BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//The New Jersey School of Conservation - ECPv6.17.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://njsoc.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The New Jersey School of Conservation
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T113000
DTSTAMP:20260731T182954Z
CREATED:20260731T182847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T182954Z
UID:13513-1785918600-1785929400@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Solar Field Volunteer Day
DESCRIPTION:Help us create a pollinator meadow and new educational space!\n\n\nThe NJSOC is working closely with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on a project to remove invasive species and establish a pollinator meadow in the old solar field. This will create a wonderful new wildlife habitat and educational space on campus. In preparation for a fall seeding\, we need to remove some of the remaining invasive species and need your help. The targets for the day will be common mullein and foxtail grass and eradicating them involves hand pulling and transport to our disposal site. If you’d like to join the fun\, wear long pants and long sleeves and BYO gloves. We’ll provide the education\, inspiration and snacks. \nThis event will be held in light rain or shine. Thunderstorms will cancel and you will be notified of the change via email. Please make sure to monitor the email address you register with! \nIf you have any questions\, please reach out to Tanya Sulikowski\, Director of Education at tsulikowski@njsoc.org.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/solar-field-volunteer-day/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
CATEGORIES:Public Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2d94c6700aa56865ea3a193efae853d5-NkVF6Y.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T120000
DTSTAMP:20260703T215539Z
CREATED:20260702T000956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260703T215539Z
UID:13356-1786789800-1786795200@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:The NJSOC Book Club… Summer Session
DESCRIPTION:Our FREE  book club is back with a new title for Summer 2026!\n\nOur FREE book club is back with a new title for Summer 2026! \nJoin us as we read together Raising Hare\, a memoir by Chloe Dalton. Participants will read at their own pace\, with the opportunity to discuss virtually via the Heylo app. You’ll receive weekly discussion points to ponder that will guide our group conversation. We’ll meet to discuss the book face-to-face on Saturday\, August 15th\, at the School of Conservation from 10:30 to noon. This meeting will also include an outdoor activity related to our reading. \nHigh School students and up are welcome to join. Participants will provide their own copy of the book. We will officially begin reading on Sunday\, July 5th. Please feel free to register and jump in any time. Participants will receive additional instructions via email (don’t forget to monitor the email address you use to register!). \nAbout Raising Hare:\nNEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • FINALIST FOR THE 2025 WOMEN’S PRIZE \nA fascinating meditation on freedom\, trust\, loss\, and our relationship with the natural world\, explored through the story of one woman’s unlikely friendship with a wild hare. \n“Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and bounded around your bedroom at night\, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that\, more than two years later\, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and slept in your house for hours on end. For political advisor and speechwriter Chloe Dalton\, who spent lockdown deep in the English countryside\, far away from her usual busy London life\, this became her unexpected reality. \nIn February 2021\, Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life\, she brings it home\, only to discover how difficult it is to rear a wild hare\, most of whom perish in captivity from either shock or starvation. Through trial and error\, she learns to feed and care for the leveret with every intention of returning it to the wilderness. Instead\, it becomes her constant companion\, wandering the fields and woods at night and returning to Dalton’s house by day. Though Dalton feared that the hare would be preyed upon by foxes\, weasels\, feral cats\, raptors\, or even people\, she never tried to restrict it to the house. Each time the hare leaves\, Chloe knows she may never see it again. Yet she also understands that to confine it would be its own kind of death. \nRaising Hare chronicles their journey together while also taking a deep dive into the lives and nature of hares\, and the way they have been viewed historically in art\, literature\, and folklore. We witness firsthand the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal\, which serves as a reminder that the best things\, and most beautiful experiences\, arise when we least expect them.”
