Our Eastern Painted Turtle, Picta, is named after her scientific name Chrysemys picta. Painted turtles are native to the state of New Jersey and found all over the United states, southern Canada and parts of Mexico. This species thrives in the New Jersey habitat due to the abundance of freshwater, wetlands, the temperate climate, and prey available to them

Meet our next Ambassador Animal, Elaphe,our 25 year old corn snake! Corn snakes are native to southern New Jersey and can live up to 6-8 years old in the wild. In captivity, corn snakes can live up to 23 years old, therefore making Elaphe a senior snake. She got her name from the species scientific name, Elaphe guttata guttata

Since 1984, NJSOC has had the honor of welcoming the 6th grade students from Jordan Road School in the Somers Point School District. This long-standing tradition has fostered an incredible relationship between Somers Point and NJSOC, creating lasting memories and deepening students’ connections with the environment. This year’s 3-day, 2-night trip was filled with special moments, as the students had the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning experiences that they’ll carry with them for years to come

In the wild, Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) are native to all of New Jersey, but unfortunately, people occasionally take them out of their native woodland and meadow habitats to keep them as pets. This was the case for Mo, as he was taken out of his natural habitat by a family that could not give him the right care

We are excited to share that registration for Stokes Music Camp is now open for Summer 2025! Once again held at NJSOC, this camp provides an inspiring and immersive environment for young musicians to hone their craft and connect with fellow music enthusiasts

This past week, NJSOC staff and master educators embarked on an exhilarating two-day journey into the heart of Wilderness First Aid Training, gaining life-saving skills that could make all the difference in an emergency situation

Stokes Music Camp is coming back to NJSOC for Summer 2025, and we could not be more excited!

Dear Friend,
As the year draws to a close, I am happy to share the amazing impact that the New Jersey School of Conservation has had in 2024. From grade school to graduate school and beyond, our programs are testament to our commitment to foster educated and committed stewards of the environment

We’d like to introduce you to Amelia Basile, our new SOC Intern!.

We are so thankful to our recent intern, Melinda, for spending her summer here at SOC! Melinda was a big help to us over the past few months, and we will miss her deeply as she returns to school this semester

The New Jersey School of Conservation is developing a new plan to safeguard the long-term health of Lake Wapalanne. Lake Wapalanne is a sacred place on our campus, where students and visitors can enjoy canoeing, fishing, and fun