Do The Swamp Thing 2005 Brings Out the Crowds At the Morris County Outdoor Education Center

“Do The Swamp Thing 2005” started off with a bang this past Sunday, April 24th. Despite overcast skies, over 350 people from throughout the area turned out for a host of family-friendly activities, educational exhibits, presentations, games and walks, live animals, as well as a Swamp Wildlife Art Exhibit done by the students at the Southern Boulevard School. “Do The Swamp Thing” is organized by the Great Swamp Watershed Association and the kick-off event was hosted this year by the Morris County Park Commission.

An overwhelming number of visitors to the event were families with young children. The kids had the chance to create origami animals and plants, have their faces painted, meet a gang of newly hatched tadpoles and go on guided nature walks through the park trail system. 

One popular feature was the “free tree” give-away. White pine and Douglas fir saplings were provided by the New Jersey Forestry Service, along with planting instructions, and handed out by park employees and the Great Swamp Watershed Association. These “baby trees” fascinated the kids!

Do the Swamp Thing, a month long series of programs and events high-lighting the natural beauty of the Great Swamp Watershed will continue through the beginning of June at venues throughout the region.

Besides the Watershed Association, participants will include the Morris County Park Commission, the Somerset County Park Commission, the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife / Friends of the GSNWR, NJ Watershed Ambassadors, NJ Audubon Society and The Raptor Trust. 

“Do the Swamp Thing” is organized by Great Swamp Watershed Association and sponsored by Kings Super Markets Inc., PSEG, and Recorder Community Newspapers. This year’s celebration includes a four-page advertising supplement in many of Recorder’s local papers, a weekly ad highlighting a wide variety of family activities and publicity about the event on Kings grocery bags.

For updated “Do the Swamp Thing” events and calendar information, check our website at www.greatswamp.org.

Great Swamp Watershed Association was created in 1981 to protect the Great Swamp watershed basin. Celebrating more than 20 years as a non-profit organization, the Watershed Association relies solely on membership and contributions to protect the continued health of our watershed’s area. If you’re not already a member, become one today. For more information and a listing of other events, visit the Watershed Association website at www.greatswamp.org.

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