Friends of Great Swamp Hug (and Tag!) the Trees and Shrubs

By Paul Lauber – Volunteer, Great Swamp NWR, NJ

Like all environmental organizations, Friends of Great Swamp NWR in Morris County, New Jersey, faced the daunting challenge of COVID-19; not only its impact on our visitors, but also the implications for our large and active group of Friends volunteers. To meet the challenge, we increased our volunteers’ outdoor experiences as well as our visitors’ opportunities to explore our unique freshwater swamp.

One of our most visited spots at Great Swamp NWR is our Wildlife Observation Center, with an extensive boardwalk system through swamp, marsh, and mixed hardwood forest. Although many visitors come to the refuge for the great birding (this is New Jersey, after all), many are also interested in learning more about the wide variety of trees and shrubs. So…we convened a small group of Friends volunteers to scout out the trails for trees and shrubs typical of a northern NJ swamp. The challenge….to find and tag examples close enough to the trails so that the leaves, bark, and overall species size can be studied and appreciated by our year-round visitors.

By the end of our project, we had tagged 60 trees and shrubs, covering 25 overall species. Importantly, all the examples can be easily studied by visitors without leaving the boardwalk trails. For aesthetic reasons, we affixed a numbered yellow tag to the tree or shrub. When visitors are greeted by our volunteers or access our display kiosk, they receive a one-page guide that corresponds to the numbered trees/shrubs and includes quick facts about each species. We have received positive feedback from our visitors.

With a goal of tagging our best field examples, one final challenge presented itself. Our team found a massive white oak (Quercus alba), though a fair distance off the boardwalk. We realized that we needed a much larger tag so that visitors could appreciate and learn more about this 200-year-old giant. Fortunately, Friends volunteer Dave Katz generously used his skill and 3D printer to produce a larger tag in the exact color-coded specifications that were required! Our project was truly a team effort.

The renowned poet (and NJ native) Joyce Kilmer once wrote, “I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree.” We Friends agree and have already found that our tagging project has inspired visitors to a greater appreciation for the trees and shrubs indigenous to our refuge. Although the challenges of the pandemic can seem exhausting, the Friends believe that the opportunities to celebrate the Great Swamp’s treasures with both visitors and volunteers are endless.