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.    

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.    

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.    

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!    

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.    

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.    

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.  

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.