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New Jersey teachers REcharge with offshore wind training

It may still be summer, but New Jersey teachers are already preparing for the upcoming school year. In early August, more than 60 teachers from around the state gathered at Stockton University in Atlantic City. Their goal? To attend KidWind’s REcharge Academy and learn about offshore wind and other sources of renewable energy – how it works, why it matters, and the opportunities it creates for their students.
A 3-day course in offshore wind

Developed by KidWind, the REcharge Academy is an annual training program for teachers that focuses on clean energy. Teachers from around New Jersey were invited to a three-day event in Atlantic City, attending expert lectures and touring America’s first monopile manufacturing facility.

REcharge Academy gives teachers strategies for integrating lessons about clean energy into their curricula and classroom instruction. This year’s participants learned about the history, development, and function of wind turbines. They then explored innovative methods for teaching about offshore wind energy and learned about a variety of offshore wind careers.

Graduates of the REcharge Academy, including these 60 New Jersey teachers, can talk about offshore wind in an age-appropriate way to children grades K-12. They can develop interactive lessons and run hands-on activities that show how offshore wind turbines generate clean energy. And, they can steer students toward exciting, well-paid careers in industries that connect with offshore wind.
A 3-year partnership going strong

Since 2020, Ørsted has been working with KidWind to help educators and students learn about the offshore wind industry in the United States. Alongside the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Stockton University, and EEW Group, Ørsted was a key sponsor of this year’s REcharge Academy.

“I'm grateful we could be a resources to the teachers at REcharge, each of whom came so that they could deliver for their students and communities,” says Erik Antokal, Director of Workforce Development at Ørsted. “Offshore wind is a fast-growing industry creating thousands of family-sustaining jobs in New Jersey and across the U.S. So the more teachers know about it, the better chance their students have of joining our industry and making a positive impact on their environment.” 

By supporting KidWind, Ørsted is helping teachers attend clean energy events and workshops, access in-depth training, and get teaching tools into their classrooms. “In just three years, Ørsted has contributed $75,000 to our efforts,” says Michael Arquin, Founder of KidWind. “It’s wonderful working with a company that fully shares our mission of getting the next generation interested in clean energy.”