With our prior knowledge of the Pine Barrens, today, we took a guided hike with John Volpa, the education director of Pinelands Adventures. Throughout the five mile hike, he described the ten necessities of hiking, went in depth about the ecological and historical background of the Pine Barrens, justified the name behind the “Pineys,”...
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South Jersey Service: Newton Creek Cleanup
Today, we traveled to Newton Creek, a park in the Camden County system. We met a nice, enthusiastic man by the name of Michael Hogan. Mr. Hogan works for the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, a nonprofit organization that protects and preserves resources within southern New Jersey watersheds. Our first challenge was...
Continue readingA Visit to the Pine Island Cranberry Co!
On the final day of our journeys through the Pine Barrens, our group visited the Pine Island Cranberry Company in Washington, NJ. Once there, we learned about the history of cranberry farming in New Jersey. We were welcomed by employees of the company, including Stefanie and Mike Haines, and learned about the beginning of...
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GYLI: Center for Environmental Transformation Update
Here we are at work in the greenhouse — and outside with the Center’s farmer, Dean....
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GYLI: Center for Environmental Transformation
Today was an exciting day. We started out by playing spoons again! While we were playing Blythe spilled hot chocolate all over herself, so we had to work as a team to find her some clothes and to clean up the mess. After Blythe was settled, we went on the bus to Center for...
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A True Pinelands Adventure
Today was day 3! We went on a fun hike in the Pine Barrens. When we got to Pineland Adventures in Shamong, our tour guide John Volpa gave us an overview about the Pine Barrens and the history about the bog iron industry that developed there. Then we took a bus to the starting...
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Exploring the World of Mandala
After our delicious lunch break, we explored the great outdoors, MFS’s backyard. We found natural elements and discards of the modern world (like tennis balls, lots of tennis balls) to use as elements of our art projects this week. We also found it necessary to pick up the trash and waste left outside for a...
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Bogs, Berries and Jersey Devils
To start off our day we visited the Pine Island Cranberry Co.. We learned a lot about the art of growing and harvesting cranberries. Mr. Haines and his son, daughter, and Christina gave us a lovely tour of the property. We learned about the selective breeding of cranberries, the fungi that can infect them and how...
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Exploring Art: Barren Reflections
Today our Exploring Art group spent our time in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. After we arrived in the Pine Barrens and had a quick tour of the lake, students began working on their individual or group projects. Regardless of the 30 degree weather, we were able to get a lot of unique...
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Pine Barrens: Myths and Realities
Day Four Our group spent the day on campus due to some particularly strong winds and cold temperatures. In the morning, we broke into four groups and each created a video relating to the myth of the Jersey Devil. The legend says that Mother Leeds was pregnant with her 13th child. Frustrated with so...
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Pine Barrens: Hidden Trails
Day Three We first went to the Black Run Preserve, which is right next to Marlton, yet most people don’t know about it. We met with John Volpa, who heads the group chiefly involved with the area. He was our guide and teacher for the day. The Black Run is part of an old...
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