Tags: ecology

Traveling to Bass River Twp. Pickup: Parking Lot, Wells Mills County Park, Waretown. FEE: $6.00 per person. AGE: 9 years - Adult. Pre-registration required.

Sponsored by Ocean County Parks Dept.

Traveling to Berkeley Township for a nature walk. Pickup: Nature Center Parking Lot, Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood. FEE: $6.00 per person. AGE: 9 years - Adult.

Sponsored by Ocean County Parks Dept.

South Jersey Land and Water Trust staff member Michael Hogan will guide a 2 hour tour. The Sahara Sands site is located at the White Oak Branch of the Great Egg Harbor River, along Jackson Road. The large sand quarry was originally purchased by the state of New Jersey for an ATV track, but after much public opposition, was turned over to the NJ Division of Fish and Game for a Wildlife Management Area. The site contains a large lake, small ponds, open and forested wetlands, and pine oak uplands. It has a rich diversity of Pinelands flora and fauna. NJ designated threatened and endangered species found there include the barred owl, Pine Barrens tree frog and the floating heart, a rare aquatic gentian. Bald eagles are also a frequent visitor. Michael will identify the area's flora and fauna and discuss SJLWT projects in the South Jersey including its current stream assessment and vernal pool programs. The trail may be muddy, please wear appropriate foot wear and dress warm, it may be windy at this open location. Sahara Sands is located on Jackson Road approximately 3/4 mile south of Piney Hollow Road. Free for members, $3 non-members. Please RSVP.

An indoor and outdoor presentation featuring: migration, nesting, breeding, feeding, bird features, and a van tour to swan habitat.

Location: Whitesbog General Store

Sponsored by the Pinelands Institute for Natural & Environmental Studies.

A guided field trip to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Sponsored by the Burlington County Natural Sciences Club.

An indoor and outdoor presentation featuring: migration, nesting, breeding, feeding, bird features, and a van tour to swan habitat.

Location: Whitesbog General Store

Sponsored by the Pinelands Institute for Natural & Environmental Studies

Presented by U.S. Fish and Wildlife-Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Pre-registration required: $5.00 adults, $2.00 children.

Travel in quiet comfort to view the majesty of the Pinelands. Look for signs of animals that remain active in winter. Learn of strategies used by plants and animals to survive the cold and often dry conditions of the Pine Barrens in winter.

Location: Whitesbog General Store

Sponsored by the Pinelands Institute for Natural & Environmental Studies

This informative presentation will focus on honey bees, detailing their serious decline known as colony collapse disorder and the resulting implications for our food supply and society. This is an updated version of last year's "Bee Aware" presentation. Adults only, please. Handouts will be provided with valuable information on how individuals can make a difference starting with their home and garden. Registration required by calling 609-265-5068.

Note: The Rutgers Cooperative Ext. building is located at 2 Academy Dr., behind the main County library in Westampton. Take Woodlane Rd. to Pioneer Blvd. Continue past the library (on left) and the special services school on the right. Turn left on Academy Dr. The RCE building is on your right.

Sponsored by the Burlington County Park System.

This informative presentation will focus on honey bees, detailing their serious decline known as colony collapse disorder and the resulting implications for our food supply and society. This is an updated version of last year's "Bee Aware" presentation. Adults only, please. Handouts will be provided with valuable information on how individuals can make a difference starting with their home and garden. Registration required by calling 609-265-5068.

Sponsored by the Burlington County Park System.

Join us to see some of the Pine Plains (Dwarf Forest) areas this spring. We expect to see Broom Crowberry blossoming as well as some very interesting recently burned areas. Meet at the PPA headquarters at 10:00 a.m. After a brief overview, we will car-pool and caravan to the several sites. Pack a lunch, drinks, and snacks -- lunch in the field. Watch the forecast; dress for the weather. Pre-egistration required - $10 per person, payable by credit card or check.

Join us on a journey to a controlled burn site and a site that shows re-growth after fire. The focus of this program will be the relationship of the soil and plant life to the frequency of forest fires. Learn about the species adapted to survive and thrive after a fire.

Location: Whitesbog General Store

An evening presentation on roadside plant conservation. Speaker: Russell Juelg, Pinelands Preservation Alliance

Sponsored by the Burlington County Natural Sciences Club.

A guided field by PPA's Russell Juelg. $15/person for BCNSC membership

Sponsored by the Burlington County Natural Sciences Club. Call for more information.

