On June 28 a gathering was held at Lacawac Sanctuary’s Environmental Education Building. 

The sanctuary has received an array of solar panels for the roof to help reduce its carbon footprint. 

Green Mountain Energy Sun Club donated nearly $43,000 for this eco-friendly upgrade. The 8.28 kW solar array will offset 100 percent of the building’s energy needs. 

The estimated savings for the lifetime of the solar array system is expected to be $47,000. 

The annual expected savings of $2,300 will be used toward free environmental education programming for hundreds of K-12 students, most of whom are from low- to moderate-income families.

 “Lacawac is currently constructing a new environmental education center, where children and educators can come together to understand, appreciate and protect our natural resources,” said Craig Lukatch, president of Lacawac Sanctuary. “Lacawac’s education center will be a gathering place in a stunning setting for the entire community. Lacawac is grateful that Green Mountain Energy Sun Club is helping us shape the next generation of earth stewards through their donation.”

Since 2002, the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club has been empowering local communities by donating nearly $13 million to 157 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast, attendees were told. The program invited its customers and employees to contribute and help support more projects that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.  

“While many nonprofit organizations are committed to clean energy—solar is one way to meet those goals— they often lack the funding to install a solar panel system,” said Mark Parsons, vice president and general manager for Green Mountain Energy. “We are honored to collaborate with Lacawac Sanctuary to support these sustainable upgrades and use them to educate and inspire those thinking about switching to solar energy.”

Lacawac Sanctuary is an ecological field research station, nature preserve and public environmental education facility located in the Northern Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. It is located on the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack. 

The sanctuary was founded in 1966, with the donation of 341 acres and a group of historic buildings. 

It now totals 632 acres.

Johnny Richardson, back left, the program manager for Green Mountain Energy Sun Club; and Craig Lukatch, back right, president of Lacawac Sanctuary, were joined by three kids who were part of a group of campers staying at Lacawac. The kids flipped the ceremonial switch to turn on the solar power to the William E. Chatlos Environmental Education Center.

According to its website, it is most notable for 52-acre Lake Lacawac—the southernmost glacial lake in the hemisphere.

There are hiking trails on the property, a natural boreal bog, the Wallenpaupack Ledges Natural Area and two ponds.

Lake Lacawac was declared a national natural landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1966.