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,” MCF Executive Director William Kastning said.
Caum 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.
Previously, Caum served as chair of Experiential Education at the Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., where 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, Caum 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.
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.
Caum 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. He 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.
