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  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Education
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    • Advocacy
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    • Presentations
  • Where We Work
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    • Delaware Bay
    • Jamaica Bay
    • Sarasota Bay
    • National Policy
  • Who We Are
    • History
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  • Newsroom
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  • Blog
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Previous editions of the Littoral Society Newsletters

Students from Vineland School Become Habitat Investigators

Vineland, NJ

Third grade students from Compass Academy Charter School in Vineland, NJ became habitat investigators in their own Outdoor Classroom during a recent Stream Savers Education Program with the American Littoral Society. Learn more about how the Littoral Society is helping students explore the Earth's living laboratory.

 

New Coordinator and Sip 'N Shucks Highlight SIDCI Work
Sandy Hook, NJ

The American Littoral Society’s “Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It” shell recycling program has seen both change and progress over the past few months. Find out what's been going on over the past few months.

 

SeaQuest Closes Out Season with Fishing Lessons and Field Trips
Pennsauken and Asbury Park, NJ

As 2022 comes to a close, the students of Sisters Academy of New Jersey in Asbury Park and Camden Forward School in Pennsauken enjoyed their final SeaQuest lessons and field trips. 

City to Shore: How Stormwater Affects Life in the Bayshore
Delaware Bay, NJ

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While it might seem minor, stormwater — that’s water that can’t be absorbed into the ground when it rains due to changes that humans have made to the landscape — has a major impact on the coast. Discover why stormwater can be a problem and what the Littoral Society is doing about it. 

 

Snow Geese Arrive Just in Time for Winter Waterfowl Walk
Jamaica Bay, NY

On Sunday, November 20, the American Littoral Society - in partnership with NYC Audubon, Jamaica Bay – Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service - held a winter waterfowl walk at the Jamaica Bay Refuge. Learn more about the birds sighted during the event.

 

If You Encounter a Cold Stunned or Injured Marine Animal, Call Area Stranding Hotlines
New York and New Jersey

As the season gets colder and the temperatures shift in our local ocean waters, marine animal strandings become more common on our beaches. Learn what you can do if you encounter one.

 

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Zero Waste Holidays Workshop
Via Zoom
Monday, December 5, Noon-1 pm

Join the Littoral Society for a virtual workshop on ways to reduce waste this holiday season.

 

Sip 'N Shuck
Highlands, NJ
Friday, December 9, 4-6 pm

Learn how to shuck oysters with the American Littoral Society and the Barnegat Oyster Collective at Bahrs Landing! 

 

Jamaica Bay Holiday Party
via Zoom
Sunday, December 11, 5-7 pm

Join the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter for a virtual Holiday Party! 

 

Wonders of Winter Bird Walk
Highlands, NJ
Friday, December 16, 10 am-Noon

Let's get birdy! Find more information and register on our website.

 
 

Wonders of Winter Bird Walk
Jamaica Bay, NY
Saturday, December 17, 10 am-1 pm

Discover Jamaica Bay's winter birds and wildlife with a walk around its ponds and gardens.

 
 

New Year's Day Walk at Fort Tilden
Queens, NY
Sunday, January 1, 11 am-1 pm

Join us to ring in the New Year with a walk through Fort Tilden! 

 

New Year's Day Walk on Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook, NJ
Sunday, January 1, 11 am - 1 pm

There's no better way to celebrate the New Year than a walk to the tip of Sandy Hook! 

 

Montauk Winter Weekend
Montauk, NY
Friday through Sunday, January 20-22

Discover the many wonders of Montauk with a Littoral Society weekend on the Long Island!

 

Seastreak Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise with the American Littoral Society
Highlands, NJ
January through March 2023

Join Littoral Society staff for seal and winter wildlife cruises aboard the Seastreak ferry on Saturdays from January through March.

 

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Public Support Helps Protect Delaware Bay’s Horseshoe Crabs

Delaware Bay, NJ

Your efforts to help protect Delaware Bay horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds paid off as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recently decided not to restart the harvest of female crabs for bait.

 

Littoral Society Staff Share Work at Delaware River Forum
Philadelphia, PA

American Littoral Society staff recently spoke at the 10th Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum. Learn more about the topics discussed at the gathering.

 

Student Shadows Restoration Team During Reef Monitoring
Delaware Bay, NJ

Discover why a Pennsylvania high school student shadowed two of our Restoration Team members during recent reef monitoring on New Jersey's Delaware Bayshore.

 

Littoral Society Takes Part in Bridgeton Public Library's Environmental Education Day
Bridgeton, NJ

The American Littoral Society’s Delaware Bayshore team proudly participated in the first annual Environmental Education Day at Bridgeton Public Library on October 25.

 

Littoral Society Engages Teachers at NJEA Convention
Atlantic City, NJ

The American Littoral Society was an exhibitor at the New Jersey Education Association annual convention in Atlantic City, NJ on November 10 and 11. Learn more about what we discussed with New Jersey teachers.

 

UNESCO Conference Presentation on NY State Beach Cleanup Program
Jamaica Bay, NY

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The Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter Director Alexandra Kanonik recently made a virtual presentation at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's MICRO 2022 conference on plastic pollution. Find out what Alex had to say about the Littoral Society's New York State Beach Cleanup Program starting at the 41-minute mark.

 

Tagger spotlight on Al D'Amato
Sandy Hook, NJ

Check out our latest Tagger Spotlight. Al D'Amato! has been a tagger since 1978 and has tagged over 12,000 fish!

 

If you're interested in being our next spotlighted Tagger, email Littoral Society Fish Tagging Director Emily McGuckin at emily.mcguckin@littoralsociety.org!

 

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Wingin' It: Fall Migration Bird Walk
Highlands, NJ
Tuesday, November 8, 2-4 pm

Let's get birdy! Find more information and register on our website.

 

Assateague Fall Weekend
Assateague, VA
Thursday to Sunday, November 10-13

Discover the many wonders of Assateague Island with a Littoral Society weekend on the Delmarva coast!

 

Pop-Up Dinner Club Event
Cranford, NJ
Thursday, November 10, 6:30 pm

Join Chef Brian Bennett and Chef Chez De Chellis for a limited seating winter-inspired pop-up dinner. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Littoral Society.

 

Fall Surf Fishing Clinic
Sandy Hook, NJ

Saturday, November 12, 8 am – Noon

 

Join the Littoral Society's Fish Tagging Director Emily McGuckin for hands-on instruction in the basics of surf fishing. 

