The Washington Township Environmental Commission is gearing up for Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations.
Saturday, April 1 to Sunday, April 30 – Exhibit: Climate Change at Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library, 206 Delsea Dr.
Learn about the effects of climate change, both forecast and observable and both a global scale and more locally, in New Jersey. An exhibit in the “New Books” area describes some of the impacts of increasing temperatures and rising sea levels on health, economy and the natural world. Get leads to additional information and resources, and tips on what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, and adapt to changes that are already underway.
Monday, April 10 – 7 p.m. – Shorebird Eggstravaganza – Hurffville Fire Co., Main Station, 213 E. Holly Ave.
Brought to you from the Cape May Nature Center by the Environmental Commission, an expert from New Jersey Audubon will present a program on the dependence of migrating shorebirds on horseshoe crab eggs, as they complete their long annual journeys. Learn about different shorebird species, when and where to see them, and some of the threats they face. Register by email to: WTEC@twp.washington.nj.us, write “Shorebirds” in the subject line, and provide your name and phone number.
Wednesday, April 12 – 10:30 a.m. – Magnificent Monarchs – Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library, 206 Delsea Dr.
Science Instructor Shannon Hornibrook will teach children all about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly and how we can help create a better habitat for them. Hands on activities, videos and pictures will have you leaving full of Monarch knowledge. Margaret E. Heggan cardholders only; grades K through 5, with caregiver. Advanced registration
required. https://www.hegganlibrary.org.
Sunday, April 16 – 2 p.m. – Fur, Feathers and Scales – Washington Township Municipal Building, 523 Egg Harbor Road, Sewell.
The Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library is partnering with the Environmental Commission to sponsor this live animal program for children of all ages. Get a better understanding of different animal groups and how their body coverings serve many purposes. See and feel fur, feathers and scales to appreciate the concepts first-hand. Advance registration is required; please call the children’s library at (856) 589-3334, ext. 223.
Monday, April 22 – Earth Day – Celebrate our planet in all her beauty and for all her gifts.
Sunday, April 23 – 10 a.m. to noon – Invasive Species Walk – Washington Lake Park, 626 Hurffville-Crosskeys Road, Sewell.
Walk the trails in the park and learn which plants are native and which need to be removed, and how non-native plants can interfere with the health of our natural forested communities. Lend a hand in removing invasive species. We will provide gloves and some cutters, but bring pruners and loppers if you have them. RSVP to WTEC@twp.washington.nj.us, and provide your name and phone number.
Music at Bunker Hill, a nonprofit music organization based in Washington Township, will hold a concert, Rivers Are Our Brothers: An Earth Day Celebration, at 3 p.m. April 23 at Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church, 330 Greentree Road, Sewell.
Thursday, April 27 – 7 p.m. – The Timeless Connection of People and Trees – Tales from the Wood-Wide Web – Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library.
We see trees as individuals. But like us, each tree is part of a social network, relying on that network for growth, health and success. The forest network is largely invisible to us, but recent studies show a Wood-Wide-Web (WWW) of relationships. That WWW that has been critical to our survival … has built empires and cartels … inspired revolutions and national conservation movements. Join Erik Mollenhauer as he shares the natural and cultural history of some trees found here in Gloucester County. Advanced registration required: https://www.hegganlibrary.org.
Friday, April 28 – Arbor Day – Have you thanked a tree today?
The Open Space Advisory Committee, Environmental Commission and friends will be planting 30 Atlantic White Cedar seedlings to boost the species’ population in Washington Lake Park.
Saturday, April 29 – 7:30 a.m. – Bird Walk in the Park at Washington Lake Park.
Come out to see and hear our beautiful resident feathered friends and others who are migrating through, with naturalist Marie Hageman. Bring your own binoculars, if you have them, and your enthusiasm. This program is presented in partnership with the Gloucester County Nature Club. Registration not required, but requested, by email to: WTEC@twp.washington.nj.us, write “Bird Walk” in the subject line, and provide your name and phone number.
Saturday, April 29 – 9 a.m. to noon – Milkweed & Marigold Giveaway – Washington Lake Park, Parking Lot J (near Greentree Road entrance).
Plants for Pollinators. Milkweed is the only food young Monarch butterfly caterpillars eat, and you need some in your garden. Marigolds provide nectar, too, and keep some garden pests away. Pick up free plants and join our Monarch Rescue project.
Sunday, May 7 – 9 a.m. to noon – Washington Township Re-Leaf: Tree Seedling Giveaway, Washington Lake Park, Parking Lot J (near Greentree Road entrance).
As part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, residents can pick up trees to replace those destroyed by storms such as Superstorm Sandy or the 2015 microburst, or just to give a new happy home to a healthy tree seedling. The seedlings come with instructions on how to store, care for and plant them. (Trees should be planted within two days after pick up to prevent roots from drying out.) Planting trees can beautify your neighborhood, increase your property value, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat. Remember–every leaf counts!
The Creative Team/Painting the Town Project – the township’s art exhibit, Natural Elements, has opened at Rowan College of South Jersey; a companion outdoor exhibit will be installed in Washington Lake Park in early April. Artworks for this pair of exhibits were solicited as interpretations of the music from Rivers Are Our Brothers.
For more information visit https://www.twp.washington.nj.us/.