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/the-njsoc-book-club-summer-session/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
CATEGORIES:Public Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/67015a2c9deb15301a5369e46ec14f6a-OXCYN3.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260827T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260827T113000
DTSTAMP:20260817T202726Z
CREATED:20260817T202627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T202726Z
UID:13573-1787819400-1787830200@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Solar Field Volunteer Day
DESCRIPTION:Help us create a pollinator meadow and new educational space!\n\n\nThe NJSOC is working closely with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on a project to remove invasive species and establish a pollinator meadow in the old solar field. This will create a wonderful new wildlife habitat and educational space on campus. In preparation for a fall seeding\, we need to remove some of the remaining invasive species and need your help. The target for the day will be foxtail grass and eradication involves hand pulling and transport to our disposal site. If you’d like to join the fun\, wear long pants and long sleeves and BYO gloves. We’ll provide the education\, inspiration and snacks. \nThis event will be held in light rain or shine. Thunderstorms will cancel and you will be notified of the change via email. Please make sure to monitor the email address you register with! \nIf you have any questions\, please reach out to Tanya Sulikowski\, Director of Education at tsulikowski@njsoc.org.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/solar-field-volunteer-day-2/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
CATEGORIES:Public Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2d94c6700aa56865ea3a193efae853d5-NkVF6Y.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260831T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T160000
DTSTAMP:20260729T182001Z
CREATED:20260114T174723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T182001Z
UID:12358-1788192000-1788278400@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Climate Change Education: Empowering New Jersey’s Nonformal & Independent Educators
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a field based workshop that will empower NJ’s educators with tools\, activities\, and confidence to teach climate change \n\n\n\n\nIn 2020\, NJ became the first state in the US to incorporate climate change education into all K-12 content areas. \nThis professional learning workshop is designed to support New Jersey’s nonformal and independent school educators in confidently and effectively teaching climate change through engaging\, learner-centered experiences. The program focuses on building both content knowledge and instructional capacity\, ensuring educators feel prepared to facilitate meaningful climate learning in a variety of nonformal settings. \nParticipants will deepen their understanding of climate change science while exploring Jersey-centric\, hands-on\, and outdoor lessons that connect local climate impacts to global systems. Through guided activities and model lessons\, educators will experience strategies they can immediately adapt for use with their own audiences. \nThe workshop also supports educators in aligning existing programs with New Jersey Climate Change Standards\, helping them strengthen connections between learning experiences and education goals. Dedicated time for collaboration and discussion will allow participants to share ideas\, refine lessons\, and learn from peers across the state. \nBy the end of the workshop\, educators will leave with increased confidence\, practical teaching tools\, and a supportive professional network—empowered to engage learners in relevant\, action-oriented climate change education. \n\n\nTentative Schedule (Rain or shine) \nMONDAY \n\n4:00 – 5:00pm – Arrive and settle in to cabins\n6:00 – 7:00pm – Dinner – please bring your own\n7:00 – 7:45pm – Paddle on Lake Wapalanne\n8:00pm – Campfire + Storytelling\n\nTUESDAY \n\n7:00 – 8:00am – Morning walk (optional)\n8:00 – 8:45am – Breakfast (provided by NJSOC)\n9:00 – 9:30am – Welcome and Introductions\n9:30 – 10:30am – The Basic Science of Climate Change\n10:30am-10:45am- Break\n10:45-11:30- The New Jersey Climate-Change Education Standards for Nonformal Educators\n11:45 – 12:45pm – Lunch (provided by NJSOC)\n1:00 – 2:15pm – Ephemeral Art & Poetry of Climate Change\n2:30 – 3:45pm – NJ Wildlife: Using iNaturalist to Explore Climate Change Issues\n3:45 – 4:00pm –Workshop Summation & Gratitudes\n4:00pm – Departure\n\n  \nWorkshop Details: \nThis workshop is presented through a collaboration of the NJSOC and the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education with generous support from National Geographic and a private donor. \nThis workshop is open to New Jersey nonformal educators (employed by zoos\, nature centers\, museums\, community organizations\, correctional facilities\, etc.) and teachers in independent schools. Registration fee includes breakfast and lunch\, overnight accommodations in cabin-style housing and all workshop materials. \nEducators will receive $150 stipends upon completion of the workshop. \nPlease contact Tanya Sulikowski\, NJSOC Director of Education\, with any questions. tsulikowski@njsoc.org \nRefund Policy: \nYour event fee\, minus Eventbrite Fees\, is fully refundable if canceled 7 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 7 days of the event. \nIf we must cancel an event\, your registration fee\, including Eventbrite fees\, will be refunded. \n 
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/climate-change-education-empowering-new-jerseys-nonformal-educators/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