 

Fall Jamaica Bay Task Force Meeting
Via Zoom
Thursday, November 17, 6:30-8:30 pm

Join the Littoral Society and partners via Zoom for a meeting to discuss the latest projects and plans for Jamaica Bay.

 

Sip 'N Shuck
Highlands, NJ
Friday, November 18, 4-6 pm

Learn how to shuck oysters with the American Littoral Society and the Barnegat Oyster Collective at Bahrs Landing! 

 

Winter Waterfowl Walk
Jamaica Bay, NY
Sunday, November 20, 10 am-1 pm

Learn about ducks, geese, and many other species of winter birds and other wildlife that inhabit  Jamaica Bay during a hike around the ponds with the Littoral Society's Don Riepe!

 

Jamaica Bay Holiday Party
Broad Channel, NY
Sunday, December 11, 5-9 pm

Join the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter for our annual Holiday Party! 

 

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Students Learn What Lives in a Rain Garden
Vineland, NJ

Fourth graders from Anthony Rossi Elementary School in Vineland put on their "scientist hats" and practiced their observation skills during the American Littoral Society's new "What Lives in a Rain Garden?" educational program. 

 

See more pictures and learn more about this Littoral Society Education Program.

 

Fesitvals and Cleanups Kept Northeast Chapter Jumping
New York City, NY

The past month was busy for the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society. Free public events included a hawk watch at Fort Tilden, two Raptoramas, and a pollinator festival.

 

Learn more about what the Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay staff has been doing in September and October.

 

Birders Cash In on Auction Bid with Boat Tour of Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay, NY

Among the items available for auction at the Littoral Society's recent Littorally Local event was a tour of Jamaica Bay's salt marshes with Don Riepe, the Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian. Read an account of that trip from the winner of that item, Russ Comeau.

 

Moths, Oysters and Spooky Tales Highlight Education Program
New York and New Jersey

Learn about the October activities involving the Society's Education and "Shuck It, Don't Chuck It" programs. 

 

10 Years After Sandy: Tell Us How Flooding has Affected You
New Jersey

While Sandy was considered a “once in a lifetime storm”, such previously uncommon storms have become much more common in the past few years. Rainfall data backs this up.

 

However, lived experiences can be more powerful than data and statistics. Tell us your story to help us better advocate for smart laws that protect the state and its people against climate threats.

 

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Dune Grass Planting
Bradley Beach, NJ 
Wednesday, October 5, 6-7:30 pm

Help restore the dunes of Bradley Beach! Learn more on our website.

 

Moth Night
Highlands, NJ
Thursday, October 6, 8-10 pm

Moths are strange, beautiful and environmentally important. Discover more with us at Moth Night on Sandy Hook!

 

Fort Tilden Hawk Watch
Breezy Point, NY
Saturday, October 8, 10 am-1 pm

Want to know more about the raptors that frequent Jamaica Bay? Join us for a visit to the Hawk Watch platform on top of Battery Harris.

 

Wingin' It: Fall Migration Bird Walk
Highlands, NJ
Thursday, October 13, 8-10 am

Let's get birdy! Find more information and register on our website.

 

5th Annual Jamaica Bay Raptorama
Queens, NY
Saturday, October 15, 10 am-1 pm

Join us to see live owls and hawks, and learn more about the raptors that call Jamaica Bay home!

 

Spooky Walks
Highlands, NJ
Thursday, October 20 and 27, 7-9 pm

Get into the Halloween Spirit with a moonlight walk around Historic Fort Hancock, where ghosts have been known to linger! Register for October 20 or October 27.

 

Marine Park Raptorama
Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, October 22, 10 am-1 pm

Join us in Marine Park to see raptors up-close, with live demonstrations of local hawks, owls, and eagles. 

 

Spooky Cemetery Bird Walk
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Tuesday, October 25, 4-6 pm

Gather 'round as we look for birds and listen for owls as the sun goes down over the graveyard!
 

Creepy Coast Walk
Thompsons Beach, NJ
Friday, October 28, 7-9 pm

Join us for a nighttime walk through the marsh and out to Thompsons Beach, guided only by the light of the moon (and Littoral Society staff)!

 

Assateague Fall Weekend
Assateague, VA
Thursday to Sunday, November 10-13

Discover the many wonders of Assateague Island with a Littoral Society weekend on the Delmarva coast!

 

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Fair Seas and Gentle Breeze Highlight Littorally Local Sunset Cruise
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

The 4th annual Littorally Local Sunset Cruise set sail on Sandy Hook Bay with well over 100 people on board for a night of fun, oysters from the Barnegat Oyster Collective, beer from Ross Brewing, and coastal conservation conversation.

 

See more pictures from the sold-out event.

 

Tagging Trip Participants Aid Efforts to Gather Fish Data
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

On a nearly picture perfect day, 60 anglers from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania departed Atlantic Highlands, NJ on the annual Littoral Society Fluke Tagging Trip. This year's trip was in memory of the Society's long-time Fish Tagging Director Jeff Dement.

 

See more pictures and learn more about the fish tagging program.

 

Littoral Society Offers Student Trips to Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay

Recently, the Young Stewards Summer Campers from Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center visited Thompson's Beach in Maurice River Township, along the Delaware Bay, to explore unique ecosystems and dive into marine science.  

 

Find out how you can book a student trip during the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 seasons.

 

Littoral Society Celebrates Unity Day
Bridgeton, NJ

On Saturday, September 3, more than 600 people came together to celebrate the diversity that brings their community together at Bridgeton, NJ's annual Unity Day.

 

Learn more about the event.

 

Shell-a-bration Marks Next Step in Forked River Project
Forked River, NJ

The American Littoral Society hosted the media, project partners and the public at a special shell-a-bration which marked the next step in the Littoral Society's restoration project at Forked River Beach.

 

Discover more about the event and the project.

 

FLOATOPIA Brought Folks to the River for a Party and a Purpose
Camden, NJ

Some came dressed in silly costumes or carrying outlandish floatation devices. Many attended for the fun and the refreshment of floating in the Delaware River or the party that came after.

 

Learn more about FLOATOPIA and the efforts to make the entire Delaware River SAFE (Swimmable, Accessible, Fishable and Equitable).

