Green Day Challenge

 

EarthShare New Jersey
Green Day Challenge

 

April 12, 2024 & April 26, 2024

 

Are you up for the challenge?

EarthShare New Jersey (ESNJ) is hosting the 8th annual Green Day Challenge to get businesses involved with our environment. This challenge invites employers large and small from across the state to partner with an ESNJ member or friend for an environmental project (projects are available in most counties).  Once the project is complete, the team and site will be evaluated for overall scope and impact by panelists. The results will be tabulated and awards will be presented for Best Overall Challenge, Team Work, Spirit, and more at EarthShare Celebrates NJ on June 9, 2023 at Patterson Family Barn! Each company participating receives 1 ticket to attend the celebration!

The 2023 list of project venues are being finalized. Check back often. When the list is posted below, simply select your venue and submit the reservation form with your commitment.  Sites are not reserved until payment is received.

Each 3 – 4 hour volunteer event at a site you select includes water, supplies, tools and guidance.  The participation fee also includes a donation.  Lunch can be added for an additional cost.  

1 – 5 Employees              $  600
6 – 15 Employees           $  850
16 – 25 Employees          $1,100
26 – 40 Employees          $2,100
41+ Employees          negotiable

To Register:

Fill out the below reservation form. Email the form to info@earthsharenj.org or mail to the EarthShare NJ office, 407 Greenwood Ave Suite 209 Trenton NJ, 08609. Payment may be made via check mailed to our office or may be paid online below. If you have any questions please contact info@earthsharenj.org or call (609) 989-1160 to register your team!  Sites are not reserved until payment is received.

Registration Due Date:
April 12th- Last Day to Register us March 25, 2024
April 26th- Last Day to Register is April 12, 2024

2024 Green Day Challenge Reservation Form Coming Soon

 

Reservation Payment

 

 

2024 Challenge Sites

Challenge sites will be posted as they are defined.  Projects can be reserved on a first come, first serve basis.  

Check back often!

Last Day to Register for April 28th Challenges is April 14th!

Mercer County                    Hopewell                      5-15 Volunteers                  Morning or Afternoon April 28  
Help us take back this overgrown area!  Invasives have taken over and we are looking for volunteers to remove invasive plants and plant new native species.  There is plenty of work for several teams, so please sign up for a spot and help us take back this hidden gem!

Essex County                          Newark                        Up to 50 Volunteers          Morning of April 28
Volunteers will help with the removal of invasive Knotweed and Phragmites in this beautiful corner of Newark. Knotweed and Phragmites alike, cause a decrease in biodiversity in both plants and animal communities, degrade water quality, and damage human infrastructures like paths and bridges. Volunteers who help to remove such invasive species are bringing a positive impact to our park and community. Volunteers should expect to be doing some if not all the following work; prune, groom rake, cultivate, and water, assist with plant installations, create and maintain restoration projects, and general debris removal. 

Monmouth County           Keansburg               Up to 26 Volunteers              Morning or Afternoon of April 28
Help us keep our beaches clean! We will be doing a beach clean-up along the Jersey Shore. Work will include walking along the beach and picking up debris. 

Monmouth County          Long Branch             16-26 Volunteers                     Morning or Afternoon of April  28 
Help us continue to grow this little gem of a park in Long Branch NJ. With the help of volunteers, we’ve been able to transform this abandoned lot to a respite for people and animals to enjoy. Work for the challenge will include weeding gardens, removing invasive vines, and spreading mulch as well as a general clean-up.

Ocean County                     Seaside                        up to 26 Volunteers                Morning or Afternoon of April 28 
Help us keep our beaches clean! We will be doing a beach clean-up along the Jersey Shore. Work will include walking along the beach and picking up debris with a grabber. 

Somerset County              Hillsborough             up to 26 Volunteers                 Morning or Afternoon of April 28
This area has recently been acquired and is in need of a clean-up for public use.  There are invasive species in need of removal. Additionally, there is a need to install protection from deer around the area before planting new native plants.  Volunteers will help with all aspects of this project and the results will benefit everyone who visits this great space!


