The New Jersey School of Conservation

Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs - Youth Fishing Challenge 2026
2026-06-06 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | NJ School of Conservation, 1 Wapalanne Road, Sandyston, 07826, United States
Spend some quality time fishing with your family at Lake Wapalanne!

This fun fishing event is open to all youth (17 & younger). Your child will need to bring their own fishing gear. Registered youth participants may be eligible to receive prizes for the fish they catch during the event. (Youth must be present at the end of the event to be awarded prizes.)
This event is sponsored by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program and hosted by the Friends of NJSOC. Space is limited and registration in advance is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Pets are not permitted.
This date is a NJ Free Fishing Day when a fishing license is NOT required for anyone age 16 and older.

Check-in / Event Schedule:

9:30 – 9:55 AM: Check-in at Long House. This is the red building with the statue in front.
Following check-in until 10 AM: Select and set up your fishing spot. Reminder: while accompanying adults are also welcome to fish, space along the lakeshore and earthen dam is limited and safety is one of our top concerns. Once youth participants have taken their spots along the lakeshore, adult anglers may fill in any remaining spaces as safety allows.
10 AM: We will all wait for a signal to drop lines in the water once everyone is situated.
10 AM – 12:30 PM: Fishing Fun! Each member of your family who is fishing will have a scorecard. Children will be eligible for prizes. A volunteer will fill in the information about each fish you catch on the scorecard. Volunteers will also be available to assist you.
12:30: Pack up your gear and meet in front of Long House. There will be 4 prizes awarded to youth participants at the end of the program. While volunteers review your scorecards, this is a good time to enjoy your lunch and learn a little bit about the School of Conservation.
12:50: Presentation of prizes to children and goodie bags. Each family will receive a goodie bag, but must be present at the end of the event to receive one.
1:00: Thank you and Goodbyes!

Sponsored by New Jersey Fish & Wildlife’s Hooked on Fishing Program

Fool a Fish? - One on One
2026-06-07 09:00 - 12:00
A fun fly tying fishing challenge designed for curious and creative kids ages 10–16

Have you ever wondered if you could design your own fishing fly and actually catch a fish with it? Now’s your chance to find out. Join us at Lake Wapalanne on the NJSOC campus for a hands-on program where you’ll learn how to tie your very own fishing flies from scratch.
Bring along a parent or guardian and work together as we teach you simple fly-tying techniques. Based on how much fun we had during our small pilot program last month, we’ve decided to limit our sessions to just two or three students. This will allow us opportunities for one on one instruction and individualized guided practice.
Once you’ve learned the basics, it’s time to get creative—experiment with your own designs and see what you can invent! Then comes the real test: we’ll head down to the lake to try out your creations and see if the fish are biting. No experience? No problem. We provide special equipment so you won’t need traditional fly rods or casting skills. And if you’re under 16, you don’t even need a fishing license.
Along the way, you’ll also learn about fish ecology and the fascinating life beneath the water’s surface—all while enjoying the great outdoors.
Come explore, create, and catch something amazing!
This June program will be limited to 3 teams of child and guardian

Wings Over the Water: A Dragonfly & Damselfly Workshop
2026-06-14 12:00 - 16:00
Get ready to spot and learn all about dragonflies and damselflies in this fun, hands-on outdoor workshop!

Did you know that Sussex County, NJ has more dragonfly and damselfly species than any other county in the US? In fact, we have more “Odonata” in Sussex County than the entire state of California!
Spend a day alongside the ponds, streams, and wetlands of Stokes State Forest as you discover the remarkable world of dragonflies and damselflies — some of the most ancient and acrobatic insects on the planet. New Jersey is home to over 170 species of these stunning fliers, and this hands-on workshop gives you the tools and knowledge to find, identify, and appreciate them.
Led by experienced naturalists and odonate enthusiasts, Bruce Taterka and Tanya Sulikowski, the day blends classroom learning with time in the field. You’ll learn to identify and photograph dragonflies in lake, stream and meadow habitats. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned naturalist looking to sharpen your skills, this workshop offers something for everyone.
Schedule for the Day
12:00p- Welcome & Orientation (Nature Center Classroom)

Introductions and overview of the day
Brief orientation to NJSOC grounds and habitats
Safety briefing and field ethics

12:15-12:45pm Dragonfly Biology & Ecology (Nature Center Classroom )

Dragonfly and damselfly morphology and behavior
Life cycle: aquatic nymphs → aerial adults
Predator–prey relationships and ecological roles
Importance of habitat
Distribution of the Pocket Guide to Dragonflies of the NJSOC and overview of New Jersey’s odonate richness

12:45-1:15pm Introduction to iNaturalist & MacroBlitz (Lab Classroom)

Brief introduction (15 minutes) for participants to download the app and learn the basics of uploading observations
Outdoor practice with iNaturalist around Lake Wapalanne

1:15-2:15pm Macroinvertebrate Sampling (Flatbrook River)

Safety and ethics briefing
Kick nets and rock-flipping
ID keys, field guides, iNaturalist
Photographing specimens
Biotic index

2:30pm – 3:15pm: Odonata Exploration (Lake Wapalanne)