CATEGORIES:Educator Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T173000
DTSTAMP:20260901T204856Z
CREATED:20260521T180751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T204856Z
UID:13098-1789205400-1789234200@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Being Human: Observing Our Nature Within
DESCRIPTION:Previously titled "Observing Nature: Inward & Outward".   Join us as we celebrate five years of our partnership with Peter Del Vecchio.\n\n\nThis 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. \nThis 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. \nInstructor-led activities include simple and powerful mindfulness and deep relaxation techniques\, nature walks (some silent)\, journaling\, discussions\, and cell phone nature photography – a favorite! \nThe 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. \nThroughout 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. \nThis 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:  \n• “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.” \n• “I loved the focus on ‘love and forgiveness’”. \n• “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.” \n• “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.” \nRefund Policy: \nYour 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. \nWhile we appreciate being notified if you are unable to attend an event\, refunds are not given for cancellations within 7 days of the event. \nFor 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. \nIf we must cancel an event\, your registration fee\, including Eventbrite fees\, will be refunded.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/the-art-of-being-human-observing-our-nature-within/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
CATEGORIES:Public Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/591827932dd6286410bacb5483ff7512-oOwX4F.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260927T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260927T130000
DTSTAMP:20260901T154054Z
CREATED:20260901T154054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T154054Z
UID:13677-1790503200-1790514000@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Fool a Fish? - One on One
DESCRIPTION:A fun fly tying fishing challenge designed for curious and creative kids ages 10–16\n\n\nHave 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. \nBring 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 programs in May and June\, 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. \nOnce 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. \nAlong the way\, you’ll also learn about fish ecology and the fascinating life beneath the water’s surface—all while enjoying the great outdoors. \nCome explore\, create\, and catch something amazing! \nThis program will be limited to 3 teams\, each consisting of a child and a guardian.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/fool-a-fish-one-on-one-3/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/874d8420a81d404d3c5bbacf637909e4-wqvhEL.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T140000
DTSTAMP:20260901T013044Z
CREATED:20260901T013044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T013044Z
UID:13665-1791021600-1791036000@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Bees and Bee-havior
DESCRIPTION:Discover the awesome beauty of the honeybee!\n\n\nJoin enthusiasts\, Kevin Roche and his son\, Luke\, in this introduction to the honeybee\, Apis mellifera. We will get up close and personal (literally) to gain a better understanding of the lifecycle of honeybees and their important role in pollination. \nWe will spend time outdoors engaged in the sport of bee lining\, a method used to locate a colony of wild honeybees. We’ll learn how to to distinguish honeybees from other pollinators (such as bumble bees\, wasps\, etc.)\, catch and mark foraging honeybees using a bee box\, and use techniques to estimate the direction and distance to an active hive. This sport naturally provides us with an opportunity to evaluate and improve nesting habitat for these pollinators who are currently suffering alarming losses which surpass all historical trends. It also provides a great opportunity to practice our orienteering skills! \nYour program leader\, Kevin Roche\, has worked with Rutgers NJPIRG students on behalf of our local honeybees\, and is dedicated to helping these valuable pollinators thrive. \nThis program is open to all ages. Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent. \nRain will postpone the event to Sunday\, October 4th (bees don’t fly in the rain!) and participants will be notified via email. Please plan to keep both dates open! \nRefund Policy/Inclement Weather: \nYour 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. Registration fees are not adjusted and no partial refunds are given if you cannot attend all days of the event. \nWhile we appreciate being notified if you are unable to attend an event\, refunds are not given for cancellations within 7 days of the event. \nIn the event of inclement weather\, participants will be notified if a session will not be held as scheduled. The rain date for this session is Sunday\, October 4th. \nIf we must cancel an event\, your registration fee\, including Eventbrite fees\, will be refunded.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/bees-and-bee-havior-2/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/52c220a84630332b0fd17079f88d8cc4-OIryk1.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T150000
DTSTAMP:20260904T184923Z
CREATED:20260617T012352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T184923Z
UID:13328-1791023400-1791039600@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Connecting People and Place: Conservation Psychology in Action
