For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Musa/Karen Keene
Jmusa@monmouthconservation.org
Kkeene@monmouthconservation.org
M. 732-977-0151
Doug Caum Photo: Bill Zapcic
Middletown, NJ (November 4, 2024) – Monmouth Conservation Foundation, the county’s only independent, nonprofit land trust, has hired Doug Caum as the organization’s new Director of Educational Outreach.
“Our preservation work includes teaching environmental sustainability and engaging the next generation in protecting and stewarding our land for all to enjoy. Bringing an experienced conservation educator to our staff will allow us to deliver a robust, science-based educational program for students, teachers, and the general public. Doug’s role is an important addition to MCF, as we work to engage and educate more of our community – of all ages and backgrounds,” said MCF Executive Director William Kastning.
Doug comes to MCF with more than two decades of experience at the crossroads of education and conservation, working to connect people to place. He has developed education and training programs for national conservation organizations, worked with grassroots organizations to educate and train volunteers, and developed programming for community groups.
Doug earned a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Sport Science from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Arts in Recreation and Environmental Education and a graduate certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism, both from the University of New Mexico. Doug, who is CPR-certified, also holds a Wilderness First Responder certificate.
As Chair of Experiential Education at the Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., he directed the school’s environmental and outdoor education department. He developed curriculum and training for the 4,000-member Student Conservation Association in Charlestown, N.H. and has led 30-day field courses and wilderness medicine classes for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) of Lander, Wyo. He has also served on school and non-profit boards in various locations.
Locally, Doug has worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as a Parks Project Specialist and directed the operations, programming, and outreach for the nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail in Pennington, N.J. He has also served on the board of the Manasquan Environmental Commission.
In line with its new three-year strategic plan, MCF will provide Monmouth County residents with hands-on education focused on environmental sustainability, building on its successful Kids for Conservation program. MCF will prioritize underserved communities, taking experiential programs on the road at municipal parks, community events, and schools.
Doug will design public-friendly educational materials, based on preK-12 lesson plans that meet New Jersey state standards, in development through MCF’s partnership with Monmouth University’s School of Education. Doug will also deliver experiential learning programs for New Jersey educators as part of MCF’s work as a sub-grantee on the Expanding Access to Climate Change Education and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) through Climate Change Learning Collaboratives (CCLC) grant awarded to Monmouth University by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Curriculum topics will align with MCF’s land preservation mission and include themes such as restoring biodiversity and ecosystem function, employing natural climate solutions, and taking individual action to create climate resiliency and build hope for a sustainable future. Future programming will involve interactive opportunities at and relating to MCF’s Scudder Preserve. MCF took ownership of the 90-acre natural site in Middletown, N.J., in April 2024, with plans to enhance public access, restore the natural habitat, and offer a living laboratory for educational activities.
“I’m looking forward to bringing my professional experience to Monmouth County, working with students and adults, but also my life-long passion for the outdoors and the environment, and my perspective that each of has the opportunity to take an active role in stewarding the land we have been entrusted to care for,” notes Doug Caum.
# # #
About Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. An independent nonprofit organization that works with Monmouth County and its 53 municipalities, MCF’s vision is to lead conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. MCF received accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2014 and has continued to maintain this status since. Accreditation is awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. MCF is one of 471 accredited land trusts out of 1,100 nationwide. For more information, visit www.monmouthconservation.org.