PRHS Community School

Barrens to Bay For Grown-Ups -- Winter/Spring 2025

March 25, 2025 -- Mr. Joel Mott of the NJ Pinelands Commission joined us for a field trip to the Pine Plains near the Range Road on Rte. 539.  Mr. Mott descirbed the the characteristics of the soil and water, unique Pine Barrens plants, and discussed the fire ecology and evolution of this unique ecosystem. 

April 7, 2025 -- Historian Andrew Anderson from Double Trouble County Park joined us for a walking tour of Double Trouble Historic Site.  Andrew discussed how the lumber and cranberry industry utilized the area gave guided tours of Cedar Creek, the saw mill, and the cranberry packing house. 

April 15, 2025 -- Data Collection Night -- Adult students performed an eel mop collection and water testing in the Pinelands BOGS! 

April 29, 2025 -- A great night at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station!  Roland Hagan and “Motz” Grothues provided a history of the station, an overview of ongoing projects, and led tours of RUMFS.  Lisa Auermuller discussed coastal resiliency and the tools available (Flood Mapper, NJAdapt) to help community leaders make decisions. Amanda Archer from the JCNERR introduced the MyCoast app, a citizen science tool to gather data about flooding. 

May 6, 2025 -- A meet the author night with Dr. Ken Able.  Ken discussed his many years as director the Rutgers University Marine Field Station and the books that have followed.  He focussed mainly on his upcoming book that explores the natural history of Seven Bridges Road.  Ken Able's Books

May 13, 2025: Deb & John Meiman, ReClam The Bay Educational Outreach Committee members provided an overview of shellfish biology.  They reviewed the anatomy of shellfish, compared clam & oyster habitats, identified shellfish predators, and described the ecological services that bivalves provide.  Mr. & Mrs. Meiman also described various projects including upwellers, living shorelines, and local shell recycling programs.

May 20, 2025:  NJDEP Watershed Ambassador Forrest Jennings provided an overview of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Bioindicator Species and their relationship to the health of an ecosystem.  Forrest then provided an opportunity to identify specimen he collected from the BOG 3 using taxonomic keys.