Join us for a 2-mile nature walk at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education in Waretown, NJ.

140 Camp Lighthouse Rd (Entrance at 7th St & Navajo Dr), Waretown, NJ 08758

Free parking in grass field near buildings.

Member Price: Free

Non-member Price: $10

Join NREF at the Lighthouse Center to plant native wildflowers as part of a project to establish a meadow habitat for native pollinators and other wildlife species.

This project is in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to enhance wildlife habitat and improve Barnegat Bay’s resiliency to climate change.

Join the Lehigh community, Pebble Beach HOA, the Township of Ocean's Environmental Commission, the Van Dyk Group, and NREF for a community cleanup of the beaches and shoreline areas of the Township of Ocean!

Volunteers will meet at the Ocean Township Community Center for a light breakfast before the event, starting at 9:00am. Trash bags, buckets, gloves, and hand sanitizer will be available. Participants are encouraged to bring their own buckets and gloves for trash/recycling pickup. This activity is suitable for ages 13 and up.

The Lighthouse Center and the surrounding land and shoreline areas will be among the areas including in the cleanup event. NREF Board of Directors members will be present at the Lighthouse Center to help direct volunteers to areas that would benefit the most from litter pickup efforts.

RSVP by April 26, 2025 using this form.

Volunteers will work to maintain hiking trails at the Lighthouse Center and the surrounding habitat. Activities will include picking up litter and spreading woodchips on trails.

Each year, teachers, environmental educators and nature enthusiasts from arounf the watershed (and around the state!) look forward to the Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable. The 28th Annual Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education, Waretown, NJ. Visit the Ocean County Soil Conservation District website at https://soildistrict.org/environmental-educators-roundtable/ to learn more about this year’s roundtable and past roundtables.

The educational programs and opportunities available from all participating agencies, organizations, and groups allow a comprehensive approach to watershed education and provides educators with a “one-stop-shop” approach, It is well known that educators are more likely to present and teach topics with which they are familiar and comfortable. The main goal and objective of the annual Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable is to provide this opportunity for teachers and to spur action to improve and protect the health of the Barnegat Bay watershed.

Reach out to OCSCD Education Outreach Coordinator Becky Laboy at education@soildistrict.org for more details. Additionally, peruse the OCSCD’s lesson plans and resources for educators webpage at https://soildistrict.org/lesson-plans-resources-for-educators/ to find pertinent teaching and learning materials for your classroom or outdoor learning experiences.

Help maintain hiking trails at the Lighthouse Center and the surrounding natural habitat. Tools will be provided for picking up litter and improving walking trails.