Walk along sandy roads and bogs to discover beautiful flowers of the Pine Barrens. Observe their natural habitat, learn how to identify plants by their characteristics; perform documentation of species through nature journaling.

Location: Whitesbog General Store

Sponsored by the Pinelands Institute for Natural & Environmental Studies.

"Pinelands 101: An Introduction to the natural and cultural resources of New Jersey's Pinelands" is the first program of our 2010 "Twilight in Bass River State Forest" evening program series. "Pinelands 101" is being presented by Joel Mott of the NJ Pinelands Commission on June 5, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

This free, hour-long family program will discuss why and how the NJ Pinelands Commission protects these important resources. The program is being held at the Lake Absegami Beach Complex, Bass River State Forest. Please bring something to sit on. Heavy rain cancels.

For more information or to get a complete "Twilight in Bass River State Forest" event schedule please contact the forest office at (609) 296-1114.

Bring the whole family to the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, where you can learn about conservation and the environment. Kids can participate in hands-on activities that include all of the LBIF's vast resources. Meanwhile, adults can discuss energy-saving tips, organic gardening techniques, and more with local business owners and non-profit organizations.

A day-long naturalist tour of one of the beautiful and historic Pinelands rivers. Foliage and wildlife make this an exhilarating and memorable experience. For newcomers, a great introduction to the history and ecology of the Pine Barrens.

This is a leisurely paddle, but may be moderately challenging for some. It's best to have some canoe or kayak experience before making this trip. You can rent a canoe or kayak (approx. $40 per canoe, made payable to canoe livery, by cash or check only), or bring your own. The livery will charge for a carry.

Pre-registration required. $15/person. Registration available online.

Exploring the Ecology of the Pines with PPA's Amy Karpati, Ph.D.

Who: Jennifer Bulava, Park Naturalist for the Burlington County Park System

What: The important roles of honey bees and other beneficial insects in our yards and garden

Where: Medford Leas., Linden Room.

Annual gathering of Pine Barrens authors, artists, photographers, historians and archeologists, craftsmen, musicians, historical and environmental groups.

Clich HERE for the flyer with complete details on this event.

PRESENTS
The 6th Annual - Lines on the Pines
The ABC's of the Pine Barrens - "Aboard the Blue Comet"
Sunday - March 13, 2011
Indoor Event - Open to the Public
Frog Rock Golf & Country Club
755 South White Horse Pike / Route 30, Hammonton, NJ 08037

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Artists & Authors - Art, Books and Crafts - FREE EVENT

4:30 PM - 7:30PM Buffet Dinner & Presentation

Reservation & Prepayment Required : $30

"A Distant Memory: The Rusty Trail of the Blue Comet". Speakers: Paul W. Schopp & Dr. Robert A. Emmons, Jr. Entertainment: Valerie Vaughn & Bram Taylor

Mail to: Lines on the Pines (check made out to L. Stanton) - PO Box 93 - Elwood, NJ 08217
Your cancelled check is your receipt. For more Info, call: 609-561-1665 or email: linesonthepines@comcast.net
Please provide phone # and email on check. Sponsors: It's a Sign of the Pines and Plexus Publishing, Inc.

Burlington County College. Featuring presentations, field trips and bus tours.

Sponsored by the NJ Pinelands Commission and Burlington County College.

Annual Native Plant Sale at PPA's Headquarters (SPECIAL MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW DAY)

Pinelands Preservation Alliance members are invited to this special preview sale day. You must be a member to purchase plants on Friday. Become a member today!

Trees, shrubs, and wildflowers native to the Pinelands will be for sale.

Also: Raffle for cool prizes, gardening lectures and tours of the historic barn and farmhouse.

More information

The Pinelands Visitor Center will also be open, with a variety of books, DVDs, clothing and other Pinelands-related merchandise on offer.

Plants supplied by Pinelands Nursery, RareFind Nursery, and Fernbrook Nursery.

Proceeds go towards furthering PPA's mission to protect and preserve the Pinelands.

Speaker: Amy Karpati, Ph.D., Director of Conservation Science, Pinelands Preservation Alliance

Description: Learn about what makes the Pine Barrens the Pine Barrens. We'll talk about how the area's natural history has shaped the ecological communities of the Pines.

Cost: FREE

SPACE IS LIMITED; REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Registration: Call 609 859-8860 x14 or email tomdunn@pinelandsalliance.org

PPA's Pinelands Lecture Series features a variety of guest speakers on Pinelands-related topics.

