URWA’s 4th Annual Spring Family Campfire has been rescheduled for May 30! Hope to see you then!
Please RSVP as soon as possible.

Friday, May 30, 2008
SPRING FAMILY CAMPFIRE
Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve, Bedminster, NJ
6-8 pm
$10 per family (members), $15 per family non-members
Join us for hot dogs, marshmallows, a scavenger hunt, and a craft
RSVP to melissa@urwa.org by May 26- name, address, phone, # adults/children attending

Melissa Almendinger
Director of Stewardship
Upper Raritan Watershed Association
(P) 908-234-1852 x13
(F) 908-234-0609
melissa@urwa.org

Upper Raritan Watershed Association
“Take a Walk” series

Sunday, May 18, 2008
1:30-2:30 pm
Cooper Mill
Route 24 West, Chester, NJ
Meeting spot in Mill Parking Lot
(For weather cancellation, call 908-234-1852 x13)

~ALL ARE WELCOME~
Suggested donation… $5

Join Director of Stewardship Melissa Almendinger of the Upper Raritan Watershed Association to hike at the Cooper Mill. Learn about the local ecology and enjoy the spring weather. Pets not permitted, terrain not conducive to strollers.
Contact URWA for more information…
908-234-1852 x13 or melissa@urwa.org

DATE: 5/14/08 TIME: 7:00 PM

We are cordially extending this invitation to your municipal environmental commission and open space committee and any interested citizens or municipal officials.

The workshop, led by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), will cover the following topic:

Sustainable Communities;
* how to's for municipalities
* success stories,
* tips for homeowners on reducing carbon footprints

Held at the Township of Hamilton Municipal Building

Address-1601 Thirteenth St., Mays Landing, NJ 08330 -off of state route #50

www.townshipofhamilton.com for directions-click on home, then directions

Hosted by The Township of Hamilton, Environmental Commission through a generous grant obtained by the Great Egg Harbor River Council

RSVP BY 5/12/08: To Michele Bellinger, 609-272-6937 or mbellinger@acua.

ANJEC
973-539-7547
www.anjec.org

Saturday, May 17th & Sunday, May 18th
11 AM to 4 PM
Free

The annual Super Science Weekend returns to the grounds of the New Jersey State Museum. The event features science demonstrations, hands-on activities and entertaining shows for children of all ages.

Activities include live performances in the state museum auditorium by:
* Rusty Johnson and his live animals
* Billy B: The Science Song and Dance Man
* Mad Science: Wacky Science
* Live animals from the Philadelphia Zoo.

Exchange your old printer cartridges for a free ticket for the Jurassic Moon Bounce, and enter a raffle for great prizes.

The New Jersey State Museum’s annual Super Science Weekend is a weekend-long festival intended to excite children of all ages about science with hand on demonstrations and exhibits. This year’s festival will be particularly special, as we kick-off our celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the discovery of “Haddy”, the world’s first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton found anywhere in the world, excavated right here in New Jersey!

http://www.newjerseystatemuseum.org/public/family.html

"What would you ask one million people to do that would change the world?" This project from the UK asks young people that question under the premise that "small actions x lots of people = BIG CHANGE." The "We Are What We Do" competition challenges young people to enter -- not to win things, but rather to change things.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838668

October 12-18, 2008
American Geological Institute is pleased to announce the theme of Earth Science Week 2008: “No Child Left Inside.” Earth Science Week 2008 will encourage young people to learn about the geosciences by getting away from the television, off the computer, and out of doors. Learn more about how to get involved in Earth Science Week 2008 by visiting the Web site.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838648

May 16, 2008
The third annual national Endangered Species Day focus is on protecting imperiled species like polar bears, penguins, coral, migratory birds, salmon, and frogs from global warming. Visit the Web site for activity ideas for in and out of the classroom, including discussions about threatened and endangered species, guest speakers, essay and art lessons, and field trips. Resource materials, including sample curricula, are also available.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838646

Submissions accepted through May 20, 2008
What changes would you like to see in the United States and how should we get it done? Submit videos of your ideas in song, speech, comedy, poetry, or any type of visual expression. Cash prizes offered in various categories.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838634

Submissions accepted from June 1 - October 25, 2008
The International Wolf Center is holding a classroom essay contest (for ages 10-14 & 15-18) to celebrate the addition of two new wolf pups to their Exhibit Pack this spring. Observe the pups via Web cam and enter beginning June 1st with final submissions due at the end of Wolf Awareness Week on October 25th. Win some great prizes!
Watch for details on the Web site or email Sharon Reed at sreed@wolf.org
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838636

Deadline: May 31, 2008
Earth Island Institute, along with Youth Venture, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are offering this challenge to dedicated youth, ages 12-20. Support in amounts up to $1,000 will be awarded to launch projects to groups starting new environmental organizations or projects to help save the planet.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838638

April 23 - May 23, 2008
Do you have a positive story of how you and your organization are bringing environmental education to students? EE Week would like to hear about it! Simply upload your own photos and stories on the new EE Week Photo Blog. Your story can be about activities either inside or outside the classroom, before, during, or after EE Week.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838624

