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NEW DATE: 12/8 – Post-Thanksgiving Cleanup and Hike

Great Swamp Watershed Association's CMA 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, United States

We all did it – we went for that extra helping of mashed potatoes… used a little extra whipped cream on our pumpkin pie… There’s no shame in that, especially when you head outside and work it off!  So, let's make a deal - you help give a little TLC to our Conservation Management Area (CMA) trails and as a reward we will take you on a hike! Come check out the great work our volunteers have been doing throughout the year on this end-to-end tour of the CMA and contiguous trails. Enjoy the new boardwalks and marvel at the sheer volume of native plants that have replaced the invasives. Can't do both? That's okay. Just let us know which works for you. Either way, we're working off our Thanksgiving meals together!

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RESCHEDULED TO DEC 15: Behind-the-Scenes Talk & Tour at the Refuge

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Bluebird Parking Lot Bluebird Parking Lot, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, NJ, United States

Grab your camera and join the adventure as we lead you on a special journey through the wildlife management area, not typically open to the general public. Staff and volunteers from GSNWR and GSWA will help identify wildlife and migratory birds and you may even spot a bald eagle or two! Following the hike, Nic Platt, Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) Board President, will provide a brief history of the Great Swamp that nearly became a jetport. This tour is co-sponsored by GSWA and GSNWR. Location: Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Bluebird Parking Lot, 197 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township. Please check refuge Facebook page for weather-related cancellation: https://www.facebook.com/GreatSwampNWR Registration is required.

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Jockey Hollow Then & Now Hike

Visitor Center, Morristown National Historical Park 600 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, New Jersey

To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the first public announcement of the proposed 10,000-acre jetport, we invite you to spend the afternoon with nature and history. Together we will explore Jockey Hollow’s past, its present, and what might have been if the landmark victory over the jetport never happened, and the Great Swamp didn't exist. This special event is provided in partnership with Morristown National Historical Park and GSWA. Registration is required.

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New Year’s Resolution Hike

Great Swamp Watershed Association's CMA 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, United States

With the hectic holiday festivities behind us let’s indulge in something a little different – nature! Kick off your new year with an energizing hike at our Conservation Management Area (CMA). It's a great way to burn off some of those holiday calories while treating yourself to the sights and sounds of the woodland creatures who call the CMA their home. Dress for the weather including your waterproof boots. Although we have built many boardwalks along the trails, there may be some snow and slush. Registration is required. This event is free to all GSWA members

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SOLD OUT: Moonlight Hike at the Refuge WOC

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Observation Center https://goo.gl/maps/tLD3KapcRC21245c8, Harding Twp., NJ, United States

We're sorry, this hike is full. But while you're here check out our other upcoming hikes and programs! What is it about a winter night hike that's so peaceful? Maybe it's the muffled sound of boots crunching on the snow. Perhaps it's the curious owls asking "whoooooo's" there? There are only right answers. This is your opportunity to visit the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife Observation Center and find out for yourself. The full moon will illuminate the night's sky revealing more of the habitat and critters of the Refuge. And if you haven't experienced a night hike with GSWA's Hazel England, it's time to fix that! Dress for the weather and be sure to wear your waterproof boots.

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Cross Estate Gardens & Historical Hike

Cross Estate Gardens 61 Jockey Hollow Rd, Bernardsville, NJ, United States

SOLD OUT If you need to cancel or have questions over the weekend please call your tour guide, Adam Palmer, on his cell @ 908-399-5610. The gardens may be sleeping for the winter, but the diurnal (active during the daytime) wildlife will be very much awake as we check out the garden areas and buildings of the early-20th century Cross Estate Gardens. We will also venture through the site of George Washington and the Continental Army's encampment in the winter of 1779-80 during the American Revolutionary War. Located within the Morristown National Historical Park, this area is steeped in American history, and it remains a beautifully unspoiled place to get away and reconnect with nature. If there's snow we will look for fresh tracks to follow. Lots of winter birds like woodpeckers, juncos, and flickers will be flitting about so be sure to bring your binoculars. We will bring a few extras as backup. Dress for the weather and wear your well-tractioned, waterproof boots. This event is free to all GSWA members, a $10 donation is appreciated from non-member adults, $5 for children. Registration is required.  

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Dog Hike at the CMA

Great Swamp Watershed Association's CMA 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, United States

Calling all pooches! Grab your family and a leash, and c’mon out to the CMA for a much-needed, mid-winter hike. We know you’re ready to get some fresh air and sniff new smells. This is your day! We only ask that you play nice with other dogs, remain on your leash for the full hike, and ask your humans to bring you some water and pet waste bags. There is a limit of 15 pups (but no limit on the number of humans) so shake a leg and register today! This event is free for GSWA members, non-members: suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Kids Winter Nature Detectives Hike

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Bluebird Parking Lot Bluebird Parking Lot, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, NJ, United States

This event is SOLD OUT - please do not call with requests to be added to the guest list at this time. Federal refuge guidelines limit the number of people who access the "closed-off" portion of the refuge. We cannot accommodate anymore hikers. Please sign up for a future hike!  Are your kids ready for a fun and educational outdoor activity? Gather up your family and head outside for an adventure through the snowy forest. Together, we will set off in hot pursuit of the region’s most-wanted wintertime wildlife on this nature detective discovery hike at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Learn how to identify animals from their tracks, scats and other leave-behind clues. Spy on secret hideouts used by birds, wintering insects, and other woodland creatures. Unmask the dining preferences of deer, raccoons, and even coyotes by putting the magnifying glass to some scat. All this detective work is easier than you think, plus its fun being outdoors in the winter! We will also talk about their winter-time activities and how the Refuge critters survive the coldest months of the year in anticipation of the spring thaw. Fun for all ages but especially for children ages 5 to 10. […]

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Nature Stroll at Hedden County Park

Hedden County Park Use Hawthorne Ave Parking off of Reservoir Ave., Randolph, NJ, United States

Sunday Hike Series: Looking for an invigorating late Winter activity? Join us for a scenic hike through Hedden Park, a beautiful piece of the Morris County Park Commission. Partially paved recreation trails traverse the Wallace Brook and cross Jackson Brook on this scenic hike. We will check out Indian Falls, a serene feature along the Green Trail, and take in the natural beauty of the park. This family-friendly hike is good for teens and older. Wear sturdy hiking boots and dress appropriately for the weather; layers, hat, and gloves highly recommended! Registration is required. Google Map Link

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Become a FrogWatcher

Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

Like frogs? Hop on over to GSWA for a hands-on "citizen science" training session to become an official FrogWatch volunteer. Eric Jackson, Environmental Educator at Hartshorn Arboretum, will teach you how to distinguish between a spring peeper and a wood frog and how to identify many other local frogs and toads. Come out and learn about our amphibian friends and if you're so inspired, Eric will train you how to properly log and report your sightings in a nationwide database. Your observations are important! The information you collect helps establish long-term and large-scale data on amphibian populations. It's fun for the whole family, and this training session is free! Registration is required.

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