POSTPONED: Water Workshop Weekends – Family Fun Day at GSWA’s Conservation Management Area

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

Due to extreme heat and changeable weather, this event has been postponed.    The Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) and Morris Museum are pleased to announce their new partnership; our inaugural set of events, beginning with Water Workshop Weekends, will take place on July 7, 8, and 15, 2023. Saturday, July 15 from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM - Experience the wonders of nature at GSWA's Conservation Management Area (CMA) nestled on Tiger Lily Lane in Harding. Immerse yourself in eco-friendly hikes, where you'll be provided with binoculars to enrich your connection with the surrounding environment. Delight in family-friendly activities inspired by the natural world, fostering a deep appreciation for our planet. Engage with fascinating macroinvertebrates to gain a profound understanding of our ecosystem and its precious water quality. This is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the 16th year of the City of Water Day, which builds awareness and reaches towards the goal of a climate-resilient New York and New Jersey harbor. Tickets: Members Free* | Non-members $12 | Children $8 (3-17) BUY YOUR TICKETS BELOW Don't miss the Water Workshop Weekends kickoff event of the critically acclaimed and star-filled movie Dark Waters screening and panel discussion on Friday, July 7 at […]

Free – $40.00

Volunteer for CMA Stewardship Day – July 21st

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

Ready to get a little dirty and sweaty in the swamp? Need community service hours? College students, are you looking for something worthy to add to your resume?! Join us on Friday at the GSWA Conservation Management Area (CMA) to help us steward the land. We will work from 9AM to 1PM and enjoy some well-earned snacks provided by GSWA Director of Land Stewardship, Hazel England. We could really use your help getting our CMA tidied up by helping us with the following tasks: Carry in lumber • Build and elevate boardwalks which allows hikers to get through flooded areas • Clear branches and limbs from recent storms • Remove invasive plants • Spread woodchips on our trails. Be sure to wear long pants, long sleeves, and hiking boots or old shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Bring a hat and a reusable water bottle. We will provide bug spray, sun block, gloves, and all tools you will need. You’ll work hard, but will also share in some laughs, and enjoy delicious snacks. What better way to spend a Friday morning? See you there!

Free

Firefly and Moth Hike

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

Come meet the fascinating nighttime insects of the Conservation Management Area! While fireflies light up the night we hike out to our moth light station. There, we’ll stop to observe the numbers and types of moths that live along the trails. Join us for this easy hike over our boardwalks to marvel at these nighttime critters while learning about what they need to thrive. Registration is required and space is limited so register today

Free – $15.00

Wildflowers of Ramapo Hike

Ramapo Mountain State Forest (Upper Lot) Hiking Trail Parking Lot, Oakland, NJ, United States

Come out and practice your wildflower ID! Join naturalist Ginger Van Ryzin on a Saturday morning hike at Ramapo Mountain State Forest. On the hike, we will pass multiple native plantings, admire the beautiful clear water of Ramapo Lake, and explore the Van Slyke “Castle” ruins. The hike will be 3 miles with some rough terrain and elevation change. Sturdy hiking books are recommended.

$10.00 – $15.00

Fall Colors Sunset Paddle

Somerset County Park Commission, Fisherman's Parking Lot Approx. 170 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ

Fall Colors Paddle: 4:00 - 5:30 pm   Come out and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage as the sun sets along the banks of the Passaic River as we paddle the headwaters region of the Great Swamp. This area is full of wildlife, native vegetion and beautiful views. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent. There are 7 spots available per session – only 2 spots per registration. All participants must be able to swim, be comfortable on the water, and wear clothes and footwear that can (and will) get wet and muddy. Life vests will be provided.     IMPORTANT – Kayak Waiver: Each participant MUST submit one of the forms below. If the person is under the age of 18 then a parent or guardian must sign their form and assume responsibility for the minor. Please complete, sign and bring the form(s) with you. The organizers will collect completed forms before put-in. Adult Attendee Minor Attendee The meet up location is the Somerset County Park Commission Fisherman's Parking Lot.

