Upcoming Events

The club will meet at the Helen Fenske Visitor Center at 1:30 and be given a brief introduction of the history of the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge which consists of 35,000 acres located in Morris and Somerset Counties. It encompasses ten towns and is a vital part of New Jersey’s water supply. The Great Swamp consists of grasslands, sandy knolls, ponds, brooks, marshes, woodlands, and ridges. In this rich mix, the Great Swamp displays plants from both southern and northern zones, including several hundred species of wildflowers.

After the introduction, the club will be lead on a a tour of the White Oak Trail, a generally flat one-mile loop which has a mix of wood and composite boardwalk decking and compacted stone dust. On the trail, a guide will point out the flora and fauna along the way. After the walk, we will be escorted into the Visitor Center to view the exhibits. 

After touring the Great Swamp in October, we will now learn about the importance of the Watershed.

Hazel England, director of education and outreach at the Great Swamp Watershed Association, will speak about the importance the Great Swamp plays in the quality of New Jersey’s water.

A native of Scotland, Hazel has degrees in Zoology and Botany, as well as a Master’s in Ecology and Environmental Management. Prior to her 20 years with GSWA, Hazel was a Naturalist with the Somerset County Parks Commission and was Director of the Whitebog Preservation Trust. Hazel will explain what the Watershed Association does and how they protect the waters of the Passaic River, from source to sea. She will also give ten tips on what we can do to live in a Watershed Friendly way.