 

New "Shuck It, Don't Chuck It!" Coordinator Joins Littoral Team
Sandy Hook, NJ

Kyle Patterson is a Jersey local from Middletown and was fortunate enough to live 20 minutes away from Sandy Hook for most of his life.

 

Get to know our new "Shuck it, Don't Chuck It!" shell recycling program coordinator at our website.

 

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Click to set custom HTML

Thank you again for subscribing to our mailing list and for looking out for Littoral Society updates each month!

 

To make it easier for you to sign up for the programs you love, and to read up on all the good work the Society is doing, we’ve split the formerly once a month E-Newsletter send into two email sends a month. The first one will feature events and activities you can sign up for. The second email, sent in the middle of the month will highlight Society stories and program updates.

 

We hope this change makes things easier for you! If you have any feedback, please feel free to email me at lindsay@littoralsociety.org.

 

Looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events,

 

Lindsay McNamara

Director of Development, Membership and Outreach
American Littoral Society

 

Restoration Corps Participants Lend a Hand While Learning
Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay

Each summer, young adults come to the American Littoral Society to join the Restoration Corps, a youth employment and education program. Also known as R-Corps, the program is specifically designed to engage young people in meaningful environmental projects.

 

Find out what our Delaware Bay and Jamaica Bay R-Corps contingents did this summer.

 

Environmental Groups Urge Release of NJPACT Regulations
Trenton, NJ

In 2020, executive and administrative orders called on New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to begin a regulatory reform effort to help reduce greenhouse gases and other climate pollutant emissions while making our natural and built environments more resilient to the impacts of climate change. But the new regulations have yet to be released.

 

The Littoral Society and other environmental organizations are urging New Jersey's governor to act now on new rules that could save lives and prevent property damage from future storms.

 

Shell Drop-Off Site is Next Step for "Shuck It, Don't Chuck It!" Program
Rumson, NJ

A community drop-off site for recycling shells is the latest step for the Littoral Society’s “Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It!” program.

 

Check out all that's happening with our work to collect shell for restoration projects.

 

Perth Amboy Students Plant Beach Grass at Local Park
Perth Amboy, NJ

Thanks to the hard work of the school students, staff and community members, there are more than 1,500 new culms of American beachgrass on the beach along Sadowski Parkway Waterfront Park in Perth Amboy, NJ.

 

Learn about the work students from the Academy of Urban Leadership Charter School did at the park and with the Littoral Society's Beach Grasses in Classes program.

 

Data from Fish Tagging Plays a Role in Preserving Striped Bass
Sandy Hook, NJ

Since the establishment of the American Littoral Society’s Fish Tagging Program, Atlantic striped bass, commonly referred to as stripers, have been one of the favorite fish for our members to tag and release.

 

Discover how information collected by our Fish Tagging Program can help maintain striped bass populations.

 

Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds Threatened by Proposed Harvest Changes
Delaware Bay

Even though agreed upon conservation targets have not been reached, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is proposing changes to horseshoe crab harvest controls that could have a devastating effect on a threatened shorebird, the Delaware Bay ecosystem, and the economies related to both.

 

Learn more about the Littoral Society's opposition to the changes proposed by ASMFC.

 

Ask Your Senators to Pass the NY-NJ Watershed Protection Act
Washington, DC

Over the past few decades, huge strides have been made to improve the waters of the Hudson-Raritan watersheds, which include the ports in New York and New Jersey, as well as the Hudson, Mohawk, Raritan, Passaic, Hackensack and Bronx rivers. But more must be done.

 

Help support the bill that would supercharge efforts to improve the waters of the Hudson and Raritan watersheds.

 

Basket Flats Work Will Help Protect Communities, Economy and Environment
Bivalve, NJ

Due to erosion, Basket Flats marsh at the Mouth of the Maurice River has shrunk by 100 feet in the last three years. At the Littoral Society, we believe this special place along the Delaware Bayshore should be protected and preserved.

 

Explore what the Littoral Society is doing to #BuildUpBasketFlats.

 

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To make it easier for you to sign up for the programs you love, and to read up on all the good work the Society is doing, we’ve split the formerly once a month E-Newsletter send into two email sends a month. The first one will feature events and activities you can sign up for. The second email, sent in the middle of the month will highlight Society stories and program updates.

 

We hope this change makes things easier for you! If you have any feedback, please feel free to email me at lindsay@littoralsociety.org.

 

Looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events,

 

Lindsay McNamara

Director of Development, Membership and Outreach
American Littoral Society

 

Littorally Local Sunset Cruise
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 
Friday, September 16, 5:30-8:30 pm

Learn More and Purchase Tickets
 

Sunset Seining in Sandy Hook Bay
Highlands, NJ
Wednesday, August 3 and August 17, 6 pm

Explore with us! Sign up for seining on August 3 // August 17

 

Late Nights, Living Fossils, and Lots of Eggs
Long Beach Township, NJ
Thursday, August 11 at 10 am

Learn more and register for our own Toni Rose Tablante's presentation on horseshoe crabs. 

 

Daytime Seining in Sandy Hook Bay
Highlands, NJ
Thursday, August 11, 12-1 pm

Explore with us! Sign up for daytime seining on August 11

 

Tidalwave Music Festival
Atlantic City, NJ
Friday-Sunday, August 12-14

We can't wait to see you there! Learn more about how to visit us in the Conservation Village and how you can help #RockTheOcean at: https://www.rocktheocean.com/.

 

Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival
Queens, NY
Saturday, August 13 at 9 am

Go to our website for more information and to register. Who knows what you'll see?

 

Slack Tide Brewing Pint Night
Cape May Court House, NJ
Friday, August 26, 5 pm

You can't make good beer without clean water! Join us for coastal trivia and more! Check out the details on our calendar.

 

Wingin' It: Summer Bird Walk
Highlands, NJ
Tuesday, August 30, 4 pm

Let's get birdy! Find more information and register on our website.

 

Annual Fluke Tagging Trip
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Saturday, September 3, 6:45 am

We can't wait to see you for our annual trip! Learn more on our website.

 

New York State Beach Cleanup
Throughout New York State
Saturday, September 17

Email NYSBC@littoralsociety.org to volunteer or go to the beach cleanup website.

 

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Image

July

Littoral News

July 1, 2022

Pictured, from left to right, are award recipients who attended the Littoral Society's Annual Members Day: Michelle Williams, Cameron Williams, Don Riepe, and Tom Knezik.

