< May 2013 >

We’ll paddle 7 miles from Weymouth Furnace to Lake Lenape. Meet at the Harley Dawn Diner – arrive early for breakfast. Bring lunch and beverage. Rentals are not available. Contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. George & Leona F, 609-259-3734 or leona@pineypaddlers.com (W)

EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) is giving PPA members between 20-25% off their merchandise during Club Days. Proof of PPA membership is required to get the discount. PPA will have a display at the store. So stop by. For more information see the flyer.

Join author Angelo Dellomo for a nostalgic walk through the old paper mill town of Harrisville in Burlington County. Mr. Dellomo will guide participants on a tour filled with stories and anecdotes of the people and the places of importance that existed then and now exist only in heart, memory, gnarled vines and foundations. Come hear the story of one of the most romantic and charming villages ever to exist in the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

Cost is $10/person. Registration required, call Tom at 609-859-8860 x 14 or register online here. Sponsored by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Description:

Join us for a rain barrel workshop and construct your own to take home! These 55 gallon plastic drums are used to collect rainwater during storms. The rainwater can then be used to water gardens, lawns, etc. This workshop will provide instruction on constructing a rain barrel as well as proper use and installation. We will be building 15 barrels which will go to the first 15 individuals who register for $25 (the $25 must be paid at the time of registration). All other interested persons are welcome to attend and gain instruction free of charge, but they will not receive a barrel. Led by Rancocas Watershed Ambassador, Peter Zampella.

Cost: $25 if making a barrel, FREE otherwise. Register online here.

SPACE IS LIMITED; REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Registration: Register online or call 609 859-8860 x14 or email tomdunn@pinelandsalliance.org

PPA's Pinelands Workshops offer hands-on programs that provide tools for effecting positive change and personal enrichment.

Fernbrook Nursery, specializing in native deciduous Azaleas, unusual conifers & Rhododendrons, will be open to the public for only these four days May 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th. All proceeds benefit Fernbrook Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating about food, agriculture and the environment.

Availability is limited for some varieties come early to secure your selection. For more information click here.

On the edge of Wharton State Forest stands an elegant mansion that was once the summer home of a 19th century iron baron. The stately mansion, one of the most interesting examples of rural Greek Revival architecture, is now open for tours on Saturdays at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Come and hear the story of Historic Atsion Village and wander the rooms of the mansion with docents trained to interpret the home’s interior. Atsion is located at 744 Rt. 206 (eight miles north of Hammonton) in Shamong Township. Reservations are required for large groups and can be made by calling the Atsion Forest Office at 609-268-0444.

Viva the Fifth of May! Our annual paddle is 10 miles from Hawkin Bridge to Beaver Branch. Boats can be rented from Mick's Canoe and Kayak Rental www.mickscanoerental.com/ or 800-281-1380. Meet at Hawkin Bridge. Contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. George & Leona F, 609-259-3734 or Leona@pineypaddlers.com

Sponsored by the Sierra Club - West Jersey Chapter

Fernbrook Nursery, specializing in native deciduous Azaleas, unusual conifers & Rhododendrons, will be open to the public for only these four days May 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th. All proceeds benefit Fernbrook Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating about food, agriculture and the environment.

Availability is limited for some varieties come early to secure your selection. For more information click here.

Enjoy a 14-mile spring paddle on the N. Branch Rancocas Water Trail from BCCC to MountHolly. Learn about the “pony truss bridge”! Meet at the Vincentown Diner – arrive early for breakfast. Rentals are not available. Contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. George & Leona F. 609-259-3734 or Leona@pineypaddlers.com

Ever wonder what is making those unusual sounds out your window at night? We’ll explore the trails after dark and discover what call is coming from where. Cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Advanced registration required.

Award winning photographers Albert D. Horner and Denise Bush will lead this landscape photography workshop for photographers of all skill levels. Topics include equipment, finding a location, exposure, composition, advanced techniques and other important skills.

Cost is $75 per person. For more information or to register visit www.pinelandsphotographyschool.com . Questions email albert@pinelandsimagery.com.

Fernbrook Nursery, specializing in native deciduous Azaleas, unusual conifers & Rhododendrons, will be open to the public for only these four days May 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th. All proceeds benefit Fernbrook Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating about food, agriculture and the environment.

Availability is limited for some varieties come early to secure your selection. For more information click here.

Batsto Village will present its Second Saturday program beginning on May 11, 2013 and continuing through October. On each Second Saturday a different themed event will be featured along with the regular Village activities.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013 the theme will be Revolutionary War Activities. From 8:00am until 4:00pm the 4th Legionary Corps will be in the Village. In addition to seeing the troops up close in their encampment, you may see them marching throughout the grounds during the day.

Walking tours of the Village will be conducted by Revolutionary Tours, Inc. They will explain what was happening in the country during the war and how it affected the people of Batsto.

