NREF is dedicated to connecting people with the natural environment through immersive learning experiences. Fostering a sense of environmental stewardship is paramount to protecting precious natural resources and inspiring change from the next generation of environmental leaders.

Because the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education spans 194 acres along Barnegat Bay’s estuarine and forested habitats, it is the perfect location for educators to lead students and lifelong learners from bay to forest, experiencing the wonders of nature along the way.

Educators from all over the northeast bring students to the Lighthouse Center for hands-on learning about environmental issues such as climate change, sea level rise, erosion, coastal flooding, declining water quality, and marsh deteroriation.