Saturday, September 26 is National Public Lands Day, a day to celebrate the millions of acres of America’s public lands that we use for recreation, education, and just plain enjoyment. Chances are there is a public land not far from where you live. It may be a local, state or national park. It might be a historic building, community garden, golf course or ski area! Here in New Jersey, we have five Federally managed national wildlife refuges, all of which are public lands. Can you name them all?

Take time this fall to celebrate our public lands. Go outside and enjoy a park, refuge or public area near you. Check to see if there are ways that you can volunteer to help restore, improve and maintain these areas. Say thank you to those who had the foresight and dedication to set these lands aside for all of us to enjoy. And remember to protect and preserve these lands for the enjoyment of generations to come. 

Take a look here at a video showing all 135 entries in our 2020 Photo Contest, another way to enjoy and appreciate the diversity and beauty of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – Your national wildlife refuge!

Come along with Friends volunteer Tom Gula for a summer walk along the Bockoven Trail at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge as he points out interesting things you would see, including a newly hatched snapping turtle and a young racoon exploring the woods.

Friends and staff of Great Swamp NWR pay tribute to Rich Guadagno, a recipient of the Department of Interior’s Valor Award for his heroism on September 11, 2001

On September 29, 2012, family members, Refuge staff, and Friends gathered  to dedicate the Visitor Center pavilion in memory of Richard J. Guadagno and to celebrate what would have been his fiftieth birthday. The dedication included the unveiling of a memorial rock and a plaque with the following inscription.

RICHARD J. GUADAGNO
SEPTEMBER 26, 1962 – SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Richard J. Guadagno, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) employee, passionately devoted his life to the conservation of natural resources. He was the Refuge Manager of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in California and a trained law enforcement officer when his flight, United Airlines 93, was hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Rich was among the brave passengers and flight crew whose heroic actions prevented further tragedy that fateful day.

Rich grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University in 1984. After several positions with NJ Fish & Wildlife and USFWS, his first refuge manager position, as a trainee, was obtained at Great Swamp in 1988. Rich managed four more refuges before moving to Humboldt Bay NWR in 2000.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

The Nominating Committee of the Friends of Great Swamp NWR is looking for potential candidates to replace current board members who are leaving the board at the end of the year.

Ours is a working board and we encourage anyone with interests and skills in one or more of the following areas to contact us. 

• Finance: accounting, budgeting, QuickBooks
• Communications and social media
• Technology
• Interpretation/ Program development
• Construction projects leadership
• Nonprofit leadership experience
• Inspiring volunteers

Board members serve two-year terms and are expected to attend monthly evening board meetings as well as serve on one or more committees.

If you are intrigued and/or would like additional information, please email Kathy Woodward at candk@woodwards.us or Randi Emmer at rsemmer@optimum.net by August 15.

A member of the Nominating Committee will contact you to discuss the role of board director. Elections will be held at the Friends Annual Business Meeting, December 5, 2020.

We need an energetic, committed board team to move us forward.  We would love to hear from you!

One thing the Covid-19 pandemic brought home was the importance of public lands and outdoor recreation for Americans during lock-down. Visitation at Great Swamp NWR doubled during the 3-month shut-down as visitors flocked to the refuge to bird, take photographs, observe nature, exercise – or just get outdoors.

So, here is one easy and effective way to express your appreciation and to ensure that public lands continue to be available for refuge and recreation. Buy a Federal Duck Stamp.

The Federal Duck Stamp program was started in 1934 as a way to generate a steady revenue to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for refuges. It is one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated. More than 6 million acres of habitat have been acquired and more than 300 national wildlife refuges were created or expanded using Federal Duck Stamp dollars – including Great Swamp!

Wait a minute, you say! Aren’t duck stamps for hunters? Well – yes … and no.

Waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a duck stamp. But all of us who enjoy the beauty and richness of Great Swamp NWR do so for free. There is no entrance fee required and you may visit as often as you like.

The number of hunters is dwindling so it’s up to those of us who enjoy refuges (like Great Swamp and Wallkill and Forsythe – to name a few) to fill the income gap in order to insure the survival of our natural resources. Won’t you do your part and buy a Federal Duck Stamp this year? And even though Great Swamp NWR provides free access, the stamp serves as an entrance pass for refuges that do charge a fee.

Stamps are $25 and are available at many refuges, some post offices and the Friends Nature Shop. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the Nature Shop is closed. However, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a check for $25 and we will mail you a Federal Duck Stamp.

This is the future of national wildlife refuges. Thank you for putting your stamp on conservation. Enjoy your national wildlife refuge!

Mail your check to: Friends of Great Swamp NWR, 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Basking Ridge NJ 07920