[1] The NJSOC was founded in 1949, and occupies facilities in Stokes State Forest built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In its early history NJSOC provided environmental education programs for nearly 9,000 elementary/secondary school students per year, and nearly 1,000 teachers from about 100 schools, and more recently to 4000 students per year.
On May 14, 2020, Montclair State University announced it would close the NJSOC as a result of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and lack of State appropriations for NJSOC's operating or capital expenses, which ceased after 2010.
As of September 1, 2020, management of the land and buildings returned to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
[2] In May, 2021 the Friends of the New Jersey School of Conservation reopened the NJSOC for events.