SOLD OUT: Vernal Pool Exploration Hike

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

This event is sold out. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, or if you need to cancel, please email ifilippini@greatswamp.org  With temperatures rising, the forest floor will be hopping with new life as frogs and other amphibians crowd into shallow puddles of water to breed and lay their eggs. These puddles, called vernal pools, provide a perfect opportunity to learn more about Mother Nature here in New Jersey. But we have to hurry - they disappear quickly! This annual Vernal Pool Exploration provides a fun, outdoor learning experience for kids and adults alike. Discover the differences between a spring peeper, a chorus frog, and a wood frog. Find out how far an endangered spotted salamander will walk to find a mating pool. And, learn how much everything we have come to appreciate about the springtime depends upon a few unassuming puddles of water on the forest floor. Warm clothing and waterproof footwear, especially hiking boots, are strongly recommended. Please email Izzy ifilippini@greatswamp.org with questions or cancellations. CANCELLATION POLICY: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events go off as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or […]

$5.00 – $40.00

Treasures of the Swamp Scavenger Hunt – Free

Online registration has closed for this event. However, can still participate! Simply visit one of the locations listed below and register there. Adventure awaits! Join us for a fun, free community event, brought to you by the Great Swamp Partners! Play solo or team up with friends and family. The Treasures of the Swamp Scavenger Hunt launches April 26, and the Great Swamp is your playground! Unleash your inner explorer for an afternoon or weekend (it's up to you) of riddle-solving and treasure-seeking across six beautiful locations. Your clue booklet holds the secrets and each site unlocks the answers. What to expect at this family-friendly event: Forest trails, wildlife sightings, code-cracking, and celebratory high-fives as you solve each clue. It's a great opportunity to experience the incredible natural beauty right here in our back yard! Begin your exploration at any of the participating locations within the Great Swamp watershed region - visit 1 or all 6 sites in any order - all at your own pace:  Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GSNWR) / Friends of Great Swamp NWR Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center: 32 Pleasant Plains Rd., Basking Ridge Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) Conservation Management Area (CMA): 1 Tiger […]

Free

CANCELLED: Beginner Paddle on the Passaic River

Canoe Launch, Livingston 2, 12 S Orange Ave, Livingston, New Jersey

Due to expected rain, this event has been cancelled! Please check back at GreatSwamp.org/events for future paddles. Celebrate spring with a paddle on the Passaic River designed for beginners! We will focus on how to paddle in a kayak and learn paddle strokes, getting in and out of the boat, how to maneuver. Children 8 and up are welcome. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent. There are only 7 spots available – 2 spots/registration max. All participants must be able to swim, be comfortable on the water, and wear clothes and footwear that can (and will) get wet and muddy. Life vests will be provided. IMPORTANT – Kayak Waiver: Each participant MUST submit one of the forms below. If the person is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign their form and assume responsibility for the minor. Please complete, sign and bring the form(s) with you. The organizers will collect completed forms before put-in. Adult Attendee Minor Attendee The GSWA kayaks, used in our water quality and educational programming, were purchased with the generous funding provided by the Thomas Glasser Foundation. The put-in location is the Livingston Canoe Launch, and we […]

$30.00 – $40.00

CANCELLED: Dismal Harmony Hike

Dismal Harmony Natural Area Mendham, NJ, United States

Due to expected thunderstorms, this event has been cancelled! Please check back at GreatSwamp.org/events for future hikes. Join GSWA's Ginger Van Ryzin for a moderate, 2 mile hike at Dismal Harmony Natural Area in Mendham, NJ. Along the way we will explore the legends behind legend rock and the history behind the stone house nestled within the preserve. Exact meetup and parking location is TBD; we will email all attendees that information prior to the hike. Waterproof footwear, especially hiking boots, are strongly recommended. Please email Izzy ifilippini@greatswamp.org with questions or cancellations. CANCELLATION POLICY: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events go off as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected reasons, GSWA will promptly notify all registrants via email and the event page will reflect the status. To accommodate people on the waitlist, participants needing to cancel should do so ASAP. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be refunded unless it is due to a health emergency. Unused registration fees may be converted into a tax-deductible donation.

Free – $40.00

Sold out: Paddle the Passaic

Canoe Launch, Livingston 2, 12 S Orange Ave, Livingston, New Jersey

This event is sold out. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email ifilippini@greatswamp.org.   Come out and enjoy the sights along the beautiful banks of the Passaic River as we paddle from the Livingston Canoe Launch. This area is full of wildlife, native vegetation, and beautiful views. Children 8 and up are welcome. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent. There are only 7 spots available – 2 spots/registration max. All participants must be able to swim, be comfortable on the water, and wear clothes and footwear that can (and will) get wet and muddy. Life vests will be provided. IMPORTANT – Kayak Waiver: Each participant MUST submit one of the forms below. If the person is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign their form and assume responsibility for the minor. Please complete, sign and bring the form(s) with you. The organizers will collect completed forms before put-in. Adult Attendee Minor Attendee The GSWA kayaks, used in our water quality and educational programming, were purchased with the generous funding provided by the Thomas Glasser Foundation. The put-in location is the Livingston Canoe Launch, and we will […]

