GSWA

BYO Boat, Guided Paddle on the Passaic
2017-06-11 | Somerset County Park Commission, Fisherman’s Parking Lot, Approx. 170 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ
**DUE TO WEATHER THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM MAY 6** Grab your kayak or canoe and join GSWA as we paddle upstream from the Fisherman’s Parking Lot at the Lord Stirling Environmental Education Center. We’ll traverse beaver dams and explore the river, with Somerset County Park land on one side, and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge on the other. Our eyes will be peeled for turtles, snakes, migratory birds, and other creatures as we paddle through the peaceful waters.
Please note that there are two times for this event, and each time is limited to eight boats (not individuals).9:00 AM – 11:00 AM OR 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
You must bring your own boat, paddles, and personal flotation device (PFD). You will not be able to join the guided paddle without a PFD, which will be inspected before we leave. You should be dressed to get wet (including your shoes) and bring your own water. You will be asked to sign a waiver prior to participation. Registration required.

Spring Night Hike
2017-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association’s CMA, 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Hone your inner naturalist and practice your being-out-after-dark skills with Director of Education and Outreach, Hazel England. She’ll guide you through the forests of our Conservation Management Area, perfect for exploring the spring night sky. With the mating season in full swing, June is the perfect time to explore the forest in search of active wildlife. We’ll listen and look for owls, foxes, spring insects, and other nocturnal creatures. Registration required. Register below or by calling 973-538-3500.

Invasive Plant Identification Workshop
2017-05-22 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Blvd, Chatham Township, NJ, 07928
What makes a weed a weed? How can you tell your oriental bittersweet from your Japanese barberry and why should you care that you can? Invasive plants are spreading in our forests and open spaces, and harm the environment as they reduce biodiversity and resources for native wildlife. New Jersey spends millions in labor and resources to remove invasives each year. Join us for this informative, hands on session on how to identify New Jersey’s top ten least wanted, as we learn from the plants themselves to know both terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants and appropriate native replacements. You’ll never look at burning bush in the same way again! Registration required. Register below or by calling 973-538-3500.
This program is being run in conjunction with Morris County Park System’s Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center and the Americorps Watershed Ambassador.

Stream Assessment & Macroinvertebrate Training
2017-05-21 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Long Hill Township Library, 917 Valley Rd, Gillette, NJ, 07933, United States
If you are 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, visually assessing streams and collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates at a local stream site. Afterwards, you will be a fully trained stream assessment volunteer and ready to conduct a new assessment this fall! This training will be conducted in conjunction with the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program.

Annual Great Swamp Scavenger Hunt
2017-05-20 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, 220 Long Hill Road, Gillette, NJ, 07933, United States
Calling all would-be explorers, adventurers, and buccaneers! The Great Swamp Scavenger Hunt is back for another year of outdoor fun!
Think you know a thing or two about New Jersey’s Great Swamp? Then it’s time to test your powers of navigation and observation to find out.
Begin the Scavenger Hunt just after 10 a.m. by checking in at GSWA’s Home Base under the pavilion at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge’s Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center. (The Visitor Center is located just inside the Lee’s Hill Road park entrance at 32 Pleasant Plains Road in Harding Township, NJ.)
We will provide you with a route to travel, questions to answer, and a list of treasures to find throughout the 55-square-mile Great Swamp Watershed region. It’s your job to navigate to each treasure site, seek answers to the questions and riddles provided, and then return to Home Base with all your spoils.
Remember to hurry back to 32 Pleasant Plains Road at 3 p.m. because your day of pilfering booty will earn you several chances to win some special prizes at our Scavenger’s Tricky Tray!
A free cookout waits for all who participate, so don’t forget your barbecue enthusiasm. We love it when our guests participate in the picnic! Feel free to bring along a covered side dish (to share or not). We’ll supply the burgers, dogs, and drinks.
This event is sponsored by Investors Bank, Madison Branch.

Kitchell Pond Workday
2017-05-17 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Kitchell Pond, 75 Kitchell Road, Morristown, New Jersey
GSWA is looking for volunteers to help us to remove invasive species and replant a native buffer around Kitchell Pond. We’d love to have your help! This event is cosponsored by Morris County Park Commission.

