…going to be announced at the 2021 Friends of Great Swamp NWR Photo Contest virtual awards presentation. Login and join the Zoom meeting on Saturday, Oct 2 at 3:00 PM. and see the best of the best in each category. Photographers and our judges will share their comments on the winning pictures, which include some of the best nature photography we’ve seen in years.
Join in with the Zoom login info below. But don’t worry if you miss it, we will add a gallery of the winning photos to our website as we have since 2011. And maybe you’ll find the inspiration to start on next year’s contest. It’s a great time of year at Great Swamp.
Topic: Photo Contest Awards Presentation
Time: Oct 2, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 811 5445 4348
Passcode: 727219
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The 2021-2022 Federal Duck Stamp is now on sale at the Friends Nature Shop in the Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center. Proceeds from the sales of duck stamps are used to acquire and protect land for National Wildlife Refuges. Often donors wonder how much of their donation actually benefits the cause. In the case of Federal Duck Stamps, by law 98 cents of every dollar is used to conserve habitat for wildlife. This is probably the most effective conservation donation that you can make.
When you purchase your stamp, ask for the free “key chain” so you can display the stamp proudly on your binoculars or your backpack. A limited supply of free certificates, suitable for framing, are also available. The Federal Duck Stamp also serves as an annual pass for National Wildlife Refuges that charge a entrance fee. Now as you know, access to Great Swamp NWR is free, and you can come as often as you want. However, one way to show your appreciation for this fabulous natural area is by buying a Federal Duck Stamp. The Visitor Center is open Friday – Sunday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
A Fun and Different Second Sunday in July
Doodle, Draw & Discover New Jersey Native Flowers
Sunday, July 11, 1:30 pm on Zoom
Learn to draw colorful native flowers while exploring the many ways they help support the health and well-being of New Jersey’s environment, wildlife and people. Our instructor is illustrator and Rutgers Environmental Steward Vicky Katzman.
Not artistic? No problem! No artistic experience or skills needed.
Suitable for teens or adults
Supplies: Paper, pencil, eraser, black pen or marker (thin or medium tip).
Optional supplies: Colored pencils, colored markers, watercolor.
This program will help you improve your observation skills, perhaps encourage you to begin a nature journal, or just ramp up your doodling skills during interminable Zoom meetings.
Registration is encouraged and Zoom logon information will be sent at Noon on July 11 to all who register here.
For your convenience, Zoom logon may be found under Upcoming Events on the left side of this page.
Second Sundays with Friends is sponsored by Friends of Great Swamp NWR with generous support from the Marta Heflin Foundation.
The Friends, working with Fish and Wildlife Service staff, are creating new signs for the four Wilderness Area Kiosks at Great Swamp NWR. As part of this project, we are looking for a really great photo for the signs.
So, this year we are including a special category, separate from the annual photo contest, in which we are looking for photos from within the Great Swamp Wilderness Area. Photographers may submit up to five additional pictures in this category, which will be judged separately.
We are looking for photos that convey a wilderness feeling and wilderness character. This category only is open to everyone — amateurs and professionals alike as well as FWS staff. The deadline is July 4, 2021. A special panel of judges will select the winning photo. The prize? Your photo will appear on all four of the Wilderness Area kiosks – with credit (and bragging rights!)
Use the entry form on the Friends website: Photo Contest Details and Entry Form. Be sure to select “Wilderness Area” as the category. Please indicate the nearest marked trail in the location line. Trails are: Orange, Blue, Yellow, Green, Red, Ivory, Beige, Silver. The White Trail, which is not shown on the map, is a Wilderness Area Trail and may be accessed from the Morris County Outdoor Education Center Parking Lot.
Map of Wilderness Area Boundaries
Download a Wilderness Area Trail Map
What are you waiting for? Pick up your camera, put on your boots, and head out to the Wilderness Area to take some spring photos!
Did you know, you could play, explore, and learn about the refuge from your phone? Friends of Great Swamp is introducing an exciting new nature activity at the Wildlife Observation Center called Agents of Discovery. It’s a free smartphone app with exciting challenges to help you discover more about the great outdoors.
Download the app from any online app store (we suggest doing this before you visit). Mission “challenges” are GPS-triggered. The first Mission begins at the entrance to the boardwalk trails with challenges all along the trail to the Sportsman’s’ Blind. As you move along the mission route, your mobile device will alert you when you get near the location of the next challenge. When a new challenge appears on your screen, tap to open it. You will learn fun facts about nature and wildlife, and then get a puzzle to solve.
Solve all the challenges to complete the mission!
The challenges are specifically designed to help learn about the wildlife and habitat at the Wildlife Observation Center. Additional missions and challenges will be added in the future. In the meantime: “Your Adventure Is About To Begin” Are you up to the challenge?
For more information and tips to get you started, check out our YouTube video here.
Join self proclaimed conservation nerds Michael Bianchi and Joan Maccari on an adventure.
They started on a project to renovate and modernize their Madison, NJ home, learned a lot along the way, and ended up with an energy efficient Passive House. Follow their journey and discover some energy saving changes you can make in your own home … without doing a complete renovation.
Registration is requested. April Online Registration
Zoom logon information will be sent to everyone who registers an hour prior to the program on April 11 or you may find the Zoom logon information in our Events calendar.
Second Sunday programs are sponsored by Friends of Great Swamp NWR with generous support from the Marta Heflin Foundation.