No Longer Accepting Reservations for April 14th Challenges

Morris/Sussex County    Landing                      5-15 Volunteers                        Morning of April 14  
We want to keep our trails clean and beautiful. Help us with trail maintenance around our beautiful lake area so that visitors can enjoy our area. Volunteers will perform trail maintenance tasks like clearing and general cleanup. 

Mercer County                    Hopewell                    5-15 Volunteers                  Morning of April 14
Our trails have some wet areas, will you help us to build boardwalks over the wetland areas?  Participants need to be able to use a hammer and help carry the lumber up to a mile on the trail. 

Hudson County                    Jersey City                Up to 30 Volunteers              Mornings of April 14
This urban oasis provides a refuge for millions annually.  Spring is an important time of year for the care and feeding of the hundreds of trees across the park.   Volunteers will be fertilizing and mulching trees and beds.   

Cumberland County          Bridgeton                   5-15 Volunteers                   Morning or Afternoon of April 14 
Help us maintain our garden! The objective of this project is the removal of a 150-foot span of wooden fencepost to be replaced with new galvanized steel fenceposts. Volunteers will help with clean-up, lifting fence posts, pouring concrete and filling in previous holes. 

Burlington County             Vineland                         10-20 Volunteers            Mornings or Afternoons of April 14
We need help preparing a new building! Volunteers will be prepping and painting a shipping container that will be used to help store extra materials for our growing animal hospital. Our original building was built to house and treat 500 animals a year and we have surpassed that by treating over 6,000 animals a year. To use our hospital to the best of our abilities, we will use shipping containers to hold our extra supplies of our most used items. Prepping and painting this container is not only aesthetically pleasing but also adds an extra layer of protection from harsh weather and can significantly slow down corrosion or rusting on the steel. This will help prevent any types of holes where other animals can gain access and ruin supplies as well as keep the interior dry during bad weather.


The Following Projects are ALL RESERVED!

Bergen County                 Englewood                    5-15 Volunteers                   Mornings or Afternoons of April 14 or 28
Reserved   AM   April 14

Reserved  AM   April 28 
Come assist in trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, and/or native planting at this pristine 150 acre facility. There are no special skills required.  

Bergen County                   Leonia                           5-15 Volunteers                    Morning of April 14
Reserved   AM   April 28

Join us for a riverbed cleanup.  Volunteers will walk along the banks of the water in search of deposited/discarded trash to collect. We strive to remove as much litter as possible from the Hackensack River, and our efforts will prevent this pollution from floating downriver toward the Atlantic Ocean. 

Bergen County                    Teaneck                        5-25 Volunteers                  Morning or Afternoon of April 14
Reserved    AM    April 14

The focus of this project will be cleaning out and tidying up a Meditative Labyrinth. Volunteers will work with a landscaper to complete activities such as planting, removing invasive plant species, and beautifying the area.   

Burlington County             Vineland                         10-20 Volunteers            Mornings or Afternoons of April  28 
Reserved    AM   April 28

We need help preparing a new building! Volunteers will be prepping and painting a shipping container that will be used to help store extra materials for our growing animal hospital. Our original building was built to house and treat 500 animals a year and we have surpassed that by treating over 6,000 animals a year. To use our hospital to the best of our abilities, we will use shipping containers to hold our extra supplies of our most used items. Prepping and painting this container is not only aesthetically pleasing but also adds an extra layer of protection from harsh weather and can significantly slow down corrosion or rusting on the steel. This will help prevent any types of holes where other animals can gain access and ruin supplies as well as keep the interior dry during bad weather.

Essex County                         Newark                           5-15 Volunteers                Morning of April 28
Reserved    AM    April 28
Volunteers can help with planting, weeding, mulching, and other farm tasks as needed. Special projects may include tree planting, working on an irrigation system, or other projects. 