Deadline: May 15th, 2008
Urban Re:Vision is holding a national poster competition intended to engage students in the national dialogue surrounding environmental issues. “Envision2050: Is the Future Nature?” asks students grades 6-12 to imagine their world in the year 2050 and present their ideas in the form of a poster. A variety of prizes will be awarded including four, 30-day scholarships to The National Outdoor Leadership School in Wyoming and public showings at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838626

Deadline: May 30, 2008
NOAA's partner, Coastal America through their Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center (CELC) members are sponsoring an ocean art contest open to students in grades K-12 and college and university students. The purpose of the contest is to enhance public awareness of the importance of the ocean through visual expression and incorporating one of the principles of ocean literacy. The winning artwork will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in time for the opening of The Ocean Hall.
http://eelink.net/cgi-bin/ee-link/newclick/6838632

KITTATINNY VALLEY STATE PARK
2 LAKE AEROFLEX ROAD
ANDOVER, NEW JERSEY

973/786-6445, PRE-REGISTER FOR ALL EVENTS

SUNDAY, MAY 11
MOTHER’S DAY WILDFLOWER WALK
10:00 - 11:30 A.M.
ADULTS AND CHILDREN AGES 12 AND UP

THURSDAY, MAY 15
CAT-TALES STORY HOUR
10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
CHILDREN AGES 4 & 5

TUESDAY, MAY 20
BACKYARD BOTANY
10:00 - 11:30 A.M.
ADULTS

THURSDAY, MAY 22
L’IL TIKES HIKE
10:00 A.M. - 12:00 NOON
CHILDREN AGES 4 & 5

FRIDAY, MAY 23
MORNING KAYAKING
7:00 - 8:30 A.M.
TEENS AND ADULTS

MONDAY, MAY 26
EARLY BIRD WALK
8:00 - 9:00 A.M.
ADULTS AND CHILDREN AGES 6-12

MONDAY, MAY 26
THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE HIKE
10:00 A.M. - 12:00 NOON
ADULTS

THURSDAY, MAY 29
CAT-TALES STORY HOUR
10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
CHILDREN AGES 4 & 5

SATURDAY, MAY 31
CREATING A BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT
11:00 A.M. - 12:00 NOON
ADULTS

Saturday, MAY 31
BLACK BEARS OF NEW JERSEY
2:00 - 3:00 P.M.
PUBLIC

For a more comprehensive listing of programs, events, meetings and activities, please visit our website at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/calendar/

Dear Friend, When children first saw my magazine, RANGER RICK®, some forty years ago, the world was a different place. People were able to slow down, unplug and enjoy the simple things in life: catching fireflies with friends, hiking in the woods with family, stargazing at night... Want to re-live that simple life...if only for one night? Join me and thousands of campers across the country for National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout™ on June 28th! Camp out with family and friends in your own backyard or at your favorite campground. And to get ready for your outdoor adventure, please be sure to take advantage of the FREE camping tips, activities, games, recipes and more at the Great American Backyard Campout™ website. While you're there, don’t forget to register your campsite online and join the nationwide community of campers! I hope to see you and the children in your life on June 28th. Together, let's create a new summertime tradition! Happy Camping! Ranger Rick P.S. Coming soon: Night Watch, the Great American Backyard Campout's featured activity. Receive tips for watching wildlife at night and download "watch" lists for your state!   © 2008 National Wildlife Federation. All rights reserved. NWF Privacy Policy. Contact us: info@nwf.org | 1-800-822-9919  |  National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston VA, 20190.

Lehman Township, PA – Get outside and enjoy nature this spring! Come out to the Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) in Dingmans Ferry, PA to take part in FREE natural history hikes every Tuesday morning in May with naturalist John Serrao and celebrate the most stimulating season of the year.

See migrating warblers, Tanagers, Orioles and other colorful songbirds, as well as Bald Eagles, spring wildflowers, butterflies, frogs, salamanders, reptiles and other signs of spring on these informative and enjoyable excursions with one of the area’s most popular naturalists.

Participants will meet at the PEEC campus and then carpool to four different scenic sites within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, featuring waterfalls, mature forests, overgrown meadows, ponds, wetlands and the Delaware River.

Don’t miss out on these fun and entertaining free hikes! Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. and will take place on May 13, 20, and 27th. Each walk will last from 1.5 to 2 hours and will average 2 miles in length over fairly easy terrain. Please wear comfortable shoes, hiking boots are preferred, and a water bottle. Binoculars and a camera are suggested for the hike to bring nature closer and capture memories of your spring exploration!

If you enjoy the Tuesday walks, then don’t miss PEEC’s free Nesting Birds trek with John on Sunday, June 22 from 2-4 p.m. and a Butterflies & Other Arthropods Trek on July 13, 2008 from 2- 4 p.m.

PEEC’s mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located near mile marker 8, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information on PEEC’s free 2008 John Serrao Natural History Treks call (570) 828-2319 or visit PEEC on the web at www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!

Drinking Water Week is celebrated throughout the United States during the first full week of May each year.

This observance provides a great opportunity to review where you get your drinking water (surface waters and groundwater wells), how it reaches your homes (distribution systems), how public water systems ensure the quality of your water (source protection, treatment, and testing), and how we can all help to make sure we have enough water for everyone (water conservation).

1. Find out about your drinking water.
About 7.2 million people are served by public water systems in New Jersey (see http://www.nj.gov/dep/swap/drink.htm). Your public water supply is tested for over 90 different microbiological and chemical contaminants. New Jersey water systems test for more contaminants than are required by the USEPA and New Jersey has established some standards that are more stringent than the USEPA’s (see www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/dw_standards_2_2005.pdf and www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/stdsdwfaq.pdf). For example, the federal drinking water standard for arsenic is 10 ppb; the New Jersey standard is 5 ppb. In fact, New Jersey’s arsenic standard is the strictest in the country. If you want to find out about the quality of your drinking water, by July 1 of each year, your public water supplier will send to you a “Consumer Confidence Report”, which describes your water quality from the previous year. The large water suppliers (serving more than 100,000 residents) also post their consumer confidence reports on the web (for New Jersey water systems, see http://yosemite.epa.gov/ogwdw/ccr.nsf/New+Jersey?OpenView).
For those New Jersey residents who obtain their drinking water from a private well, there is no requirement for testing; however, the NJDEP recommends that you test your drinking water regularly. If you are buying or selling property in New Jersey, the Private Well Testing Act requires that the private well on the property be tested prior to buying or selling the property (see http://www.nj.gov/dep/pwta/).

2. Protect sources of drinking water.

Drinking water comes from surface waters or groundwater wells. The quality of these sources of drinking water determines the amount of treatment needed to make the water safe to drink. Some of the contaminants in the waters are naturally occurring (iron, manganese). However, many contaminants in source waters are from human activities. New Jersey’s performed assessments of public water systems to increase public awareness and involvement in protecting the sources of public drinking water (see http://www.nj.gov/dep/swap/). Reducing the amount of pollutants entering surface water bodies improves water quality and reduces the complexity of treatment (see http://www.cleanwaternj.org/index.htm). Recent initiatives to protect surface water sources of drinking water include the designation of more waterways as C1 (exceptional resource waters; http://www.nj.gov/dep/wms/antideg-Category%20one.pdf) and the passage of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (N.J.S.A. 13:20-1 et seq.) to protect drinking water for over 5.4 million people (see http://www.state.nj.us/dep/highlands/). Ground water is protected by limiting certain types of activities in the vicinity of wells, and cleaning up historic contamination near wells.

3. Lead in drinking water.

Although there are other sources of lead in the environment, lead in drinking water is a serious problem. Lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. Exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach distress to brain damage. On June 7, 1991, the USEPA published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water. This regulation is known as the Lead and Copper Rule. The rule requires systems to monitor drinking water at customer taps. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ppb or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 ppm in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion. If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must also inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and may have to replace lead service lines under their control.
For steps to take to minimize your exposure to lead in drinking water see: www.nj.gov/health/eoh/hhazweb/lead.pdf

4. Financing for improvements in water system infrastructure.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 provides capitalization grants to States to finance the cost of infrastructure projects needed to achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to further the public health objectives of the SDWA. Eligible borrowers are New Jersey community water systems and nonprofit noncommunity water systems (i.e., some civic organizations and charities). Borrowers receive low-interest loans with terms not to exceed 20-years. The average loan rate is approximately 2.31%. A smart growth program with lower rates for selected communities, such as urban centers or complexes, Transit Villages and Brownfield Development Areas (BDAs), is available. Also, a planning grant program was developed to assist systems serving populations of less than 3,300 by defraying engineering costs.

NJDEP has received a total of over $230 million in grants from the USEPA. Working with the NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust (see www.njeit.org) and other sources of funding, the NJDEP has provided 144 loans for a total of $677 million to towns in all 21 New Jersey counties through this program. The DWSRF has funded over 60 water main projects totaling $135 million, over 30 treatment technology projects totaling $225 million and over 30 pump station projects totaling $37 million. There are 51 projects totaling $156 million pursuing funding in the current year and decisions on these applications will be made in November 2008.

For more information about New Jersey’s drinking water program, please visit our website at http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/.

The USEPA has posted information on National Drinking Water Week at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/

The Nature Conservancy's Delaware Bayshores Program will be offering some exciting events for the month of May.
Gather some friends for a group outing or make some along the way!
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Have you always wondered about those strange-looking creatures we call horseshoe crabs? Are you looking for a hands-on experience to learn more about these prehistoric beings? Join us for one of our most popular volunteer outings as we count horseshoe crabs by moonlight at TNC's Sunray Beach Preserve! All of the following surveys last about 2 hours (give or take) depending on the amount of crabs present. This is a very popular event so make sure to register early! To register or for more information, please contact Sally at 609-861-4134 / svandewater@tnc.org or reply to this email.
Monday, May 19th @ 9:21 pm
Wednesday, May 21st @ 10:35 pm

Sunday, June 1st @ 7:24 pm
Tuesday, June 3rd @ 9:13 pm
Thursday, June 5th @ 11:01 pm

Monday, June 16th @ 6:54 pm
Wednesday, June 18th @ 9:35 pm
Friday, June 20th @ 10:52 pm
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It's not too late to pledge your support for the 2008 World Series of Birding! Why not treat your mother or a loved one to a gift of pledged support in their name? For more information, please contact Brent Burke @ brent_burke@tnc.org or 609-861-4123.

TNC Delaware Bayshores Fundraiser!
WORLD SERIES OF BIRDING
Saturday, May 10, 2008

The World Series of Birding, hosted by the New Jersey Audubon Society, is an annual fund raising event to give you an opportunity to support your favorite non-profit conservation organization.

Your support is through a spirited birding competition that challenges teams to find as many bird species in a given area within a 24-hour time limit. You can pledge a total contribution, or take an adventurous route and make a pledge per species found!

The birding team for the Delaware Bayshores Program is competing within the boundaries of land preserved by The Nature Conservancy to support their outreach efforts.

Please contribute to the Delaware Bayshores Program WSB team & submit a pledge of support.
Increase your contribution and JOIN THE TEAM!
Contact Team Captain Brent Burke to pledge or for details at (609)861-4123 or brent_burke@tnc.org.
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From Bluffs to Beaches: Songbird Migration in the Bayshores
Wednesday, May 14th, 10:00a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join TNC for a caravan trip through the Bayshores, searching out those warbling songbirds that make the spring sound so good. After our start at Eldora, we’ll travel to the Maurice River Bluffs Preserve and continue southward to the restored Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, listening for the variety of songbirds that migrate through each habitat. Meet at the Eldora Nature Preserve; participants should be prepared to caravan. We’ll stop for lunch along the way, or you can bring your own. Cost: $30 per person, $20 for TNC members
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Eldora Butterfly Garden Work Party *
Wednesday, May 21st, 10:00am – 2:00pm
The Nature Conservancy is looking for a group of volunteers who are dedicated to improving the beauty and biodiversity of our Eldora butterfly garden. Situated on the southern edge of the Pine Barrens, Eldora Nature Preserve is home to the NJ Delaware Bayshores Center and has become a refuge for native birds and butterflies of the Bayshores. Historically, the land was the home of renowned entomologist Dr. C. Brooke Worth, who recognized the importance of the site to rare moths. In a recent effort to enrich the site’s value for a variety of species, a small butterfly garden was created through a local Eagle Scout Project. The garden continues to serve as habitat to some of nature’s most colorful flora and the amazing creatures they attract. Help us keep this preserve enjoyable to avian, insect and human visitors alike. No experience or knowledge of plant species is necessary... in fact, you will learn a lot from this unique experience and be able to apply the skills learned to your own back yard! Meet at the Eldora Nature Preserve *Can’t make the Work Party? Various additional work shifts are needed throughout the season. Please call Alyssa at 609-861-4120 for details
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(609) 861-0600
nature.org/newjersey
The Nature Conservancy
Delaware Bayshores Program
2350 Route 47
Delmont, NJ 08314

Miami to Maine: An Outrigger Journey

The Burlington County Library is pleased to present Miami to Maine: An Outrigger Journey - Enjoying & Preserving Our Waterways, on Sunday, May 18th at 2pm.

Last summer, Burlington County's own Margo Pellegrino paddled an outrigger canoe nearly 2,000 miles - from Miami, FL to Camden, ME - hoping to show her children how to make a difference in the world and inspire others to take an active role in the stewardship of our oceans.

Join us to hear Margo's extraordinary story. View a multi-media presentation of her trip.

Bring along the family, there will be plenty of activities for everyone.

Local environmental groups will be on-site to inspire you with ways that you can enjoy and help preserve our precious waterways.

To learn more, visit Margo's website at www.miami2maine.com

This is a free program. Registration requested. Call (609) 267-9660
******************************************************************
Joan C. Divor
Business Services Librarian
Burlington County Library System
5 Pioneer Blvd.
Westampton, NJ 08060

Check out the library's Business Gateway!
Click on: http://explore.bcls.lib.nj.us/business
jdivor@bcls.lib.nj.us
609-267-9660 ext 3018

The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARDS

The State of New Jersey is filled with talented environmental educators. Each year, the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education acknowledges a select few. Winners will be honored at the ANJEE awards banquet during the Annual New Jersey Environmental Education Conference.

ANJEE membership is not a requirement for the nominee or the person nominating them. In case of a close decision between nominees, however, ANJEE membership will be a plus. Current members of the ANJEE Executive Board or ANJEE Advisory Council are not eligible for these awards.

CATEGORIES & CRITERIA

Formal Sector - Individual OR Partnership
The nominee’s EE activities have made an impact on or were effective in changing or supplementing current curricula, or have been used successfully by others.
The nominee’s EE activities have emphasized and/or practiced the “awareness to action” process with those for whom the activities were intended.
(Partnership Award) The cooperative involvement of two or more educators from different disciplines, the working relationship between them, and how the project benefited from it.

Nonformal Sector - Works with Schools OR Works with the Public at Large
The nominee has the ability to develop creative, innovative interpretive materials, activities, programs or facilities
The nominee’s EE activities emphasized and/or practiced the “awareness to action” process with those for whom the activities were intended.

Patricia F. Kane Lifetime Achievement Award
The nominee has shown a commitment to EE activities for most of his/her professional life.
The nominee is a current resident of NJ and detailed EE activities have proven to benefit residents of the state.
The nominee’s activities have the potential to be used by others in the field as measured by publication and distribution.
The nominee’s EE activities emphasized and/or practiced the “awareness to action” process with those for whom the activities were intended.
The nominee has evolved into a leader in the field of EE, through vocation or avocation.

NOMINATION SUBMISSION
Nominations require a completed nomination form, which can be found at www.anjee.net/awards/index.html and at least two letters of recommendation. Letters should include all of the information described above pertaining to the award for which you are nominating someone. Be as detailed and descriptive as possible. Nominations must be postmarked on or before November 15, 2008.

Submit information and letters to:
Sandy Sandmeyer-Bryan
23 Mockingbird Lane, Petersburg, NJ 08270 or by email: ANJEEawards@yahoo.com

Nomination form & letter(s) must be postmarked by: NOVEMBER 15, 2008.

Liberty Science Center is filling your summer vacation with an array of exciting science workshops.Visit the following link for details.
http://www.lsc.org/educators/pd/summerinstitutes

NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife presents
Professor W's Earth Science Circus
Tuesday, June 12, 2008 6:30 pm at the Hackettstown Natural Resource Education Center at the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery. FREE

In Professor W's Earth Science Circus, the Science Club Advisor, Professor W, has invited a guest expert to examine the challenges the Earth faces in the coming years.The expert doesn't show up but sends his neighbor, Meatloaf, in his stead with his new invention, the Commonsensonator.Meatloaf and the Professor are a classic vaudeville set up. This Commonsensonator is a fanciful construction posing the challenges, "How well are we taking care of our Earth?""How do we keep the planet healthy?" "Where do things come from?" that lead us to the concepts of how "Nothing can ever be gotten rid of, it can only go somewhere else," and, "Nothing is limitless, meaning there is only so much to go around."Meatloaf's complete incomprehension drives the Professor to illustrate each and every one of these issues through, magic, juggling, plate spinning, classic vaudeville routines and original music, with the help of participants.

This FREE program is geared for the whole family. For more information and to register, call (908) 637-4125. Funding for this program is made possible by the Hackettstown Clean Communities Program.

The state's rich heritage is under silent attack. Find out what we're losing and who's working to save it. An NJN special coming this May. You are invited to attend the premiere of OUR VANISHING PAST in high definition at the NJN Studio, Trenton Tuesday, May 6 at 5 pm There is no charge for admittance, but registration is requested! Reserve your space online or call (800) 882-6622 by May 1.  Watch the broadcast of OUR VANISHING PAST on NJN Public Television Monday, May 12 at 9 pm; and Saturday, May 17 at 3 pm Whether through neglect, abandonment or constantly encroaching development, many of New Jersey’s historic places are deteriorating or being replaced by new construction.  The places in which we grew up, the offices and factories where our parents worked, the old neighborhoods and our favorite stores downtown are at risk – and with them, our sense of place.  The program is narrated by Lester Holt.  Find out what we’re losing and who’s working to save it in Our Vanishing Past – a special NJN documentary. Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, sums it up, “There is nothing to compare with walking through a place touching it, feeling it.”  OUR VANISHING PAST DVD  Reserve a DVD of this program for $24.95.  Place your order now: call (800) 882-6622 or email  answers@njn.org. Our Vanishing Past is written and produced by Lynn Kosek Walker, and edited by Jeff Reisly. The executive producer is Janice Selinger. Major funding for Our Vanishing Past is provided by the New Jersey Historic Trust, The 1772 Foundation, American Express, and the Holly Beach Public Library Association. Additional funding provided by the New Jersey Historical Commission and the Charles Edison Fund.   TONIGHT AT 9 PM ON NJN GREEN BUILDERS A Green Revolution Takes Root in the Garden State  A quiet green revolution in the building world is evolving, and a first wave of innovative green design projects large and small have already hit the ground. NJN’s one-hour high definition special profiles a cast of green building pioneers who have taken the leap into making their part of the “built environment” a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly place.  Green Builders premieres during Earth Week on Monday, April 21, at 9 pm on NJN Public Television with a rebroadcast on Saturday, April 26 at 3 pm, and will be streamed at www.njn.net.   NJN PUBLIC TELEVISION & RADIO Become a  member and help make possible more programs about New Jersey such as Green Builders and Our Vanishing Past. Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.  Tell-a-friend! If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for NJN Public Television and Radio.

DINNER AND A SHOW WITH SCOTT WEIDENSAUL
at the Pocono Environmental Education Center Dingmans Ferry, PA
Date: May 30, 2008 / Time: 6 - 9 p.m.

PEEC Offers Dinner and Show with Scott Weidensaul

Lehman Township, PA - From the moment Europeans arrived in North America, they were awestruck by a continent awash with birds - great flocks of wild pigeons, woodlands alive with brilliantly colored songbirds. Join naturalist and author Scott Weidensaul at the Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, during the Origins of Ornithology Dinner & a Show with Scott Weidensall on May 30, 2008 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Weidensaul will trace the unpredictable history of bird study in America, from frontier ornithologists (one of whom barely escaped pursuing Apaches with a precious hawk egg hidden in his mouth) to society matrons who organized the first effective conservation movement; from luminaries like Alexander Wilson (a convicted blackmailer) and Audubon (an accomplished liar) to modern geniuses like Roger Tory Peterson.

