2025 D&R Canal Towpath Trail Clean Up

• Sunday
• 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
• D&R Canal State Park

Description Join us for a fun day of cleaning up the section of the D&R Canal Towpath Trail near Duck Island! Located at the end of Lamberton Road in Trenton, this area is a recipient of trash from the Delaware River. It will be low tide during the cleanup and there will be an opportunity to retrieve litter that is in the mud. Together, we'll work towards improving this spot! This event is your chance to make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying the outdoors! Rain Date 3/3 10 a.m. -12 p.m.

Meeting location: 1463 Lamberton Rd, Trenton, NJ 08611 - the cleanup will start at the very end of Lamberton Rd, Trenton. (Coordinates: 40.175605, -74.726499). There is a small area to park in, or you can park on the side of the road.

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Ramapo State Forest Cleanup

• Sunday
• 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Description We will cover about a mile of trail, from the trailhead to the east side of Ramapo Lake. Each person / each group will have a bag and collect trash they see along walking the trail. You are free to venture further or stay close to the lot, depending on your preference / comfortability. Please do not forget to sign in with Emily when you arrive! She will have our program Volunteer Release and Waiver of Liability Form. Pictures are encouraged! Any pictures taken can be sent directly to Emily at the email address below for us to document and share! If you have any questions or concerns, please email Emily Vasquez at north.swp.njwap@gmail.com

All cleanup supplies (bags, rubber and cotton gloves, some trash pickers) will be provided, but feel free to bring your own gloves or pickers if you wish! Please dress for the weather and prepare to traverse park terrain. Rain Date: Sunday, March 9, 2025

Meeting location: Ramapo Lake Trailhead Lot, 67 Skyline Drive, Oakland, NJ 07436 (41.03258309134925, -74.25192020240922) Parking is limited! Lot connects to trailhead.

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

2025 Bull's Island Towpath Trek

• Saturday
• 8:30 a.m.
• D&R Canal State Park

Description Volunteers will meet at Bull’s Island Recreation Area (2185 Daniel Bray Hwy, Stockton, NJ 08559) and will be bused to one of three spots on the canal towpath. They will then walk back to the island, picking up trash they find along the way. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. and the event will continue until all volunteers return to the island.

Meeting Location: Bull’s Island Recreation Area - 2185 Daniel Bray Hwy, Stockton, NJ 08559. Park near visitors center!

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Appalachian Trail Boardwalk Cleanup at Wawayanda

• Saturday
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Wawayanda State Park

Description We will be cleaning up the Appalachian Trail Boardwalk within Wawayanda State Park. The boardwalk is located in a floodplain so keeping this area clean is vital to help stop pollution from entering our lakes, streams and the area's main waterbody, the Wallkill River. Floodplains are areas rich in biodiversity and by keeping them clean we are helping to keep the area's ecosystem healthy and thriving. This cleanup will also, help us enjoy the natural beauty of Wawayanda as visitors walk along the Boardwalk.

Meeting Location: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Glenwood, NJ 07418 (41.235751, -74.480364) Volunteers may park along Rt 517 (Please make sure you are parked on the side of the road within the white line)

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Save the Island! Invasive Plant Removal

• Saturday
• 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Stephens State Park

Description Volunteers will be helping to remove invasive plants like Multiflora Rose, Winged Burning Bush, and Invasive Barberry. These species crowd out the growth of other plants, and removing them will help the native species compete for nutrients and resources!

Meeting Location: Stephens State Park - 800 Willow Grove Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 (40.87337020159154, -74.80555863275383) Park in the main Lot, we will walk over from the lot to the service site together.

Age Ages 12+ recommended. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Clean Up of Ringwood Creek

• Saturday
• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Ringwood State Park

Description Volunteers will be picking up trash along the Ringwood Creek, which is located along Sloatsburg/Mill Pond Road. This is a high traffic area, where commuters often throw trash out their car windows along the side of the road. This trash can make its way into Ringwood Creek, which is a tributary to the Wanaque Reservoir. The Wanaque Reservoir is a crucial source of drinking water for the city of Newark, NJ. This clean up will help prevent trash from entering the Ringwood Creek and subsequently, the Wanaque Reservoir. Be aware that the clean up will be taking place along a creek, as well as the side of Sloatsburg/Mill Pond Road where cars will be driving fast.

Meeting Location: Meet in Ringwood State Park Parking Lot B (41.140449, -74.251024)

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Go Green For Saint Patrick's Day Beach Cleanup

• Sunday
• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Island Beach State Park

Description Volunteers will be removing litter from the beach at Swimming Area #1 Island Beach State Park. This effort keep our beautiful beaches clean for the wildlife and people alike who enjoy them.

Meeting Location: Park Entrance: 2401 Central Ave, Seaside Park, NJ 08752. (Parking Lot: 39.854224, -74.086998) We will meet in the Swimming Area #1 Parking Lot. Take Route 37 east followed by Route 35 south to the park entrance. Enter through the gates and head down Shore Road until you see a sign on your left that says "Swimming Area No. 1." Please park here.

