SMC 25th Gala a great success!
On Saturday, October 26th the Conservancy celebrated 25 years of caring for and engaging people with the South Mountain Reservation with a gala at the newly renovated Baird Community Center in South Orange. Sixty-six people attended the affair which offered music by the Blue Sphere jazz trio led by Bill Tally, a buffet dinner by the Baird caterer, the Player Agency, and 25-year retrospective by SMC Chair Dennis Percher (image below).  There was also a poem about the reservation by local poet Mary Brancaccio, and a song for the occasion by Bill Tally. The gala and auction plus donations raised approximately $3,700. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this successful event! 
 



 You can see additional photos and videos here: GALA PHOTOS
Citizen Science

Did you know that The South Mountain Conservancy monitors local frog and toad populations every year?

For the past five years, teams of up to 20 people have been monitoring frogs in the late evenings during the breeding season. Operating under the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum Chapter, our team is trained to identify up to 18 frog and toads that live in NJ, and we do it mainly by sound!

Join us for an introduction to our team, what we do, why we do it, and what data we've collected so far! Come for fun and/or learn how you can join our 2025 team!

Please note ZOOM LINK will be posted in the Meetup page for this event:

RSVP for FrogWatch Zoom
POLLINATOR MEADOW RESTORATION PROJECT
SAVE THE DATE!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th, 11am to 2pm
 

Come one, come all! After two growing seasons of solarization, our restoration project is ready for the next phase!

A glimpse into the day:
Lifting, folding and tying large pieces of greenhouse plastic.
Light raking, large scale seed dispersal, laying straw, and having a dance party over the seeds to push them into the ground.

Wear layers, bring water and snacks, and a productive and team-spirited attitude. See you there!

Have equipment you think we could use? Questions? 
Email Lori at citizenscience@somocon.org
RSVP on Meetup here so we can plan the workday!
Wildflower Sculpture Park 
Join Us on Sunday, November 17th at 11 am for a special Walk & Talk Tour of the Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP). 

Curator Doris Cacoilo and our three 2024 artists will give a talk and tour of the WSP and this season's site-specific installations.  
Third Annual Photo Contest Continues

We are still accepting submissions of this beautiful fall season in the South Mountain Reservation!

How to enter:
1. Follow us on Instagram: @southmountainconservancy
2. Post your photo, tag us @southmountainconservancy, and use the hashtag #2024SMCFALLPHOTOCONTEST
-OR-
Direct message your entry photo to us on Instagram @southmountainconservancy.


🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁⁣ 
⁣ 
2024 prizes are donated by these generous local sponsors:⁣ 

1st place: $75 gift certificate from Salvage Style located in the 
Maplewood Mercantile.

2nd place: Custom necklace designed and inspired by the South Mountain Reservation from Solo Jewelry

3rd place: $25 gift certificate to Maplewood's Words Bookstore 
Forest Regeneration Team

JOIN THE NEXT FOREST REGENERATION WORK DAY!

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. On workdays, 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 11 Bear Lane, Maplewood, NJ. Please be on time as we will hike to the forest by 9am. 
Sunday, November 17 - Forest Regen - Meetup Info
Join a Trail Work Day! 

Last trail work day of 2024!

TRAIL WORK will again be rerouting, and hopefully finishing, parts of the Lenape Trail and fixing swales along the Balls Bluff Trail to improve drainage. 
Note: Consistent, moderate rain cancels. If temperatures have been below freezing so the ground is frozen, event is also cancelled.
Sunday, December 8 - Trail Work - Meetup Info
Seeking new Trash Tackler Program Coordinator!
The South Mountain Conservancy is looking for a volunteer to join our Trash Tackler team as a Program Coordinator
under the guidance of Dave Berry. 
  
Trash Tacklers is a key part of SMC's stewardship. Last year, 20 community groups and seven individuals removed over 200 bags of trash from the reservation and -- with the reservation being so popular -- there is ALWAYS more work to do! We are seeking an additional program coordinator to help oversee these volunteers.  

We believe that volunteering is a fulfilling and meaningful way to give back to the community and make a positive impact. If this is you, please reach out to us at trashtacklers@somocon.org for a full description of the role.  

SMR Hidden Places Challenge 
(Answers below)

Free Guided Hikes in the Reservation


Autumn hikers on a recent Poetry Hike with local poet, Mary Brancaccio
Hike Registration Info
Local high school student, Lia Giger is offering hand-lettered note cards to support the Conservancy. This year alone she has raised over $300 with her efforts! Lia says, "my love for hiking and the outdoors started in the Reservation, and I have been spending time there since I was little. I’m so happy I can support the Conservancy with my art and your help!" 

Buy your note cards here and support the South Mountain Conservancy! 
Shop now!
Donate
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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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Would you like to get involved, schedule a program
or have an idea to share?

We'd love to hear from you!
 
Citizen Science: Lori LaBorde, citizenscience@somocon.org
Chainsaw Gang: David Berry, chainsawgang@somocon.org
Community Outreach: Dave Berry, community-outreach@somocon.org
Fairy Trail: Julie Gould & Beth Kelly, fairytrail@somocon.org
Forest Regeneration: Rich Rockwell, forestregen@somocon.org
Hikes: Bobbette Clarke, hikes@somocon.org
Mayapple Trail Runs: Dennis Percher, Mayapple-Trail-Runs@somocon.org
SMR Family Campout: Penni Malakates & Dennis Percher,  familycampout@somocon.org
Trailkeepers: Dennis Percher & Dave Berry, trailkeepers@somocon.org
Trail Work Crew: Dennis Percher & John Verzani, trailwork@somocon.org
Trash Tacklers: David Berry, trashtacklers@somocon.org
Wildflower Sculpture Park: Doris Cacoilo, sculpturepark@somocon.org
Operations Director: Penni Malakates, opsdirector@somocon.org
Copyright © 2024 South Mountain Conservancy, All rights reserved.