Coastal Champions Honored at Littoral Society Member's Day

Some special people were recognized as coastal champions at the Littoral Society's Member's Day event on Saturday, June 25. Among the honorees were our own Jamaica Bay Guardian Don Riepe, who received the Graham Macmillan Award for his lifetime of work in advocating for and protecting Jamaica Bay, and Cameron Williams, who received the R-Corps Intern Achievement Award for years of work and commitment to the Jamaica Bay Restoration Corps program.

Others awards recipients were:

  • Coastal Educator Award - Michelle Williams, a Woodstown High School Science Teacher and Society volunteer;
  • Coastal Business Champion Award - Pinelands Nursery, award accepted by Tom Knezik on behalf of his family's business;
  • Community Partner Award - Karl Brown, Principal at Indian Avenue School;
  • Conservation Practice Partner Award - Steve Hafner, Assistant Director at Stockton University Coastal Research Center; and
  • Coastal Community Stewardship Award - Esaul Martin, Gateway Community Action Partnership.   

Read on to learn more about each coastal champion.

 

COMING UP

Sunset Seining Returns in July

Wednesday, July 6

Wednesday, July 20

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

American Littoral Society HQ

Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook Unit 

GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive

Highlands, NJ

Pay What You Can

Register for July 6

Register for July 20

 

Discover the diverse wildlife inhabiting our coast. After a short talk on the Society’s front porch, we will drive over to Horseshoe Cove on Sandy Hook Bay for a seining adventure. Participants are invited to help pull our 40-foot seine net through the bay, and experience the excitement of learning about the fish and other critters caught.

 

Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Contact: nicole.haines@littoralsociety.org for more information.

 

Daytime Seining

Thursday, July 28

Noon - 1 p.m.

Meet at Horseshoe Cove – Lot L Parking

Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook Unit 

GPS: Intersection of Hartshorne Drive

and Atlantic Drive

Highlands, NJ

Pay What You Can

Please Register

 

Discover the diverse wildlife inhabiting our coast with some lunchtime seining. Participants are invited to help pull our 40-foot seine net through the bay, and experience the excitement of learning about the fish and other critters caught.

 

Wear a bathing suit or clothes/shoes you don’t mind getting wet! Meet at Horseshoe Cove on the bayside of Sandy Hook, just across Hartshorne Drive from the Lot L parking area.

Critters, Creeks, and Coasts

Summer Library Series

Tuesday, July 5 at 1 p.m.

Bridgeton Library

150 E Commerce Street

Bridgeton, NJ

 

Wednesday, July 6 at 2 p.m.

Cumberland County Library

800 E Commerce Street

Bridgeton, NJ

Please Register

 

Thursday, July 21 at 1 p.m.

Millville Library

210 Buck Street

Millville, NJ

 

The American Littoral Society invites children ages 6 and up to explore the critters that live in aquatic habitats from creeks to the coast!

 

Join us for a hands-on program to discover insects that live in freshwater streams, oysters and other creatures from the bay, and what we can do to protect and conserve water for animals and people.

 

Zero Waste Workshop

Thursday, July 14

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Millville Public Library

210 Buck Street

Millville, NJ

 

Join Michelle Rebilas, the American Littoral Society’s Delaware Bayshore Education and Outreach Coordinator, for a workshop that will cover ways to minimize waste in your everyday life to lessen human impact on the planet.

 

The workshop will include:

  • pollution facts
  • easy switches
  • trash audits
  • microfibers
  • fast fashion
  • door prizes
  • and more!

For more info, visit: https://www.millvillepubliclibrary.org/

Wingin' It: Summer Bird Walks

Friday, July 29

3 - 5 p.m. 

Meet at American Littoral Society HQ 

GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive

Highlands, NJ

$10 for members, $20 for nonmembers

Please Register

 

Join “bird nerd” and Littoral Society Director of Development, Membership and Outreach Lindsay McNamara for a summer bird walk on the Hook. After meeting at Littoral Society Headquarters, we'll walk the paved multi-use pathway to Horseshoe Cove (about 1.5 miles) looking for seasonal bird visitors.

 

Please dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, bring water and binoculars if you have them. The Society also has Nikon 8x42 binoculars for participants to borrow during the walk. Let’s get birdy!

 

Contact lindsay@littoralsociety.org with any questions.

 

SANDY HOOK NEWS

Awards, Activities Highlight Littoral Society Member's Day

The Littoral Society’s annual day to celebrate our members took place on Saturday, June 25 outside our headquarters on Officer’s Row in the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area.

In addition to our members meeting, 2022 Coastal Champions Awards, and Board of Trustees election, there was live music, seining, bird walks, a beach cleanup, oysters from Cape May Salts Oyster Farms, beer from Ross Brewing, and lunch from Local Smoke BBQ!

 

See more pictures from the 2022 Member's Day Celebration

 

Family and Friends Remember

Fish Tagger Bill Woodroffe

By William (Bill) Woodroffe 3rd

As a member of the American Littoral Society, William (Bill) Woodroffe Jr. was a tagger. He was also our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He specialized in tagging stripers, threading the distinctive yellow tag behind the top fin of nearly 1,000 during his 35 years as a member of the Littoral Society. Almost 50 were re-caught, which resulted in him receiving reports of where and when the fish was hooked again.

As an avid surfcaster, most of his fish were tagged while surfcasting off the Riis Park/Ft. Tilden ocean beaches in Queens, NY. The farthest re-catch was a striper he tagged in December 1997, which was re-caught in Boston in 1999. He was proud of these reports, and they certainly gave us a better understanding of the world of fish, right in our own backyard.

 

Read more at the Littoral Society Blog

 

Interns are, from left to right, Emily Zembricki, Julissa Reyes, and Anna Nowell.

Littoral Society Welcomes Summer Interns

The American Littoral Society is thrilled to welcome a trio of interns to the staff for the summer. Let us introduce you to Emily Zembricki, who will be working with the Fish Tagging program; Julissa Reyes, who will work with the Education Program; and Anna Nowell, our Development intern.

 

Learn more about the Littoral Society's Summer Interns

 

Highlights from Pine Barrens Kayak Trip

Watch some highlights of our Pine Barrens Kayak Trip with Pinelands Adventures from June 17. We took kayaks down the tea-colored waters of the Batsto River. Along the way we saw carnivorous plants, iridescent dragonflies, blueberry bushes, orchids and more! We hope you can join us next year. 

