Dedicated to the conservation of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County, NJ
About Friends
Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization as defined under the laws of the state of New Jersey and the United States Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)3. Corporate offices are maintained at 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township, NJ. The mailing address is: 241 Pleasant Plains Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Our EIN is: 22-3674438.
The Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1999 in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our focus is refuge-centric; we support the goals, projects, and mission of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Our operations and activities are managed by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees.
The Friends is part of a network of more than 200 friends groups nationwide, each associated with one or more national wildlife refuges, all committed to improving and protecting our unique refuge resources.
Funds to support refuge projects and activities are received from memberships, Nature Shop sales, donations, and grants.
Annual Fall Festival
Contact Friends
Visit us at the Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center, 32 Pleasant Plains Rd, in Harding Township, NJ.
Send us mail at 241 Pleasant Plains Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.
Phone us at 973-425-9510.
For general information, email info@friendsofgreatswamp.org
EIN: 22-3674438
Friends of Great Swamp -
2006 Refuge Friends Group of the Year
Board of Directors
Susan Garretson Friedman
President
Karen English
Vice President
Laura Nally
Secretary
Laurel Gould
Treasurer
John Breault
Jen Dawson
Rich Dufort
Joyce Payeur
Judy Schmidt
Elaine Seckler
Dorothy Smullen
Kathy Woodward
Jonathan Rosenberg
GSNWR Liaison
The Friends of Great Swamp Board of Directors meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Visitor Center at 32 Pleasant Plains Road. All members of the Friends are welcome to attend Board meetings.
Annual Roadside Cleanup
How Friends Help the Refuge
We host events and lead educational tours, including:
- Group tours for school, youth, and other organizations
- Second Sunday educational programs and walks
- Sunset Walks during National Wildlife Refuge Week
- Annual Turkey Walk
- Annual Fall Festival
- Spring frog walks
We provide funds for:
- Visitor information shed at Wildlife Observation Center
- New blind, boardwalk railings, benches, and signs at Wildlife Observation Center
- Publications like the Tree & Shrub Guide and Wildlife Tour Route Guide
- Refuge summer intern
- Design study for new visitor center
- Viewing scopes at Overlook
- Annual volunteer recognition event
We volunteer and coordinate volunteer resources for numerous events, including:
- Semi-annual homestead cleanups
- Annual roadside cleanup
- Removal of invasive species from wildlife habitats
- Wood chipping trails, staining blinds and kiosks
- Cleaning of wood duck boxes and bluebird nest boxes
- Surveys of frogs, bats, turtles for refuge staff
- Trail maintenance
- Weekend staffing of the Nature Shop
- Weekend staffing at the Wildlife Observation Center and Overlook during the Spring and Fall migration seasons
Mission Statement
Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is an independent, volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to
- Promoting stewardship of the natural resources of the Refuge
- Inspiring an appreciation of nature through education and outreach
- Engaging in partnership activities that support and enhance the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the National Refuge System