Hudson County                    Jersey City                Up to 30 Volunteers              Morning April 28
Reserved    AM   April 28

This urban oasis provides a refuge for millions annually.  Spring is an important time of year for the care and feeding of the hundreds of trees across the park.   Volunteers will be fertilizing and mulching trees and beds.   

Mercer County                    Hopewell                    16-25 Volunteers                 Morning of April 28
Reserved   AM   April 28

Our trails have some wet areas, will you help us to build boardwalks over the wetland areas?  Participants need to be able to use a hammer and help carry the lumber up to a mile on the trail. 

Mercer County                    Lambertville                  5-15 Volunteers                  Afternoon of April 14
Reserved   PM   April 14

Come enjoy a day along the river supporting our natural habitat by eliminating trash that washes into our waterways. This area will include Cavallo Park and the D&R Canal. 

Mercer  County                   Pennington                    5-15 Volunteers                  Morning of April 14
Reserved   AM   April 14
Help us to clear space for a new meadow!  Volunteers will use loppers and hand saws to remove woody plants. 

Middlesex County     Matawan                                10 – 25 Volunteers                Morning or Afternoon of April 14
Reserved   AM   April 14
Help with the restoration, revegetation, and plantings around this public lake and picnic area surrounded by engaging hiking trails. There is work for all levels of volunteers, and the work will impact the experience of thousands of guests annually!

Monmouth County            Highlands               26 or more Volunteers            Morning or Afternoon April 28
Reserved    AM     April 28

Join us as we plant beachgrass on the dunes of a beach in Monmouth County. Participants are required to bend down and dig 6-8 inch holes in the sand using a trowel or stick and plant various plant species in the sand. 

Monmouth County          Long Branch             16-26 Volunteers                     Mornings or Afternoons of April 14 
Reserved    AM    April 14
Help us continue to grow this little gem of a park in Long Branch NJ. With the help of volunteers, we’ve been able to transform this abandoned lot to a respite for people and animals to enjoy. Work for the challenge will include weeding gardens, removing invasive vines, and spreading mulch as well as a general clean-up.

Morris/Sussex County    Landing                      5-15 Volunteers                        Morning of April 28
Reserved   AM    April 28
We want to keep our trails clean and beautiful. Help us with trail maintenance around our beautiful lake area so that visitors can enjoy our area. Volunteers will perform trail maintenance tasks like clearing and general cleanup. 

Ocean County                     Toms River                5-15 Volunteers                        Morning or Afternoon of April 28
Reserved   AM   April 28
Help us keep our eco center demonstration garden beautiful! Volunteers will be helping us with spring native garden prep, including cleaning, trimming and planting as well as other gardening tasks.

Somerset County              Hillsborough             up to 26 Volunteers                 Morning or Afternoon of April 14
Reserved   PM   April 14
This area has recently been acquired and is in need of a clean-up for public use.  There are invasive species in need of removal. Additionally, there is a need to install protection from deer around the area before planting new native plants.  Volunteers will help with all aspects of this project and the results will benefit everyone who visits this great space!

Union County                     Summit                       5-15 Volunteers                        Morning or Afternoon of April 14
Reserved  AM  April 14

Invasive Task Force- Join the Horticulture Department on its endeavor to remove invasive plants threatening our historic collection of more than 200 different native plants and 400 species of rare and unique plants! 

Union County                     Summit                       5-15 Volunteers                     Mornings or Afternoons of April 14 or 28
Reserved AM  April 28
Historic Daffodil Bowl Planting- we boast a bowl-shaped glacial kettle where a plethora of daffodils bloom every April. It is a destination for thousands of visitors. Every few years the display needs to be augmented with additional blubs. Join us to plant bulbs! No special skills required. 

 

Since the introduction of this program in 2016, over 25 teams have participated in the challenge. More than 375 volunteers have spent over 1,504 hours cleaning beaches, blazing trails, hanging deer fencing, planting, mulching, removing waste, and more.  The challenge continues to grow every year!

The 2023 Green Day Challenge will take place on April 14th and April 28th, 2023. If you want to participate with your team, contact info@earthsharenj.org to learn more and register!