South Mountain Conservancy e-Bulletin - September 2022
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Our 8th annual Family Campout sold out in the first week! Registration is now closed. Thank you to all the families and volunteers who signed up! We are looking forward to a great event on October 1st & 2nd. Raindate October 8/9.
This year's event features nature games, animal exhibits from Essex County’s Turtle Back Zoo, guided hikes, kids’ exploration and crafts, music, a campfire with S’mores and stories, morning yoga, and a Sunday breakfast. There will be lots of programming for kids ages 4-11!
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New Operations Director Comes Aboard!
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 Penni Malakates recently joined the South Mountain Conservancy as Operations Director. Penni spent most of her career in the international art world but has always made the outdoors a part of her life. Since leading outdoor adventure trips for kids across Maine as a Bates College student, she has remained close to outdoor organizations and activities. She is passionate about increasing access to the outdoors for people of all ages and backgrounds and believes in community building through volunteerism and time spent outside. Through her work with the Conservancy, Penni hopes to bring a greater awareness of the joys of the Reservation to the broader Essex County community. She lives in Maplewood with her husband and two kids.
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Meet our new
Program Coordinators!
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 New Trash Tacklers Co-Coordinator Amber Benezra grew up in Colorado where being outdoors, indigenous land ownership, and stewardship are a part of everyday life. Since moving here from the city eight years ago, the South Mountain Reservation has become an important part of her family’s life. Besides plogging and leading scout troops in trash cleanups, Amber always found herself on the trails with a grabber and trash bag… so often that people started asking if she “worked” for the SMC. She decided to scale up her volunteer efforts and join Dave Berry as a Trash Tacklers program Co-coordinator. Besides picking up trash, Amber is a professor at Stevens in Hoboken and lives in South Orange with her partner, two kids, and their cockapoo.
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New Fairy Trail Co-cordinators Beth Kelly and Julie Gould aim to honor and continue the vision of founder Therese Ojibway to make the Fairy Trail a magical destination for children of all ages. They are excited for the opportuity to lead the next chapter of this unique NJ destination and keep visitors coming back time and time again to reconnect with the beauty and magic of nature in South Mountain Reservation. They will be recruiting "makers and keepers" to volunteer on the Fairy Trail throughout the year, so be sure to watch this space!
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 Beth Kelly is a Montclair resident who caught the fever of the magical, whimsical Fairy Trail while hiking with a group of students from her school shortly after the Fairy Trail opened. Beth is an avid hiker who believes that with life’s hectic pace and frequent stimulation, nature offers a way to quiet the mind and find some clarity. Beth has been a school administrator in East Orange for 17 years. She holds a BA in Physical Education/Health Education and Elementary Education, as well as a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Environmental Science. Beth is excited to be part of the Fairy Trail experience, which gets people to enjoy time outdoors, stimulates the imagination, and welcomes a little magic into their lives. |
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Julie Gould is a Morris Plains resident who first fell in love with the Fairy Trail at the beginning of the pandemic when she brought her two sons, ages 7 and 9 to discover the awe-inspiring craftsmanship of the houses along the trail. She is a creative spirit, and thanks to her very supportive husband of 10 years, now has a fairy workshop in her home where she learns how to use tools and tries to avoid splinters. When she’s not gluing and sanding, she is the Senior Director of Marketing at B&G Foods, managing their Spices portfolio of brands. Julie is thrilled to now be a part of carrying on the Fairy Trail legacy.
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For 10 weeks this summer, two paid, part-time college interns helped maintain the 14-acre Wildflower and Forest Preserve as part of SMC's Forest Regeneration program overseen by Christy Zolty.
Emilie Wigchers, on left, is a junior at Seton Hall, in Environmental Studies. Aminat "Toby" Arowolo is a Rutgers senior in landscape architecture design. Despite the frequent extreme heat this summer, Emilie and Toby widened Preserve trails by brushing back vegetation and laid down wood chips where paths were uneven or wet. Wading through the soggy mud in the vernal pool, they removed phragmites and attacked other invasive plants such as mugwort, garlic mustard and Japanese knotweed. Faced with the proliferating Spotted Lanternfly, they found an especially inventive way to catch them with a soda bottle and a small shovel. Finally, they worked to finalize a plant identification map of the Preserve that has been an evolving project of the South Mountain Conservancy for the past three years. It will be the basis for plant tags and a QR code linked to plant information on our website.
We thank Emilie and Toby for all their hard work and wish them well in their studies!
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September Volunteer Opportunities
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Sunday, September 11
9am-12pm
Trail Work Crew Volunteer Workday
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Trail Work is very satisfying but strenuous as we use hand tools to construct hiking trails. This month, we will finish building the Lenape Bypass near Mayapple Hill and mitigate erosion problems along the Lenape Trail nearby. Participants must be 15 years or older; below 18, a parent’s signature on the liability waiver form is needed. Meet at the Mayapple Hill parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants and bring water. We supply the tools and snacks. Questions: trailwork@somocon.org
PLEASE REGISTER ON MEETUP SO WE
KNOW HOW MANY TOOLS TO BRING!
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Sunday, September 18
9am-12pm
Forest Regeneration Volunteer Workday
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Forest Regeneration activities focus on the areas in and around the fenced 14-acre Forest and Wildflower Preserve located near the Dog Park in the Reservation. We will focus on removing invasive plants like knotweed and mugwort. Ages 12 to 15 are welcome with a parent or guardian present. Ages 15 and above require a signature by a parent or guardian on a liability waiver; teenagers cannot just be dropped off.
Please dress appropriately! Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes or rain boots, bug spray, and layer as needed. We supply gloves and water.
Meet at the dog statue at Dog Park at 11 Bear Lane, Maplewood NJ.
Pre-registration is not required.
For information, contact Program Coordinator Christy Zolty at forestregen@somocon.org
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Sunday, September 18
9am-12pm
Invasive Plant Hike Pre-K - 5th Grade
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This hike is open to Pre-K through 5th graders. The class will be taught by Girl Scout Madeleine Benson with assistance from the South Mountain Conservancy. It is not a drop-off event and parents must accompany children.
Please bring water and bug spray and dress for the weather with closed-toed shoes. Bring gloves and gardening tools such as weed removers, clippers or trowels.
Meet at the dog statue at Dog Park at 11 Bear Lane, Maplewood NJ.
Pre-registration is not required.
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Hike South Mountain Reservation
with our experienced hike leaders
Our free guided hiking program is packed this season to get you outside and enjoying the cooler weather! Witness all the changes of autumn in the reservation and treat yourself to a gift of wellness. SMC members receive a full hike schedule each month delivered to their inbox, along with the opportunity for early bird registration. Non-members can register for hikes one week in advance through our Events Calendar, Meetup, or Facebook events.
Hikes are always free but registration, through Eventbrite, is required.
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Would you like to get involved, schedule a program
or have an idea to share?
We'd love to hear from you!
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preserve, protect, restore
SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION
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Double Your Gift
Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations. Most match contributions dollar for dollar, and some will even triple the amount of your gift! To find out if your company has a matching gift program check with your Human Resources Department.
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