$30.00 – $40.00

Full Moon Hike at the CMA

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

July's Full Moon is known as the "Buck Moon," named after the antlers of male deer, which are at their full size in July before they shed them. Join us on this guided hike, led by GSWA's Hazel England, to discover some gentle nighttime creatures. July is a great time to enjoy a moonlit hike at the CMA -- the canopy and bright moonlight provide the perfect backdrop to hear and spot owls. Our full moon hikes are a real hoot, so don't miss out on this unique, family-friendly opportunity! Waterproof footwear, especially hiking boots, are strongly recommended. Please email Izzy ifilippini@greatswamp.org with questions or cancellations. CANCELLATION POLICY: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events go off as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected reasons, GSWA will promptly notify all registrants via email and the event page will reflect the status. To accommodate people on the waitlist, participants needing to cancel should do so ASAP. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be refunded unless it is due to a health emergency. Unused registration fees may be converted into a tax-deductible donation.

Get Tickets $10.00 – $40.00

City of Water Day 2025: Passaic River Cleanup & Paddles

2 Camp Ln, Fairfield, NJ 07004 40.8978651,-74.2802894

"City of Water Day" is an initiative led by the Waterfront Alliance, the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program, and the Hudson River Foundation, aimed at fostering community engagement with water resources. This initiative spans the region, encouraging communities to join in river cleanups and paddling events. GSWA will participate by conducting a local stream cleanup along the Passaic River in Fairfield, NJ, and welcomes participants throughout the day to lend a hand. Additionally, short kayaking excursions will be organized for cleanup participants so they experience the beauty of the river they are working to protect. Register today to be a part of this important event in support of clean water and land! DETAILS Participants will engage in cleaning up trash including small items such as plastic bottles and carryout food containers as well as larger items like tires and coolers and everything in between. GSWA will provide gloves, trash pickers, and trash bags. Trash will be brought to a nearby location for pick-up by the local DPW the following week. The event runs 9:30 am - 1:30 pm on July 12, 2025 Location: 2 Camp Lane, Fairfield, NJ Clean-up is open to all ages / Kayaking is open to adults and […]

SOLD OUT: Mid-Summer Paddle

Somerset County Park Commission, Fisherman's Parking Lot Approx. 170 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ

This event is sold out. To be added to the waitlist, please email ifilippini@greatswamp.org   Come out and enjoy the sights along the beautiful banks of the Passaic River as we paddle the headwaters region of the Great Swamp. This area is full of wildlife, native vegetation, and beautiful views. There are 7 spots available per session – only 2 spots per registration. Children 8 and up are welcome. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent.  All participants must be able to swim, be comfortable on the water, and wear clothes and footwear that can (and will) get wet and muddy. Life vests will be provided. IMPORTANT – Kayak Waiver: Each participant MUST submit one of the forms below. If the person is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign their form and assume responsibility for the minor. Please complete, sign and bring the form(s) with you. The organizers will collect completed forms before put-in. Adult Attendee Minor Attendee The GSWA kayaks, used in our water quality and educational programming, were purchased with the generous funding provided by the Thomas Glasser Foundation. The meet up location is the Somerset County Park Commission Fisherman's […]

Sold Out $30.00 – $40.00

Nature Detectives: Night Magic Family Walk

Conservation Forest at the Madison Recreation and Conservation Complex (MRC) 184 Ridgedale Avenue, Madison, NJ, United States

What happens in the forest after the sun goes down? What creatures come alive in the night? Using our nature detective skills, we will investigate the forest for clues to what might go on after dark. We will begin the investigation in daylight, hunting for tracks, nests and anything else nocturnal animals may leave behind. The walk will end at dusk, where we may even spot some nocturnal insects like fireflies and moths! Recommended for all, but especially children 7 to 10 years old accompanied by an adult. This event is brought to you in partnership with the Madison Environmental Commission and The Nature of Reading Bookshop in Madison, NJ. Rain Date: Saturday, August 2nd Please email Izzy ifilippini@greatswamp.org with questions or cancellations. CANCELLATION POLICY: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events go off as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected reasons, GSWA will promptly notify all registrants via email and the event page will reflect the status. To accommodate people on the waitlist, participants needing to cancel should do so ASAP. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be refunded unless it […]

Get Tickets $5.00 – $40.00

Night Magic Walk

Conservation Forest at the Madison Recreation and Conservation Complex (MRC) 184 Ridgedale Avenue, Madison, NJ, United States

Join GSWA’s Ginger Van Ryzin for a night out in the forest to bring the book, Night Magic, alive. In Night Magic, best-selling nature writer Leigh Ann Henion invites us to leave our well-lit homes, step outside and embrace the dark as a profoundly beautiful part of the world we inhabit. During our hike, we will discuss the habits of the creatures in Night Magic, read passages from the book, and look for signs of nocturnal wildlife. This event is brought to you in partnership with the Madison Environmental Commission and The Nature of Reading Bookshop in Madison, NJ. Rain Date Saturday, August 2nd Please email Izzy ifilippini@greatswamp.org with questions or cancellations. CANCELLATION POLICY: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events go off as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected reasons, GSWA will promptly notify all registrants via email and the event page will reflect the status. To accommodate people on the waitlist, participants needing to cancel should do so ASAP. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be refunded unless it is due to a health emergency. Unused registration fees may be […]

Get Tickets $5.00 – $40.00