Camden’s Charter School Network has been awarded a $12,000 grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water to fund hands-on environmental education and local water quality improvements, officials announced Tuesday.
The funding, distributed under the foundation’s 2026 Water and Environment Grant Program, will support the expansion of the Tippin’s Pond EcoLab project. Located in nearby Pennsauken, the EcoLab project focuses on freshwater ecology and STEAM-based learning by tasking students from Camden’s Promise Charter School with constructing and deploying artificial floating wetlands.
The grant will also allow students to conduct water quality testing on indicators such as pH levels, temperature, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. In addition, students will use underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology to monitor aquatic habitats and participate in educational field trips to the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor.
“This grant empowers our students to engage in hands-on scientific research such as monitoring water quality and applying innovative solutions like floating wetlands and utilizing underwater ROV technology to drive real environmental impact,” Rebecca Brinkmann Phelan, executive director of Camden’s Charter School Network said. “Through this work, our students are not only strengthening Tippin’s Pond but also developing the skills and knowledge to become the next generation of environmental leaders.”
The floating wetlands act as artificial, plant-filled rafts that filter out local water pollutants. The roots of native vegetation on the structures hang directly into the water, absorbing excess nitrogen and phosphorus while trapping sediment and fostering beneficial microbes.
“Providing safe and reliable water is what we do, but giving back to the communities we serve is part of who we are,” Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water, said. “Through the Foundation’s Water and Environment Grant Program, we’re proud to invest in local organizations that protect our water resources, educate future stewards and strengthen communities across New Jersey.”
