Perennial Garden Help Needed
It’s that time of year! If you, or someone you know has a green thumb and is interested in helping us maintain our native pollinator garden at Fairview Farm, we need you. The hard work that goes in to maintaining the beautiful blooms in our Bird and Butterfly garden isn’t always glamorous, but the results sure are! Immediate help is needed to pull weeds and cut back last year’s perennials. Summer help will include weekly watering and weeding – perfect volunteer work for those who prefer early mornings or late afternoons. Please email RHA’s Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org for additional information.
Summer Stewardship Dates
On RHA’s preserves, stewardship efforts focus on planting native trees and shrubs to restore forests, removing invasive plants such as Autumn olive, Japanese barberry and Asiatic bittersweet, creating wetlands, improving wildlife habitat value and maintaining trails for the public to access. If you would like to help our efforts, please join Land Stewardship Manager Edward Whitehead at the following events this summer:
Watershed Wellness Wednesdays! Events will be held every Wednesday from 9-11am between June 4th and September 3rd, weather permitting. Click here and scroll down to view the series and sign up.
Stream Cleanup – sites still in need of cleaning
Thank you to everyone who participated in our April 12th Stream Cleanup event. It was a huge success and we appreciate your efforts! A few of our sites were unable to be cleaned that day due to unexpected snow and muddy, high waters in the northern part of the watershed. If you have a group interested in cleaning a site, there are a few available. Locations and site sizes vary. Please reach out to Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org for more information.
Lantern Walk
This year’s Lantern Walk event is scheduled for Sunday, November 9th. Please hold the date! Volunteer help is always appreciated. Sign ups coming in September.
Corporate Volunteer Groups
If you are a corporation interested in a volunteer day of service, please visit our corporate page to fill out an inquiry form. RHA’s Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb will respond to you with a list of suggested projects catered to your groups needs.
RHA Watershed Engagement Team Ambassadors Needed
Raritan Headwaters Association is looking for volunteers to join our Watershed Engagement Team (W.E.T.)! W.E.T. Ambassadors are a group of volunteers with expertise in RHA’s programs, mission, and activities. These ambassadors work alongside RHA scientists and staff to engage with the community at local fairs, green festivals, and other events around central New Jersey.
This is a unique opportunity to receive high-level training, share your knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for watershed protection, meet interesting, like-minded people, and have fun engaging with the community! You will receive a certificate, build your resume, and have access to RHA program director’s expertise. Join our team of fun and friendly professionals!
To join this team you must be age 18 or older and have reliable transportation. Click here to learn more about this exciting new initiative and to fill out an application form today.
Scout Projects
Eagle Scouts (and other local troops) are needed to help with the following projects. Please contact Stewardship Manager, Edward Whitehead if interested.
- Deer fencing implementation at Fairview Farm (large or small exclosure fences to keep deer out of strategic locations)
- Interpretative sign creation and implementation
- Park Bench construction and installation
- Creation and implementation of eel mops and fish ladders to allow eels and fish to travel upstream.
- Making one of our nature trails more accessible for disabled visitors. This would include plans to make the trail more ADA friendly, enrichment stops along the path involving senses stimulating activities, and other ideas TBD.
- Propose your own project idea