Retired educator Dr. Joseph E. Wroblewski will be in the auditorium with a presentation entitled, “An Affair at Egg Harbor: the Massacre of the Pulaski Legion.”

In addition to the special Revolutionary War program, Batsto’s regular activities will be available, including tours of the historic mansion throughout the day for a $3.00 fee.

Demonstrations of the art of shaping iron into useful items will take place in the Blacksmith Shop throughout the day.

The working sawmill will be in action cutting lumber the way it was a century ago.

At the oldest Post Office in New Jersey and the third oldest in the United States, your mail can be cancelled with no zip code due to the historical significance of the Post Office.

The Visitor Center Museum and video will give visitors a brief history of Batsto and its people.

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center has exhibits of plants and animals of the pinelands, as well as will provide activities for children

Summer parking of $5.00 / car is in effect at the village through Labor Day at Batsto Village.

Batsto Village is located in the Pinelands of Burlington County, South Jersey approximately seven miles east of Hammonton on Route 542 and 15 miles west of Exit 50 of the Garden State Parkway.

About Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc.

The Batsto Citizens Committee was founded in 1956 to aid the State of New Jersey in the development of Batsto Village as an historic site. Its purpose was to advise, assist and promote the restoration and interpretation of the historic and natural aspects of Batsto Village. In 1997, the committee reorganized and became incorporated as the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. (BCCI), and continues to follow the above objectives. For more information about BCCI visit www.batstovillage.org

Welcome to the State History Fair! - the only statewide event where visitors can experience five centuries of NJ's history in one place. It started in 2004 as a celebratory event marking the 100th anniversary of NJ's State Historic Sites. 2013 will mark its ninth year. Its goal is to engage the public in discovering NJ's history in a fun and enjoyable manner. Rain or shine. A $5/car parking donation is suggested and appreciated.

On the edge of Wharton State Forest stands an elegant mansion that was once the summer home of a 19th century iron baron. The stately mansion, one of the most interesting examples of rural Greek Revival architecture, is now open for tours on Saturdays at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Come and hear the story of Historic Atsion Village and wander the rooms of the mansion with docents trained to interpret the home’s interior. Atsion is located at 744 Rt. 206 (eight miles north of Hammonton) in Shamong Township. Reservations are required for large groups and can be made by calling the Atsion Forest Office at 609-268-0444.

Fernbrook Nursery, specializing in native deciduous Azaleas, unusual conifers & Rhododendrons, will be open to the public for only these four days May 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th. All proceeds benefit Fernbrook Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating about food, agriculture and the environment.

Availability is limited for some varieties come early to secure your selection. For more information click here.

Fernbrook Nursery, specializing in native deciduous Azaleas, unusual conifers & Rhododendrons, will be open to the public for only these four days May 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th. All proceeds benefit Fernbrook Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating about food, agriculture and the environment.

Availability is limited for some varieties come early to secure your selection. For more information click here.

This is Fort’s favorite Pines stream – join us for a lovely spring trip. Meet at Lake Oswego, Lake Oswego RD. Boats can be rented from Mick’s Pine Barrens Rental 800-281-1380 or www.mickscanoerental.com/ Contact leaders to confirm participation. George & Leona F. 609-259-3734 or Leona@pineypaddlers.com

Sponsored by the Sierra Club - West Jersey Group

ENJOY an exclusive viewing of Act 2: Pollution from “A Fierce Green Fire”, featuring the story of Love Canal in Niagara Falls, NY, the event that helped launch the environmental health movement.

STAY for a discussion of how big corporations and wealthy campaign contributors are undermining our health and safety, our clean air and water, and our rights as consumers, and what you can do in your community about the assault on our safeguards.

ABOUT LOVE CANAL: In the spring of 1978, a 27-year old housewife Lois Gibbs discovered that her child was attending an elementary school built on top of a 20,000 ton, toxic-chemical dump in Niagara Falls, New York. Desperate to do something about it, she organized her neighbors into the Love Canal Homeowners Association. Opposing the group’s efforts, Occidental Petroleum, as well as local, state, and federal government officials, all insisted that the leaking toxic chemicals were not the cause of increased cancer rates and other health problems in the community.

PRESENTED BY: NJ Work Environment Council and Center for Health, Environment and Justice

Free. You can register online here.

Double Trouble State Parkwas established in 1964 to help protect the Cedar Creek watershed and now features over 8,000 acres of Pine Barrens habitats. Our trip is 7 miles from Ore Pond to Dudley Park. Meet at Double Trouble Park Headquarters. Boats can be rented from Cedar Creek Campgrounds www.cedarcreeknj.com/ or 732-269-1413. Contact leaders to confirm trip and meeting time. George & Leona F, 609-259-3734 or leona@pineypaddlers.com

Sponsored by the Sierra Club - West Jersey Group

Celebrate 30 years of preservation at Whitesbog Village! Michele Byers and the many individuals and organizations who championed the preservation of the Village will be recognized. There will be walking and living history tours as well as drinks, appetizers and a recognition program. Reservations required. Casual dress and comfortable shoes.

