4/6: Stream Assessment Training (Free)

Florham Park Library 107 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ, United States

Want to try something a little different? How about becoming a stream monitoring volunteer? Even if you just want to learn about stream health, this free, interactive training opportunity may be just the thing for you! An indoor classroom session teaches you how to conduct visual and biological stream assessments, identify macroinvertebrates, and recognize environmental factors that may impact stream health. An outdoor session lets you practice your new-found skills at a local stream site. By afternoon, you will be a fully trained visual-stream assessment volunteer and ready to conduct an assessment! 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 & outdoor sessions. 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 & outdoor sessions. This free training session will be conducted in conjunction with the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program. Registration is required.

4/9: Breakfast Briefing: Getting Rid of Non-recyclables the Right Way

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

Can I throw my old computer in the garbage? What do I do with my leftover medications? Is shredded paper recyclable? Disposing of our trash can be somewhat tricky, leaving us with more questions than answers. Gone are the days of tossing everything in a dented metal trash can and forgetting about it. And thank goodness for that! April, known as “spring cleaning” month, is a time to get rid of the stuff that has accumulated around us during our winter hibernation. Let us help you get your home in tip-top shape while keeping Mother Nature happy. We have solutions for the proper disposal of those pesky items we know shouldn't go in the trash, and we're pretty sure we can't recycle. Come get the facts. Registration is required.

Get Tickets Free – $40.00

4/15: Evening Briefing – Eco-friendly Lawn & Garden

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

At this program Great Swamp Watershed Association Director of Education and Outreach, Hazel England, will explain just what gardening for the environment entails. She will share tips on how to use native plants to attract beneficial wildlife into your backyard, how to reduce your water use, and how to minimize gardening pollutants. You’ll learn about the value that wildlife brings, and leave the presentation armed with a trove of information about what you can to plant in order to support local bird, bee, and butterfly populations. This free event is co-sponsored by GSWA and Livingston Public Library.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER – 5/2: Hike at Watchung Reservation

Watchung Reservation 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ

Want to explore a deserted village? Do you like scenic gorges and trails that follow the water? Our hike at Watchung Reservation will have all those things and more! Join us for an adventure through the reservation led by GSWA Education Associate, Adam Palmer. We will walk and talk about the winding paths and forest as we adventure alongside the Blue Brook, and we may even stop at Lake Surprise! (It’s a…surprise.)  Registration is required.

Sold Out Free – $40.00

5/5: Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

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

Did you ever stop to think about what it is you’re really spraying on your counter tops and floors? It’s possible that the residue left behind may actually be harmful to our family, pets, our local environment, and our regional water supply. Some super effective, eco-friendly alternative solutions come from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen; things like white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Believe it or not, it all really works! Come learn about the ingredients found in our personal and household cleaning products you may want to avoid, and how products labeled as “environmentally safe” are not all created equal – and why you should be concerned. You will leave with some DIY cleaning product recipes to make your very own homemade cleaning products! Registration is required. This free event is co-sponsored by GSWA and Livingston Public Library.

5/14: Breakfast Briefing: 2018 Water Quality Report Card

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

Everyone still asks, “So, how’s the water?” Come out and learn about the water quality along your stretch of the Passaic River and get the answers. Great Swamp Watershed Association Director of Water Quality, Sandra LaVigne, will present the 2018 water quality year in review, with data from our in-depth sampling program that covers the Passaic River from its headwaters in Great Swamp through the Florham Park/Livingston region. GSWA’s new microplastics sampling program will also be reviewed. Registration is required.

Get Tickets Free – $40.00

SOLD OUT: 5/16: Create Your Own Walking Stick Workshop

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

Come make your very own walking stick so you can hit the trails with confidence. Retired science teacher turned walking-stick-guru, Brad Koller, leads a fun-filled DIY workshop where you will choose from a variety of rough sticks including red cedar, maple, beech, and iron wood, and walk away with a finished product - and the ability to create one on your own! All tools and safety equipment will be provided. This is one of our most popular workshops and space is limited to the first 14 people who register, so don’t miss out - sign up today! $30/person includes everything you will need.

Sold Out $30.00

SORRY, THIS HIKE IS SOLD OUT! 5/18: Full Moon Hike @ CMA

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

May's full moon is known as the "Flower Moon" to signify the flowers that bloom during this month. Join Hazel England, GSWA Director of Education and Outreach, Land Steward, as she leads us on a hike to discover some gentle nighttime creatures. May is great time to enjoy a moonlit hike at the CMA. The canopy and bright moonlight provide the perfect backdrop to hear and spot owls. Our full moon hikes are a real hoot, so don't miss out on this unique, family-friendly opportunity! Registration is required.

Sold Out Free – $40.00

5/21: Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater: NJ’s New Rules

Summit Free Public Library 75 Maple Street, Summit, NJ

Green infrastructure is a trifecta, it: manages heavy rain and snow, improves water supplies, and enhances real estate development. Great news: the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is issuing new rules for stormwater management that mandate use of green infrastructure such as bioswales, rain gardens, pervious pavement, tree wells, etc. Learn about these elements of landscape architecture and how they enhance aesthetics, health, and safety from Marian Glenn, former Summit Environmental Commissioner, and President of the Trustees of the Rahway River Watershed Association. This free program is co-sponsored by GSWA and Summit Free Public Library.

5/23: Fungus Walk through the Swamp

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

Join your fellow fungus enthusiast, GSWA Education Coordinator, and all-around fungi, Adam Palmer, on a foray into the mysterious world of mushrooms, slimes and molds. Enjoy a hike around our Conservation Management Area as we look for and talk about the important roles of decomposers, symbiotic relationships, and even parasites in an ecosystem. Register today as there won’t be mush-room left on this hike if you wait!

Get Tickets Free – $40.00