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Upper Maurice River Watershed Assoc. |
| About |
| Get Involved |
| Interesting Notes |
| Events, 2003 |
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| Contact Us |
| What's New |
| Think |
| See the Nature Club planting w/photos |
SPRING IS THE TIME FOR "NATURE LESSONS"
"Nature Lessons" are available to school groups, scouts and other interested groups who would like to find out about their local South Jersey environment. To register your group call (856) 881-0845 or for information, ask for our "Scotland Run Park Nature Center Environmental Education Program" Guide. Usually Nature lessons are offered between 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, for schools.
Everyone Lives in a Watershed
Many people have never
heard of the word "Watershed" or know of its importance. A watershed is
an area of land that drains water to a certain point, such as a stream, lake or river!
You are always in a watershed. So, the things you do in your yard or in your Neighborhood
affect larger watersheds downstream.
If you live in: Glassboro, Washington Township,
Monroe, Elk, Franklin, Clayton, or Newfield, then you live in the Upper Maurice River
Watershed. Streams within the watershed include Scotland Run, Still Run, Little Ease
Run, Reed Branch, and Indian Branch. Along these tributaries are found Garrison Lake,
Silver Lake, lona Lake, Franklinville Lake, Wilson Lake, and Malaga Lake. All of
which were newly formed by early damming as a source for power mills.
Water quality
of the Upper Maurice River is generally good except in some areas where agriculture
or urban development has increased the nutrient/pollutant run-off into adjacent streams
and lakes; residents are only beginning to recognize the need for greenways and protection
of open spaces adjoining these waters. The certainty of much more development within
this part of Gloucester County makes such measures essential for the future health
of the Upper Maurice River Watershed.
If you live in Clayton, Glassboro, Newfield, or, Monroe, Washington,
Eik and Franklin
Townships, then you are a part of the Upper Maurice River Watershed
and your actions make an
impact on the health of our nearby lakes and streams...
Scotland Run, Still Run, Little Ease Run, Reed Branch and Indian Branch as well as
Garrison
Lake, Silver Lake, lona Lake, Franklinville Lake, Wilson Lake, Malaga
Lake and Willow Grove
Lake are all located in this water system.
The goal
of the Association is to increase public awareness and stewardship of our local
waterways, by offering social and educational programs throughout the year. Some
of the
activities will include, a "Water Festival" at Scotland Run
Park., Water quality monitoring
training and team formation, a series of lake/stream
walks, a
storm drain stencilling campaign, and lots of other fun and educational
programs.
If you would like to be a part of the action, join the Upper Maurice
River Watershed
Association and "Make a Splash"!
Future meetings
for the Advisory Group are tenatively scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of
the
month. at 7pm at the Scotland Run Park Nature Center.
MEETINGS OF THE UPPER MAURICE RIVER WATHRSHED GROUP
The Watershed Advisory
Group has decided to combine meetings with the Monitoring
Committee. This will
make the meetings more efficient and there will be one less meeting to
attend!!
The Advisory Group has scheduled meetings for
Fourth Wednesday of each month
at 7pm, in the Nature Center.
Imagine going through a day, or even a few hours for that matter,
without water.
Think about the first hour you get out of bed. Without water, you
couldn't enjoy
a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Forget about taking a shower, brushing
your teeth
or flushing your toilet. Our lives would be dramatically affected if
we didn't have water.
Yet, most of us take it for granted. We turn on the faucet
and don't think about where
it comes from or where it goes. One thing is certain,
we can't live without it.
Gloucester County has experienced tremendous
growth in the past 20 years.
With this growth comes the need to protect our watersheds
so that reliable water
sources can be counted on for future generations. You can
be a part of the action
to protect our water-sheds by becoming involved in the
Upper Maurice River
Watershed Group. New faces and fresh ideas are always welcome.
Future
meetings are scheduled at Scotland Run Park.
Future
events include storm drain stencilling, stream monitoring and a summer water festival.
Phone Number
Mailing
AddressArea Map
<--to Clayton
to Williamstown-->
Self-guided signs that identify interesting features along the trail
are
being installed on Helen S. Brown Nature Trail, located behind
the Nature Center.
