Spring Stewardship Session

57 Mountain Ave,Princeton NJ 08540

05 March, 2022

Description

Join FOPOS for a Volunteer Land Steward Session at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Forest Restoration Project: Spring clean-up! Volunteers will work under the guidance of FOPOS’ Natural Resources and Stewardship Director, Anna Corichi, to identify and remove target invasive plant species which include wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), and japanese honeysuckle vine (Lonicera japonica). Our effort will help to protect the nearly 8,000 native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that were planted in the Forest Restoration site over the past 2 years. For this session we will form a 'stewardship line of defense,' working from the north end to the south end of the deer-exclosure to 'sweep' the site. As we move along, we will also tend to tree and shrub saplings in need, removing weeds and debris that could hinder their growth. Join us out in the field to learn more! Registration via Eventbrite is required. BYO: If you are not yet vaccinated for COVID-19, please bring a mask. Be sure to BYO water bottle and work gloves to the stewardship sessions. For work days we recommend wearing long sleeves, long pants, and work boots/sneakers--this will best protect you from thorns, ticks, and poison ivy. We ask that if you are feeling sick, have traveled, or have potentially been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, to please stay home and join us at another time. Meeting Location: We meet at the Mountain Lake House Parking lot, 57 Mountain Ave, Princeton NJ, and then walk over to the project site as a group. Be sure to drive down the long paved driveway entrance to the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, marked by a series of white mail boxes, the gravel parking lot is on your left about a 1/2 mile down the driveway. Looking to volunteer as a group? Families, students, community / corporate groups, please email [email protected] with “VOLUNTEER” in the subject line. Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), founded in 1969, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization devoted to acquiring open space in Princeton for preservation, protecting natural resources, maintaining accessibility to trails, and providing environmental education. Throughout the Princeton region, FOPOS works with groups to support efforts to preserve and protect open space and the environment. In 2019, FOPOS will celebrate it's 50th year.  Since its founding, FOPOS has helped to establish over 1,000 acres of parkland and a network of trails that nearly encircles Princeton.  Through grants and the contributions of hundreds of people in the community, FOPOS has helped to raise over $5 million for the purchase of land and acquisition of easements on properties that might have been bulldozed for development.  In addition to land preservation, FOPOS also leads in stewardship, from creating and maintaining hiking trails, boardwalks and footbridges, to the removal of invasive species and the replanting of native varieties.  FOPOS also sponsors community programs and activities, such as nature walks and educational workshops, and advocates for governmental actions that protect our water, land, animals and plant communities. If you have an interest in spending time outdoors, enjoying nature and making a difference in the community, please contact us at [email protected] to get involved in trail-building and ecological restoration.