New Greater Pike Fund focuses on conservation education

The late Richard L. (Dick) Snyder, local philanthropist and conservationist, aimed to maintain local woodlands and waterways for community benefit. Attorney John “Duke” Schneider is helping to fulfill Snyder’s legacy. He wants students in the Delaware Valley School District to make good use of land given to the school district by Snyder. To make that happen, he established the Richard L. Snyder Chair of Conservation Studies Fund to create a curriculum at DV schools. Its initial project – a new trail for students that will give them access to hands-on aquatic and other environmental research opportunities – was constructed this fall with distributions from this Fund.

The fund is maintained by Greater Pike Community Foundation. Duke Schneider was active as a founding member of Greater Pike and currently serves on the Board of Directors.

“Representing Dick for thirty years,” Schneider explained, “I saw all the good he did for other people and I want to do something in his honor, and do it in a manner that meets the philosophy that Dick had with respect to land use.”

The land donated by Snyder is located behind Milford Landing and Walmart that he provide for the foundation for conservation teaching and research programs. Delaware Valley School District is working toward developing an environmental science curriculum that will make good use of the land and trail.

Schneider seeded the fund with a generous donation and it now totals $50,000, which will allow for a yearly stipend to the school district to help create and maintain the program. Schneider hopes that those who remember Dick and those who share his reverence for the land will donate to the fund and help it grow.

“The program should focus on conservation studies and land use,” said Schneider. “It is essential that land be used in an environmentally sound way, much like the philosophy of sustainable use espoused by Gifford Pinchot. Richard took great pride in the fact that Milford is known as the birthplace of the Conservation Movement in America. He chose to be an example to all of what we can do to promote proper land use to benefit the general public.”