Speaker Programs

Can you tell a spring peepers from a wood frogs? What does a carpenter frog sound like and do they live in your neighborhood? Join GSWA and FrogWatch partners Eric Jackson and Tedor Whitman from Cora Hartshorn Arboretum for this hands-on training session to learn your frogs and even become an official FrogWatch volunteer! FrogWatch is a citizen science program using volunteer observations to establish long-term and large-scale data on amphibian populations. Learn how to recognize different species of frogs and toads from their appearance and calls, and how to record your observations into the database. We will work with you to find monitoring locations and you will be frog counting in no time!

Together, we all just faced some of the most severe weather we've seen in New Jersey since Hurricane Sandy, causing wide-spread power outages, thousands of downed trees, and major structural damage. In less than four weeks, we went from a stone-cold winter, to a beautiful, 80-degree day, to relentless winds, to 26-plus inches of snow in some parts of the state.   In the past decade, New Jersey has experienced its wettest and warmest years in over a century of observations. Extreme events of late suggest that something is happening to our climate regime.   We've asked Dr. David Robinson, a professor in the Department of Geography & a NJ State Climatologist at Rutgers University, to help us explore the physical dimensions of the issue, both short and long term.  Dr. Robinson will also help us learn how we can get more involved in the monitoring of weather and climate conditions in our local regions.  

The #1 question we always hear is, "so how's the water?" This is your opportunity to come out and learn about the water quality along your stretch of the Passaic River. Sandra LaVigne, Director of Water Quality Programs at GSWA,  will present the 2017 Water Quality Report Card. She will give a brief talk on the health of our streams both throughout the Great Swamp watershed and the region of the Passaic River between Millington Gorge and Stanley Ave. Park in Chatham. You’ll also get an update on our downstream Passaic River expansion sampling, and our plans to develop and rollout the new microplastics protocol. Registration is required. Want a sneak-peak at the report card? Click here

Come join us for an update from the EPA on the status of the Rolling Knolls Landfill in Green Village, Chatham Township. We are looking for a few good men and women to participate in a Community Advisory Group (CAG). As discussed in the cover article, the CAG will provide a public forum for the community to discuss their concerns and offer input to the EPA on the cleanup as it moves forward. Even if you are not interested in being a member of the CAG, please join us to learn more about the process. Registration is required.

Can I recycle the cap on a plastic water bottle? Are black plastic food trays recyclable? Do I still need to tie up my newspapers? We all know that recycling means separating out paper, plastic, glass and metal from our trash. But understanding the fundamentals of recycling is what helps us make informed decisions on what and how we sort. Learn how “aspirational recycling” can actually be detrimental to the recycling process. Liz Sweedy of Morris County MUA, our recycling expert, will sort the myths from the facts about the ins and outs of recycling and pass along this knowledge to you, so you can share with others. Light snacks will be served. Registration required.

Ever wonder about the water quality in the streams in your neighborhood? Come and learn about the quality of the water in your community and get ideas on how you can help to protect and improve it.

This is your chance to come out and hear about our year in review. Learn about the successes we've experienced in our expanded education and water quality programs, our profitable fundraiser gala honoring former NJ Governor Tom Kean, and our exciting inaugural music festival fundraiser. We will also present what's in store for 2019.

Garden like a water miser and still have the healthiest lawn in town! What else can you do to take care of your yard with the least environmental impact? What’s the most effective way to water your plants and lawn without wasting water, and to reap a healthier lawn? Join us for this evening briefing as we share top tips for the most environmentally friendly yard, from selecting plants that will make your property an inviting space for the birds and the bees, to lawn care tips that will save you money and time. Everything you do in your yard can have an impact on the watershed you live in - we will help ensure it’s a positive impact! This program is cosponsored by GSWA and Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library. Registration is required.

Due to the weather that’s happening out there, tonight’s Stormwater Management program has been postponed. We do not yet have a new date, but will announce it as soon as it's scheduled. Everyone be safe! Green infrastructure can win a trifecta of benefits: managing heavy rain and snow, improving water supplies, and enhancing real estate development. Great news: the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is issuing new rules for stormwater management that mandate use of green infrastructure such as bioswales, rain gardens, pervious pavement, tree wells, etc. Learn about these elements of landscape architecture and how they enhance aesthetics, health, and safety from Marian Glenn, Summit Environmental Commission member, and President of the Trustees of the Rahway River Watershed Association.