On Sunday, July 3rd, foragers welcomed the cool breezes and luscious greenery of the forest on campus as they learned about all the precious nutrients right at our feet! This course, taught by Joanne Lockwood, is one of our most popular due to the increased interest in learning about local
It was a day of new experiences and hands-on ecological education for the 6th graders of Bedminster Township on June 7th! The students participated in a busy day of canoeing, water ecology, archery, metal smithing and fishing in Lake Wapalanne. The beautiful day culminated with dinner around the campfire at
The NJ School of Conservation was very proud to welcome the 5th graders of Kent Place School to our campus for a day of learning and fun! The students got to experience hands-on instruction in areas such as Wildlife Ecology, Archery, Canoeing, Water Ecology and Fishing, while being outdoors in
On Sunday, June 5th, 2022 the NJ School of Conservation was thrilled have families gathered to participate in the NJ Divison of Fish & Wildlife Annual Youth Fishing Competition! We had multiple winners in our categories of: First Caught, Largest (from head to tail), Smallest (from head to tail), Most
In four weeks, under the careful guidance of our Coaches, Ruth and John, these students progressed so much! We saw an increase in confidence, strength and accuracy with several different types of bows and at increasing distances. It was a real treat to watch this growth, and we hope the
At the NJ School of Conservation, on Saturday, May 14th, six of our current Spring Fling students all progressed to landing bullseyes and/or piercing balloons at competition level placing! Consistency is the name of the game in Archery and their practice is paying off. We are so proud of their
We are all so pleased to share some pictures of our newest class of archers in our adult Spring Fling Program at the NJ School of Conservation! This group got an amazing start on Saturday, May 30th under the guidance of Ruth & John, our Class 3 Coaches/Instructors. This week’s
Saturday, April 23rd was a beautiful day on the NJSOC Campus for our wonderful Wild Edibles Program, led by Joanne Lockwood! Participants learned how to correctly identify nutritious and plentiful ingredients such as Trout Lily, Bedstraw, Garlic Mustard and more! If you would like to learn about foraging and the
We have been so proud to be a part of the NJDEP Sistas Afield Program that brings families together over a 6 week session to learn fishing, water ecology, specimen identification, catching (fly fishing & spin casting), preparing and ultimately cooking the “big catch”! This program is simply AMAZING and
We were honored to Co-Host the Stream Stomp Program with the NJ Watershed Ambassadors team on Saturday, 4/2/22 and help families learn about the aquatic Macroinvertebrates that live in the streams at the NJ School of Conservation and how they can be used to understand stream health.We found some amazing
On Saturday, March 26th, the NJ School of Conservation was proud to host part one of “Sistas Afield” Fishing Program by the NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife staff. In this introduction, women and their children mastered the basics of angling, knot tying, fishing safety, fish anatomy and casting techniques. You
We Thank You! Sparks fly when like-minded people bound by a common purpose unite around a campfire! How symbolic that in this darkest time at SOC, we have been warmed by the light and love of so many Friends. In recognition of the generosity and support extended while reopening the
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune, 29 2021 Friends of the New Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC) are thrilled after receiving news that the state budget signed by Governor Murphy today includes $1 million in funding to keep the school open and operating. Last year, Montclair State University abruptly closed the NJSOC, turned
Who ever knew you could have so much fun in a single day? Any one of the almost 100 people who attended Forest Fun Day found this out for themselves and now know just how much there is to learn and enjoy in the great outdoors! As people gathered on
A young team of intrepid adventurers joined Dr. Jim Merritt on a hike through the woods of Stokes Forest. Along the way, they paused to review their surroundings and determine what if anything was available in the forest for them to survive if need be. The young group talked about
NJSOC was back action on Saturday in partnership with the National Association for Search and Rescue! John Rovetto, Mountain Travel and Rescue adviser for the NJ region of the National Ski Patrol, a NY State Licensed guide, a member of New Jersey Search & Rescue and a NY/NJ Trail conference
Jon Connolly is the President of Sussex County Community College. He is also a research biologist with a Forest Science degree and extensive knowledge of tree anatomy and physiology. He shared this expertise on a walk through the forest with participants in a Dendrology and Tree Biology workshop sponsored by
They arrived with rods, reels, buckets, worms, and waders anticipating a day of fish and fun, and Lake Wapalanne did not disappoint. Within seconds of the start whistle and 38 anglers dropping their lines in the water, the first fish in the Friends of NJSOC’s first ever Hooked on Fishing,
Despite rain, wind, winter like temperatures, and a power outage, the Friends’ Open House was a HUGE success. Thirty-nine stalwart souls braved the elements and joined us on tours, participated in rock art, learned about turtle research and even went boating. It was such fun to greet and spend time
Saturday, May 15, 2021 was a great Spring day in many ways. The sun was shining and a cool morning gave way to a warm 70 degree afternoon, a perfect day to look for critters. The best part was that the NJ School of Conservation opened its gate for the
The Friends of NJSOC is entering into the next phase of saving the School of Conservation with the Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as our partners. We are meeting regularly with NJDEP and together we are learning as much as we can about the physical operation of SOC’s facilities. At
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kerry Kirk Pflugh, President, Friends of NJSOC | Cell/Text: 908-887-2274Shayne Russell, Vice President, Friends of NJSOC | 609-654-1410Email: friendsofnjsoc@gmail.com NJ SOC SENDING OUT AN “SOS”: NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PILLAR OF OUTDOOR LEARNING ON VERGE OF CLOSING IN STATE FUNDING CRISIS National Leader in Outdoor Education for 70 years, New Jersey School
Couldn’t make it to our 70th Anniversary Celebration in October? We now have PDF versions of the program and SOC History available. Head over to our Media & Press page to download them!
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. – Henry David Thoreau Friends– We’re
The New Jersey School of Conservation
1 Wapalanne Rd. · Sandyston, NJ 07826
info@friendsofnjsoc.org
An NJDEP property under the management of the Friends of NJSOC
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