A new playground, located in the picnic
area near the beach, is nearly complete.
So come on down
and check out the new stuff.
Schedule of Events: Spring/Summer 2003 Season
GLOUCESTER COUNTY WATER FEST - Sunday, June 1, 2003 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m
BIRD WALKS - Tuesdays.(May 20, June 17, July 15, & August 19 starts 6p.m.)
KID'S NATURE CRAFTS - Wednesdays (August 6, August 13, & August 20) start 10 am.
GARDENING CLASSES - Thursdays (May 29, June 12) start 7 p.m.
KIDS NATURE DETECTIVES - July 7 - August 1 9 am-12 noon (FEE)
NATURE DETECTIVES CAMPOUT - Friday & Saturday, August 1 & 2 - 5 pm till 12 noon.
SUMMER NATURE STUDIESY - Tuesday (August 5, August 12, August 19, & August 26 ) start 10 am
EVENING CANOEING/KAYAKING ON WILSON LAKE - Wednesday June 25 at 6 p.m.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY PARKS ECOTOURS -.Monday-Friday, August 25-August 29 start 10am
NATURE LESSONS AVAILABLE UPON REOUEST
HERB SOCIETY OF AMERICA, S. JERSEY UNIT
The Herb Society of America, South Jersey unit, is maintaining a small garden at
the
Scotland Run Park Nature Center. A variety of lemon scented and flavored herbs
and plants
that are historical, culinary and medicinal are featured.
Many
of the plants that border the garden are known as scented geraniums . These plants
are
not true geraniums, rather, they are pelagoriums, a tender perennial from south Africa.
There
are over one hundred varieties of this wonderfully scented plant. Many of these plants
are
edible such as the Lemon Rober"s rose geranium, which is used to flavor
cakes. The Citronella
geranium is sold as the mosquito plant in catalogues, though
it doesn't keep mosquitoes away
until a leaf is picked and rubbed on exposed skin.
A favorite herb is the Lemon Verbena, located in front of the bench in the herb garden.
This
plant has the intense fragrance of lemon peef and can be made into a delightful tea,
used to flavor culinary dishes or to scent potpourri. Also featured in the garden
is Lemon daylily,
which has a beautiful light fragrance and is edible, as are
many daylilies.
We invite the public totouch and sniff the herbs, but please
don't pick! This way all can enjoy
the fragrances of this diverse lemon scented
flora.
The Herb Society invites all to join and learn about herbs and their uses.
Please contact Jaye
Schneider, membership committee, at 694-4272 (days) or 582-0729
(eve.) or Lorraine Keifer,
chairperson, at 6944272.
NATURE LESSONS
How
can you take your students for a walk in the woods and avoid ticks, and the heat?
The answer is, go in the winter time!
The Nature Lesson Program at Scotland Run
Park provides a hands on Outdoor experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom.
By exploring the Natural World, students can get a better understanding and appreciation
of our environment that fosters care and concern in their daily lives. Many of the
Nature Lesson offerings are perfectly suited for the Winter. Nature happens throughout
the year.
And Scouts , some troops have been taking advantage of the long dark
evenings and have been going on Twilight Hikes on the Nature Trail (guided of course,
and without flashlights).
Chances are if you live in Clayton, Glassboro, Newfield or Monroe, Washington, Elk and Franklin Townships, you live in the Upper Maurice River Watershed. So help the environment where YOU live and join us for some of the activities and programs that are being offered. You are also invited to become a part of the Watershed Group. General meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, and the Water monitoring subcommittee meets on the second Tuesday of the month, both at 7 p.m. The meetings are at the Scotland Run Park Nature Center.
A SERVICE OF THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS
Stephen M. Sweeney- Director
Frank J. DiMarco - Freeholder Liaison
and the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Council
PLEASE REGISTER BY CALLING (856) 881-0845 or (856) 881-3618
SCOTLAND RUN PARK NATURE CENTER IS LOCATED
ON ACADEMY ST., CLAYTON
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