PEACE NJ - People Enjoying Active Conservation of the Environment in NJ

10/08/2026

We have the opportunity tonight to see a spectacular display of the annual Draconids meteor shower tonight (10/8) after 9pm until about 1am Friday (10/9) morning.
The Draconids are unusual in that they are best viewed in the evening hours rather than before dawn.
This year the viewing is likely to be good because the sky will be darker--the moon is waning and will be a thin crescent tonight!

Meteors can appear anywhere, but going to a place where you can see a wide open sky is best.

So, get away from bright lights
Give your eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust
Look up and scan a broad section of sky
Be patient! It can take an hour to see a meteor!

09/25/2026

Sadly our Free Fishing Day event is cancelled due to anticipated bad weather. Sigh.
But now we have a little more time to get ready to work in
Hackettstown High School starting Monday! The Musconetcong Watershed Association and Hackettstown HS Environmental Science classes are going to help us monitor our project site in Alumni Park this year! In preparation which had William Martin, a local artist help us create some cool supplies!

09/19/2026

Today Matt Trochim from Musconetcong Watershed Association and I were at the Hackettstown Free Public Library and participating in their Mantis Mania event. We were too busy to take pictures of our "Meet the Real Monsters of the Musconetcong" and "Build your own River Monster" activities, but we met the folks from Arachno-showbia sharing their collection of Mantis' from around the world. Here I caught a lovely flower mantis lady giving me the eye.

09/03/2026

Last week we hosted a workshop for the Princeton University Community Action program with our partners Musconetcong Watershed Association. Our workshop was focussed on interpretation and interpretive signage as an integral part of environmental education. As part of the workshop, the 128 freshman/transfer students created posters to provide us with ideas on how to engage park users about bees and other pollinators. This activity will support creating content for 3 signs we will be installing at Doug A Blake Park in Hackettstown at the end of our riverbank restoration project there.

07/09/2026

Female Merganser on Rock In The Musconetcong River 062926

While walking the river trail along the Musconetcong River I spotted a female cormorant sitting on a a rock in the morning sun. I don't often see them this time of year in this stretch of river so it was a bit exciting.

While walking the river trail along the Musconetcong River I spotted a female cormorant sitting on a a rock in the morning sun. I don’t often see them this time of year in this stretch of riv…

07/03/2026

It's extremely hot outside and I hope you are all drinking plenty of fluids and minimizing outdoor heavy work and activities.
Even the native plants in your garden need help in this weather--check out this guidance!

07/03/2026

Walkabouts a study in light and shade at my local park.

While on my morning walkabout last week I came upon a pair of pileated woodpecker siblings working some trees just off trail. The morning light hit them just right. That’s something I have be…

06/29/2026

Celebrate Pollinator Week by getting to know your pollinator neighbors! Right now we're seeing Great Spangled Fritillary adults in Doug A Blake Park in Hackettstown and in our yards. These beautiful orange butterflies have distinctive black markings and silvery spots that make them easy to identify. They depend on the humble violet in lawns---violet leaves are the only food their caterpillars can eat. As adults they use the nectar of the milkw**ds and Joe-Pye w**d that start to bloom in June and July.
We can keep enjoying these important pollinators by leaving areas with violets unmowed in the spring.
Enjoy reading more about this pollinator at this US Forest Service link!
https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/fritillary

06/29/2026

Carp In Action Or Mantis Man? 062026

While out for a morning paddle on the upper Musconetcong River I came upon a bit of activity on the waters surface. I think it was carp feeding but it could have been the Mantis Man who is known to live in the area. What do you think?

While out for a morning paddle on the upper Musconetcong River I came upon a bit of activity on the waters surface. I think it was carp feeding but it could have been the Mantis Man who is known to…

06/27/2026

Collection From Alumni Field Walkabouts 061526 to 061926

Collection from my Alumni Field walkabouts last week. Amazing encounters and sights all week long.

Collection from my Alumni Field walkabouts last week. Amazing encounters and sights all week long.