Environmental Workshops

What makes a weed a weed? How can you tell your oriental bittersweet from your Japanese barberry and why should you care that you can? Invasive plants are spreading in our forests and open spaces, and harm the environment as they reduce biodiversity and resources for native wildlife. New Jersey spends millions in labor and resources to remove invasives each year. Join us for this informative, hands on session on how to identify New Jersey’s top ten least wanted, as we learn from the plants themselves to know both terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants and appropriate native replacements. You’ll never look at burning bush in the same way again! Registration required. Register below or by calling 973-538-3500. This program is being run in conjunction with Morris County Park System’s Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center and the Americorps Watershed Ambassador.

Join Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) and retired Science teacher turned walking-stick-guru Brad Koller for a fun-filled DIY workshop at GSWA’s office. Learn how to make your very own walking stick to hit the trails with. You'll be able to choose from a variety of rough sticks, including; red cedar, maple, beech, and iron wood. Walk away with a finished product and the knowledge of how to create one on your own! All tools and safety equipment will be provided. Registration required. Space is extremely limited. Register online at www.greatswamp.org, or by calling 973-538-3500.

Native plants not only provide critical food and habitats for our birds and woodland animals, but they can also bring a pop of color and décor to your home! All too often invasive plants such as oriental bittersweet are selected for decorative purposes but this is just one way how they spread and cause damage to our environment. They are not able to sustain anywhere near the bio-diversity that our native plants can support. By using native plants such as cattails, sensitive fern fronds, dried goldenrod and other beautiful native floral items you will learn how to make beautiful arrangements using only native plant materials in this fun workshop and bring home a decorative piece for the holidays.

April 12 - May 7: pick up your water sampling kit at the Long Hill Township Library (a $10 deposit is required at that time.) May 8, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. drop off your water sample at the same location. (Participants MUST be able to adhere to this drop-off date and time-frame.) What's in your water? GSWA is here to help you find out with our popular private water testing program. In exchange for discounted rates, homeowners agree to let GSWA analyze the outcomes of their tests and create a database of results, increasing the organization’s understanding of groundwater quality in our region.     Private Well Testing: The test measures several water quality parameters, including total coliform + E. coli, nitrates, manganese, iron, arsenic, copper and lead. The cost for the basic, multi-parameter test is $125 (this test would normally cost over $300). Test add-ons, including pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds, mercury, hardness, and sodium, may be purchased for an additional charge. This test cannot be used to satisfy the requirements of a real estate transaction. Public Water Testing: Residents on public water can opt to test as well. The cost is $45. This includes lead, bacteria, and […]

Award winning author, Dr. Robin Leichenko, examines the economic and social impacts of climate change in New Jersey. We will learn about how climate change is affecting economic assets, activities, and vulnerable communities and populations. Dr. Leichenko will also describe the on-going efforts at Rutgers University to help make the region more climate resilient. Dr. Leichenko’s current research focuses on the economic and social dimensions of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation change in U.S. cities and regions. Leichenko is a review editor for Working Group II of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). She is also serving on a U.S. National Academies panel on Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Social and Political Stresses. Her 2008 book, entitled, Environmental Change and Globalization: Double Exposures (Oxford University Press), received the Meridian Book Award for Outstanding Scholarly Contribution in Geography from the Association of American Geographers. Leichenko earned a Ph.D. in Geography (1997) and an M.A. in Economics (1995) from Penn State University. She also holds an M.A. in Geography (1991) from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a B.S. in English (1989) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.