List of Member Volunteer Opportunities

Date: Saturdays throughout the year
Garden Volunteering in open space park behind Lady Liberty.
Organization: Friends of Liberty State Park
Time: 8am - 11am
Contact Name: (for more information or to sign up) Maria Wakefield
Contact Phone Number: 201-915-3418 weekdays or 201-915-3403 on Saturday
Contact Email: gardening@libertystatepark.us or schatzidog@earthlink.net
Description: Volunteers are always welcome at NJ’s urban state park to participate in a friendly atmosphere in gardening to help beautify LSP. No experience is necessary. The Friends welcome individuals or groups including corporate employees. Wonderful views of harbor and Lady Liberty and Ellis Island.

River Cleanups
A big part of Hackensack Riverkeeper's mission to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River watershed is to engage the people of our watershed to take responsibility for it. Throughout the year, we invite the community to participate in the many River Cleanups we host in various locations in the watershed.

At most cleanups, we work on foot to clear trash and other debris from the banks of the river as well as pulling trash out of the river from canoes. Cleanups generally last about four hours, and Hackensack Riverkeeper provides all the canoes, PFDs (personal flotation devices), paddles, hip waders, garbage bags, gloves, pickup sticks, rakes, shovels, meals and refreshments that you will need to get the job done. Just be sure to wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

Individuals and families are encouraged to just show up and get to work. We also welcome scouts and other civic groups but ask that you let us know how many folks you're planning to bring so we can be sure to have enough food and supplies on hand. There is no age requirement to participate, but children must be supervised. You must be 16 or older to PADDLE a canoe (some exceptions may be made based upon experience level, and two paddlers are required per canoe). For more information, or to be placed on our contact list, please sign up below or contact Lisa at 201-968-0808, or lisaryan@hackensackriverkeeper.org.

2008 River Cleanup Schedule

Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Bishop Farmstead, 17 Pemberton Road, Southampton, New Jersey 08088Phone: 609-859-8860 Fax: 609-859-8804

E-mail: ppa@pinelandsalliance.org Website: www.pinelandsalliance.org
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Volunteer Opportunities

To learn more about our volunteer opportunities please contact Volunteer Manager, Mike Pippin at mike@pinelandsalliance.org or by phone at 609-859-8860 ext. 15.

Pinelands Watch network: This is our action alert network. We will mail you alerts on issues as they arise and provide suggested actions, such as contacting government officials, that will support our efforts on each issue. I have included a recent example of one of these alerts.

Office volunteer: Volunteers help us with activities such as mailings, research, manning the Pinelands Visitors Center, and so on. Schedules are flexible, and we would provide any preliminary education or training you might need.

Fairs and Festivals volunteer: Volunteers man the Pinelands Preservation Alliance table at the many fairs and festivals where we go to meet people, distribute literature, and get folks interested in the Pinelands. We provide the necessary training and can team you with experienced staff or volunteers.

Garden volunteer: If you are a gardener, or are interested in getting into gardening, we are looking for more people to join our Garden Committee and help us manage our native landscaping and historic garden beds at our headquarters. These gardens are just getting going, so it is a good time to get in on the ground floor.

PPA Committees: If you want to get really involved, we have various committees that work on advocacy issues, our annual Pinelands Discovery Festival, education projects, and so on. If you like events, working on the Pinelands Discovery Festival, held in October at Whitesbog Village, is a good way to get to know people and learn more about the Alliance.

Your own idea: Sometimes people come to us with their own ideas about how they can contribute to our work, and we are always open to this approach.

The New York- New Jersey Trail Conference has many trail related opportunities for volunteers. We work directly with groups and individuals to set up trail work days that are crafted to fit what the group or individual wishes to experience, and geographic location is flexible as well. We can handle groups in size from 1 to about 50 on relatively short notice and larger groups with a little more notice. We also need volunteers to help us with office work, but these positions are generally set up on an individual rather than group basis. The contact person is Brenda Holzinger, the NJ Regional Coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, via work phone (201-512-9348 x 25), cell (973-303-3538) or email (Holzinger@nynjtc.org).

Date: Saturday, May 17
Spring Fun: 2nd Annual Kids Day
Organization: New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Location: 170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931
Time: 9am – Noon
Contact Name: (for more information or to sign up) Lauren
Contact Phone Number: 908-234-1225
Contact Email: Lauren@njconservation.org
Description: Children will learn the wonders of nature and have fun at the same time while completing a scavenger hunt in this lovely park setting. Other games and crafts will delight children ages 2-10. Registration is required.

Volunteer Opportunities at Flat Rock Brook
Experience the joy of teaching... Be a Trail Guide for Flat Rock Brook

For more than 30 years, the Trail Guides of Flat Rock Brook have taught nature study classes outdoors to elementary school children from area towns. Today, Trail Guides teach thousands of students each year of all age groups. This innovative volunteer program is seeking new volunteer teachers. If you have a special interest in nature and the outdoors, enjoy sharing your knowledge with children, and would like to learn more about the natural world, you may enjoy participating in Flat Rock Brook's volunteer Trail Guide program.

The training program is free. Sessions are held in March, April and May, September and October with indoor lectures and outside explorations on the trails. New recruits then observe experienced guides teaching children on nature walks. Graduated trail guides lead at least five nature walks weekday mornings or afternoons in April, May, June and at least five in September, October, and November. Trail Guides also participate in educational workshops and field trips to various natural areas throughout the region to help broaden their knowledge. Contact education director Jill Bennetta 201 567-1265 ext. 203 if you are interested in joining this program.