$30.00 – $40.00

Hidden Colors UV Hike – SOLD OUT

Primrose Farm (Enter from Barrett Field) Barrett Field, 1413-000460000-000020001-00000, Morristown, NJ

  Important information: Location has changed to Harding Land Trust's Primrose Farm. See below for location address.   Explore the hidden colors of fungus, plants, and insects as we explore the Conservation Management Area with new eyes. UV lights allow us to see colorful, fluorescent organisms that the human eye cannot normally detect. GSWA will provide the UV lights for this short hike over our boardwalked vernal pools. Guests of all ages are encouraged to join!

$8.00 – $15.00

Climate Proof Your Garden – Free Zoom

Zoom Webinar NJ, United States

Please note: registration closes September 20 @ 5 PM   As extreme weather events and warmer temperatures become more frequent, it’s time to start thinking about ways you can fortify your outdoor space. At this Zoom webinar, you will learn about ways to “climate proof” your garden including Xeriscaping water conservation strategies. Xeriscaping is the practice of designing landscapes to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. Xeriscaped landscapes need little or no water beyond what the natural climate provides. We will also discuss the best plant choices to help your garden weather the storms and droughts. Implementing these strategies can also allow more biodiversity, where your plants will flourish and attract more pollinators like bees, birds and butterflies! You will receive the webinar Zoom link via email prior to the start of the program.

Free – $40.00

SOLD OUT – Harvest Full Moon Paddle

Essex County Environmental Center 621 Eagle Rock Ave, Roseland, NJ

Harvest Paddle: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Delight in an evening paddle on the Passaic River to celebrate the beginning of Autumn as the sun sets. Children 8 and up are welcome. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent. There are 7 spots available per session – only 2 spots per registration. All participants must be able to swim, be comfortable on the water, and wear clothes and footwear that can (and will) get wet and muddy. Life vests will be provided.     IMPORTANT – Kayak Waiver: Each participant MUST submit one of the forms below. If the person is under the age of 18 then a parent or guardian must sign their form and assume responsibility for the minor. Please complete, sign and bring the form(s) with you. The organizers will collect completed forms before put-in. Adult Attendee Minor Attendee The meet up location is Essex County Environmental Center. The GSWA kayaks, used in our water quality and educational programming, were purchased with the generous funding provided by the Thomas Glasser Foundation.

$30.00 – $40.00

Stream Assessment Training – Free

Morristown & Morris Township Library 1 Miller Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

With all that's going on with our planet, now is the right time to tune in to our environment a little more. Join us for this free training workshop and learn how to monitor a stream, or simply gain a better understanding about stream health. The first half of the program will be held indoors at Morristown/ Morris Township Library. Then we will drive over to Loantaka Park to complete the course streamside along Loantaka Brook. You will need to your own transportation from the Library to the park. By the afternoon, you will be fully trained and ready to conduct your own visual stream assessments! Registration is free but required so we can obtain a headcount. Parking is available on the street or in one of the nearby parking garages.   Join Us for the Other Water Quality Events at The Morristown & Morris Township Library! Deepen your understanding of water quality and its pivotal role in our community by attending the Stream Assessment Training, along with two others events described below. All three are free events, but registration is required for some. Come to a Local Screening of the "Saving the Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport" […]

Free – $40.00

Local Screening of the “Saving the Great Swamp” – Free

Morristown & Morris Township Library 1 Miller Rd, Morristown, NJ, United States

Registration is NOT required!    The "Saving the Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport" Documentary will be shown at the MMT Library 6:30 PM: Doors open, 7 PM: Film Begins, 8 PM: Panel Discussion   In 1959, the Port Authority of New York announced plans to build a huge international jetport in the swamp. This “done deal” proposal, would have filled in the swamp, demolished 700 homes, and changed the landscape forever. But a small group of concerned citizens opposed the threat and won.  The award-winning one-hour documentary “Saving the Great Swamp,” tells the story of the events, people and politics behind the struggle to preserve this beautiful rural area between 1959 and 1968. USA Today called the film “a truly astonishing and entertaining history lesson” and it has aired nationally on PBS. The film will be shown at 7:00pm in the Meeting Room of the MMT Library and admission is free. Registration not required. Join Us for the Other Water Quality Events at The Morristown & Morris Township Library! Deepen your understanding of water quality and its pivotal role in our community by attending the Local Screening of the "Saving the Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport" […]