Kids Winter Nature Detectives Hike

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Bluebird Parking Lot Bluebird Parking Lot, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, NJ, United States

This event is SOLD OUT - please do not call with requests to be added to the guest list at this time. Federal refuge guidelines limit the number of people who access the "closed-off" portion of the refuge. We cannot accommodate anymore hikers. Please sign up for a future hike!  Are your kids ready for a fun and educational outdoor activity? Gather up your family and head outside for an adventure through the snowy forest. Together, we will 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! We will also talk about their winter-time activities and how the Refuge critters survive the coldest months of the year in anticipation of the spring thaw. Fun for all ages but especially for children ages 5 to 10. […]

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Beer & Pizza Pub Quiz

Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

Back by popular demand, it's the GSWA Pub Quiz! Join us for hot pizza, cold beer, and lots of laughs. Play for prizes and bragging rights. Gather up to three of your knowledgeable friends and brush up on your water quality and enviro facts. Your friends being party poopers? No worries - we'll team you up with other enthusiastic players. Ages 10 and older are welcome. Teams must have at least 1 member 18+ to compete; maximum team size: 4; maximum number of teams: 9. FREE beer* & pizza! $15 entry fee covers quiz participation. Questions will range from beginner to expert level. For example: If night active animals are known as nocturnal, what are dawn and dusk active animals known as? Answer: Crepuscular *Must be 21+ to drink alcoholic beverages. ID will be checked. Limit 2 drinks/person. This will event fill up fast and space is limited so, register today!

Nature Stroll at Hedden County Park

Hedden County Park Use Hawthorne Ave Parking off of Reservoir Ave., Randolph, NJ, United States

Sunday Hike Series: Looking for an invigorating late Winter activity? Join us for a scenic hike through Hedden Park, a beautiful piece of the Morris County Park Commission. Partially paved recreation trails traverse the Wallace Brook and cross Jackson Brook on this scenic hike. We will check out Indian Falls, a serene feature along the Green Trail, and take in the natural beauty of the park. This family-friendly hike is good for teens and older. Wear sturdy hiking boots and dress appropriately for the weather; layers, hat, and gloves highly recommended! Registration is required. Google Map Link

Sold Out Free – $40.00

Become a FrogWatcher

Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

Like frogs? Hop on over to GSWA for a hands-on "citizen science" training session to become an official FrogWatch volunteer. Eric Jackson, Environmental Educator at Hartshorn Arboretum, will teach you how to distinguish between a spring peeper and a wood frog and how to identify many other local frogs and toads. Come out and learn about our amphibian friends and if you're so inspired, Eric will train you how to properly log and report your sightings in a nationwide database. Your observations are important! The information you collect helps establish long-term and large-scale data on amphibian populations. It's fun for the whole family, and this training session is free! Registration is required.

Sunday Series Hike – Rifle Camp Park at Garrett Mountain

Rifle Camp Park 387 Rifle Camp Rd., Woodland Park, NJ, United States

Join us on a journey through the "yellow trail" of the scenic and historic Rifle Camp Park which sits on the ridgeline of Garret Mountain in Passaic County. Situated 500 feet above sea level, this area offers several overlooks with panoramic views of northern New Jersey and New York City that you can't see from anywhere else in Passaic County. You'll also catch a glimpse of American history - this spot served as a perfect location for George Washington’s troops to observe British movements during the Revolutionary War in 1780. Rifle Camp Park got its name from the fact that Major James Parr’s rifle corps camped in the area that eventually become the park. Bring your camera and wear your hiking boots. Directions: In your GPS, search for Rifle Camp Park and follow those directions. We will meet at the second parking lot on Rifle Camp Rd. If you have problems with directions the day of, call Adam at 908-399-5610.

Get Tickets Free – $40.00

POSTPONED: Vernal Pool After-Dark Exploration Hike

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

With temperatures rising, the forest floor will be hopping with new life as frogs and other amphibians crowd into shallow basins of water to breed and lay their eggs. These areas are better known as vernal pools. They are an important type of wetlands in need of protection in New Jersey. This annual nighttime 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. Learn how to tell the difference between salamander and frog eggs. And learn how all that we appreciate about springtime depends upon a few unassuming puddles of water on the forest floor.   Warm clothing and waterproof hiking boots are strongly recommended, and don’t forget your flashlight. Registration is required.

Sold Out Free – $40.00

CANCELLED: “Green” Your Closet

Livingston Public Library 10 Robert H Harp Dr.,, Livingston, NJ, United States

Green isn't your color?  That's okay - we're talking eco-friendly green. Join Megan Meiklejohn, Transparency Manager at EILEEN FISHER, as she digs into the unseen impacts of our clothing; from the farm to the dyehouse to your closet. Additionally, Claire Whitcomb, Madison Environmental Commission Chair and a longtime writer at EILEEN FISHER, will share the basics of building a mindful wardrobe. Learn how to: identify which fibers are most sustainable, shop for simple, quality clothes, and make sustainable choices about washing. She will also discuss repairing and caring for your clothes, and locating resources for recycling textiles at the end of their life. Co-sponsored by GSWA and Livingston Public Library. This event is free and open to all. Registration is required.

Sold Out Free

POSTPONED: DIY: Build a Warbler Bird Box

Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

Join us for a fun-filled evening that's for the birds! Come learn about the beautiful little yellow songbirds, Prothonotary Warblers, and their nesting habits - along with those of similar birds. The talk will be followed by constructing your very own Warbler nest box to take home and enjoy. This workshop is limited to the first 16 people to register. The cost is $40/bird box and covers the presentation, all materials and light snacks. Registration is required. This workshop is sponsored by Investors Bank of Madison, NJ.

Sold Out $30.00 – $40.00

Make-at-home Warbler Nest Box – Ongoing!

Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ 568 Tempe Wick Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

Frustrated that all the fun events are currently cancelled? We feel the same way! But we have a solution. We have turned our upcoming "Maker Workshop" for a prothonotory warbler nest building into a make at home event.  Just in time for nesting season - register for this virtual program, collect the boxes from our office in a secure and safe way, then build the box at your leisure at home following our easy to follow, step-by-step instruction guide. We will even be available for technical help should you require it.         All you need is a hammer, the kit that we will provide, and a little patience. If you are not sure if you have the right habitat for these amazing warblers, don’t worry, many other cavity nesting birds will utilize constructed boxes. Our follow-along guide contains important and interesting background information to help ensure nesting success. This workshop is limited to the first 18 people to sign up, so don’t miss out and register today! You’ll receive your pick up instructions and link to the how to build materials. Sponsored by Investors Bank of Madison.   PICK UP TIME:   9 am - 11 am, Saturday […]

Get Tickets $30.00 – $35.00

POSTPONED: Spring has Sprung Hike at the CMA

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

Nature is blooming all around and the critters of our Conservation Management Area are fully awake after a long winter's nap. So, gather up your family and hop on over to check out all the activity at this pre-Easter hike. While the birds are busy making their nests, wood frog tadpoles can be seen swimming about, spring peepers and forest frogs will be calling from the cattail marsh pond, and the woodpeckers will resume drumming at the trees that are starting to bloom. Come reconnect with nature and our woodland friends at this relaxing morning hike.

Sold Out Free – $40.00