FOPOS
FOPOS Summer 2024 Newsletter

PRESERVATION OF 90 ACRES ON HERRONTOWN ROAD

We look forward to a closing on another critical large tract on the Princeton Ridge – 90 acres on the north side of Herrontown Road, adjacent to Herrontown Woods Preserve. Friends of Princeton Open Space is contributing $390,000 of State Green Acres grant funding plus a private gift of $1 million towards the acquisition of this land, which was subject to intense development pressure before a preservation agreement was reached with the Municipality, FOPOS, and other non-profit partners. State grants to the consortium, County grants to the Municipality, our local open space tax and other private funds are all helping secure this important link in the forested tracts on Princeton’s perimeter, which provide important environmental services such as slowing stormwater runoff and habitat for threatened species.

Read on for more programming and event highlights…

FOPOS Summer 2024 Newsletter
FOPOS
Meet the 2023 interns

FOPOS provides Internships for young people actively pursuing a degree or career in ecology, natural resource management, environmental education, or related fields. Each summer, FOPOS welcomes a roster of budding naturalists to work with our Stewardship Team and interface with volunteer groups and our community. Read more about FOPOS's Internship program. FOPOS is also proud to offer Internships to high school students in partnership with the Outdoor Equity Alliance. Thank you to FOPOS's partners and friends for helping to make these Internships possible.

Please meet the 2023 Land Steward Interns…

Meet the 2023 interns
Staff, Education
FOPOS
Meet the Interns!

A team of seven Land Steward Interns are working with Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) to develop ecological monitoring protocols and educational programming at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in Princeton.

Meet the Interns!
Education, Volunteers, Newsletter, Sustainable Living, Donate
FOPOS
Springing into Action with Friends of Princeton ...

We’re thrilled to have partnered with the Municipality, the Watershed Institute, the Ridgeview Conservancy, Mercer County, the State’s Green Acres Program and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation to preserve a 153-acre mature forest in the northwest corner of town.

Springing into Action with Friends of Princeton Open Space
Education, Volunteers, Newsletter, Sustainable Living, Donate
FOPOS
Spring Has Sprung with Friends of Princeton ...

In 2020 volunteers helped to plant nearly 3,000 native trees and shrubs within the 18-acre Forest Restoration Project site located at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.

Spring Has Sprung with Friends of Princeton Open Space

Education

FOPOS Hosts Princeton YMCA Outdoor Living Skills Camp

The Friends of Princeton Open Space hosted 36 kids from the Princeton YMCA Outdoor Living Skills Camp on Tuesday, July 18 from 10:00-2:00.  During their time here, the campers learned about, and practiced, Leave No Trace, the set of guidelines for all hikers, campers, etc.

 FOPOS Natural Resource Manager, Jeff Geist, and two summer interns, Anna Korn & Katrina O'Donnell, guided the group around the property.  During their 2 mile hike, the kids learned about tree identification, how to identify edible plants (they all loved wineberries), and the guides helped them with bird and other animal identification.  We rounded out the hike with butterfly and other bug collecting at the Tusculum Meadow.  

The group then enjoyed lunch at Pettoranello Gardens, followed by a brief lesson on outdoor first aid.  Finally, the group all created key chains to remind them of the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.