Watchung Reservation Hike
2017-04-26 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Watchung Reservation, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ, 07092
Join us for the next installment of “Downstream Adventures” Hiking at Watchung Reservation. We will be exploring scenic gorges, visiting the remnants of the deserted village of Feltville, following alongside the Blue Brook and marveling at Lake Surprise.
This will be a difficult hike over a few miles.

Breakfast Briefing: Microplastics in Our Water
2017-04-04 08:00 - 09:30 UTC | Berkeley Heights YMCA, 50 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Urban watersheds are exposed to high concentrations of microplastic pollution due to the inability of wastewater treatment processes to remove these pollutants from widely used products. Join GSWA and NY/NJ Baykeeper’s Sandra Meola as she discusses her studies on microbead pollution. In her study, microbead densities in Raritan and Passaic River surface waters were calculated, adsorbed persistent organic pollutants and plasticizers were analyzed, and toxicity effects determined by exposing model organisms to microbeads. Project partners Ironbound Community Corporation and NY/NJ Baykeeper participated in water sample collection, analysis, and creation of materials for community education and engagement. Register below or by calling 973-538-3500.

This event is sponsored by Investors Bank, Madison Branch.

Vernal Pool Exploration Hike
2017-04-02 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Great Swamp Watershed Association’s CMA, 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!
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, better known as vernal pools, provide a perfect opportunity to learn more about Mother Nature here in New Jersey. But hurry! They disappear quickly.
GSWA’s 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 on a few unassuming puddles of water on the forest floor.
Warm clothing and waterproof footwear — especially hiking boots — are very strongly recommended for this hike. Registration required. Register online or by calling 973-538-3500.

Pilgrim Pipeline – Valley Stables Tavern
2017-03-30 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Valley Stables tavern, 588 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202), Oakland, NJ, United States
Join Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipeline for a spirited fundraiser on Thursday, March 30th, 7-9pm at Valley Stables tavern, 588 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) in Oakland. Each ticket entitles you to two pints of beer brewed with New Jersey’s clean water, and Valley Stables appetizers. We’ll see you there, and please spread the word among your friends!

Taste of Nature Party
2017-03-29 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Have you ever tried dandelion wine? Do you know what types of wild plants can be harvested and eaten? Join us for this exciting spin on our always entertaining tasting events, where we will experiment with different food and drink made from New Jersey plants! This event is free to nonmembers and members who bring a nonmember friend as a guest (members coming alone or with other members can join in on the fun too, for a donation of $25). Not only that – but for each nonmember that walks through our door, an anonymous donor has pledged to contribute $25 to GSWA, and to match any gifts made to the organization, dollar-for-dollar.

Frog Watch Training Workshop
2017-03-21 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Helen Fenske Visitor Center, 32 Pleasant Plains Rd, New Vernon, NJ, 07976, United States
Do you know your spring peepers from your wood frogs? What does a leopard frog sound like and can they be found in your neighborhood? Join GSWA and Tedor Whitman of Cora Hartshorn Arboretum for this hands-on training session to become an official FrogWatch volunteer. FrogWatch is a citizen science program that uses volunteer’s observations to create a database of frog and toad sightings, helping to establish long-term and large-scale data on amphibian populations. During the training, you’ll 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 select places around the region to monitor and you will be frog counting in no time!

Breakfast Briefing: How to Build Your Own Rain Garden
2017-03-07 08:00 - 09:30 (America/Halifax) | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
In this in-depth how-to breakfast briefing, GSWA Director of Education and Outreach, Hazel England, will discuss the benefits of managing stormwater by installing a rain garden in your home. Rain Gardens are shallow depressions, planted with shrubs and perennials that absorb stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and other impervious surfaces, helping to recharge groundwater, slow flooding, and reduce nonpoint source pollution in our waterways. Hazel will discuss everything from how to pick the right location for your rain garden, to how to create it, and what plants to include. You’ll leave armed with the knowledge needed to create your own rain garden this spring. Registration required. Register online or by calling 973-538-3500.

