MISSION

Pine Jog is an environmental education center with the purpose of developing, providing and modeling environmental education programs which foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world, promote an understanding of ecological concepts and instill a sense of stewardship toward the Earth and all its inhabitants.

OVERVIEW

Pine Jog is a unit of the College of Education of Florida Atlantic University. Florida Atlantic University provides administrative support and direct support services for operation and maintenance while Pine Jog’s Board of directors is responsible for policy development, strategic planning, financial monitoring, and fundraising to support the annual budget of $1.2 million. In addition to the Board of Directors, Pine Jog enlists the assistance of community leaders through the Business Advisory Council and the Education Advisory Council.

Pine Jog currently administers two operational locations. The original location preserves 135 acres of natural Florida habitat in a highly urbanized section of central Palm Beach County. The Everglades Youth Conservation Camp (EYCC), acquired from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in March of 2004, is a residential youth camp consisting of 252 acres within the 60,228 acre J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. The EYCC has a residential capacity of 175.
Pine Jog has enjoyed a strong relationship with the School District of Palm Beach County with annual contractual agreements dating back to 1962. The partnership of almost fifty years achieved a new plateau in 2008 with the opening of Pine Jog Elementary School.

A remarkable partnership was crafted between the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida Atlantic University, and Pine Jog Environmental Education Center. In return for the lease of land for the school, the district built Pine Jog a new 15,000 square foot facility. Pine Jog Elementary School has an environmental and science focus, both facilities are built to the green building standards, and all three partners collaborate on curriculum, teacher training and creating a culture of sustainability.

Pine Jog's History

For more in-depth information about Pine Jog’s history please click here.

Natural History

The Pine Jog property is representative of the natural communities of South Florida and of the changes which have taken place in these communities over time. The biotic communities located at Pine Jog include several acres of pine flatwoods, a pond with a surrounding wetland, an early successional field, and five acres of upland hammock.