Volunteer Events

Help us maintain and improve access to our 53-acre Conservation Management Area (CMA) located in Harding Township, while burning off some calories before the gluttonous winter holidays. This natural gem includes areas of upland forest, swamp, and wetlands. Tasks will include trail maintenance, fence repair, and invasive plant removal, (there will also be lighter tasks available). If you have a leaf blower and are happy to share, we’d love to clear the trails ready for winter hikers to find their way around. Bring your best holiday-season energy and enthusiasm! Conditions may be wet, muddy or chilly. Long pants and sturdy shoes or boots are essential. We'll bring the coffee and donuts to fuel our work. Participants under 14 must be accompanied by a parent, and community service hours can be earned for your school. Registration is required.

Interested in becoming a stream monitoring volunteer or just learning more about stream health? This is the training for you! An indoor classroom session helps you learn how to conduct visual and biological stream assessments, and recognize environmental factors that may impact stream health. An outdoor session helps you practice your new-found skills at a local stream site. Afterwards, you will be a fully trained stream assessment volunteer and ready to conduct assessments! Bring a pair of boots and clean shoes to change into. There will be a short walk to reach the stream. Tools and supplies are provided. Preferred volunteers are 15 or older. Includes indoor and outdoor sessions. Registration is required. Register online at GreatSwamp.org or call 973-538-3500.

Please help us rescue Kitchell Pond! With the use of canoes we will pull water chestnuts from the pond. Prefer to remain on land? You can help rid the banks of other invasive plants and trash. What is a water chestnut and why are we pulling it? Water chestnuts are invasive aquatic plants that have become a major nuisance in New Jersey’s lakes, ponds, and marshes. The plants form thick, floating mats of vegetation creating a hazard for boaters and other water recreators. These mats also inhibit light penetration into the water which impacts aquatic organisms and can lead to fish kills. Persistent removal of plants via hand-pulling can dramatically reduce a population over time. It takes many hands to make a significant impact, and we hope you’ll pitch in for this important work. This event is cosponsored by Morris County Park Commission. Registration is requested.

Calling all volunteers! We need your help in maintaining and improving our 73-acre Conservation Management Area. These forested wetlands in Harding Township, located within the Great Swamp watershed, are part of a developing open-space greenway upstream of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County, NJ. Tasks will include trail maintenance, fence repair, and invasive plant removal. Lighter tasks will also be available. Bring your best energy and enthusiasm! Conditions may be wet or muddy. Long pants, sturdy shoes or boots are encouraged. We’ll bring the coffee and donuts to help fuel you along. Participants under 14 must be accompanied by a parent - community service hours can be earned for your school. Registration is required so we know how much of everything to bring. Can't make this date? That's okay because we will be conducting these volunteer work days the second Saturday of every month through December, 2018. Register for one or more of our cleanups on the "Events" section of our website. Please download the Volunteer Waiver form, complete, and bring with you.  Volunteer Information: ➢ We will: mulch, plant, trail and boardwalk construction, fence repair, remove invasive species etc. ➢ We recommend wearing long pants, long […]

As part of its water quality and stewardship mission, Great Swamp Watershed Association owns and manages 73 acres of forested wetlands in Harding Township, known as the Conservation Management Area (CMA) and located within Great Swamp watershed. This property is part of a developing open space greenway upstream of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County, NJ. Our goal is to restore the property to increase its biological diversity, making it a better place for animals to live, and consequently a better place for individuals to come and observe wildlife. In order to manage the CMA, we rely heavily on the generosity of volunteers. Over 2,000 volunteer hours are logged annually at this and other GSWA sites. 95% of our land management comes from corporate work groups who, through their philanthropy or team building events, contribute a day of work at our site to help us towards fulfilling our mission. Volunteer Information: ➢ 20 Volunteer Trail Stewards needed to work the trail alongside GSWA staff to: mulch, plant, remove invasive species etc. (Children ages 10 and up with adult(s) welcome!) ➢ Wear long pants, long sleeves, hat, hiking boots; gloves/tools will be provided ➢ Parking is at end of […]

Come help us maintain and improve our 73-acre Conservation Management Area. Tasks will include trail maintenance, fence repair, and invasive plant removal. Lighter tasks will also be available. Bring your best energy and enthusiasm! Conditions may be wet or muddy. Long pants and sturdy shoes or boots are encouraged. We’ll bring the coffee and donuts to help fuel you along. Participants under 14 must be accompanied by a parent - community service hours can be earned for your school. Registration is required. Register online at GreatSwamp.org or call 973-538-3500. Can’t make this date? No worries – we will also conduct CMA volunteer work days on November 10 and December 8, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM. Pick a date that works best for you!