DESCRIPTION:Join us to explore how  understanding human behavior and  connecting landscapes and people can inspire lasting environmental stewardship.\n\n\nOVERVIEW & LOGISTICS\nThis unique hybrid workshop offers participants the opportunity to engage virtually with the New Jersey School of Conservation in Sandyston\, NJ and the The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert\, CA to explore the challenges—and promise—of community-based conservation through the lens of Conservation Psychology. Local people determine the success of conservation projects\, so learning from them on how to best engage them in ways that benefit them will make our nature conservation work more successful. \nThose who are local to the New Jersey School of Conservation are invited to gather onsite to participate in the Zoom session together\, creating a shared learning environment while connecting virtually with partners in Palm Desert and beyond. Please note that the presentation will start promptly at 10:30 AM. You are welcome to check in as early as you like in order to be settled in and ready to go! \nFollowing the Zoom presentation\, onsite attendees will take a break for lunch. Please bring your own lunch to enjoy on the grounds as we prepare for the afternoon portion of the workshop. \nAfter lunch\, onsite participants will take part in a guided hike on the grounds of the School of Conservation. This immersive\, place-based experience will extend the morning’s conversation\, using the natural landscape as a living classroom. \nBy combining virtual dialogue with in-person exploration\, this two-part workshop offers both broad connection and grounded experience—linking ideas to action in meaningful and memorable ways. \n\n\nCONTENT & AGENDA\n10:30 AM – 12 Noon \nPart I. “Community-Based Conservation: Towards a More Effective Form of Nature Conservation ” (Live Zoom Presentation) \nJoin us for an engaging and thought-provoking Zoom introduction to Conservation Psychology and how it can best be used to foster effective community-based conservation led by James Danoff-Burg of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. \nConservation Psychology explores the powerful connection between people and the natural world—examining why we care about nature\, what motivates environmental action\, and how organizations can inspire meaningful\, lasting behavior change. Drawing on his extensive experience in conservation education and community engagement as a professor at Columbia University and conservation leader at San Diego Zoo and now The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens\, Dr. Danoff-Burg will guide participants through real-world challenges and practical strategies for engaging communities in watershed protection and addressing modern conservation issues such as invasive species and climate change. \nWhether you’re an environmental professional\, student\, educator\, volunteer\, or simply passionate about protecting our planet\, this session will provide valuable insights into how understanding human behavior can strengthen conservation efforts and create deeper\, more effective community impact. \n12 Noon – 1 PM \nDiscussion/Lunch (bring your own) for onsite participants at NJSOC \n1 PM – 3 PM \nPart II. “Layers of the Land” (Guided Hike) \nDr. Frank Gallagher\, Director of Research for the SOC and Associate Professor at Rutgers University will guide participants on a hike through the NJSOC property as a living record of human history\, beginning with an introduction of how the landscape has been shaped by past use\, restoration\, and ongoing human connection. The hike connects the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps\, emphasizing their role in reforestation and land management\, while also touching on watershed protection and modern conservation challenges like invasive species and climate change. Throughout\, we will incorporate ideas from Conservation Psychology to encourage reflection on how perceptions of landscapes evolve and influence stewardship\, ending with a discussion that invites participants to consider their own role in the forest’s ongoing story. \nDon’t miss this opportunity to learn how understanding human behavior can be one of our most powerful conservation tools. \n\n\nSPEAKERS\n\n\n\nDR. JAMES DANOFF-BURG is the Vice President of Conservation at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens\, where he leads the institution’s conservation strategy and global field initiatives. \nIn his leadership at The Living Desert\, Danoff-Burg has become well-known for promoting a broader\, socially engaged approach to conservation. He champions programs that combine biological science with social science — including the Building Community Conservation Success (BCCS) workshops and the collaboration with IUCN to create the Center for Behavior Change at The Living Desert— to train conservation practitioners around the world in how best to engage communities as key partners in species protection and ecosystem stewardship. These programs emphasize that long-term biodiversity conservation requires not just habitat and species work but also meaningful involvement with people who live alongside wildlife. \nBefore his role at The Living Desert\, he also served as a Professor at several universities including Columbia University\, and led or consulted for multiple conservation-focused organizations\, including founding Helping Rhinos USA\, a nonprofit dedicated to rhino conservation\, the San Diego Zoo\, and now The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. His career reflects both on-the-ground fieldwork and strategic leadership in international and community conservation. \nUnder his direction\, The Living Desert’s conservation efforts span 105 projects in 12 countries across three continents\, integrating habitat restoration\, endangered species programs\, behavior