National Get Outdoors Day - June 14th!
The South Mountain Conservancy is proud to partner with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to bring you a fun-filled day celebrating the outdoors! We are offering free hikes in the South Mountain Reservation. 

You can see the full schedule and register for events on the Essex County Parks website and on the South Mountain Conservancy Meetup page. 
Spring Trail Work Update

We’re excited to share an update on the incredible trail work completed this spring! Thanks to the dedication of our SWAT trail crew and the volunteers who joined us for the April, May, and June monthly workdays, we’ve made significant improvements across the trail network.

Their hard work has enhanced sections of the Elmdale, Oakdale, Lower Turtle Back, Zoo Loop, Lower Rahway Extension, Lenape (between Balls Bluff and Openwood Trail), NW Dogwood Connector, and River trails—making them more sustainable and enjoyable for all.

A special shout-out goes to John Martinko and his Eagle Scout project team for constructing eight water bars on the West Ridge Trail. Their contribution plays a crucial role in preventing erosion and preserving trail quality.
 

Get Involved with Trail Work!

If you enjoy hiking our trails and want to help care for them, consider joining one of our group trail work days. Our monthly trail work teams meet on the first Sunday morning of each month through December 7 (note: the next session is July 13 due to the July 4th weekend).

It’s a great way to give back, spend time outdoors, and meet others who care about our park.
 

To sign up for a trail work day, visit our Meetup page: https://www.meetup.com/somocon/

Hyde & Watson Grant 

Forest Stewardship
In May, the Conservancy was awarded a generous $10,000 grant from the Hyde and Watson Foundation to install fencing around the newly planted one-acre Pollinator Meadow at Shady Nook. The fencing to be installed this year will keep deer out so the  native plantings can flourish. It will also have multiple gates for public access to a network of interior paths. 

The Pollinator Meadow is part of our Citizens Science program in support of our multifaceted 
Forest Stewardship initiative. This initiative also includes work by the FoHVOS/NJ Invasive Species Strike Team funded by the Conservancy and Essex County Parks and our summer internship program that helps maintain the Preserve. Both are slated to start in June. (More on these efforts next month.)
Fairy House Building Contest Winners

Above: First Place Winner "Fairy Fantasy House" submitted by Jillian and Anne Burg

Our 3rd Annual Fairy Tales at the Fairy Trail was a great success! Hundreds of visitors came out to celebrate, and we’re so grateful to all the volunteers who made it possible.

We’re excited to share the results of the Fairy House Building Contest. With over 70 entries, the judges were impressed by the creativity, attention to detail, and thoughtful use of natural, eco-friendly materials.

Congratulations to all the winners! First place is highlighted above. You can see all the of the images on the South Mountain Conservancy Fairy Trail page but be sure to visit the trail to see all the houses in their magical woodland setting!

Seeking new Fairy Trail Co-coordinator!
SMC is seeking a new volunteer Fairy Trail Program Coordinator to join Beth Kelly in leading the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail team.

If you are passionate about nature, creativity, and a little bit of woodland wonder, we’d love to hear from you!

Please email
fairytrail@somocon.org to receive the full role description. 


 
Upcoming Work Days:
Forest Regeneration & Trail Work
Find June work days on Meetup!

 


 
Extra Parking for Hemlock Falls now open!
After years of advocating for extra parking at the Hemlock Falls Trail Head, South Mountain Conservancy is  proud to announce that the West Falls parking area is now open!

Hemlock Falls is one of the busiest parking areas and the small lot becomes unsafe on popular days. We encourage all visitors to this trail to choose an alternative parking location. 

Look for the above sign on South Orange Avenue to find the new trailhead!
POSTPONED! Due to rainy forecasts, SMC postponed the spring SMR Family Campout. The rain date is slated for June 7-8 at Summit Field. The event is still sold out. Check back for another Family Campout in the Fall. 
Free Hikes in June
South Mountain Conservancy is pleased to offer free, guided hikes all through the year! This month we are offering a forest bathing hike and more events for the over 50 community. Join us!
 
See our Meetup page for schedule and signups: 
Meetup Registration
Join the SMC Ambassadors!

The Conservancy Ambassador Program (CAP) is a volunteer initiative designed to build a dedicated team  who engage with the public as guides, educators, and advocates for the South Mountain Conservancy’s mission. Volunteers must be 18+. Learn about how to promote the Conservancy and apply here: CAP

 
Donate
12-Month Membership
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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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 & Tom Pollard, forestregen@somocon.org
Hikes: 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: Eric Tuvel, trashtacklers@somocon.org
Wildflower Sculpture Park: Doris Cacoilo, sculpturepark@somocon.org
Operations Director: Penni Malakates, opsdirector@somocon.org
SMC Ambassadors: Penni Malakates & John Bylancik, smcambassadors@somocon.org
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