7-8 miles. Moderate pace. Bring in the New Year with a scenic hike. Bring lunch and beverage. Meet at Atsion by the office. Leaders: Christine Denneler, (8 5 6) 461+5379,

10am. Ring in the New Year with the NJ Sierra Club. Meet at Lake Oswego and paddle 7 miles on the "Jewel of the Pinelands". Enjoy a tailgate get together after the trip at Harrisville Lake. Bring something to share. Contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. Experienced winter Pines paddlers only. George & Leona F, 609-259-3734 or leona@pineypaddlers.com

Sponsored by the Sierra Club - West Jersey group

Description: Explore the native plant landscaping at PPA's Bishop Farmstead and learn about native species appropriate for your own Pinelands property. We'll talk about how native Pinelands plants are specially adapted to our area and provide recommendations for choosing the right plants for your home.

Cost: $10

SPACE IS LIMITED; REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Registration: 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.

Join New Jersey Conservation Foundation staff home-brewing experts Russell Juelg and Chris Jage to learn the basics of brewing beer at home (or in this case, in the woods!). The recipe for the day will include wild blueberries that we will forage on the Franklin Parker Preserve.

Limited to 20 people. $25 per person to be paid in advance to carol@njconservation.org

On warm, humid nights in the early summer, the iconic treefrogs of the Pine Barrens gather at ponds for their annual mating ritual. We'll visit one or more of these ponds and listen for and hopefully get up close and intimate with these beautiful creatures. Bring a flashlight and meet us at the North Gate (Lake Entrance)to the Franklin Parker Preserve. We will carpool and caravan from there. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat so you don't expose too much skin to the mosquitoes! Your trip leader will be Russell Jeulg, Land Steward-Pine Barrens Education. $5 per person. Register through carol@njconservation.org or 908-234-1225.

Pasadena-Woodmanse Rd, Bullock, NJ (map)

Bulluck is reached from 72 by driving east on Savoy Blvd. (no sign0 or from 539 driving west on Pasadena Rd.about 6 miles from either side.

Ten miles more or less at a moderate pace along trails, fire cuts, and sand roads. We will find a route to the abandoned North Branch bogs for lunch, with an alternate route on the return. Proper gear for the weather conditions. Earthquakes and forest fires cancel. Bulluck is reached from 72 by driving east on Savoy Blvd. (no sign0 or from 539 driving west on Pasadena Rd.about 6 miles from either side.

Leaders Jay walkinginmud @aol.com Faye batonawalk @aol.com

The Pine Barrens Up Close and Natural (film by Pinelands Preservation Alliance)
FREE
Belleplain State Forest,
Conference Room
(609) 861-2404
Note: ½ hour DVD presentation; ADA accessible

Pakim Pond Parking at Brendan Byrne State Forest - Enter the Forest from either highway 70 or 72 and follow the signs towards camping. Pakim is on your left 0.7 miles before the campground on Cooper Rd.

Join us for a moderate to brisk (3+mph) walk of 13-14 miles along the blazed trails of Byrne. This is a strenuous walk in the flatlands except for 2 small ups before the end. Sand hills, pine-oak woodlands and some functioning cranberry bogs will be crossed before our return. An optional return will reduce the distance by about 3.5 miles.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes early, we leave on time. Lighting and unsafe driving conditions cancel, bad or ugly weather will alter the route and distance. We go in snow, if you can get there safely, bring snow shoes.

Pakim Pond Parking at Brendan Byrne State Forest - Enter the Forest from either highway 70 or 72 and follow the signs towards camping. Pakim is on your left 0.7 miles before the campground on Cooper Rd.

Leader: Jay Schoss

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey.

Up to 6 Miles (upon conditions). Moderate pace, several breaks. Do you really care where we go? Bring snacks and warm food to share after the hike for our tailgate pigout. Thanks to Paul for a great idea. Hike is on, depending upon conditions. Dress in appropriate clothes and footwear. Leader, Tom Neigel: tomncenter @yahoo.com, (6 0 9) 206-3389

Sponsored by Outdoor Club of SJ.