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Guided Dog Walk
2017-02-25 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Passaic River Park, 161 Springfield Ave, Berkeley Heights, NJ, 07922, United States
Come explore the Passaic River Park with your furry friend! We’ll see what we can sniff out in the woods. Leash required, and you will be asked to sign a waiver prior to participation. Walk will be over uneven and sometimes slippery terrain. Please dress according to the weather and bring your own waste bags. Registration required. Register online or by calling (973) 538-3500.

Full Snow Moon Hike
2017-02-11 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association’s CMA, 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
February’s full moon is known as the “Full Snow Moon”, due to February’s tendency to have the heaviest snowfall. Native American tribes in the area also called this moon the “Hunger Moon” because of difficulty to find food during this time of year.
Join GSWA as we hike the moonlit trails of our Conservation Management Area (CMA), and listen for nighttime creatures. The open canopy cover and bright moonlight provide the perfect backdrop to hear and spot owls, as they become more active for the mating season.
Warm clothing and waterproof footwear — especially hiking boots — are very strongly recommended for this hike. Registration Required. Register online or by calling 973-538-3500.

Crafting Workshop: Create Your Own Walking Stick
2017-02-02 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Join GSWA and retired Science teacher turned walking-stick-guru for a fun-filled DIY workshop at GSWA’s office. Learn how to make your very own walking stick to hit the trails with. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of rough sticks, including red cedar, maple, beech, and iron wood, and walk away with a finished product and the knowledge of how to create one on your own! All tools and safety equipment will be provided. Registration required. Register online or by calling 973-538-3500.

Buttermilk Falls Hike
2017-01-22 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | India Brook Park, 131 Shady Ln, Mendham, NJ, United States
Don’t be left out in the cold this January, join GSWA education associate Dan Ross as he leads a winter hike through Buttermilk Falls Natural Area in Mendham. You will get a chance to check out the remnants of what was once the Mendham Water Company, and abandoned relics from the area’s iron ore mining past. Along the way we will also keep our eyes peeled for woodland creatures prepping for the long cold months ahead! Registration required. Register online or by calling 973-538-3500.

Breakfast Briefing: Environmentally Sound Cleaning Products
2017-01-10 08:00 - 09:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
White vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice…no, not the ingredients in a salad dressing, but the basis of many environmentally safe cleaning products! Learn more about what ingredients in daily personal and household cleaning products you need to be wary of, how not all environmental labeled products are created equally and why you should be concerned. Common ingredients in many household products can have detrimental environmental impacts on you, the local environment and our regional water supply. Leave with some DIY cleaning product recipes and some homemade cleaning products to start you off!

Breakfast Briefing: GSWA Annual Water Quality Report Card
2016-12-13 08:00 - 09:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Curious to learn the health of the streams in the watershed? Join us for an informative breakfast briefing with GSWA Director of Water Quality, Sandra LaVigne, as she discusses the results of her 2015 stream sampling via the annual Great Swamp Water Quality Report Card. Sandra will also discuss the plans for moving downstream in 2017. After the completion of the Adopt a Stream Program with the three-year long assessment of Primrose Brook and Black Brook in 2016, we will be looking forward to new endeavors throughout the watershed.

Winter Nature Detectives Hike
2016-12-08 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, 220 Long Hill Road, Gillette, NJ, 07933, United States
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! Recommended for all, but especially children 5 to 12 years old.

December Holiday Crafting: Holiday Candles
2016-12-07 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Join Education Associate Dan Ross for a fun filled DIY workshop at GSWA’s office. Learn how to make your very own holiday themed candles, and bring home this rustic keepsake that will be sure to light up your holiday gatherings, or to be given as a creative and unique gift.

Members Only Behind the Scenes Hike
2016-12-04 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, 220 Long Hill Road, Gillette, NJ, 07933, United States
Go behind the scenes at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to places that are not open to the public during this special members-only hike. GSWA Director of Education and Outreach, Hazel England will show you some of the natural wonders that are squirreled away behind the scenes at the refuge. Warm clothing and waterproof footwear — especially hiking boots — are very strongly recommended for this hike.

