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How’s the Water? GSWA Quality Report Card – Free Zoom Webinar

Zoom Webinar Morristown, NJ, United States

How's the water? That is the most common question we get from onlookers when we are out collecting water quality samples. Join Sandra LaVigne, GSWA's Director of Water Quality Programs, for an in-depth recap on the health of our streams and water quality data results from 2022. Bring your questions for the Q&A session at the end. A Zoom link will be sent to you post-registration. This program is brought to you in collaboration with Long Hill Twp. Library. Register for the Zoom webinar HERE! Be sure to scroll down to “Passaic River Report Card: with Sandra LaVigne & the Great Swamp Association Wed. 4/12 @ 7pm (via Zoom)” and check “Yes, I want to attend”     “The earth, the air, the land, and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So we have to handover to them at least as it was handed over to us.” – Mahatma Gandhi

NEW LOCATION – Evening Briefing: “Eat the Weeds” Backyard Foraging

Kemmerer Library 19 Blue Mill Road, Harding Twp., NJ, United States

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW LOCATION Kemmerer Library, 19 Blue Mill Rd, New Vernon, NJ   Instead of weeding your yard, forage! Come learn about the benefits of foraging for edible invasive (non-native) species like garlic mustard. Garlic mustard is one of the worst invaders of Northeast and Midwest American forests, reducing the diversity of all species. April through end of May is garlic mustard season so you will be able to easily find it to make your own pesto. Come learn about these and other types of plants where we can reduce their presence simply by eating them outright or adding them to a salad! You will receive instruction on how to identify, prepare, and preserve these free greens so you can safely hunt for these delicious invasives while cleaning up your yard! Foraged and homemade treats will be provided. This program is offered in partnership with GSWA and the Kemmerer Library of Harding Twp. We are able to offer this program to the public at no cost thanks to the generous underwriting from Kemmerer Library.  

Free – $40.00

SOLD OUT – Morning Paddle @ the Refuge

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

Morning Paddle: 10-11:30 AM Kick off your day with a peaceful spring paddle at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. By mid-April, most tree are bursting with buds with their leaves ready to emerge. Birds like pine warblers and woodcocks are migrating back our way. Spring peepers and chorus frogs are calling. Come experience all this and more from a magical place - the middle of the Passaic River at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Children 8 and up are welcome. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent. There are only 7 spots available – 2 spots/registration max. 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 put-in location is the Fisherman's Parking Lot and […]

$30.00 – $40.00

SOLD OUT – Afternoon Paddle @ the Refuge

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

Afternoon Paddle: 12:30-2 PM Kick off your day with a peaceful spring paddle at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. By mid-April, most tree are bursting with buds with their leaves ready to emerge. Birds like pine warblers and woodcocks are migrating back our way. Spring peepers and chorus frogs are calling. Come experience all this and more from a magical place - the middle of the Passaic River at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Children 8 and up are welcome. All participants 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent. There are only 7 spots available – 2 spots/registration max. 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 put-in location is the Fisherman's Parking Lot and […]

$30.00 – $40.00

Evening Briefing: The American Eel

Zoom Webinar Morristown, NJ, United States

Registration for this program closes @ 5 PM on April 19   Let's face it, for many people, eels may not be easy to like. They can make many people feel... uneasy. Is an eel a snake? Is it a fish? They don't fit in any clear category. Some may think of eels as a tasty sushi roll. And yet to others, eels are mysterious creatures with a very interesting life cycle. They are predators in freshwater streams helping to regulate the population of other animals. They are also a significant source of food for fish, mammals, turtles and birds. Humans have been fascinated with eels for centuries, working to learn as much as they can about them. Yet we do not have all the answers. Nature has a way of keeping us guessing. One thing we do know is that eels are ecologically important and can be used as a bio-indicator for pollution to determine the health of their environment. Join us for a FREE Zoom webinar as we delve into the fascinating world of eels and their unique life cycle, brought to you in collaboration with the Long Hill Twp. Library. Register for the zoom webinar HERE! Be sure […]