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We'll meet at the intersection near the large brown wooden sign

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A 5 mile easy paced walk in the woodlands around the abandoned cranberry town of Howardsville. All that remains of this old company town in Barnegat Township are a few bogs, a resevoir and a some open fields and woodlands. Optional lunch after the walk at Lucille's in Warren Grove. (contact Jay Schoss at walkinginmud@aol for more info)

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10-12 Miles at a moderate pace. Bring lunch, beverage and rain gear. Heavy rain or snow will cancel.
Leaders: Pat Burton camperpat @hotmail.com (8 5 6) 767-8064

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey

The first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary environmentalist Aldo Leopold, Green Fire highlights Leopold's extraordinary career, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement. Leopold remains relevant today, inspiring projects all over the country that connect people and land. FREE.

RSVP to 609 859-8860 x 14 or tomdunn@pinelandsalliance.org

The film explores Aldo Leopold's life in the early part of the 20th century and the many ways his land ethic idea continues to be applied all over the world today.

Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our Time is a production of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the US Forest Service, and the Center of Humans and Nature. The film shares highlights from Leopold's life and extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation in the twentieth century and still inspires people today. Although probably best known as the author of the conservation classic "A Sand County Almanac", Leopold is also renowned for his work as an educator, ecologist, and wilderness advocate. With over two million copies sold, it is one of the most respected books about the environment ever published, and Leopold has come to be regarded by many as the most influential conservation thinker of the twentieth century.

"We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes. I realized then, and have know ever since, that there was something new to me in those eyes - something known only to her and to the mountain. I was young then, and full of trigger-itch; I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunter' paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view."
- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 1949

The impact of his own gunshot from a mountain ledge changed his own thinking, leading to the key insight that was the culmination of his life's work: a responsibility for the health of the natural world.

Join PPA for this free movie as we trace Leopold's personal journey and follow the threads that connect to his legacy today.

The movie is FREE, but registration is required. Contact Tom Dunn at (609) 859-8860 ext. 14 or tomdunn@pinelandsalliance.org to RSVP.

The Pine Barrens Up Close and Natural (film by Pinelands Preservation Alliance)
FREE
Belleplain State Forest,
Conference Room
(609) 861-2404
Note: ½ hour DVD presentation; ADA accessible

Distance: @12 miles Pace: Moderate Hike Conditions: Should be dry. Description: We will hike the yellow trail out to Quaker Bridge. We will hike the Batona and Batsto Lake trails back. A pretty hike with a variety of terrains. Scenic views of river and stream. Batsto Visitor Center parking lot.

Leader: George Galcik, (8 5 6) 783-8329 georgegalcik @comcast.net

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey

From Atsion Lake go South on Rt. 206, two miles, turn left onto a wide dirt road at the break in the steel guard rail. Then go two miles on the dirt road to Boot Hill, White DEER club trailer for parking.

8 miles, moderate pace. We'll be looking for a new way to Land's End, as we walk out that sometimes puddly road to our lunch stop, a pleasant place on the Mullica River. Bring lunch.

From Atsion Lake go South on Rt. 206, two miles, turn left onto a wide dirt road at the break in the steel guard rail. Then go two miles on the dirt road to Boot Hill, White DEER club trailer for parking.

Leaders: Dave and Julie Hegelein, (856) 235-8792.

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey

Noted horticulturist and author David Culp shares how native plants harmonize with our natural environment and help to create sustainable landscapes. Light lunch and Arboretum tour folows lecture.

No charge. Reservations requested by April 6

Beavers build dams and birds build nests. Join our naturalist and explore the variety of structures found in nature and discover how work the way they do. After you see how the animals do it you can try your hand at building your own and see if holds up as the animal's structures do. Cost is $5 per adult, $3 per child (age 4 and up), children under 4 and members free.

Sponsored by Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.

FREE. Double Trouble State Park. Note: 1.5 miles of walking over relatively flat, sandy terrain

Meet at Harrisville Pond on highway Route 679 east of Route 563 Selecte

10-12 miles of moderate paced walking along old sand roads and trails. We will see the site of Martha Furnace and Pond, the remains of an old cabin, and lunch at an overlook on the bank of the Oswego River.

If you have questions call Jay Schoss by 6pm the night before,
(9 0 8) 692-5765.

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey.

