The future of the planet is in the hands of our youth. Would you trust your children with that responsibility? Most parents would agree that just making a bed or bringing dirty dishes to the sink can be a challenge. But just like these life skills, it’s important for parents to teach their children the value of responsibility both inside and outside of the home. Through education, we have the ability to teach our youth how to overcome the seemingly insurmountable environmental challenges we face. Tackling climate change, protecting our land and water, providing food and water sustainability, and building healthy cities requires a greater understanding of conservation to include a revaluation of nature. While putting dirty clothes in the hamper may be difficult to master, taking personal responsibility for changing the world just might inspire change.

It’s only natural to protect what you love, which is why the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) believes the key to protecting our wildlife, watershed and planet is to help our youth fall in love with nature. Advancing environmental education, sustainable living and an appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park is Pocono Environmental Education Center’s mission. This non-profit organization partners with the National Park Service in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to provide students with programming that is exciting and engaging, while simultaneously giving tactile context to what they learn in the classroom. Each year, PEEC serves approximately 24,000 annual visitors - educating, inspiring and profoundly impacting their understanding and appreciation of our environment.

Located along the Delaware River within the 77,000 acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pocono Environmental Education Center’s 38 acre campus has everything you need for a crash course in biodiversity; shady hemlock gorges, the Delaware River, diverse lowland and upland forests and fields, ponds, streams, waterfalls, unique flora and fauna, and rock outcrops containing 400 million year old fossils surround you. PEEC gives you the space and tools you need to experience and study these natural systems. With six hiking trails, two ponds for canoeing and fishing, team building courses, an education building, teaching yurts and more, you’re guaranteed to leave with a greater understanding of conservation and appreciation for nature.