change research\, and capacity-building collaborations with field partners. \n\n\n\nDR. FRANK GALLAGHER is the Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Director of the Environmental Planning and Design program of Rutgers University’s Department of Landscape Architecture. He is also the New Jersey School of Conservation’s Director of Research\, coordinating the school’s academic Research Consortium. \nFor over forty years\, Dr. Gallagher has explored the connection between people and landscape through both land management and academic research. He has served as Chief of Interpretive Services\, Administrator and Assistant Director of the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. After teaching courses in biology\, evolution and environmental science for ten years at Upsala College\, he joined the faculty at Rutgers\, The State University part time in 1994\, and full time in 2012. \nHis current appointment as Associate Professor of Professional Practice and the Director of the Environmental Planning and Design program within the Department of Landscape Architecture consists of academic advising\, and working with academic administrators\, administrative staff and faculty to ensure the continued development and delivery of a cutting edge program. He serves on the graduate faculty for the Department of Landscape Architecture\, Department of Ecology Evolution and Natural Resources and the Federated Department of Biological Sciences at Rutgers Newark and also serves as a Research Associate at Montclair State University. \nThroughout his career\, he has contributed significantly to public land conservation and ecological education\, including ecological planning for Liberty State Park and chairing management planning for multiple New Jersey state parks. His efforts have earned recognitions such as the EPA Environmental Quality Award.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/connecting-people-and-place-conservation-psychology-in-action/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
CATEGORIES:Public Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/097fd500a12b07acf7f489b2dec0ca63-DgPiAX.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261009T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261009T133000
DTSTAMP:20260901T013140Z
CREATED:20260901T013140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T013140Z
UID:13667-1791541800-1791552600@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Fall Nature Zen Tangle Drawing Workshop and Walk
DESCRIPTION:Join us as we learn about this meditative drawing method.\n\n\nZen Tangles are an easy-to-learn\, relaxing\, and fun artform in which you use structured patterns to create beautiful images. The designs are non-representational and unplanned. There is no up or down to Zen Tangle art. You don’t need to know what a tangle is going to look like to draw it. The result is always a delightful surprise! \nIn this workshop\, we’ll learn the principles of Zen Tangles and practice drawing the basic patterns. We will then go for a walk and draw inspiration from nature to make our own Tangles and designs. Back inside\, we will practice our Zen Tangles\, share our creations\, and enjoy this calming kickoff to the weekend. \nNo artistic skill is necessary! All materials will be provided and you will leave with supplies to continue to practice your art at home.  \nThis workshop is for artists age 18 and up; 12 and up are welcome with an adult. Everyone is an artist!
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/fall-nature-zen-tangle-drawing-workshop-and-walk/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/cfa749c8c604a5a9f6d28afefb2a7df1-oPyRDl.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261023T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261023T193000
DTSTAMP:20260901T160356Z
CREATED:20260901T160356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T160356Z
UID:13681-1792778400-1792783800@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:The NJSOC Book Club… Fall Session
DESCRIPTION:Our FREE  book club is back with a new title for Fall 2026!\n\n\nOur FREE book club is back with a new title for Fall 2026! \nJoin us as we read together Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms\, Moon Gardens\, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion. Participants will read at their own pace\, with the opportunity to discuss virtually via the Heylo app. You’ll receive weekly discussion points to ponder that will guide our group conversation. We’ll meet to discuss the book face-to-face on Friday\, October 23rd\, at the School of Conservation from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. This will be our first evening book club meeting and will also include a night hike to complement our reading. \nHigh School students and up are welcome to join. Participants will provide their own copy of the book. We will officially begin reading on Tuesday\, September 8th. Please feel free to register and jump in any time. Participants will receive additional instructions via email (don’t forget to monitor the email address you use to register!). \nAbout Night Magic:\nFrom a New York Times bestselling nature writer comes a celebration of what goes on outside in the dark\, from blooming moon gardens to nocturnal salamanders\, from glowing foxfire and synchronous fireflies that blink in unison like an orchestra of light. \nIn this glorious celebration of the night\, New York Times bestselling nature writer Leigh Ann Henion invites us to leave our well-lit homes\, step outside\, and embrace the dark as a profoundly beautiful part of the world we inhabit. Because no matter where we live\, we are surrounded by animals that rise with the moon\, and blooms that reveal themselves as light fades. Henion explores her home region of