Based on his new book Of a Feather, this whirlwind history shows how ornithology and birding grew from eccentric hobbies into something so completely mainstream they're now (almost) cool.

Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Living on the Wind, about bird migration, Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul, and his newest book, Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding. Weidensaul writes for such publications as Smithsonian, Audubon, Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife; he lives in the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, where he studies the migration of hawks, owls and hummingbirds.

This special evening with Scott is $15 for PEEC members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required, call (570) 828-2319 to register. PEEC's mission is to enhance environmental awareness, knowledge and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor classroom. It provides unique year-round environmental experiences to families, school groups, scouts and nature enthusiasts of all ages. PEEC is located off of Route 209, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). For more information call (570) 828-2319, email peec@peec.org or visit www.peec.org. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!

EPA's partner, Coastal America through their Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center members are sponsoring an ocean art contest open to students in grades K-12 and college and university studentsThe contest is nationwide, and for the Mid-Atlantic Region, the National Aquarium is accepting entries.

The purpose of the contest is to enhance public awareness of the importance of the ocean through visual expression and incorporating one of the principles of ocean literacy.

The winning artwork will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. You and your children or local schools can be a part of this contest.See the attached flyers or find out how at:

http://www.coastalamerica.gov/2008artcontest.html

Entries are due by May 30, 2008. Please forward this message to anyone who may be interested in this contest.

The Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, PA is offering a new series of programs in 2008 called Living Lightly on the Land. This oft coined phrase means drastically different things to different people. What does it mean to you?To some people it might mean reverting back to the dark days of hardships and living without basic amenities.Our American culture is one of the most affluent in the world and living on less seems to be a step backwards.To Earth-conscious people, it means choosing to use alternatives where they exist in order to reduce our impact on the land we live on.It means taking steps towards an awakening of the effects our behaviors have on the Earth.Chief Seattle spoke the truth when he said “Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.”

To give you a few examples of what his words mean in terms of today’s world, let’s take a look at this simple concept in a different way.Go to a grocery store and look down the cleaning products isle.Now imagine taking the lids off of every bottle on the shelf and pour all of it into the local water ways.Eventually, that’s where all the products end up.Some of those man-made chemicals do not break down in the environment and are extremely harmful.Do the same for the products in the personal hygiene isle.Just pour the shampoo right down the drain and skip the middle-person…us.Do you drink water?How would you change the way you lived your life if you believed what Chief Seattle said?Would you start to think about the ingredients in the products you are purchasing and how they might affect the environment and then ultimately, you and your family?

Just as stylish clothing changes in the fashion industry, the buzz words in the Earth-conscious field change too. A new term that you may be seeing flashing across the computer screens these days is “body burden.”Body Burden is the amount of a harmful substance that is permanently present in a person's body. Unfortunately, children usually have the highest body burdens. Another new idea and marketing focus is women’s roles in consumerism.Women are the main shoppers for new clothing, items for the household including personal care products and cleaning agents, and food.Women wield immense power in their choices of what to buy and what not to buy.We can make an educated choice about what to buy, which not only includes what’s good for our families, but what is good for the Earth too.

Making more educated choices means living more lightly on the land and a lower body burden for you and your family.In the words of Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day, “The ultimate test of man’s [and women’s] conscience may be his [and her] willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” It has always been about the choices we as individuals make and in today’s world, we need to make more educated and informed choices.

Join the PEEC staff for the LLOL Summer Outdoors program on Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 1-4 p.m. A part of the new Living Lightly on the Land series, the program will help participants learn how to prepare for and enjoy a day or overnight summer trip in a way that has less of an impact on the Earth.Topics will include hydration and Leave No Trace (LNT) travel and camp practices. This program is $8 for PEEC Members and $10 for non-members. Call PEEC to register at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org for more information. PEEC is located off of Route 209 inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township). Visit www.peec.org for directions. PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!

LLOL: Summer Outdoors
June 14, 2008 ~ 1 - 4 p.m.Cost: PEEC Members $8/Non-members $10
Learn how to prepare for and enjoy a day or overnight trip during the summer months.Topics will include hydration and Leave No Trace (LNT) travel and camp practices.

LLOL: Catskills Backpacking Trip
August 22-24, 2008Cost: PEEC Members $100/Non-members $125
This backpack trip will provide an introduction to overnight camping. Focus will be on Leave No Trace practices for backpacking, as well as map reading and how to pack for an overnight outing in the backcountry. PEEC will help participants rent equipment from a local outfitter (rental fees not included). Workshop includes all meals and program. (Transportation provided - Limited to the first 12 people)

LLOL: Canoe Trip
September 12-14, 2008Cost: PEEC Members $125/Non-members $150
This canoe trip will provide an introduction to overnight canoe camping. Learn Leave No Trace (LNT) practices for canoe travel, as well as basic paddling skills and how to pack for an overnight outing. PEEC will help participants rent equipment from a local outfitter (rental fees not included). Workshop includes all meals, program and transportation. (Transportation provided - Limited to the first 12 people)

Call PEEC at (570) 828-2319 for more information on these new programs.
PEEC is close to home, where learning comes naturally!