We begin our day with breakfast at the Vincentown Diner - one of the BEST diners in NJ. The section we paddle will depend on weather conditions. Experienced winter paddlers only. Please contact leaders for trip information. George & Leona F, 609-259-3734 or leona@pineypaddlers.com

Sponsored by the Sierra Club - West Jersey group

Wednesday Walk in the Woods. FREE; preregistration requested. Bass River State Forest. Note: 5-mile to 7-mile walk on flat ground, fast pace; bring drink and lunch

Enter the forest from either route 70 or 72 at the State Forest sign and follow signs to office

Leader's choice - 8-10 miles of mostly sand roads and fire cuts at a moderate pace (3mph). Bring a lunch and dress for the weather. Enter the forest from either route 70 or 72 at the State Forest sign and follow signs to office.

Jay walkinginmud @aol.com Faye batonawalk @aol.com

It's winter time and although many creatures are busy sleeping, the birds are not! Join us as we try and spot a variety of our feathered friends from a van along the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge birding loop. Bring your lunch, binoculars and ID guides. FREE.

Registration is required for all programs by calling Melanie at 609-812-0649 ext. 206 or visit us online at www.jcnerr.org

The Pine Barrens Up Close and Natural (film by Pinelands Preservation Alliance)
FREE
Belleplain State Forest,
Conference Room
(609) 861-2404
Note: ½ hour DVD presentation; ADA accessible

FREE. Wharton State Forest. Note: 2-mile to 4-mile hike.

Atsion Ranger Station - 5 miles north on rt 206 from Hammonton, or 8 miles south on rt 206 from rt70.

Up to 6 Miles (upon conditions). Moderate pace, several breaks. We'll hike the other side of the river and see how far we get. Who knows if there will be snow.

Bring snacks and food and warm food to share after the hike for our tailgate pigout.

This is the follow-up hike after the Bass River campout and night hike the night before to loosen you up.

Hike will be on as long as we can drive to the meetup point. Dress appropriately in clothes and footwear. NC NP

Leader, Tom Neigel tomncenter-ocsj @yahoo.com (6 0 9) 206+3389

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey

5 miles - Easy pace. Walk the roads of the Penn State Forest and enjoy a winter view of the lake. Bad weather or icy conditions cancel. Leader: David Bicking, (6 0 9)-332-2109, dbicki@yahoo.com

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey.

Meet at Batsto Village, 4110 Nesco Road, Hammonton, NJ

Hike 10 miles moderate pace.We'll hike up the Batsto then down the Mullica. Hope to see Tundra Swans, a dusting of snow would make this very pretty.Bring lunch and beverage. Check web page for cancelation if weather is bad. Visitor Center parking at Batsto Village. Leaders Pat Burton camperpat @hotmail.com (8 5 6) 767-8064

Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey

The Pine Barrens Up Close and Natural (film by Pinelands Preservation Alliance)
FREE
Belleplain State Forest,
Conference Room
(609) 861-2404
Note: ½ hour DVD presentation; ADA accessible

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Harrisville Pond on Rt 679, a spur of rt 563

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Hike 10 miles at a Moderate Pace. Hike over sand roads to Nash's cabin for lunch with a scenic view . Bring lunch and beverage. Harrisville Pond on Rt 679, a spur of rt 563. Check web page for cancellation due to bad weather. Leader: Chris Denneler (8 5 6) 461+5379 cdenneler157 @yahoo.com

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Sponsored by the Outdoor Club of South Jersey.

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Location: Estell Manor Park

Walk off the old year on Sunday, Jan. 29th, with for a 2 hour social hike through the Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor. Meet at the Fox Nature Center at 1:30 PM. Pace geared to ability of group. Advanced registration is encouraged, and made by calling 645-5960. FREE.

Sponsored by: Division of Parks and Recreation , Department of Public Works

For more information please contact Karen Zindell at 645-5960.

meet at Bass River State Forest, 762 Stage Rd, Tuckerton, NJ

8 miles moderate pace. We will hike several trail and roads through the park. We will have some great view of the parkway and some very quiet areas. If there is snow the roads are plowed so we should be able to get 5 miles in. In parking lot in front of the office. Lunch is near end of hike so bring a snack for the trail

Leader: Toni (6 0 9) 652-0112