The woodlands surrounding the campus & Visitor Center are best known for hosting various species of songbirds. Hiking the Scenic Gorge Trail will take visitors through a shaded Hemlock ravine containing Winter Wrens, Black-throated Green Warblers, & Louisiana Waterthrushes. Limited numbers of Hooded & Worm-eating Warblers also breed on PEEC grounds, but within forests possessing dense vegetative ground cover. The stands of Norway Spruce situated near the grassy clearing behind the Dining Hall Facility have hosted Cape May Warblers in migration. From the groves of Red Pine along the Two Ponds Trail, birders may locate a small breeding population of Red-breasted Nuthatches & Pine Warblers; Golden-crowned & Ruby-crowned Kinglets frequent this area in migration. The property's two ponds are relatively shallow, but may be visited by Wood Ducks & other more common waterfowl species. The swamp along the southern edge of Briscoe Mountain Road has also hosted waterfowl. From the campus and Visitor Center flower gardens, visitors can encounter Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, and various species of sparrows. Near the front entrance of the Visitor Center are feeders that, when filled, attract seed eating songbirds. 

The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is located within the 77,000 acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and is the education partner of the National Park Service in this area. Within driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia, PEEC offers a variety of options for all visitors from school field trips and scout programs to public hiking trails and nature programs.

**For additional information & safety tips, clink the link above for the Del. Water Gap N.R.A. (Hotspots Overview/Group page**

Park Overview:

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA) is a 70,000+ acre National Park Unit located along the boundaries of Northwestern New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania. The park is currently confined to sections of Pike, Monroe, & Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania, and Sussex & Warren Counties, New Jersey. The Delaware Water Gap N.R.A., or "The Gap" for short, surrounds and protects 40 miles of the nearly 300-mile Delaware River, the longest un-dammed U.S. river east of the Mississippi. The park is a highly sought after destination visited by thousands, if not millions, annually. It's breathtaking views, geographic location, & extensive list of outdoor recreation opportunities are likely enjoyed by all whom come to experience "The Gap." 

Park Origins:

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has a rich & extensive history. Prior to colonial settlement, this region was a floodplain occupied by the Leni-Lenape. It was these natives whom respected the land while farming it's rich soil and hunting it's game on both sides of the Delaware River. With the arrival of early settlers came larger and more modern farms, homesteads, villages, resorts, & even a railroad. It wasn't until the mid-1900s that this land began transitioning into the park visitors know today. 

The creation of this renowned park began in August of 1955 when hurricanes Connie & Diane wreaked havoc upon the eastern United States. Excessive rainfall & flooding impacted hundreds of lives; nearly 100 Pennsylvania residents were killed from the flooding of the Brodhead Creek alone. In response, the United States Congress summoned the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers to begin developing plans to construct a dam at the southern tip of Tocks Island; the dam would ultimately create a reservoir 40 miles long and a mile wide. Through eminent domain, the government began displacing approx. 600 families & property owners from their Delaware Valley homesteads. Enraged by the harsh realities of this project, public protests began. Many knew that the peaceful river valley they had cherished for generations would transition into a forever changed landscape with a newfound influx of sightseers & recreationists. Repeated opposition, combined with the nations involvement in the Vietnam War, began slowing the project. It was at this time that people also began challenging the feasibility of the dam wondering if the land could physically support such a massive reservoir. After having no choice except to reconsider the Tocks Island Dam, the government ultimately abandoned their plans in 1975. Cooperative efforts by all involved eventually lead to this 70,000+ acre National Park Unit that, to this day, protects the interests of wildlife & outdoor enthusiasts alike. 

Recreation Opportunities Available:

-Hunting & Fishing

-Boating (limited to non-motorized & trolling motors due to fluctuations of river depth)

-Hiking & Biking

-Wildlife Viewing

-Camping & Picnicking

-Cross-Country Skiing

-Educational Programs & Community Events (hosted by the National Park Service & Non-Profit Organizations)

PEEC offers six trails that vary in distance and difficulty. All trails are loops that begin and end on the PEEC Campus. 

Hiking Trails are Open Daily Year-Round -- Dawn to Dusk 

Trail Maps are available outside the main building to the right of the front door

• Fossil Trail - Blue Blaze
• Ridgeline Trail - Yellow Blaze
• Scenic Gorge Trail - Red Blaze
• Tumbling Waters Trail - Orange Blaze
• Trail for Everyone - Purple Blaze
• Sensory Awareness Trail - A rope guides blindfolded users, focusing on other senses, around a short loop trail. The Sensory Awareness Trail is located just past the entrance to the Tumbling Waters / Fossil Trails.