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

2025 Worrisome Wineberry Wipeout!

• Sunday
• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Round Valley Recreation Area

Description The NJ Watershed Ambassadors and Round Valley Recreation Area will be partnering to host a returning species removal event to clear out invasive wineberry from our trails. Just like other invasive plants, wineberry can easily take over and displace native plants that are important for wildlife. Wiping out even a small patch can help stop its worrisome spread! We will be targeting patches of this red, fuzzy, thorny plant on the White Trail with hopes of eventually clearing the park’s small peninsula of it completely—just as a similar project held last year by another fellow Watershed Ambassador worked to accomplish. Removal will include trimming branches, excavating roots, and enjoying the wintery forestscapes along the way!

Meeting location: Round Valley South Lot: 1220 Stanton-Lebanon Rd, Lebanon, NJ 08833 (exact coordinates: 40.619673, -74.849118) After entering the park from the address listed above, keep right and drive past the toll booths (the park will not be charging, so entry will be free). Afterwards, take the first right to the South Parking Lot. There will be plenty of spaces available on both the upper and lower sections. We will be meeting at the upper section near the wooden benches just beside the parking lot.

Age All ages welcome, but young children may not be suitable for labor of plant removal and wintery conditions.

Registration Register here!

Invasive Vines Removal Project

• Thursday
• 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Cape May Point State Park

DescriptionVolunteers will be joining an ongoing project at Cape May Point State Park to manually remove invasive vines. Invasive species are a challenge throughout the park since they take over habitat for native plants and don't provide as many services to wildlife. By removing these vines, we will be able to restore the area and allow the park staff to promote the growth of more beneficial species. Cape May Point hosts regular invasive species removal on most Thursdays, so participants can continue to join the effort following the event!

Meeting Location: Seagrove Ave, Cape May 08204 (38.938969, -74.956388) There will be a small dirt parking for participants to utilize, it is best to use the coordinates for navigating.

Age Families are welcome, though we recommend participants be ages 10 and up. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Invasive Plant Removal

• Saturday
• 9:30 a.m.- 12 p.m.
• Spruce Run recreation Area

Description Join WMA8 Ambassador Daniel for an Invasive Plant Removal at Spruce Run Recreation Area! Volunteers will be removing Autumn Olive, Wineberry, and Barberry along the fence line along Van Syckles Road. This will aid the growth of native plant species, which will benefit local wildlife, increase biodiversity, and improve soil and water health.

Meeting Location: Spruce Run Reservoir Fisherman’s Lot #2 (40.669472, -74.923861) Fisherman’s Lot #2 is a small paved lot directly off Van Syckles Rd. across from 12-20 Van Syckles Rd. which overlooks the reservoir.

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Invasive Plant Removal at Tall Pines State Preserve

• Saturday
• 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Tall Pines State Preserve

Description Volunteers will be helping to remove invasive plants such as the Bittersweet vine (Celastrus orbiculatus) and Callery Pear trees (Pyrus calleryana). These plants outcompete native plants and are disruptive to the native ecology.

Meeting location: 1705 Glassboro Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080. Parking: There are two parking lots, we will be meeting in the larger one to the right.

Age 14 and up

Registration Register here!

Liberty State Park Shoreline Clean-Up

• Sunday
• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Liberty State Park

Description We will be doing a litter clean up of a beach in the park where a lot of trash and debis from NYC and NJ gathers. Maximum of 25 people are allowed to sign up for the event, as per terms of the park.

Meeting Location: 275 Freedom Way, Jersey City, NJ 07305

Age This event is open to everyone, but tailored towards adult volunteers. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Evening Amphibian Walk

• Tuesday
• 6:45 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Tall Pines State Preserve

Description Participants will come along for an evening nature walk, with a focus on looking for amphibians. Each participant/group will have access to an online field guide and document any amphibians they see/hear on a data sheet/form. Other points of interest about the ecological significance/history of the park will also be a part of the walk.

Meeting Location: 1705 Woodbury-Glassboro Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!

Allaire State Park Barberry Removal and Trail Maintenance

• Tuesday
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Allaire State Park

Description We will remove a nuisance plant species, Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and perform trail maintenance of the Nature Trail (red trail) by trimming overgrowth. Common Barberry produces a large number of seeds that have a high germination rate. It can form spiny dense stands that shade out and limit the growth of native plants. It can also reduce wildlife habitat and forage. We may see other species of barberry on the trail, all of which are considered invasive plant species. Rain date is Thursday, March 27, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Meeting Location: Allaire State Park (4263 Atlantic Ave, Wall Township, NJ 07727. Parking Lot: 40.158418, -74.130304 (coordinates can be entered into your preferred map search bar) You may enter Allaire Village into your maps program.

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors. We will be using loppers and hand saws, so discretion is advised.

Registration Register here!

The Spruce Run Clean Up

• Saturday
• 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Spruce Run Recreation Area

Description The volunteers will be participating in a clean up of the spruce run reservoir. This clean comes just in time for the spring where many migratory birds will be returning and also people to this park. This clean up will aid with preserving this land.

Meeting Location: Parking lot: 40°39'34.1"N 74°55'58.3"W . The clean-up meeting location will be right infront of the parking lot.

Age This event is open to everyone, but volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by adult supervisors.

Registration Register here!