Exploring the shoreline and emergent vegetation

3:15pm – 4:00pm: Odonata Exploration (Flatbrook River)

Exploring the stream and adjacent riparian areas

4:00pm – 4:15pm: Wrap-up and Debrief

Reflection on the importance of odes the insect community, and the impacts of habitat degradation
Brainstorming conservation efforts and teaching and outreach strategies

Wapalanne Women's Wellness Weekend -- Summer Edition
2026-06-26 17:00 - 2026-06-28 13:00
Join us for the Wapalanne Women’s Wellness Weekend where you can relax and refresh in nature

Welcome to Wapalanne Women’s Wellness Weekend on the historic NJSOC campus in the middle of beautiful Stokes State Forest!
Come and enjoy a weekend to refresh your mind, body, and spirit with nature journaling, hiking, archery, yoga, boating, campfires, and much more. As we ease into summer take time to relax and center yourself in a beautiful natural setting. Come on your own or bring some friends and stay in our rustic cabins with views of Lake Wapalanne.
The cost of this weekend includes two nights of lodging, six meals and six programs. It also helps us continue our work to foster environmental knowledge and action through education programs that promote sustainability practices, climate change mitigation, and environmental justice.
Programs:
Nature Journaling – Learn how to use nature in your journaling from a Master Educator. Then go for a walk and draw inspiration from nature. All supplies provided.
Wild Plant Hike – Take a hike with a Master Educator and learn about native plants and their uses. Sturdy shoes recommended.
Outdoor Yoga – Join us for an outdoor session to learn why we practice yoga and how important it is to our wellness. Bring a mat or towel as we do some movement and end with a meditation. All levels of experience are welcome.
Boating – Enjoy a peaceful afternoon gliding across Lake Wapalanne and learn some basics of canoeing. No experience needed, life vests are provided.
Archery – Learn all about Archery from a certified instructor. Enjoy learning a new skill in a beautiful setting. No experience needed all equipment is provided.
Campfire – Join us around the campfire for songs and s’mores.

Lodging:
When you register you will be able to choose a cabin with or without an en suite toilet and shower. You will also choose top or bottom bunk in the cabins with an en suite toilet and shower. All accommadations have heat/AC and WiFi. The cabins with en suite toilet and shower also have a mini fridge or full kitchen. You will need to provide your own bedding, pillow, and towel. A detailed packing list will be sent after you register. Remember to let us know if you are coming with friends!

Individuals who identify as women are welcome at this event.

Refund Policy:
Your event fee, minus Eventbrite Fees, is fully refundable if cancelled 14 or more days before the event. While we appreciate being notified if you are unable to attend an event, refunds are not given for cancellations within 14 days of the event. If we must cancel, your registration fee, including Eventbrite fees, will be refunded.

The Art of Being Human: Observing Our Nature Within
2026-09-12 09:30 - 17:30
Previously titled “Observing Nature: Inward & Outward”. Join us as we celebrate five years of our partnership with Peter Del Vecchio.

This program offers a deep, personal experience in learning to still the mind, open the heart, open the eyes, and use our higher senses to observe within ourselves and around us at all times.
This popular program is now in its fifth year, designed and led by Peter Del Vecchio, sharing his decades of training and life experiences as both a keen observer of the natural world and yogic mindfulness guide.
Instructor-led activities include simple and powerful mindfulness and deep relaxation techniques, nature walks (some silent), journaling, discussions, and cell phone nature photography – a favorite!
The serene forest environment of the School of Conservation is the perfect place to accomplish this! Once we come in touch with our true self within, it is so much easier to navigate the world to attain our goals.
Throughout our lives from early childhood, we are guided toward intellectual learning: facts, dates, calculations, etc. The Art of Being Human: Observing Our Nature Within offers a practical, deeper type of learning to help free us from that “mental gerbil wheel”. We learn to focus inwardly in order to better focus outwardly. The benefit is a much cleaner, happier, giving, and more fulfilling life.
This program is designed for ages 12* to adult (*children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). No prior experience is required – just a love of nature and learning. Here’s what previous participants have had to say:
• “Thoroughly enjoyed the program with Peter at NJSOC. Made me appreciate how important it is to practice being present and practice mindfulness on a daily basis.”
• “I loved the focus on ‘love and forgiveness’”.
• “I would recommend this program to anyone who has anxiety or other mental health struggles, as you learn a lot of coping strategies and how to be present.”
• “At first, I wasn’t sure about coming to this program because it didn’t sound like something that would be beneficial to me. However, after coming here, I can say that I have learned a lot about myself, what I need to work on, and how to do it.”
Refund Policy:
Your event fee, minus Eventbrite Fees, is fully refundable if cancelled 7 or more days before the event. In the case of a multi-day event, you must cancel 7 or more days before the first day of the event. No partial refunds are given if you cannot attend all days of the event.
While we appreciate being notified if you are unable to attend an event, refunds are not given for cancellations within 7 days of the event.
For events that are weather-dependent, a raindate/reschedule date is included in the event description. We do not offer refunds if an event is rescheduled for the specified date.
If we must cancel an event, your registration fee, including Eventbrite fees, will be refunded.
