President Susan A. Cole with former members of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Montclair State's New Jersey School of Conservation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection joined State Sen. Robert E. Littell in honoring the 70th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at the School of Conservation campus in Sussex County on March 29.

Stokes State Forest was home to two CCC camps, one of which built and occupied Camp Wapalanne, the current campus of MSU's School of Conservation. The CCC put more than three million young men and adults to work during the Great Depression. In New Jersey, young men in 22 CCC camps engaged in reforestation, erosion control and the construction of campgrounds, shelters, roads, dams and bridges in seven state parks and eight state forests. Notable CCC achievements in Stokes State Forest include the construction of lakes Ocquittunk and Wapalanne, log cabins, fireplaces, campsites, scenic drives and the Sunrise Mountain shelter.

"The hard work of millions of CCC volunteers helped shape the face of America during very trying times," said MSU President Susan A. Cole. "Their resourcefulness, creativity and work ethic are legendary. As I look around at the work of their hands that constitutes the home for our School of Conservation, I am filled with gratitude and honored that I am able to celebrate their achievements."

"The Civilian Conservation Corps were the forefathers of conservation and played an integral role in the rise of the modern open space movement, " said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "They contributed to the foundation of our parks and forests, and our visitors continue to benefit from their hard work and dedication."

Littell's father, Sen. Alfred Littell, sponsored the legislation establishing the New Jersey School of Conservation in 1949. "He knew how important its work was and so do I," he said. "I inherited my father's passion and helped enact legislation in 1981 that provided the School of Conservation with a direct annual appropriation from the state. No cause is more worthy, nor dear to my heart, than this site where we honor the CCC."

The New Jersey School of Conservation is the environmental education field campus of Montclair State. It is the largest and oldest university-operated environmental education center in the nation. It is located 57 miles from the Montclair campus on a 240-acre tract in the center of Stokes State Forest.

Each academic year the School of Conservation provides environmental education programs for nearly 9,000 elementary and secondary school students, and nearly 1,000 teachers from approximately 100 schools. There are also field courses for graduate students and weekend workshops designed to train preservice and inservice teachers and youth leaders in environmental education curriculum development and field techniques.

Additional information on the New Jersey School of Conservation is available by calling 973-655-7614 or on its Web site.

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