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April 2023
Stream Assessment Training – FREE
REGISTERUnless there's obvious pollution in the river or stream, to the untrained eye, the water may look healthy. But is it? This free training session, led by Sandra LaVigne, GSWA Director of Water Quality Programs, will provide you with all the necessary skills to make your own determinations. An indoor classroom session teaches you how to conduct visual and biological stream assessments, identify macroinvertebrates, and recognize environmental factors that could impact stream health. An outdoor session lets you practice your new-found skills at a local stream site. By afternoon, you will be fully trained in visual and biological stream assessment. And if you are ready to take that next step,…
March 2023
SOLD OUT – Vernal Pool Exploration Hike
REGISTERTo be added to the waitlist, email Melanie - mhertgen@greatswamp.org. If you reserved a spot but cannot attend, email Melanie so next person on the waitlist can be invited. 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…
What’s the Buzz About Native Bees?
REGISTERRegistration closes March 21 @ 5 PM What's the Buzz About Native Bees? Speaker: Heather Holm FREE Zoom Webinar When you see bees buzzing around your garden, that's a good thing. It means they are doing their jobs...pollinating! Pollination is essential in growing flowers and plants - basically all the food we consume as animals on this planet. Join biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author, Heather Holm, for a lively discussion about our friends, the bees, and all they do for our ecosystem. Not a fan of bees? All the more reason to attend this webinar. The fear of bees can be very real for many different…
POSTPONED: Pi Day Pub Quiz
REGISTERTHIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED - NEW DATE WILL BE SHARED ONCE IT IS DETERMINED Come celebrate pi day with some pizza "pi" and a lively nature knowledge pub quiz. March 14 marks Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical sign pi representing the first three digits of pi (3.14) and coincidentally, 3/14 also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. So, for all you smarty-pants out there, this is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge of nature, water, and the environment. Play for prizes and bragging rights! Team sizes may range from 3-5 players. Friends busy that day? No worries - we will team you up with other…
February 2023
CONDO Development Plan – Informational Zoom Webinar
REGISTERCONDO Development Plan may significantly DEGRADE our GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED Conservation Management Area The proposed S/K Mt. Kemble development plan is for a 96-unit residential, multi-family condominium complex including affordable housing with a community clubhouse, playground, pool, and dog park. This 15.5-acre, triangular shaped, forested parcel flanks Route 287 on one side and the Mt. Kemble office complex on another side. The third side bumps up against wetlands which connect to GSWA's 73-acre Conservation Management Area (CMA) under Route 287. Converting woods to pavement and rooftops significantly increases impervious surface cover. This increases stormwater volume, likely resulting in downstream flooding, added nonpoint pollutant loading, and erosion of both Silver Brook and Great…
Evening Briefing: Wasps – The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect
REGISTERRegistration closes February 21 @ 5 PM Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect Speaker: Eric Eaton FREE Zoom Webinar Wasps - people love to hate them. However, contrary to popular belief, wasps serve 2 important roles in our ecosystem: 1) they are pest controllers, hunting other insect species and keeping their population in check which prevents garden and crop decimation, and 2) they are pollinators for nearly 1000 plant species. Join acclaimed author Eric Eaton as he deconstructs our misconceptions about the often-vilified wasps and talks about the invaluable ecosystem services wasps provide. He will also challenge us to shift the outdated mindset of what…
President’s Day Hike @ The Refuge SOLD OUT
REGISTERIf you cannot attend, please email mhertgen@GreatSwamp.org to cancel so we can invite the next person on the waitlist email. Celebrate this President's Day with a relaxing, family-friendly, guided tour of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge's Orange Trail. The kids are off from school and it's a beautiful time of year to connect with nature. If there happens to be snow on the ground, your guide, GSWA's Ginger Van Ryzin, will help look for tracks and other signs of the critters who call the Refuge home. Dress for the weather and be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Click HERE for a map to the meetup location. GPS Coordinates: 40.726674,…
Full “Snow” Moon Night Hike @ The Refuge
REGISTERThere is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. So no more excuses! It's time to bundle up, get back outside, and feel the rejuvenating power of nature on this relaxing night hike. The February full moon is known as the "Snow Moon" because lots of snow is generally found on the ground in most Northern Hemisphere countries during this time. Come experience it for yourself. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear, dress for the weather, and bring a reusable water bottle and snacks if you so choose. Registration is required.
January 2023
Frozen Falls Hike (new end-time & meetup address)
REGISTERNEW TIMEFRAME: this hike now runs 11 AM - 2 PM (previously 11 AM - 1:30 PM) What would inspire you to brave the cold for a January hike? How about the unique opportunity to experience a frozen winter wonderland?! Join GSWA's Ginger Van Ryzin for an intermediate-level hike to check out some beautiful water features. The hike will journey along portions of the Yellow Trail and traverse several other trails as we hike towards a picturesque waterfall. If conditions are right, we may witness the falls in a frozen state - a sight to behold. Along the way we will encounter other bodies of water like babbling (or not…
Lunch & Learn: PFAS in our Waters
REGISTERRegistration closes January 27, 11:00 AM Join us for an in-depth talk about GSWA’s PFAS sampling project. In 2022, GSWA undertook a large-scale PFAS sampling project throughout our watershed. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are long-lasting, human-made chemicals that are ubiquitous in our everyday lives and our environment. This talk will cover the results of our sampling efforts, what you should know about these persistent chemicals, how state and local governments are addressing the issue, and what you can do to help. While this program is free for all participants, a small donation is always appreciated to help offset the cost of staff time. :-) You will receive the…