Flat Rock Brook is Looking for Gardeners
The Flat Rock gardens are works in progress, needing upkeep, maintenance and new ideas—and we always need volunteers. The Gardeners work on our gardens, hold meetings, seminars and field trips. Interested gardeners—new or experienced —are invited to attend. The Gardeners meet twice a month from April through November and focus on garden care through the different seasons. The Gardeners learn more about their craft by maintaining and caring for the native plant gardens at the Nature Center. They use integrated pest management gardening techniques and advocate the use of native plants to attract beneficial insects and other wildlife, and low maintenance ground covers to replace thirsty high care lawns. To join the Gardeners, call the Nature Center at (201) 567-1265.

Help at a Flat Rock Brook Special Event

Nature Day
Flat Rock Brook's celebration of nature on May 18, 2008 brings hundreds of families to the Nature Center for a day of outdoor fun. Our staff and volunteers make it all happen. Contact Sandy at 201 567-1265 to sign up. We need volunteers to serve on the committee to plan the event and to perform the following tasks on the day itself:

The Holiday Sale
The Holiday Sale and Silent Auction has been a major annual fundraiser for Flat Rock Brook since our first sale in 1975. Today, dozens of volunteers participate in various aspects of the sale. There is work for many hands, and a lot of fun to be had as well. A great way to make new friends and help Flat Rock Brook at the same time! The Sale for 2008 will be December 4-7, ask for Sandy at 201 567-1265 and sign up now! Here are some of the ways you can help:

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Land Management
Assist our land manager in trail maintenance and other projects to help preserve the Nature Center property. Contact Park Ranger Marc Dwyer for more information at (201) 567-1265 x204.

Companies and Groups
Many companies or organizations have volunteer groups that help local organizations with a variety of projects. Recently volunteers from Starbucks, GlaxoSmithKline, and KPMG helped Flat Rock Brook with land management projects, the Bell Telephone Pioneers built our boardwalk trail, and a group of Boy Scouts recently refurbished our aviary. If you are part of a volunteer group call the Steve Wiessner at 201-567-1265 to discuss the available projects might be suited to your group.

Date: May 27, 2008
Play A Round for Wildlife
Organization: Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
Location: Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club, Whitehouse Station, NJ
Contact Name: (for more information or to sign up) Debbi Nichols
Contact Phone Number: (609) 894-6012
Contact Email: debbi.nichols@conservewildlifenj.org
Description: The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ invites you to Play a Round for Wildlife – enjoy a spectacular day of golf at Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club. Join us for a great day that benefits one of New Jersey’s greatest resources – its rare and wonderful wildlife.

Date: June 7, 2008
Stream Monitor Training
Organization: South Branch Watershed Association
Location: Lechner House (SBWA Hdqtrs); 41 Lilac Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822
Time: 8:30am – 12pm
Contact Name: (for more information or to sign up) Nicole Rahman
Contact Phone Number: 908-782-0422, ext 14
Contact Email: Nicolerahman@sbwa.org
Description: Training session for people interested in volunteering to do Stream Monitoring the last 2 weeks of June. This involves biological and habitat monitoring of 18 sites in the watershed (primarily Hunterdon County).

Date: June 14
Treasures of the South Branch Celebration – June 14 at Red Mill in Clinton, NJ

This is a community event involving activities that focus on environment, recreation, and history (see web site for more details www.sbwa.org)

Need volunteers to help with promotion in advance of event and on day of event with logistics and set up.
Contact: Lynn Becker (908) 782-0422, ext 13

Construct a Rain Garden at SBWA office and/or in general area; must provide funding for plants
Contact: Ellen Cronan (908) 782-0422, ext 15

Date(s): June 26-28 & August 14-16
18th Annual City Gardens Contest Judging
Organization: Greater Newark Conservancy
Location: Outdoor Learning Center, 32 Prince Street, Newark, NJ
Time: Morning & Afternoon sessions are available
Contact Name: Lee Stronstorff
Contact Phone Number: 973.642.4646, x31
Contact Email: lstronstorff@citybloom.org
Description:
The City Gardens Contest recognizes Newark residents & business for their gardening achievements and efforts to help “green” the city. Volunteers are needed to help judge the entrants in the various categories. For more information or to sign up please contact Lee Stronstorff.

Date: September 13 &14, 2008
26th Annual Wings ‘n Water Festival
Organization: The Wetlands Institute
Location: Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Time: 10am – 5pm
Contact Name: (for more information or to sign up) Cindy O’Connor
Contact Phone Number: 609-368-1211
Contact Email: coc@wetlandsinsitute.org
Description: An award winning, family fun “Celebration of the Coast” featuring a premiere wildlife art, carving, photography and craft show along with boat cruises, children’s activities, back bay kayaking , bird/beach/dune walks, live animals, food court, fly casting and retriever demos. Volunteer opportunities for all activities.

Date(s): December 5-7
34th Annual Holiday Sale
Organization: Flat Rock Brook Nature Association
Location: 443 Van Nostrand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631
Time: 10am - 4pm daily
Contact Name: (for more information or to sign up) Stephen Wiessner
Contact Phone Number: 201-567-1265
Contact Email: steve@flatrockbrook.org
Description: Flat Rock Brook’s annual Holiday celebration offers gifts for Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, as well as trees, wreaths, and baked goods to raise funds to support our programs. The sale also features raffles, a large plant sale, and a Silent Auction with unique treasures to bid on.