 

Watch the Video on Instagram

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NORTHEAST CHAPTER NEWS

Littoral Society Interns Join Jamaica Bay Terrapin Study

Diamondback terrapins are both a keystone species and top predators, making their conservation essential for the health of the ecosystems in which they reside. However, their numbers are dropping rapidly in New York's Jamaica Bay due to high levels of egg predation, drowning in crab and lobster traps, and habitat loss.
 
The American Littoral Society is working with Hofstra University's Dr. Russell Burke on a study of the diamondback terrapin population in Jamaica Bay, called the Jamaica Bay Terrapin Research Project. Dr. Burke has been coordinating volunteer driven research on the Bay's West Pond since 1998. Alexandra Kanonik, director of the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter, has collaborated on this research since 2008, and together they have published several scientific papers that contribute to the understanding of the diamondback terrapin population in New York City.

Recently, the Littoral Society and R-Corps Interns took part in the first trapping session of the year, with the help of Don Riepe, the Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian. A total of 13 terrapins were carefully and temporarily captured in modified crab traps.

 

Read more at the Littoral Society Blog

 

Group from Local Company Helps Clean Jamaica Bay Beach

In early June, a group of 33 employees from the Community Offshore Wind company joined with the American Littoral Society and removed about 900 pounds of marine debris from the shorelines of Spring Creek, Jamaica Bay.

“They were a fun-loving and hard-working group that did a great job of cleaning the beach,” said Don Riepe, the Jamaica Bay Guardian for the Littoral Society. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with them and hope they come back for another volunteer project later this year.” 

Community Offshore Wind is a joint venture between RWE Renewables – an international power company - and National Grid Renewables, which is developing offshore wind in the New York Bight.

 

Register for the New York State Beach Cleanup

 

DELAWARE BAY NEWS

Rain Garden is Planted at Cumberland County Library 

The Cumberland County Library in Bridgeton, NJ is now home to a rain garden!

Installed in partnership with the American Littoral Society’s Delaware Bayshore Team, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, and Cumberland County Public Works, the rain garden will serve as an example of the use of Green Stormwater Infrastructure to prevent pollution, provide habitat for wildlife, and protect communities against flooding.

Library staff, volunteers and the Society’s Restoration Corps interns came out on Saturday, June 18 to fill the new rain garden with native plants that will help prevent stormwater pollution from flowing into nearby streams, while also providing vital habitat for local insects, birds, and other creatures.

The library’s new rain garden will be a resource for education, relaxation, and nature appreciation in the community.

This work is a part of the South Jersey Landscape Makeover Program funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the William Penn Foundation. 

See more pictures of the rain garden

 

AAPI Staff Help Littoral Society

Continue Legacy of Founding Member

May was Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, as we look back on their many accomplishments, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate the work of some of our own AAPI staff. One of our newest hires, Toni Rose Tablante, is a proud first-generation American whose family emigrated from the Philippines.

Growing up, the self-described “over achiever” had to carve her own path in a community where she could’ve set to become a nurse or an engineer. She sought every opportunity to connect with the coast and eventually attended Rutgers University to study marine science. Being the only AAPI student in her major, times were often isolating for Toni Rose. Nevertheless, she persevered and achieved the seemingly impossible goal of entering the marine science field.

 

Read More at the Littoral Society Blog

 

 RESTORATION PROGRAM NEWS

Americorps Team Joins Society for Work and Walk

They came to lend a hand but left with great memories of the Jersey Shore, Sandy Hook and the work being done by the American Littoral Society.
 
On Saturday, May 21, AmeriCorps Team Wave 5 (one unit from the partnership between AmeriCorps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)) joined staff from the Littoral Society and community volunteers for a work day at our Slade Dale Sanctuary restoration site. They helped refill the breakwaters with recycled Christmas trees collected by Lacey Township.
 
Known as branchbox breakwaters, these wooden structures are designed to control erosion at the site by slowing currents and waves, as well as capture the sediment being carried in the water. The Slade Dale Sanctuary shoreline has eroded approximately 600 over the past century, endangering the protected pine-oak forest, hardwood swamp, and salt marsh, which provides a nursery for fish, a foraging site for other creatures, and storm protection for the surrounding community.
 
Following the work day, the AmeriCorps team joined Lindsay McNamara, the Littoral Society's Director of Development and resident bird nerd, for a tour of Sandy Hook. Team 5 member Edward Lewis sent us the following note as the group prepared to depart from New Jersey:

 

Read more at the Littoral Society Blog

 

OPERATION OYSTER NEWS

Oyster Farmers and Guests Join Littoral Society for Evening on the Hook

The “Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It!” (SIDCI) shell recycling program’s first Oyster Evening was a hit. Held at McFly's On The Hook, the evening involved a viewing of the film, "The Oyster Farmers", which features our own, Captain Al Modjeski, and our partner, Barnegat Oyster Collective (BOC). Hors d’ oeuvres were served throughout the evening, including oysters provided and shucked by staff from BOC, who also followed up the film with an active Q&A session.

 

We discussed New Jersey's growing aquaculture industry, the Littoral Society’s Operation Oyster and “Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It!” programs, as well as how oysters can play a key role in cleaning the state's bays and estuaries, while also protecting shorelines from storms. Then concluded the evening just in time to catch a great sunset on Sandy Hook.

 

See More Pictures from the Oyster Evening on the Hook.

 

The SIDCI program also held its first trivia night, “What the Shell?!,” at The Whitechapel Projects, of Long Branch. Participants had the opportunity to receive Littoral Society merch such as T-shirts, stickers, and pins in each of the three rounds of the event.

 

Keep an eye out for future hostings of these SIDCI events and others by signing up for the Society’s monthly e-newsletter or checking the events tab on our website.

 

In other news, SIDCI welcomes its newest business participant, Shore Fresh Seafood Market & Restaurant, of Pt. Pleasant, who donated their first 50lbs of oyster shells during the last week of June.

 

If you’re interested in gathering more information on this program, such as upcoming events and how to get involved, please visit our shell recycling webpage.

 

Shuck It, Don't Chuck It! Happenings & Events

The Littoral Society’s “Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It!” shell recycling program is making great strides this year. Check out what's happening!

Truck Purchase
We finally found our oyster transport vehicle to boost our shell collection efforts! At the moment, the truck doesn’t look much different than your average Dodge pickup. But work is underway to make it more on brand. Imagine one of our eye-catching Operation Oyster t-shirts on wheels.