POSTPONED: How’s the Water? GSWA Water Quality Report Card Webinar

Zoom Webinar NJ, United States

This program has been postponed. It will be rescheduled as an in-person Breakfast Briefing. Please stay tuned...    How's the water? That is the most common question we get from onlookers when we are out collecting water quality samples. Join Sandra LaVigne, GSWA's Director of Water Quality Programs, for an in-depth recap on the health of our streams and water quality data results from 2022. Bring your questions for the Q&A session at the end. A Zoom link will be sent to you post-registration. “The earth, the air, the land, and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So we have to handover to them at least as it was handed over to us.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Free – $40.00

Signs of Spring Hike @ Rifle Park

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

SEE BELOW FOR MEETUP LOCATION   Join us on a journey through the trails of Rifle Camp Park and catch a glimpse of American history - this spot served as an excellent location for George Washington’s troops to observe British movements during the Revolutionary War in 1780. For you birders, this is the beginning of the spring warbler migration. Bring your camera and wear your hiking boots for this unique and historic hike. Meetup location: We will meet at the Carnie Bragg parking lot (the first lot to the left, follow signs for camping/camp sites) in Rifle Camp Park, 387 Rifle Camp Rd, Woodland Park, NJ 07424 https://goo.gl/maps/TFPCBhdDau2QW5ef8

$10.00 – $25.00

POSTPONED: Madison & The Chathams Town-wide Yard Sale

Despite wanting to hold this community event rain or shine, the weather forecast for April 29 calls for continuous and heavy rain. Therefore, we've made the difficult decision to postpone it to Saturday, May 6. We realize this may be a big inconvenience, but feel it is necessary. We will email all registrants to confirm if you wish to be on the map for the new date. Note: You are welcome to hold a yard sale on your own on April 29 and you can also be on the map for next week if you choose to do both Saturdays. Please direct any immediate concerns to the Environmental Commission of The Chathams and Madison at [email protected]   Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 26 @ 11:55 PM to get your address and sale items on the map.  CHECK BACK HERE ON April 28 FOR A DIGITAL MAP OF ALL YARD SALE PARTICIPANTS AND A LIST OF SALE ITEMS. These documents will also be shared in local media and on town sites. One person's trash is another person's treasure. Now is the time to start checking your closets, basement, and garage for those hidden treasures and prepare to host a yard sale at […]

$10.00

MAY 6 – 9am-2pm: Madison & The Chathams Town-wide Yard Sale

Saturday looks like a great day for a community yard sale! With approximately 90 Chathams  & Madison residents participating, you're sure to find some great deals! Below are links to the digital map of yard sale host sites and a list of sale items by address. Check out both links ahead of time and plan your course of action to get outside and shop sustainably!           Click to view DIGITAL MAP Click to view SALE ITEMS by ADDRESS Please direct any questions to the Environmental Commission of The Chathams and Madison at [email protected]   FOR YARD SALE HOSTS - Frequently Asked Questions: Should I put up a sign if I’m on the map?  Yes. Signs will attract additional customers who are just driving by. Who do I contact with questions?  Please direct all questions to the Environmental Commission of The Chathams and Madison at [email protected] What should I do with my yard sale leftovers?  Our goal is to have the yard sale be zero waste. Contact following organizations to arrange pickups of your leftovers: Vietnam Veterans of America (vva.org) Lupus Foundation of America (Lupuspickup.org) GreenDrop (gogreendrop.com) Market Street Mission - clothing only, please (marketstreet.org) In addition, […]

$10.00

SOLD OUT – “Members Only” Twilight Hike at the Refuge

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

If you cannot attend, please email [email protected] to cancel so we can invite the next person on the waitlist email.   Thank you for being a GSWA Member! To show you our appreciation, we want to take you on a special behind-the-scenes hike at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Come out and benefit from the wealth of natural history knowledge from your GSWA hike leaders. This time of year, flowers are in bloom, birds like red-bellied woodpeckers are nesting everywhere, wood froglets can be seen in mass around the vernal ponds, and we may even spot a red fox. We will be on the lookout for all this and more. Not a member? Not a problem.  You can join below and c'mon along! Once you establish your membership, you will need to come back here and register for this event.   This is your special "back stage pass" to take in all the beauty of the amazing lands that form part of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Management area. NOTE:  We will meet at the Bluebird Parking Lot

Free