December 2019



URGENT - TOMORROW'S HIKE RESCHEDULED
Saturday's Behind-the-Scenes Hike at the Great Swa mp National Wildlife Refuge has been rescheduled to  Sunday, December 15  
(See upcoming events below details)

"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."

-John Ruskin
Happy Green  Holidays!
By Nicky Vanech, GSWA Intern

Want to be sustain-able this holiday season but unsure of how? Follow our tips to get you started on having a lighter environmental footprint this holiday season. Although the holidays are a joyous time to celebrate with family and friends, they can also be a time when people increase their consumption and overall trash. We've come up with some simple suggestions to help you to buck this trend! Read more

Thank You Volunteers, for Helping Winterize the Conservation Management Area 
By Hazel England, Director of Education & Outreach - Land Steward


After a delay from its originally scheduled date due to snow and ice on the Sunday after Thanks-giving, GSWA held the final community stewardship workday of the year on a week later at our 73-acre Conservation Management Area (CMA).  Click here to view trail map.
 
With some remnant snow and ice still lingering, 14 hardy volunteers helped clear and create a teaching area near the Helen Fenske vernal pool on the orange trail at the cul-de-sac end of the CMA.  Read more
Rep. Mikie Sherrill Honored by Environmental Org.
By Nicky Vanech, GSWA Intern
Kicking off Thanksgiving week, Environment New Jersey recognized Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, GSWA's 2019 Gala honoree, for her support of New Jersey's parks and open spaces. Rep. Sherrill is co-sponsoring the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (H.R. 3195) whose objective is to "provide full, dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This legislation would guarantee the full, authorized $900 million for LWCF is not raided by the annual appropriations process," securing money for important environmental projects. Read about the bill and watch the video
 
 
Double Your Impact with a Single Donation!


Now through December 31, 2019
your year-end gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous GSWA supporter up to $10,000 in total. 

Will you help us receive this full donation?



Your gift supports GSWA's environmental education and water quality programs, and so much more.

Add a Smile to Your Amazon Shopping
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Festival of Trees*
12/6-12/29, 9AM-4:30PM
Somerset Cty. Park Comm. 
190 Lord Stirling Rd.
Basking Ridge, NJ

Indoor exhibit of themed trees decorated by community groups and individuals. Live holiday music, Snowflake Café. Suggested donation $5. Info: 908 722-1200 ext. 5002.
New Date!
Behind the Scenes Tour at the Refuge*
Sun, 12/15, 10 am -12 PM
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge-Bluebird Parking Lot
(see website for location info)

Grab your camera and join us on this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. Staff from GSNWR and GSWA will help identify migratory birds, and we may even see a bald eagle or 2! 

 
Movie Showing 
Saving the Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport*
Sun, 12/15, 1-3 PM
NJ Audubon, Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary 
11 Hardscrabble Rd. Bernardsville, NJ

This award winning documentary depicts the epic battle that led to the preservation of the Great Swamp. Registration is required: 908-396-6386. 
Jockey Hollow Then & Now Hike*
Sat, 12/21, 1-3 PM
Morristown Nat'l Historical Park Jockey Hollow Visitor Center,
(appx.) 600 Tempe Wick Rd.
Morristown, NJ

Explore Jockey Hollow's historic past, its present, and discover what might have been if the landmark victory over the jetport never happened.  


Saving the Swamp Walk & Talk*
Sat, 12/21, 2-3:30 PM
Morris Cty. Park Comm.
247 Southern Blvd.
Chatham, NJ

A stunning slideshow of the Great Swamp wildlife and a crisp afternoon stroll along the trails with a special visit from a LIVE OWL from The Raptor Trust. Register at: 973-635-6629. 
First Day Walk - 
New Year's Day**
Wed, 1/1, 12-1 PM
Loantaka Brook Reservation Parking Lot
Loantaka Way Chatham, NJ

Take a 2.5 mile walk to raise money for stewardship of our beautiful open spaces. $10 to register on-site, receive a limited-edition pin, and start the New Year off right. Hosted by BSA Troop 280 Chatham.  Register here
* Great Swamp Partner Event
**Non-GSWA event

Shop through Amazon "Smile" for that same shopping experience you've come to expect. And when you select GSWA as your preferred charity, we receive 0.5%  of your purchase amount through their matching gifts program.  Enable this option by following these simple steps:
1) Visit  smile.amazon.com

2) Sign in and select Great Swamp Watershed Association as your charity of choice.

3) Begin shopping! Once you've selected your charity everything else works the same. Checkout as you normally would, and at no extra cost to you, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to GSWA.

4) Tell your friends! After you complete your purchase, the confirmation page provides an option to share this information with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or email. 

Happy shopping!

A Tip for Watershed-Friendly Living
Skip the wrapping paper!  Most store-bought wrapping paper cannot be recycled because of shiny coatings or foils. C onsider starting a new tradition of hiding unwrapped presents around the house scavenger hunt style. Imagine the the fun everyone will have searching for their gifts, and let's not forget all the time you will save not wrapping those presents. Added benefits: water, oil and trees won't be wasted to make the gift wrap and the there will be less trash in our landfills!



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Thank You to Our 2019 Gala Sponsors:
New Jersey American Water
Atlantic Health System - Normandy Real Estate Partners, Pfizer
Adrienne & Reed Auerbach - BASF - PSE&G - Schenck, Price, Smith & King
We're Very Social!
Great Swamp Watershed Association
The Passaic River Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate

Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years
Street Address: 568 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown, NJ  07960 - Map It!
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 300, New Vernon, NJ  07976