Keep an eye on this space for further truck updates.

Shell Weight
While the truck may not be fully tricked out, it's already in shell-hauling service. During the month of May, we recycled 530 pounds of shells, which brought our total since the start of this project to more than 56,000 pounds. That’s 28 tons - over half a million shells - that will be used for Littoral Society restoration projects such as living shorelines and oyster reefs.

 

Read More at the Littoral Society Blog

 

Former Shore Restaurateur Turns to Recycling Seafood Shells

Serena Celestino grew up serving customers at Vinnie’s, her family’s venerable Barnegat restaurant. Today, restaurants are her customers. As the new full-time coordinator for the American Littoral Society’s Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It! shell-recycling program, she enlists local restaurants to donate, rather than discard, their used oyster, clam and mussel shells. The shells are collected, cured in the sun, and spread along shorelines in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.

 

Once plentiful in the two rivers, oysters are no longer harvested there due to poor water quality. However, installing used shells along the shorelines creates habitat for fish, crabs and other invertebrates, as well as vegetation such as native eelgrass, that filters the water. This living shoreline, as it’s called, also prevents erosion by reducing the force of waves, according to Celestino—who, while working at Vinnie’s, earned degrees in ecology evolution, natural-resource management and geological sciences from Rutgers University.

 

“I grew up in the restaurant business and managed one for seven years,” says Celestino, 27, referring to Vinnie’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, from which she stepped back in March 2021, but continues to help on the administrative side. “People don’t realize how individual every restaurant is and how fast-paced and difficult it is to work in one. Having that understanding allows me to relate with everyone working there.”

 

Read More at NJ Monthly

 

FISH TAGGING PROGRAM NEWS

Fish Tagger Spotlight

Greg O’Driscoll has been a member with the Tagging Program since 1990!

 

If you’re interested in being on the next Tagger Spotlight, let us know! To learn more about the Littoral Society's Fish Tagging Program and how you can get involved, go to: https://www.littoralsociety.org/fish-tagging.html.

 

SAVE THE DATE

Sunset Seining

Wednesday, August 3

Wednesday, August 17

6:00pm - 8:00pm

American Littoral Society HQ

Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook Unit 

GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive

Highlands, NJ

Pay What You Can

Register for August 3

Register for August 17

 

Discover the diverse wildlife inhabiting our coast. After a short talk on the Society’s front porch, we will drive over to Horseshoe Cove on Sandy Hook Bay for a seining adventure. Participants are invited to help pull our 40-foot seine net through the bay, and experience the excitement of learning about the fish and other critters caught.

 

Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Contact: nicole.haines@littoralsociety.org for more information.

 

Wingin' It: Summer Bird Walk

Tuesday, August 30

4 - 6 p.m. 

Meet at American Littoral Society HQ 

GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive

Highlands, NJ

$10 for members, $20 for nonmembers

Please Register

 

Join “bird nerd” and Littoral Society Director of Development, Membership and Outreach Lindsay McNamara for a summer bird walk on the Hook. After meeting at Littoral Society Headquarters, we'll walk the paved multi-use pathway to Horseshoe Cove (about 1.5 miles) looking for seasonal bird visitors.

 

Please dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, bring water and binoculars if you have them. The Society also has Nikon 8x42 binoculars for participants to borrow during the walk. Let’s get birdy!

 

Contact lindsay@littoralsociety.org with any questions.

 

 

Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival

Saturday, August 13

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

175-10 Cross Bay Blvd

Queens, NY

Free, Donation Requested

 

Join shorebird experts for a hike around Jamaica Bay's East Pond to view many species of migratory shorebirds. Learn about their behavior, biology and how to identify them in the field.

 

For more info contact don@littoralsociety.org. 

 

Cape Ann Whale Watch

Thursday thru Sunday

August 4 - 7

Gloucester, MA

$595/person (double occupancy)

Single rate is $125 extra

 

The weekend includes three nights lodging in historic Gloucester, Massachusetts, a half day on a whale boat, Essex River Cruise, Lobster/seafood dinner, Canoeing on the Ipswich River, and a guided hike to Halibut Point.

 

Please note that the itinerary may change to do weather or unforeseen conditions. We can change the whale boat excursion to Friday PM or Sunday AM if necessary.  Car pooling available or we’ll rent van if needed.  The van will leave from Manhattan and cost $150 per person.

 

To reserve, send deposit of $100 to:  American Littoral Society, 18 hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732 (attn: Diana).

 

Join Us for Littorally Local on Friday, September 16

The American Littoral Society is excited to announce Littorally Local, our fall 2022 fundraiser to care for the coast on Friday, September 16 in Atlantic Highlands. All proceeds benefit the American Littoral Society's efforts to care for the coast. Find more information on the Littorally Local page.

The fourth annual Littorally Local event will include a dockside cocktails and appetizers from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. onboard Teal Cruises' Festiva and then a sunset cruise on Sandy Hook Bay from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Please consider donating a product or service to the auction, sponsoring, or underwriting the event to support the Society’s efforts to care for the coast! The online auction will take place from Friday, September 9, to Saturday, September 17, and culminate at the event.

 

Littoral Society in the News

Horseshoe Crabs Tagged

along Delaware Bay

A group of volunteers tagged and released horseshoe crabs on a Delaware Bay beach in Cumberland County recently. The Delaware Bay has one of the largest concentrations of horseshoe crabs in the world, according to staff with the American Littoral Society.

 

Watch the video at The Press of Atlantic City

10 Years After Hurricane Sandy:

What’s Next for the Jersey Shore?

It happens every spring. Massive mounds of sand rise on the beach in North Wildwood. The mounds loom alongside the boardwalk, gray and menacing, like a rogue wave. 

 

But the great mounds are nothing to fear. They are evidence of emergency beach replenishment, an annual ritual in this oceanfront resort. North Wildwood trucks sand from Wildwood City (which has too much) and deposits it on its own beaches (which have too little). In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, the mounds disappear as the sand is spread and North Wildwood’s beaches are restored.

...

For the past decade, New Jersey nonprofits (including the American Littoral Society) and for-profit operations have been creating habitat for shellfish throughout Garden State bays. While the shellfish help filter bay water, making the bays more hospitable to other marine life, the habitat structures help stabilize the bay floors and shorelines. 

