Victoria Foundation – Strategic Invasive Plant Control and Supporting the Next Generation of Conservationists

The Victoria Foundation has generously provided funding to the Strike Team to develop 5 10- Year Invasive Species Management Plans with numerous project partners in Northern New Jersey (see project partners below). The first year of these plans will be executed by Strike Team Land Stewards and Seasonal Interns, with 200 hours of work dedicated to this project in the first year. Ongoing plan implementation will be provided by project partner landowners.

In addition to stewardship efforts, the Strike Team will be working with Trust for Public Land and United Parks As One to develop educational programs for Newark-based high school students. These programs will include 8 hours of instruction for 20 students over a two day period. Two sections of this program will be run where Day 1 will include a four hour educational lecture on identifying plants and a “How To” using our phone application for data collection with a visit to a Newark area park. Day 2 will further reinforce plant identification and lessons from the “How To” session while allowing time for students to be able to ask questions to the Strike Team on topics such as natural history, broader ecological issues and conservation careers. We want to do our part to inspire the next generation of conservationists!

Project Type: Grant

Project Period: 2018-2019

Project Locations (650 acres total):

• Fox Hill Preserve
• Lightning Bug Hollow
• Mosle Preserve
• Saeger Preserve
• West Brook Preserve

Project Funding: Victoria Foundation

Project Partners: Hunterdon Land Trust, Mendham Township, New Jersey Water Supply Authority, Raritan Headwaters Association, Ridge and Valley Conservancy & Christine Hepburn, Schiff Natural Lands Trust, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, Trust for Public Land, United Parks As One, Victoria Foundation