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2nd Annual “Source to Sea” Virtual Challenge

Ready for a winter challenge? Join us for our 2nd annual Source to Sea 80-mile virtual challenge where you will virtually travel the distance of the Passaic River.  Run, walk, bike, snowshoe, ski, dance, shovel, vacuum, roll - any indoor or outdoor activity you choose (as long as it is powered by you) - for 80 miles, the length of the Passaic River. This can be done from anywhere in the world. You will have just over 8 weeks to chip away at this goal that runs Saturday, January 21 through Sunday, March 26 from literally anywhere in the world! Click below to learn more and register (this will take you to a 3rd party platform)     Choose one activity or any combination to accomplish your goal. Start small and build on it, tackle it in big chunks, or anything in between. This is your challenge to accomplish however you see fit. Activity Conversion Chart Click HERE to view an Activity Conversion Chart to help you calculate your mileage for the various activities you may choose to reach your 80-mile goal. Free GSWA Decal   The $35 registration fee includes a fun, commemorative GSWA decal for you to proudly […]

Lunch & Learn: PFAS in our Waters

Zoom Webinar NJ, United States

Registration 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 webinar Zoom link via email prior to the start of the program.

Free – $40.00

Frozen Falls Hike (new end-time & meetup address)

Ramapo Valley County Reservation 610 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mawah, NJ, United States

NEW 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 so babbling, depending on the temps) streams, a pond and a reservoir, and the Ramapo River - which eventually feeds into the Passaic River. As you may know, GSWA works to protect the water and land of the Passaic River and its surrounding region. The Ramapo Reservation is Bergen County's largest park located on the edge of the Highlands Region featuring a network of five scenic loop trails. Grab this opportunity to breathe in the crisp, cool air, get your blood pumping, and experience the wonder that winter's nature has […]

$10.00 – $25.00

Full “Snow” Moon Night Hike @ The Refuge

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Observation Center https://goo.gl/maps/tLD3KapcRC21245c8, Harding Twp., NJ, United States

There 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.

Free – $40.00

President’s Day Hike @ The Refuge SOLD OUT

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Orange Trailhead approx 77 Meyersville Rd., Green Village (Harding Township), NJ, United States

If you cannot attend, please email [email protected] 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, -74.457729

Free – $40.00

Evening Briefing: Wasps – The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect

Zoom Webinar NJ, United States

Registration 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 really constitutes a "yard" or "garden" and help homeowners think more holistically about what really constitutes beneficial species. When homeowners understand how their gardening decisions, such as pesticide usage or determining certain species should be exterminated, it can impact local ecology. Eric will offer a new perspective on often-maligned species and broaden our perspective on several elements of gardening for natives. Eric Eaton has authored "Insectpedia" (Princeton Univ. Press, 2022) and "Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect." He is a writer and entomologist specializing in hymenoptera (a large […]

Free – $40.00

CONDO Development Plan – Informational Zoom Webinar

Zoom Webinar NJ, United States

CONDO 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 Brook. GSWA strongly opposes this proposed development* and we are deeply concerned about the environmental impact we anticipate on our freshwater wetlands, water quality, recharge, and stormwater. Following are some of our major concerns: Encroachments into freshwater wetlands, encroachments into and alteration of the wetland transition areas (buffers). In some cases, these wetland encroachments would necessitate importing large amounts of fill that would be needed to recontour buffer areas or will be covered by impervious surfaces. Significant increases in pollutant loading to Silver Brook due to the fact that the […]

Free – $40.00

POSTPONED: Pi Day Pub Quiz

Madison Community Arts Center 10 Kings Rd., Madison, NJ, United States

THIS 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 enthusiastic players. Multiple choice questions range from beginner to expert level. Sample question: Are corals rocks, plants, or animals? Answer: Animals - made up of thousands of tiny animals called polyps Socialize and refuel your game with free pizza and soft drinks at the mid-game break! The entry fee covers your individual quiz participation, 2 slices of pizza, and soft drinks, all at the beautiful Madison Community Arts Center. Added bonus: door prizes and prizes for best team. Want to add to the fun? BYOP (Bring Your Own Pie) for […]

$10.00 – $20.00

What’s the Buzz About Native Bees?

Zoom Webinar Morristown, NJ, United States

Registration 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 reasons, but perhaps at the end of this presentation, fear will be replaced with fascination and an understanding of their amazing diversity, and what homeowners should be doing to promote their busy buzzy presence in our yards. You will receive the webinar Zoom link via email prior to the start of the program. NOTE: This presentation is LIVE only, it WILL NOT be recorded. Mark your calendar for the last webinar in this 4-part series and the start of the plant sale: Apr 3, 12-1 PM - GSWA Native Pollinator Plant […]

Free – $40.00

SOLD OUT – Vernal Pool Exploration Hike

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

To be added to the waitlist, email Melanie - [email protected]. 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 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.

Free – $40.00