PEEC is located in off of Route 209 near mile marker 8 the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA (Lehman Township).

Pocono Environmental Education Center
RR2 Box 1010, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328
(570) 828-2319 web:www.peec.org email:peec@peec. org

Save the Date for Summit Green Fest!

On Saturday, May 10, the first annual Summit Green Fest will be held in downtown Summit, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Green Fest will be a fun, festive way to share ideas, gain new knowledge, and work together for a greener, healthier community.

Green Fest will include displays and workshops on popular topics like green cleaning, energy savings, lawn care, and much more.There will be organic food tastings, a screening of Who Killed the Electric Car hosted in person by actress Chelsea Sexton, a visit from the Trailside Museum Eco Van, live music, and a green walking tour of downtown Summit.All who complete the tour will receive a free organic cotton tote bag.

Visitors to Green Fest can join a “free-cycle” yard sale, donate eyeglasses for the needy and cell phones for soldiers, give to a Red Cross blood drive, and participate in other civic endeavors.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Treger at 908-277-0925 or amtreger@mac.com.

Lehman Township, PA - Spring is finally here and the world is turning green again.The birds are chirping, screeching, and hooting, the ladybugs and mosquitoes are emerging, and drips and drabs of color are sprouting forth all around us.Shades of periwinkle, violet, and rose are showing up in our communities.The source?Spring wildflowers!

Spring wildflowers provide us not only needed visual beauty after a long winter, but are important parts of our local ecosystems.Violets, for example, are eaten by the caterpillars of several moth species.Red columbine is an attractor of hummingbirds, and in fact often relies on hummingbirds for pollination.Clover, though often disliked by religious lawn tenders, is great food for a variety of species from robins to the white tailed deer as well as the ruffed grouse and other birds.This late spring bloomer is also frequented by honey bees.

One species worth mentioning is Pennsylvania’s state flower, the mountain laurel. Technically a shrub, the Mountain Laurel is one of our state’s most beautiful flowers.The white or pink flowers stand out brilliantly as the shrub blooms and smell wonderful.The shrub itself is sometimes used by black bear and ruffed grouse as winter forage, and also by the eastern cotton tail.Be careful though, the Mountain laurel is poisonous to people and livestock.

Unfortunately, not all the wildflowers blooming this spring are beneficial to our environment.Many invasive species from other continents have found their way to PEEC and are choking out our native plants and biodiversity.The Multiflora rose, native to Asia, was brought to America in the 1860s as an ornamental plant.However, it grows quickly and forms dense thickets that crowd out our native plants.Another beautiful but invasive species is the Purple loosestrife.This plant crowds out essential native food plants in our wetlands and affects the food chain of many animals.Because of the damaging effects of this flower, it is illegal to sell the seeds in most states.Unfortunately, the seeds are sometimes sold to unsuspecting consumers under the name “European Wand loosestrife”.

Fortunately, most plant centers and seed distributors are run by honest business people, but it is not always clear which plants are native and which are potential invasive species.

The Pocono Environmental Education Center (P.E.E.C.) is making it easy for local residents to plant with natives this year! PEEC is hosting its fifth annual Native Plant Sale on May 17, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Choose from a wide variety of native wildflowers, plants and shrubs to make your garden beautiful.

By selecting native plants for your backyard or garden, you will be able to promote more biodiversity not only in your plants, but also in the types of birds and other wildlife that visit.Come join us and celebrate the blooming beauty of native spring wildflowers!

Call PEEC for more information on the Native Plant Sale at (570) 828-2319 or email peec@peec.org.

See It, Keep It, Use It:The New American Standard
2008 Historic Preservation Conference
June 4, 2008
College Avenue Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

The Historic Preservation Office, Preservation New Jersey, the New Jersey Historic Trust, the Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission, Rutgers University, and other co-sponsors welcome you to the 2008 New Jersey Historic Preservation Conference. With conference themes of sustainability and historic preservation, lectures and workshops will focus on the intersection of preservation with ecological and economic sustainability.National and regional experts will lead attendees in discussions about topics such as disaster planning, brownfields redevelopment, and economic alternatives analysis, and associated tours will provide a firsthand look at campus and community preservation efforts.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/images/2008conf/2008_confbrochure.pdf

MeadowFest 2008 (pdf)
June 14, 2008

Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.



Listed below is the spring 2008 line up of family programs.  These can all be viewed by visiting the website www.ucnj.org/trailside.



FAMILY PROGRAMS

SATURDAY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

                        Adults and children of all ages are invited to take part in weekly theme hikes/nature related talks.  Dress appropriately for the program and the weather.  For scout programs, please see our group brochure.  Admission is a donation unless otherwise specified.  Pre-registration is not required unless otherwise specified.



Apr. 5      Bear Facts - Learn about New Jersey’s only bear, the black bear.  Discover how bears live, what they eat and if they visit the Watchung Reservation.  See a black bear skull, feel a pelt and get an up-close look at a bear track cast.  1-2 pm.



