Educational Programming at the EERC
Educational Programs for Students and Adults
PSEG offers a variety of educational programs that complement the Energy and Environmental Resource Center's (EERC) exhibits.
Contact Us
The Energy & Environmental Resource Center (EERC)
244 Chestnut Street
Salem, NJ 08079
School Programs
Our school programs are structured for grades 4-12 and can accommodate up to sixty students. Field trips lasts approximately 2-4 hours and are free of charge. Groups are welcomed to bring lunches. We offer the following presentations:
Electricity 101
This one-hour interactive demonstration gets students grades 4-6 up and moving while they learn about energy generation. The program covers atoms, electron particles, current and static electricity, circuits, friction, electrical safety, and insulators and conductors.
Electricity 102
This one-hour presentation, geared for 7th graders and above, builds on Electricity 101 and invites students to explore large scale energy production. It includes a segment on energy diversity and pros & cons of energy production.
What's the Scoop on Climate Change?
This 45-minute presentation explores the complexities of global warming and climate change. Students examine the function of greenhouse gases and how human activities have led to environmental consequences. The program includes a video that highlights how global communities are struggling with and adapting to the impact of climate change
Crystal Bay
This 45-minute environmental mystery challenges students to identify the pollution, its source, and its effects on a fictional coastal ocean system. Students will conduct water and soil analyses for pH, salinity, nitrates, and phosphates; evaluate the role wetlands play in counteracting man-made pollution; compare differences between healthy and eutrophic waterways, and more.
Scavenger Hunt
This 30-minute interactive activity encourages student sleuths to explore exhibits and utilize their research skills. Through teamwork and communication, students will discover key concepts such as:
- Electricity generation
- Power grid operation
- Evolution of Energy
- Conservation and efficiency measures
- Renewables
- Clean Central Station Power Sources: Coal, Natural Gas
- Nuclear Energy: Fission, Radiation, Safety, Security, Spent Fuel & Careers
- Carbon Footprint Calculator
Nuclear Careers
This 30-minute presentation introduces students to the wide variety of disciplines appropriate for a career in the nuclear energy field. Professionals from the PSEG chapters of North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN), Women In Nuclear (WIN) and Black Professionals Network (BPN) share their experiences and provide students with an opportunity to ask questions about the field.
Scout Programs
Boy Scouts "Nuclear Science" Merit Badge
Boy Scout workshops are offered three Saturdays per year and are open to scouts grades seven and above. Learn key concepts from subject matter experts, take a trip to the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Site with a reactor control room simulator tour, take part in breakout labs and complete and energy exhibit scavenger hunt. Spend the day with our nuclear workforce and earn the coveted nuclear science merit badge! Troops should contact the EERC for upcoming dates.
Girl Scouts "Getting to Know Nuclear" Patch
Girl Scout workshops are offered three Saturdays per year and are open to scouts grades six and above. Learn key concepts from subject matter experts, take a trip to the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Site with a reactor control room simulator tour, take part in breakout labs and complete and energy exhibit scavenger hunt. Spend the day with our Women In Nuclear (WIN) team and fulfill the same standards as the nuclear science merit badge. Troops should contact the EERC for upcoming dates.
Adult Programs
Energy and Nuclear Overview
This 45-minute presentation offers facts about the current domestic and international energy picture. It discusses energy diversity and the future possibilities of production. It also presents PSEG's approach to balancing future energy demands with minimizing climate change's effects on the environment. The program addresses topics like used fuel management, industry performance, safety and security, and public policy.
Estuary Enhancement Program (EEP)
The EEP is the largest privately-funded wetlands restoration and improvement project in the country. This 45 minute presentation highlights our EEP's success restoring, enhancing and/or preserving more than 20,000 acres of vital salt marsh and uplands in the Delaware Estuary. Topics discussed include salt hay farms, non-native phragmites invasion, fish ladders and biological monitoring. Field tours are available in conjunction with the program overview.