Avni and Liv from GreenQuest collaborated with Wayne Grounded on a local restoration project in Wayne! They helped remove invasive mugwort from Sheffield Park and smother it with cardboard and mulch so it does not regrow in the spring. 

While school just got out for summer, students were still active in learning about freshwater ecosystems around New Jersey. We ended with a trip to Laurelwood Arboretum's two ponds!

GreenQuest is back at Laurelwood Arboretum for a new series on Pollinators. Bringing back a classic topic, we learned about the benefits pollinators bring to the environment. Afterwards, students had fun trying to spot different types of pollinators during a nature walk. 

Inspired by a previous Laurelwood Arboretum program, Avni and Faryah created a presentation on the importance of native species in our local ecosystems. Students ended with a walk around the arboretum to identify native organisms. 

While this event was slighlty different from normal, GreenQuest taught students interesting facts about nature, followed by a trivia game!

A presentation given by Avni Lende about animals in the tundra taught students how polar animals have special adaptations that allow them to live. We completed polar bear camouflage crafts. 

GreenQuest member Avni Lende helped the Wayne Environmental Commission at their booth during Wayne Day. She met members of local environmental organizations and some former GreenQuest students!

Students learned about wooded forests in New Jersey and some common types of trees in Wayne, NJ. Afterwards, we went on a nature walk where students used their new knowledge to identify tree species around Laurelwood. 

GreenQuest members assisted Laurelwood Arboretum in a "Deer Walk" to remove deer from the park's grounds. The deer were safely herded outside the newly completed deer fence so native fauna can continue to thrive! 

During the June meeting at Laurelwood Arboretum, GreenQuest dove into the world of fascinating frogs and turtles. Students learned with a splash of fun at Laurel Pond and created their own frog crafts! 

GreenQuest participated in the "Planet vs. Plastics" Earth Day event at the Laurelwood Arboretum, where we connected with various community groups, Council President Jason DeStefano, and Mayor Chris Vergano!

Students took a listen as to how music plays an important role in the lives of animals and how nature, in turn, has inspired music created by humans. Students made their own percussion instruments out of recycled materials as well! 

Students learned about underground animals in conjunction with Groundhog Day. After delving into the subterranean world of moles, worms, and prairie dogs, participants got to build their own 3D rabbit burrows!

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, students learned about the ways Native Americans interacted with their environment, and analyzed their sustainable lifestyles!

In conjunction with Spooky Season, GreenQuest themed the October 2023 lesson on spiders and bats, misunderstood animals that are not as scary as they seem!

GreenQuest took a visit to the Laurelwood Sensory Garden in August to hunt for pollinators like bees and butterflies after learning about why they are so important for our planet!

School may have just got out for summer, but students were still active in investigating the aquatic habitats at Laurelwood Arboretum, namely Laurelwood Pond!

A highly anticipated moment, GreenQuest officially debuted at the Laurelwood Arboretum in April of 2023!!! In conjunction with Arbor Day, the first lesson in the Arboretum Series focused on trees, with Laurelwood's tree whisperer John Crowell giving students an in-depth tour of the trees at the Arboretum.

GreenQuest examined the wonders of animal architecture at the start of 2023. They even got to build their own bird nests out of coconut fiber!

GreenQuest students dove into the world of coral reefs in the summer of 2022! Kids enjoyed learning about these biodiversity hotspots and building mini dioramas of coral reefs.

After several months of planning, Eagle Scout Aadhithyaram Balaji kicked off the GreenQuest Nature Club at the Wayne Public Library in January of 2022! The first lesson was on the intricacies of snowflakes, and participants decorated their own pipe cleaner snowflakes. Coincidentally enough, each participant's snowflake was unique in design, just like snowflakes in real life!