Apr. 12    Early Spring Hike - Take advantage of the beauty of spring by hiking one of our nature trails.  Along the way look for wildflowers, bird nests and animal babies.  10-11 am.



Apr. 19  No Programs.



Apr. 26    Orange Trail Hike - Late April is a great time for blooming spring wildflowers.  Explore the Orange Trail for wildflowers and other signs of spring.  Learn why forest wildflowers bloom at this time.  1-2 pm.



May 3     No Programs.



May 10    Backyard Habitats - Discover the components of a successful backyard wildlife habitat.  Take a walk to look for animals using near-by wildlife management areas and visit Trailside’s Backyard Habitat exhibit to learn simple steps to make your home more wildlife friendly.  10-11 am.



May 17   Trees of Trailside - Discover the variety of trees growing in the Watchung Reservation.  Find out how to use leaves, bark and branches to identify some common trees.  Learn which trees Native Americans used for food, shelter and medicines.  1-2 pm.



May 24   Salamander Search -Hike to areas along the Orangeand Blue Trails to search for these elusive amphibians under rocks and logs. Learn how to catch, identify and release northern two-lined, redback & slimy salamanders.  10-11 am.



May 31   Enchanted Forest Hike - Explore the northwest area of the reservation and discover the history of this enchanting forest.  Learn which animals inhabit the pine tree grove and find out what is happening to these old trees.  Meet at Skytop Picnic Area.  Call 908-789-3670 for directions.  1-2 pm.



June 7   Headwaters Hike – Hike along the wetlands of upper Lake Surprise.   Search for turtles, frogs, ducks and other wetland creatures in this pristine area of the reservation.  Meet at Lake Surprise parking lot.  Call 908-789-3670 for directions.  10-11 am.

              

June 13   Union County Bioblitz 2008 - Beginning Friday, June 13 at 5 PM through Saturday, June 14 to 5 PM, naturalists, scientists and nature enthusiasts are invited to take part in this 24 hour search for birds, reptiles, amphibians, plants and mammals.  Help investigate the Mattano Park and Elizabeth River Parkway.  For more information or to register as a volunteer scientist/naturalist call 908-527-4900.



June ends Trailside’s Saturday Outdoor Adventures

programming.  Classes will resume in October.





FAMILY PROGRAMS



EVENING DUSK TO DARK



Pre-registration is required.  A note about program fees:

 IC= residents of UnionCounty

OC=non-Union County Residents



May 28 or June 4      Frogs by Flashlight - Watch a brief slide presentation             about these amphibians who breathe through their skin and sing at night.  Carpool to a near-by wetland to search for frogs and toads using flashlights and nets.   7 – 8:30 PM.  For ages 6 & up with adult.  No younger siblings will be permitted to attend. Wear:  shoes that can get wet.  Bring:  a flashlight. Fee: $6/person IC, $7/person OC.  Rain or shine.



SUNDAY FAMILY NATURE TRAILRIDE

Pre-registration is required.  Please call Watchung Stables, 908-789-3665, on the program date to find out if the program has been postponed due to inclement weather.



June 1                        Nature Trail Ride - Meander through the woods and fields and visit Lake Surprise on horseback. A Park Naturalist from Trailside Nature & Science Center will interpret sights and sounds of nature and identify interesting trees, plants and wildlife along the way.  No riding experience is necessary.  9:15 am or 10:30 am.  For ages 9 & up with adult.   Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled ride.  Fee: $35/IC, $45/OC.



18^th Annual Wildlife Sunday

Sunday, April 20, 12 – 5 PM

Admission: $3/person, ages 6 & under FREE!

Trailside’s WILDest event is back and will feature an exciting line-up of activities:

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

                  Flight of the Raptor - Raptor expert Jennifer Pena will share background history on birds of prey, their nesting habits, hunting adaptations, flight patterns and more.  Get an up-close look at LIVE raptors, which may include a peregrine falcon, kestrel, screech owl and gyrfalcon, followed by an awe-inspiring flight demonstration.

                  The Way of the Wolf - Vinnie Reo, from Wolf Visions, and his wolfdogs, will dispel the myths and legends of the “Big, Bad Wolf” and explain their role in keeping a balanced ecosystem.  Many wolf-related items will be available for purchase.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Also SCHEDULED:





Reconnect with Nature – Today’s children are increasingly disconnected from nature.  John Burr from Wild Birds Unlimited, will discuss activities and ideas about how to reconnect your child to the wonders of nature. 



Guided Nature Walks: Bird Walk – Search for migrant and resident birds in the Watchung Reservation.  Bring your binoculars. 





Spring Stroll –Search for signs of spring, animal homes and signs of wildlife. 



ALSO SCHEDULED TO APPEAR:



Friends of the GreatSwamp National Wildlife Refuge

NJ Audubon Society

Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club

The Sierra Club

Greater Watchung Nature Club

Friends of Lenape Park

Usbourne Books

Wildlife-related art and gifts



29th ANNUAL PET FAIR

Sunday, May 4, 12 - 5 PM

Admission:  $3/person, ages 6 & under FREE
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