Tour Leader: Amy Karpati, Ph.D., Director for Conservation Science, Pinelands Preservation Alliance

Location: Pakim Pond and Pygmy Pines

Description: We'll meet in the parking lot at Pakim Pond and take a leisurely stroll around the edge of the pond and through the pitch pine woodlands to learn about the ecology and botany of Pine Barrens habitats. Bring a brown bag lunch to eat at the picnic tables at Pakim Pond. We will then continue on to the pygmy pine forest on Route 72. Participants can follow along to the pygmy pines or choose to head home after Pakim Pond.

Cost: $15

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

The Pine Barrens is a very unique area. Hike the trail with our naturalist to experience the different habitats of the pines and discover what makes them so special.Cost is $5 per adult, $3 per child (age 4 and up), children under 4 and members free.

Sponsored by the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.

It's that time of year again and the creepy critters come out across the refuge. Join our naturalist and hike the trails after dark in hopes to find some of our creepy resident creatures. Cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Advanced registration required.

Sponsored by Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.

What has eight legs and can be found in the woods? That's right, arachnids! Visit the refuge and discover spiders and other eight legged refuge residents. 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.

Description:

Join us for a presentation by George Custer, Incident Commander with the United States Forest Service in Florida's Ocala National Forest. Mr. Custer has extensive experience in managing fire-adapted ecosystems using growing season burns - a practice that is common elsewhere but is still controversial in New Jersey. He will discuss the important ecological role of fire in forests like the New Jersey Pine Barrens, how growing season prescribed burns affect the native biota, and how these burns can be conducted safely. The presentation will be followed by an open question-and-answer discussion about how using fire wisely can help save the rare plants and ecological communities of our Pine Barrens ecosystem.

Cost: Free.

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

Space is limited; registration is required.

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.

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.

Burlington County College. Featuring presentations, field trips and bus tours.

Sponsored by the NJ Pinelands Commission and Burlington County College.

Annual Native Plant Sale at PPA's Headquarters

Trees, shrubs, and wildflowers native to the Pinelands will be for sale.

Also: Raffle for cool prizes, gardening lectures and tours of the historic barn and farmhouse.

The Pinelands Visitor Center will also be open, with a variety of books, DVDs, clothing and other Pinelands-related merchandise on offer.

Plants supplied by Pinelands Nursery, RareFind Nursery, and Fernbrook Nursery.

Learn about what makes the Pine Barrens the Pine Barrens. We'll talk about how the area's natural history has shaped the ecological communities of the Pines.

Speaker: Dr. Amy Karpati, Director for Conservation Science at Pinelands Preservation Alliance

Cost: $10

SPACE IS LIMITED; REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

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

PPA's Pinelands Lecture Series features a variety of guest speakers on Pinelands-related topics.

Description: Fire is a natural process critical to maintaining characteristic Pine Barrens habitat and ecological diversity. We'll explore a site near Warren Grove that burned in a wildfire in 2010 to observe the effects of this fire on the biological community, look for plant species that might have been stimulated by the fire, and talk about the importance of fire in the Pinelands. The pace will be leisurely, with frequent stopping for up-close observation. Pack a lunch and plenty of water.

Tour Leader: Dr. Amy Karpati, Director for Conservation Science at Pinelands Preservation Alliance

Cost: $15

SPACE IS LIMITED; REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

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

PPA's Pinelands Adventures are designed to introduce you to the pleasures of the New Jersey Pinelands with our expert leaders

The course will allow students to explore ecology and conservation science with emphasis placed on citizen science projects, Pine Barrens Ecology, and scientific analysis of field data. Each day will focus on a specific topic and field experience. Students will collect and analyze data from sites throughout the Pine Barrens and Coastal region. Based out of Pinelands Preservation Alliance, participants will not only conduct their own hands-on investigations, but will also have the opportunity to meet with and explore the research projects of professional scientists working in the area. Transportation to and from all field sites will be provided by PPA.

Cost: $375 (includes lunch daily, field notebook, Field Guide to the Pine Barrens, and transportation to and from all sites from PPA's office)

$100 non-refundable registration deposit required. Balance due by July 1.

Registration Deadline: July 1

Click here for more information and to register

Description: An exciting visual journey through the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve as seen through the eyes of fine art landscape photographer Albert D. Horner. Attendees will experience Pinelands scenes that at are rarely viewed by most visitors.

Cost: $10

SPACE IS LIMITED; REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

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

PPA's Pinelands Lecture Series features a variety of guest speakers on Pinelands-related topics.