Appalachia\, where she attends a synchronous firefly event in Tennessee\, a bat outing in Alabama\, and a moth festival in Ohio. In North Carolina\, she finds forests alight with bioluminescent mushrooms\, neighborhood trees full of screech owls\, and valleys teeming with migratory salamanders. Along the way\, Henion encounters naturalists\, biologists\, primitive-skills experts\, and others who’ve dedicated their lives to cultivating relationships with darkness. \nEvery page of this lyrical book feels like an opportunity to ask: How did I not know about this before? For example\, we learn that it can take hours\, not minutes\, for human eyes to reach full night vision capacity. And that there are thousands of firefly species on earth\, many with flash patterns as unique as fingerprints. In an age of increasing artificial light\, Night Magic focuses on the amazing biodiversity that still surrounds us after sunset. We do not need to stargaze into the distant cosmos or dive into the depths of oceans to find awe in the dark. There are dazzling wonders in our own backyards. And readers of World of Wonders\, Entangled Life\, and The Hidden Life of Trees will discover joy in Night Magic.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/the-njsoc-book-club-fall-session/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/3a69d19e4170c733a561caf896176047-QhBGfo.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261024T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261024T130000
DTSTAMP:20260901T160248Z
CREATED:20260901T160248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T160248Z
UID:13679-1792836000-1792846800@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Birding 101
DESCRIPTION:Get to know your feathered neighbors a little better!\n\n\nDo you wish you could identify birds accurately by memory\, but find yourself overwhelmed by the task of learning the details of every species? Or do you always pull up Merlin on hikes to try and identify birds? Congratulations\, you’re already a birder! Come and join us for our Birding 101 program\, designed to help you build the foundation you need to become a better\, more confident birder. Bring your binoculars\, or borrow a pair from the SOC\, and step into the world of birding.  \n \nThe program will begin with about one hour of classroom instruction\, during which we will demystify the art of bird identification by learning to group birds by silhouette\, understand bird behavior\, and develop our “birding senses.” Then we will take our newly developed skills into the field to practice while exploring the trails at the School of Conservation. Fall is an amazing time to get out in the woods and make some observations as our feathered friends forage and prepare for winter. 
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/birding-101/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/0e34f8497e75b16295b14133b42ec7a6-OL7pzE.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261127T094500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261127T123000
DTSTAMP:20260901T013233Z
CREATED:20260901T013233Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T013233Z
UID:13669-1795772700-1795782600@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Thankfulness Hike
DESCRIPTION:Let’s be thankful for our friends and the forest!\n\n\nWe’ll meander along the trails near the Flatbrook River and through the woods of the NJ School of Conservation. We will stop and be grateful for all the woodland sights and sounds. The hike will be led by Lois Lyons\, a Master Teacher at NJSOC. \nThis Thanksgiving hike will be at an easy to moderate pace and terrain\, for 3 to 4 miles. Bring a daypack holding 1-2 liters of water\, some snacks (Thanksgiving leftovers?!) and a rain jacket. Hike will be held in light rain. Dress in layers. \nHiking boots or shoes and hiking poles are highly recommended. \nThis program is for adults 18 and over\, and children over 12 are welcome with an adult. \nWe will meet on the NJSOC campus at 9:45 am and hike from 10 am to 12:30 pm.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/thankfulness-hike-2/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/f31b614576b7004cb80067491e5223a4-78Dikk.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T170000
DTSTAMP:20260901T013322Z
CREATED:20260901T013322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T013322Z
UID:13671-1796479200-1796490000@njsoc.org
SUMMARY:Holiday Decorations from Natural Materials
DESCRIPTION:Deck the halls this holiday season with ornaments you make yourself from materials found in nature!\n\n\nUsher in the Holidays with an afternoon of creating holiday tree decorations with natural materials. We’ll take a short walk to collect acorns\, pinecones\, sticks\, leaves\, or whatever natural treasures you can find to create your own ornament. We will supply glitter\, glue\, string\, wire\, acorns\, pinecones and other natural materials\, and examples of decorations you might want to create.  Or use your imagination and creativity to come up with your own design!. Once everyone has finished\, we’ll each hang one of our ornaments on a tree at Piney Point\, enjoy a campfire\, and light the tree we decorated together as darkness falls. \nThis program is open to adults and children of any age. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please purchase a ticket for each participant age 3 and up. \nIf you have any difficulty with the registration process\, please let us know so we can help! Contact us at info@friendsofnjsoc.org.
URL:https://njsoc.org/event/holiday-decorations-from-natural-materials-3/
LOCATION:NJ School of Conservation\, 1 Wapalanne Road\, Sandyston\, 07826\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/88366480de254f50e79d719ead59c333-xsmIo3.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR