Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey Forest Service

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Volunteer

NJ Forest Service provides opportunities for individuals and groups to volunteer to help improve and enhance our forest resources in New Jersey.

Volunteers are passionate stewards of the land and value conserving our natural resources for today and future generations. If you'd like to donate your talent and time, please fill out a volunteer form [PDF 233KB].

Opportunities Available

  • planting seedlings
  • forest inventory and data collection
  • identifying invasive species
  • forest restoration
  • fence repairs/removal
  • trail work
  • forest health monitoring
  • seed collection
  • processing bare root or tube seedlings
  • maintenance of several gardens or tree arboretum
  • bluebird nest box monitoring
  • assisting with interpretive programs

Woodland Stewards

For a more involved volunteer opportunity, you may consider becoming a Woodland Steward. The New Jersey Woodland Stewards Program promotes sustainable stewardship of our natural resources, focusing on sound, scientifically-based forest and wildlife management practices.

Training
A small group of individuals is selected and trained annually on the latest forest and wildlife stewardship principles. Topics include:

  • Stewardship
  • Silviculture
  • Forest and wildlife management
  • Tree identification and measurement
  • Forest ecology
  • Financial and legal issues
  • Outreach skills

Outreach
Once this training is completed, participants apply these principles to their own property and actively encourage, teach and motivate others to adopt these stewardship practices to their forest resources. In exchange for the forty hours of training, volunteers agree to a commitment to share their knowledge with others in their communities. Outreach activities include talk to neighbors about forest stewardship lead woodland tours make presentations being active in woodland owners associations write articles

More information
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Forestry Program
848.932.8993 x14
or
New Jersey Forestry Association
908.832.2400

Woodland Stewards Program sponsored by:
NJ State Forestry Services
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
New Jersey Forest Stewardship Program
New Jersey Forestry Association

Volunteer Application

Download
Contact

Volunteer Coordinator
Jane Mattson

Phone: 732-928-2360
Email: Jane.Mattson@dep.nj.gov