 

Read more at NJ Monthly

 

11 advocacy groups oppose new

Liberty State Park bill

“In its current form, we continue to oppose this bill. However, we wish to be clear on the nature of our opposition. The groups below are aware of a need for active recreational opportunities for residents, particularly those who live in close proximity to the park,” the organizations wrote to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee yesterday.

 

“We support investment in the park, creation of more active and passive recreational opportunities, and increased public access. However, protection of critical natural spaces and habitat areas and additional active recreation are not mutually exclusive.”

 

The groups ask for amendments such as permanent protections for Caven Point, limiting active recreation to 62 acres overall – including 50 acres of the interior – prohibiting large-scale commercialization, and specifically outlining how the $250 million can be spent.

 

The letter is signed by the Friends of Liberty State Park, the NY/NJ Baykeeper, the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, the New Jersey Sierra Club, Environment New Jersey, New Jersey Audubon, the New Jersey Conversation Foundation, the American Littoral Society, New Jersey Citizen Action, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, and the New Jersey Policy Perspective.

 

Read More at The Hudson County View

Where the wild things are: A field guide to interesting species in N.J.

New Jersey is well-known for packing people into its roughly 7,300 square miles, but a lesser-known fact is the state burgeons with wildlife, boasting more than 500 species. 

 

“Considering we are the most densely populated state per square mile by human population, we have more diversity of species per square mile than any other state,’’ said Diane Nickerson, director, Mercer County Wildlife Center, which rescues wild animals from across New Jersey.  

 

This wildlife abundance is thanks to a diversity of habitats — coastal, wooded, farmlands and pinelands. Following is a look at some of the interesting creatures that love Jersey as much as we do. 

 

Conservation efforts have spurred an increase in humpback whales along the Jersey Shore, especially in spring when these majestic creatures feed right off the shore, munching on bait fish, as they migrate north to birth their calves. 

 

“Whale watching trips are growing out of this,’’ said Tim Dillingham, executive director, American Littoral Society, which has partnered with the SeaStreak ferry company to offer sea cruises where guests can see whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds. 

 

Read more at Jersey's Best

 

A ‘Living Shoreline’ Takes Root in

New York’s Jamaica Bay

A flotilla of water birds bobbed on West Pond as hundreds of tree swallows swooped overhead, their blue iridescent backs glinting in the sun. Manhattan’s skyline loomed in the distance.  

 

The pond, part of Jamaica Bay, a National Park Service wildlife refuge next to Kennedy Airport between southwest Queens and Rockaway Beach, is one of the few freshwater stops for migrating birds in the urban New York City region. In 2012, it was breached by Superstorm Sandy’s tumultuous waves and 115 mile per hour winds, becoming a tidal lagoon. 

 

Now, a “living shoreline” restoration project devised by the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy is showing early signs that new marsh grasses, protected by degradable jetties, could become a prototype for other coastal resiliency projects looking to protect habitats and coastlines from the increased storms and rising sea levels of climate change.

...

The West Pond living shoreline is not the first marsh restoration project in the bay. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began marsh restoration projects in 2003. This was in response to an estimated loss of 220 acres of salt marsh at a rate of 47 acres per year from 1994 to 1999. More recently, groups like the American Littoral Society and Jamaica Bay Guardian have partnered with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore historical marshlands.

 

Read More at Inside Climate News

Study Pinpoints Coastal Wetlands Capable of Surviving Climate Change

Climate Central today announced the publication of a new peer-reviewed study and interactive mapping tool showing American coastal wetlands' resilience to climate change. The maps incorporate the study's findings to reveal precise locations where wetlands might survive rising seas either by migrating upland or by growing higher to stay above rising water levels.

 

Texas coastal wetlands projections, 2050, with full conservation

 

But the study, published in Environmental Research Communications, finds that rising seas threaten to drown most coastal wetlands by 2100—despite their unique abilities to adapt—unless planners preserve enough adjacent land to accommodate migration, and nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow the pace of global warming and sea level rise.

 

The southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts face the highest risks of wetlands loss by the end of this century. The risks are most acute in Louisiana (home to one-third of America's coastal wetlands), North Carolina, and Texas. Risks in California and Florida are magnified because their wetlands have limited undeveloped land to migrate to. Climate Central maps specifically identify where conservation efforts and climate action can reduce the loss of coastal wetlands, or in some cases allow them to expand, even as sea levels rise.

...

Tim Dillingham, executive director of the American Littoral Society said, "Rising seas mean more wetlands are giving way to open water, and their important benefits are disappearing with them. But these are resilient, dynamic systems. They can grow higher and even move into new areas, and we must take action to support them."

 

Read more at PRNewswire

 

JOIN US

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Membership, Renew or

Join Today!

Your loyalty and support enable us to continue to protect and care for the coast. Your membership supports marine science education programs for thousands of students, protecting and restoring marine life and habitat, and our efforts to defend the coast from harm.

You are vitally important to this work; coastal conservation is a group effort. Your membership in the Society adds your voice to many others in support of marine life and the coast.

Seniors can join or renew for $30, and Individuals for $40, or Families for $50.

Click here to join, renew or give the gift of membership

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Show Your Support with

Littoral Society Gear

There are more ways than ever to show your support for the American Littoral Society. Now available at the Society online store are short-sleeve t-shirts in multiple designs/colors, as well as long-sleeve t's and baseball caps with the Society's name and/or logo.

The long-sleeve shirts have the definition of littoral on the back. The baseball caps are focused on the Society's Fish Tagging Program and feature a tagged black seabass.

Purchase proceeds cover the cost of the item and contribute to the Society's operating budget.

Click here to find Littoral Society wearable gear in the online store.

 

More Littoral Merch

Available at Bonfire

You can support the Littoral Society by purchasing our official merchandise through our store on Bonfire.com. All proceeds support coastal conservation!

In addition to shirts in a variety of designs, our Bonfire merchandise now includes Coastal Canine Doggie Tees, a beach tote, and a women's racerback style bearing the Knots for Crabs design.

 

Bonfire is a free online platform where anyone can design, sell, and buy custom products. We handle payment processing, order fulfillment, and customer service so you can focus on connecting with your community.

