In honor of Earth Month, in April, Kings Super Markets and the Great Swamp Watershed Association are working together to highlight family activities and raise awareness of the importance of environmental conservation. "Do the Swamp Thing" will be a month-long celebration of local environmental riches.

According to Cheryl Good, Manager of Community Relations at Kings, "We’re showcasing a variety of programs, both in Kings stores, and in and around the watershed area. As an example," she said, "at the Cooking Schools in our Short Hills and Bedminster stores, we’ll have colonial cooking demonstrations and super science magic shows. Throughout the watershed area we’ll be helping to publicize special events at many of the historical sites and parks, like the Somerset County Park Environmental Educational Center and the Morris County Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center."

Bonnie Gannon, Development Director, Great Swamp Watershed Association, agrees that this partnership is a natural and will raise awareness of local environmental riches this spring. She says that the Kings sponsorship is enabling the Watershed Association to provide and promote an enormous variety of activities and expand its membership.

According to a promotional flyer to be distributed in March, "The Great Swamp is a world of wonders to explore…right in your own backyard. Nestled within a 55 square-mile natural basin in Morris and Somerset Counties, it’s home to more than 220 kinds of birds, 33 different mammals, 21 reptiles, 18 amphibians and 29 varieties of fish. Among the abundant wildlife are 26 species listed by the state of New Jersey as threatened or endangered. Great Swamp is also alive with more varieties of plants, trees and flowers than you can imagine, including 215 species of wildflowers."

Great Swamp owes its survival to the remarkable efforts of the citizens of New Jersey, who continue to fight to protect this precious natural jewel. As a non-profit organization, the Watershed Association relies solely on membership and contributions to protect the continued health of the local environment; from drinking water, to flood control, to the very existence of many species of plant and animal life. If you’re not already a member, become one today. For more information, call (973) 966-1900, or visit their website at www.greatswamp.org.

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