South Mountain Conservancy e-Bulletin. June 2021
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Oki Fukunaga's Spore was created from 360 coat hangers into a fractal sphere. On display now at the Wildflower Sculpture Park, located at 10 Bear Lane, Maplewood.
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Wildflower Sculpture Park Opening! June 4th
5:00-7pm, 10 Bear Lane
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About Wildflower Sculpture Park
The Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP) was established in 2012 as a program of the South Mountain Conservancy by Tricia Zimic who has served as its artistic director/curator. The Wildflower Sculpture Park transforms itself each spring when new works are added to the permanent pieces that were purchased from prior shows. In June, Zimic will step down from this role which will be taken over by a WSP team led by Newark-based artist Lisa Sanders.
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Progress for the Fairy Trail Restoration Project
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SMC has raised just over $2,500 for the Fairy Trail Restoration Project. This is about half of the $5,000 it's hoping to raise in the next month or so, to complete Phase 1 of the Fairy Trail Restoration Project. The funds will be used to purchase and install trail borders and plant native plants where high traffic has caused trail erosion and compacted soil along trail edges and surrounding areas.
If you plan to visit the Fairy Trail, please note our LNT policy which requests that visitors stay on the marked path and do not leave anything along the trail, including fairy homes. Complete details about visitor etiquette, the Master Plan for the Restoration Project, as well as the history can be viewed on our website.
Please donate to this project if you are able.
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Poll Results: Dogs off-leash in South Mountain Reservation
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In our last e-Bulletin, SMC polled the community about their opinions of when people see dogs off a leash. Here are the results.
1) What is your comfort level when you see a dog off a leash on the trails?
32% more comfortable
60% less comfortable
8% in the middle
2) How likely are you to verbally remind someone with a dog off leash about the leash policy on SMR trails?
35% more likely
51% less likely
14% in the middle
picture: LoveYourDogs.com
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Volunteering makes us feel really, really good. Do you have a story to share?
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Without our volunteers we could not protect, preserve, and restore SMR for generations to come. In celebration of our volunteers and their passion for environmental stewardship, we are asking that they share their inspiring stories of how caring for the environment has impacted their lives. Selected stories will be highlighted in our monthly e-Bulletin and on social media.
If you have an experience that you would like to share, we look forward to hearing from you! We will be collecting submissions throughout 2021. Stories should reflect on a volunteer experience within South Mountain Reservation. Food for thought: How did your volunteer experience(s) impact you personally? What does environmental stewardship mean to you?
How to Submit:
Submit your stories to opsdirector@somocon.org with the subject line: SMR Stewardship Story. Submissions can either be written or expressed through visual art. Written submissions should be no more than 500 words. Please include your name, (optional: photo, town, age). If you would like to remain anonymous, please note that in your submission.
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Support National Trails Day & Join our Trail Work Crew- June 6th, 9:00am-12pm
Volunteers needed! We have a few finishing touches on the new Dogwood Trail, but mostly we will be tackling an erosion problem along the West Ridge Trail near Old Short Hills park. This is strenuous, but rewarding, work using hand tools to create a trail tread and is restricted to persons age 15 and above. While we will generally be working many feet apart, protocols such as mask wearing and distancing are mandatory.
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Meet at: Old Short Hills Park, 274 Old Short Hills Rd., Short Hills, 07078. (parking lot at the right as you enter). It is the closest access point to the trail section since Brookside Drive is closed to traffic on Sunday mornings. (Note: We usually meet the first Sunday of each month, except when that falls on a holiday.)
*Registration is not required for this program
Questions: Contact trailwork@somocon.org
Meetup Posting...
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Plogging & Trail Cleanup Weekend Contest is Back!
June 25th, 7AM - June 27th, 5PM
*Photo from ironroots.com
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Do you like to run, hike, or walk in the South Mountain Reservation? Because of the pandemic our trails are being used now more than ever. With the increase in foot traffic, we’re seeing a lot more trash! So, if you are looking for a way to volunteer and help take care of our beloved SMR, the South Mountain Conservancy and Sassquad Trail Running are asking you to get involved in this summer clean-up weekend event. We call this weekend a virtual plogging event. So, what is PLOGGING? Plogging originated over in Sweden and simply means to run and pick up trash! If running isn’t your speed – don’t worry! You can absolutely go out and WALK and pick up trash!
How to Join
1. Get out on your favorite trail in the Reservation whenever you want on Friday 6/25, Saturday 6/26, or Sunday 6/27. Be sure to wear gloves, use hand sanitizer, and bring a trash bag (or more). Follow the trail/park rules! Be safe, be smart and have fun!
2. After collecting your bag(s) of trash, take a photo of the bag(s) and post it on our Facebook page or on our Meetup page.
3. Deposit the trash in the trash cans located in all Reservation parking lots. We recommend plogging on the trails first and finish up in the picnic/parking areas where you will find the most trash.
*Grabbers are a great incentive for kids!
Prizes will be awarded for:
1. WEIRDEST TRASH ITEM FOUND (must show item in a photo)
2. MOST BAGS OF TRASH COLLECTED BY ONE PERSON or FAMILY OVER THE 3 DAYS
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We are expanding our Board of Trustees.
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The South Mountain Conservancy is looking for new members for its volunteer Board of Trustees. Individuals are invited to apply who are passionate about South Mountain Reservation and supporting the conservancy's mission as steward of and advocate for this beloved park and increasing public engagement. Experience on nonprofit boards, a background in environmental/ecology issues, or business acumen are some of the skills sought. We are also seeking individuals that can serve as secretary and treasurer and reflect the diverse communities that use the park. Board members are expected to attend evening meetings every couple of months (now via Zoom) and take on additional operational or administrative responsibilities, as required. If interested, please contact Dennis Percher, chairperson, at chair@somocon.org.
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Guided hikes scheduled every weekend!
Pre-Covid times, our hikes were open to the public with a simple registration process through Meetup. We were proud to serve the community in this way and to deliver a safe and high quality hiking experience. Through Covid, however, we altered our registration protocol and limited the hikes to our member community in order to safely register all participants and keep our volunteer hike leaders and participants safe. Hikes will continue to be offered to members only and registration is required. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly. If you recently joined our membership to attend hikes, please leave up to 10 days for your membership to be processed. Once complete, you will receive hike invites in your inbox at the end of each month. If you have questions about your membership status, email us. Thank you for your understanding and happy hiking!
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Another reason to support the places you love!
SMC Members will now receive 10% off any Sassquad Trail Runners Events. Inquire today.
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You can help support South Mountain Reservation!
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