How healthy is the stream in your neighborhood? Learn how to perform a biological stream assessment by identifying benthic macro-invertebrates, the small creatures whose presence or absence indicate a stream's health. During this hands-on workshop at PPA’s Bishop Farmstead you will explore a stream and identify these tiny aquatic animals and discuss what your findings mean. Be prepared to get wet! Must be at least 14 years old to attend. This workshop is led by Rancocas Watershed Ambassaor, Peter Zampella.

Registration is required. This is a FREE program.

On the edge of Wharton State Forest stands an elegant mansion that was once the summer home of a 19th century iron baron. The stately mansion, one of the most interesting examples of rural Greek Revival architecture, is now open for tours on Saturdays at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Come and hear the story of Historic Atsion Village and wander the rooms of the mansion with docents trained to interpret the home’s interior. Atsion is located at 744 Rt. 206 (eight miles north of Hammonton) in Shamong Township. Reservations are required for large groups and can be made by calling the Atsion Forest Office at 609-268-0444.

The Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge will host its tenth annual Wine and Wildlife Festival on Saturday May 18, 2013 from 4:00pm – 8:00 pm.

Come support the largest multi-species wildlife rehabilitator in New Jersey. You will sample the best wines of the world, delight in gourmet food, browse incredible auction items, meet our animal ambassadors and back by popular demand… beer tasting! Musical entertainment provided.

Tickets are $65 each. Tickets do sell out and may not be available at the door. All proceeds benefit the Refuge's environmental education programs, wildlife rehabilitation hospital, and the wildlife of New Jersey. Tickets may be purchased online here, at Canal’s Wines Unlimited in Medford or at the Refuge.

Love animals? Love wine? Then You Can’t Miss This Event. Serious Tasters Invited To Bring Your Own Glass and Enjoy!

The wetlands are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. We’ll take a trip into our wetlands to investigate some of the more unique residents of the area. Cost is $5 per adult, $3 per child (age 4 and up), children under 4 and members free.

Amy Karpati, Ph.D., Director of Conservation Science for the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, will help you brush up on your ecological knowledge of the Pines, this presentation will highlight the basic ecology that makes the Pine Barrens the Pine Barrens. Learn about the natural history of the Pinelands – its sandy soils, its water resources, its rare species, and its curious dependence on fire. Enjoy visuals of Pinelands scenes and species.

FREE. Registration required, call Tom at 609-859-8860 x 14 to register today.

Come join PPA for fun family nights as we show a select environmental/nature film. Chirping crickets and shooting stars will serve as our backdrop. Popcorn and refreshments provided but bring your own chair.

Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction

Description: All over the world species are becoming extinct at an astonishing rate, from 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than normal. The loss of biodiversity has become so severe that scientists are calling it a mass extinction event. This documentary investigates the growing threat to Earth’s life support systems from this unprecedented loss of biodiversity. Through interviews with leading scientists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, and indigenous and religious leaders, the film explores the causes, the scope, and the potential effects of the mass extinction, but also looks beyond the immediate causes of the crisis to consider how our cultural and economic systems, along with deep-seated psychological and behavioral patterns, have allowed this situation to develop, continue to reinforce it, and even determine our response to it.

For more information about the movie click here. The movie is 80 minutes long.

In the event of rain this film will be screened indoors

FREE. Donations welcome.

Space in limited. Registration required. Contact 609 859-8860 x14 or tomdunn@pinelandsalliance.org

Fortunato invites his” cousins” and dog lovers as we paddle 10 miles from Hawkin Bridge to Beaver Branch. Canoes and kayaks can be rented from Mick’s Pine Barrens Canoe and Kayak Rental 800-281-1380 or www.mickscanoerental.com Contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. George & Leona F. 609-259-3734 or Leona@pineypaddlers.com

Sponsored by the Sierra Club - West Jersey Group

On the edge of Wharton State Forest stands an elegant mansion that was once the summer home of a 19th century iron baron. The stately mansion, one of the most interesting examples of rural Greek Revival architecture, is now open for tours on Saturdays at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Come and hear the story of Historic Atsion Village and wander the rooms of the mansion with docents trained to interpret the home’s interior. Atsion is located at 744 Rt. 206 (eight miles north of Hammonton) in Shamong Township. Reservations are required for large groups and can be made by calling the Atsion Forest Office at 609-268-0444.

Experience spring on this evening walk to look and listen for frog and toad species at the state-owned 213-acre Sahara Sands property in Monroe Township, Gloucester County. Search for the elusive Pine Barrens Tree Frog and learn about vernal ponds. This site almost became an Off-Road Vehicle Park in 2005. This is a joint program between the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Free program.

Space is limited so registration is required - call Tom at 609-859-8860 x 14.