Full Flower Moon Hike at Great Swamp NWR

Do you know why May’s full moon is called the Full Flower Moon? With spring in full swing and flowers bursting out all over, it’s not too hard to guess!

This is an amazing time of year at NJ’s Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Fully awake after a long winter’s nap, the wetlands along the boardwalks are positively teeming with wildlife and the new green of trees, marsh grasses, and water lilies.

It’s easy to connect with the Refuge’s many natural wonders during the day, but to experience them at night, with a full moon rising over the horizon and animal activity at its peak, is something casual visitors rarely get to see.

Fortunately, the Great Swamp Watershed Association has a special-use permit that allows us to enter the Refuge at night. And that means we can share the priviledge with you!

You, your family, and friends are invited to join naturalist Hazel England — GSWA’s director of education and outreach — for a special full-moon hike at the Refuge’s Wildlife Observation Center off Long Hill Road in Harding Township.

Hazel will re-acquaint you with your night senses so you can hear, smell, and even see things that escape you attention during the day. You’ll also learn more about nocturnal wildlife and the sounds they make as the sun goes down.

Interested adults and families with children are encouraged attend.