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Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Located in a 1753 farmhouse on 12 acres, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance quietly works to make sure that the New Jersey Pinelands’s million-plus acres are protected for generations to come. But it is how they do that that makes things interesting.
Stop by the Pinelands Visitor Center in a charming historic farmhouse and you can find out all kinds of things to do, places to go and attractions to see within the Pinelands. Take a walk around the trail that winds through the grounds, and check out the native plant gardens. Or inquire about PPA’s interesting – and sometimes a little wacky – activities.
Among PPA’s most popular activities are their various Pinelands Adventures. Join their experienced naturalists on day or overnight canoe trips down the rivers of the Pinelands. Tag along for a Big Swamp Cougar Hunt and learn about the area’s natural history. Get rugged with the Wilderness Survival activities.
But one of the most fun ways to get introduced to the Pinelands is to summon up you courage, defy danger and join in a Jersey Devil Hunt. You bring the hot dogs and marshmallows for a pre-hunt cookout. After a few campfire songs, you’ll trek into the Wharton State Forest in search of the winged, red-eyed monster. We’re not spilling the beans about who actually spotted the legendary Devil—or whether they survived. But we will say it is one of PPA’s most popular programs so make your reservations in advance.
And yes, there is lots more to PPA than fun and games. The organization can arrange public, professional and curriculum-based education programs, conducts summer institutes for teachers and manages an activist network to help those interested in conservation and preservation issues stay on top of new developments and issues.
BRING THE FAMILY
Pinelands Preservation Alliance offers environmental education programs, nature activities and wilderness adventures for all ages. Their Pinelands Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday, from 10am – 4pm. Check out their website at www.preservationalliance.org to find something that your whole family enjoy.
COME PREPARED
Each program and activity has different requirements so if you are participating in one of their programs, ask about what you'll need to know. But if you just want to visit the site for a nice quiet hike around the grounds, bring a hat, slather on the sunscreen and bug spray, and make sure you have your binoculars handy.
WHO KNEW
Beneath the Pinelands is a huge reservoir of fresh water known as the Kirkwood Cohansey aquifer, an underground water supply that is equivalent to a lake that would measure 2,300 square miles, averaging 38 feet deep and containing 17 trillion gallons of water. The aquifer feeds most of the region's streams, supports agriculture, and provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.
JERSEY DEVIL SIGHTINGS
Who knows when he'll show up around here. That's why the Pinelands Preservation Alliance offers Jersey Devil Hunts in the spring and fall. Contact them for reservations.
VOLUNTEER
If you would like to get involved with Pinelands preservation while learning, having fun and meeting interesting people, they have many opportunities for you. Join the crew and represent PPA at festivals, lead walks, give talks, take action or help with mail campaigns. They have lots of activities and offer training programs for their volunteers. For more information, call (609) 859-8860, ext. 15 or email ppa@pinelandsalliance.org.
SUPPORT
As a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Pinelands, there is always more work to do. Contact the Pinelands Preservation Alliance to find out how your donations, sponsorship or other support can help them in their mission. Call (609) 859-8860 to learn more.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Whether you are here for an educational program, hike, Jersey Devil hunt or nature activity, please be sure to bring bags to keep your trash all in one place. And if you want to really be a good nature-lover, take it home with you to recycle.
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