Toms River Township, School District Win Grant For Poseidon Lab

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River has received a $20,000 grant from Sustainable Jersey for a collaborative project with the Toms River Regional School District to improve a marine lab and use it to promote environmental research, officials said Wednesday.

The grant, funded by the PSEG Foundation, is one of five $20,000 grants awarded throughout the state by Sustainable Jersey to fund a variety of environmental projects, according information from the township and the school district.

The lab, called the Poseidon Academy, is the white building that sits alone on the parking lot along the Irons Street extension that brings traffic south from Toms River to South Toms River and Berkeley Township, bypassing part of Route 166.

The township partnered with the school district for the SYnergy (School Youth Energy) Initiative, which will upgrade the Poseidon Lab by building a flexible workspace that can be used by the district and the township for "promoting environmental research and ... developing practices for the protection of the Jersey Shore watershed," the township said. "It brings together and will benefit students, the Toms River United Sustainable Team (TRUST), Friends of Ortley Beach, the Barnegat Bay Consortium, the Township, local citizens and environmental organizations."

“I am delighted to learn that we have received this grant," Mayor Thomas H. Kelaher said. "The upgrade of the Poseidon Lab facility as supported with this grant will benefit students, local citizens and environmental organizations for years to come.”

The small concrete building, a former bus depot, sits along the Toms River. It was flooded during Superstorm Sandy; the two feet of water that significantly damaged the building is memorialized on the outside wall.

It currently contains a classroom that comfortably fits 15 students, several fish tanks, scuba gear, and some water testing equipment. In addition to extensive repairs and remodeling to be made by the district and township, staff, students, community partners, and volunteers from local organizations will help design and build new elements to include an open-air portal, distance learning system, and an outdoor display case.

Once the project is completed, it will hold up to 25 people and have new technology and utilities. With the portal opening, additional visitors can participate in activities like evening lectures.

The remodeled space will support the new School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), part of a STEAM Career Academy debuting in September 2017 at Toms River High School East. Expanded courses and opportunities will continue to be led by teacher and Poseidon director Jon Hoffman.

The building will be rededicated as the Toms River Poseidon Research Lab at a public ceremony in October 2017. Information will be updated on the district calendar of events at www.trschools.com/calendar.

Photo via Toms River Regional Schools

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