Holiday Cordial Tasting
2016-12-01 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Whether you’re new to GSWA or you have some friends you want to introduce to us, this is a great, low-key way to learn more about the organization’s 35-year legacy of environmental stewardship, education, and advocacy in the Great Swamp region. We’ll also tell you things about New Jersey’s Great Swamp that you’ve never heard before!
GSWA non-members and members bringing non-member friends are invited to attend this event free of charge. Tickets for GSWA members attending alone or with other GSWA members are $25 each.
An anonymous donor has pledged to contribute $25 to GSWA for each new person introduced to the organization at the tasting. The same donor has also pledged to match, dollar-for-dollar, any and all contributions made to GSWA during the event.

Downstream Adventures: South Mountain Reservation
2016-11-27 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | South Mountain Reservation, W South Orange Ave, West Orange, NJ, United States
Make a pilgrimage to South Mountain Reservation and join GSWA Education Associate Dan Ross in burning off some excess calories after the holiday binge. We’ll enjoy the scenery of this beautiful Essex County Park, explore the trail system and catch some native wildlife making preparations for the long cold months to follow. You truly won’t want to miss this second installment of our downstream adventures!
Please note: This is a difficult hike of over 5 mile and considerable elevation.

Volunteer Workday – Straightening up the CMA
2016-11-20 08:30 - 12:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association’s CMA, 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Help us maintain and improve access to our 55-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). Bring your best holiday-season energy and enthusiasm! Conditions may be wet and muddy. Long pants and sturdy shoes or boots are essential. We’ll bring the coffee and donuts to fuel our work.
Must be 12 years or older to participate.

Stream Assessment Training
2016-11-19 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Long Hill Township Library, 917 Valley Rd, Gillette, NJ, 07933, United States
If you are interested in becoming a stream monitoring volunteer or just learning more about stream health, this is the training for you! An early-morning indoor classroom session helps you learn how to conduct a visual stream assessment and recognize environmental factors that may impact stream health. A late-morning outdoor session helps you practice your new-found skills at a local stream site. By afternoon, you will be a fully trained visual-stream assessment volunteer ready to conduct a new assessment next spring! Bring boots and a pair of clean shoes to change into. Tools and supplies are provided. Preferred volunteers are 15 or older. Includes indoor & outdoor sessions.

Workshop: Autumn Crafting with Native Plants
2016-11-16 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
Native plants not only provide critical food and habitats for our birds and woodland animals, but they can also bring a pop of color and décor to your living room or porch for the holidays too! All too often invasive plants such as oriental bittersweet are selected for decorative purposes and they can then spread their berries and seeds, increasing their reach even further! Learn how to make beautiful arrangements using only native plant materials in this fun workshop and bring home a decorative piece for the holidays!

Evening Briefing: Overabundant Deer and Invasive Plants
2016-11-15 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ, 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960, United States
What effect do the combination of deer and invasive plants have on New Jersey’s forests? What impact on tree regeneration or tick populations do different deer management programs have? Dr. Jay F. Kelly, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Raritan Valley Community College, and Nellie Tsipoura from NJ Audubon will discuss the results of a three year study he conducted in partnership with NJ Audubon on the effects of deer and invasive plants in central New Jersey. More than 100 forests were studied in the Piedmont region of the Raritan Watershed, assessing the effectiveness of a variety of deer management strategies, from exclosures to hunting. Registration required.

Enchanted Hike
2016-10-29 15:30 - 17:00 UTC | Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, 600 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, 07960
As the shadows lengthen and the day’s light grows shorter, enjoy some warm apple cider along a late afternoon hike as NPS Park Historian Eric Olsen and GSWA Education Associate Dan Ross tell seasonal stories about the origins of the Jack O’ Lantern, old time superstitions, and explore other tales and folklore to the backdrop of historic Jockey Hollow. You might just want to bring along your own lantern to ward off any evil spirits that might be lingering nearby!

Columbus Day Explorers
2016-10-10 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Giralda Farms Trailhead
Embrace your inner Columbus and explore Giralda Farms in Chatham Township with GSWA. Hikers will have the chance to create some fall crafts before hitting the trails. Once the hike begins, your guides, GSWA’s director of education and outreach, Hazel England, and GSWA education associate, Dan Ross, will teach you how to look for signs of wildlife that are getting ready for winter or migrating through. Registration Required.