Find our swag at: https://www.bonfire.com/store/american-littoral-society/

 

Remember the Coast

Make sure that our coast remains a home  for the coastal wildlife you love. A bequest to the American Littoral Society is a generous and straightforward way to care for the coast. This can be expressed in a will as simply as, “I bequeath [a sum of money, a percentage of my estate, or an IRA, life insurance policy, or investment/bank account] to the American Littoral Society, 18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite 1, Highlands, NJ 07732.”

 

Consult with your attorney to determine what is best for your situation.

 

To learn more about planning a gift for the Society, contact Director of Development Lindsay McNamara at 732-291-0055 or info@littoralsociety.com.

 Other Ways to Support the Society

Your membership donation helps the Society reach its fundraising goals to keep our coast safe and healthy. It also helps our staff create new and exciting ways to connect you with the coast even if we can't be there physically together. If you would like to go above and beyond membership, please explore these other ways you can help the Littoral Society continue to care for the coast.

  • Tribute Gifts
  • Donor Advised Fund
  • Planned Giving
  • Corporate Matching Gifts
  • AmazonSmile
  • Facebook/Instagram Fundraisers
  • Official Merchandise from Bonfire
 
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June

Littoral News

June 1, 2022

Members Day is Just Around the Corner

Please join us for the annual Members Day celebration, Annual Meeting, and Board of Trustees election on Sandy Hook on Saturday, June 25!

 

Members Day is a members-only event, please make sure your membership is up to date in order to attend! If you’re not sure of your membership status, please email info@littoralsociety.org and we will let you know. Click here if you know you need to renew or would like to become a member.

 

If you are a current member, you will receive an email with a link to register online. You will also receive a notice in the mail that will include a ballot for you to vote in the annual Board of Trustees election.

 

After the meeting, members will be treated to a picnic lunch from Local Smoke BBQ, beer from Ross Brewing, and live music.

Outdoor activities will include seining, a botany walk, birding, shell scavenger hunt, and a beach cleanup. Please dress for the weather and your desired activity, and bring any supplemental gear you need.

COMING UP

Jamaica Bay Horseshoe Crab festival

Saturday, June 4

(rain date Sunday June 5)

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

175-10 Cross Bay Blvd

Queens, NY

Free, Donation Appreciated

Please Register

 

Meet at the refuge visitor center for a special event – the annual Horseshoe Crab mating ritual. We’ll visit the shoreline at the American Ballfield beach (W. 22nd Street) and get to meet the ancient crabs in person. Kids welcome.

 

This is a partnership program with NYC Audubon, the National Park Service, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and the American Littoral Society. For more info contact: don@littoralsociety.org. 

Wingin' It: Spring Migration Bird Walks

Thursday, June 2

9 - 11 a.m. 

Sunday, June 12

10 a.m. - Noon

Meet at American Littoral Society HQ 

GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive

Highlands, NJ

$10 for members, $20 for nonmembers

Register for June 2

Register for June 12

 

Join “bird nerd” and Littoral Society Director of Development, Membership and Outreach Lindsay McNamara for a spring migration bird walk on the Hook. After meeting at Littoral Society Headquarters, we'll walk the paved multi-use pathway to Horseshoe Cove (about 1.5 miles) looking for seasonal bird visitors.

 

Please dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, bring water and binoculars if you have them. The Society also has Nikon 8x42 binoculars for participants to borrow during the walk. Let’s get birdy!

 

Contact lindsay@littoralsociety.org with any questions.

Junior Ranger Angler

Saturday, June 4

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Sandy Hook Unit

Gateway National Recreation Area

Highlands, NJ

Free, Register here

 

The National Park Service and the American Littoral Society are partnering to teach young children how to fish. Join us for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach. 

 

 We will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach. All skill levels are welcome. Rods, reels, and tackle will be provided. Children ages 11 and up are welcome with a supervising adult.

 

Please register at the link NJDEP | NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program for the NJ Saltwater Fishing Registry, complete, print, and bring the form with you to the in-person program. Please bring your lunch and snacks. You can also call 732-872-5970 for more info or to make a reservation.

Women Only! Surf Fishing Clinic

DATE CHANGE: Sunday, June 5

8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Meet at Littoral Society Headquarters

GPS: 18 Hartshorne Drive

Highlands NJ

$30 Members

$75 Non-members

Registration Required

 

Do you want to learn to fish with a group of like-minded rockstar women?! Join Emily McGuckin, Fish-Tagging Director for the Littoral Society, for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach. She'll cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and “reading” a beach.

 

All skill levels are welcomed. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 are welcome with a supervising adult. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided for the early morning gathering but please bring your lunch.

 

For more information contact emily.mcguckin@littoralsociety.org.

World Oceans Day Walk

Wednesday, June 8

6:30 - 8 p.m.

Meet at Lot B

Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook Unit

Highlands, NJ (map) 

Free, Registration Required

 

Celebrate World Oceans Day with the American Littoral Society! Join us for an evening walk on the beach at Sandy Hook, during which we'll talk about the creatures that call the ocean home, while watching the sunset, and looking for shells, sand dollars, and sea glass.

 

World Oceans Day is an international day that takes place annually on June 8 in order to support implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals, while also fostering public interest in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources.

What the Shell!? Trivia Night

Thursday, June 9

6 p.m. start

White Chapel Projects

15 2nd Avenue

Long Branch, NJ

 

Come to White Chapel Project in Long Branch for a night of trivia! We will be asking questions about the many different mollusks you can find around New Jersey as well as other coastal questions. The winner will go home with a prize! 10% of all sales this night will go towards the Littoral Society.

 

Inspired by the creativity and energy of the Whitechapel District of London, this versatile venue strives to redefine how art permeates our daily life– be it through food, drink, performances, events, and other forms of artistic expression.

 

Marilyn Schlossbach joined Preston Casertano and the Two River Organic Mushroom team in 2020 to bring sustainable craft beer, cocktails, wines, culinary comforts, and events to this neighborhood spot.

Volunteer Event: Shark River Work Day

Friday, June 10

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

GPS for Parking: 101 Seaview Court

Neptune, NJ

Please Register

 

Come lend a hand with a living shoreline project designed to reduce erosion in the northwest corner of Shark River Island.

 

We will be planting marsh plants, repairing the bird deterrence, removing some invasive reeds, and cleaning up weed cloth from the berms. Additionally, we may plant various native shrubs and grasses. Dress to get wet and dirty!

 

This work is being coordinated by the Littoral Society as part of a Seaview Condo Association of Shark River/Neptune funded resiliency project.