annual appeal, land preservation, nature
FOPOS
2024 Annual Membership Letter

Since 1969, your generous support has fueled our success. Read Friends of Princeton Open Space’s annual membership letter to see how your contributions are driving vital conservation efforts, from habitat restoration to mentoring young environmental leaders. Help us make even greater strides in 2025.

2024 Annual Membership Letter
FOPOS
FOPOS Seeks Program Coordinator

FOPOS seeks a part-time program coordinator to work directly with FOPOS’s Director of Natural Resources and Stewardship to manage the organization’s year-round volunteer stewardship program and community events series. The selected candidate should be detail-oriented and able to manage emails, databases, program messaging and schedules as well as improve upon existing systems and workflow. Ideally, the program coordinator will be an enthusiastic person supportive of and tapped into land stewardship and preservation within the greater Princeton area. Web design skills, and experience in fundraising or marketing and promoting a business are a plus. This is an administrative job that offers flexibility in location, with the ideal candidate available to participate in regular in-person meetings and work sessions, as well as be present for key events located at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in Princeton, NJ.

This is an ongoing position that has the potential to grow with the right candidate, and is suitable for professionals as well as recent graduates with applicable skill sets.

FOPOS Seeks Program Coordinator
annual appeal, land preservation, nature
FOPOS
Recruit A Friend To Be A Friend

Over the past twelve months, Friends of Princeton Open Space has focused on ecological restoration projects and on educating the next generation of conservationists, including those from communities of color. We are happy to report that, with your support, we have chalked up major successes.

Recruit A Friend To Be A Friend
photo contest
FOPOS
Princeton, We Have A Winner!

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s photo contest. While it’s never easy to choose, we think these top three are pretty outstanding.

Princeton, We Have A Winner!
annual appeal, land preservation, nature
FOPOS
A Message from Wendy Mager, FOPOS President

The past twelve months have been filled with new projects and new achievements for Friends of Princeton Open Space that advance our mission to preserve and care for open space, educate the public on environmental issues, and advocate for sound governmental decisions. Here’s some of what we’ve accomplished with your support.

A Message from Wendy Mager, FOPOS President

Hike the Princeton Institute Woods, May 4th

Ecology of Princeton Institute Woods

Adults are invited to join Dr. Henry Horn, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, for this popular hike, offering an enlightening look at forest dynamics in Princeton Institute Woods. Discover the life and death in the forest while examining a myriad of adaptations in various species, all occupying distinct niches throughout the forest. This hike is appropriate for adults only. Registration is required – please email mpolefka@thewatershed.org or call 609-737-7592 for more information and to sign up. Fee is $5 per person, payable that day. This program is co-sponsored by Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.

When: Sunday, May 4, 2014, 2:00-5:00PM
Where: Princeton Institute Woods, Olden Lane, Princeton

Have you seen these species in the Princeton Ridge?

Your help is needed to protect high value wetlands and wildlife habitat surrounding the Williams natural gas pipeline expansion project. Please be alert and report any sightings of these species in the Princeton Ridge to info@fopos.org. Include photos whenever possible.

Click here for a map of the Princeton Ridge Conservation Area.

Wood Turtle – Threatened

Wood turtles are found in and around rivers and streams that occur within forests or meadows. During March, they emerge from hibernation and bask along stream banks. Wood turtles mate in the water during April and move to dry land by mid-May.

Red-shouldered Hawk – Endangered

Red-shouldered hawks are year-round residents of New Jersey, found in forested wetlands. In late March and early April, males can be seen flying in circles around their nesting territories, calling repeatedly with feathers fanned out, as part of a courtship display.

Red Headed Woodpecker – Threatened

Red-headed woodpeckers are year-round residents of NJ. They are found in forested areas that contain dead or dying trees and sparse undergrowth. Red-headed woodpeckers can be seen hunting insects in flight or on the ground, in addition to the typical woodpecker method of hammering through trees.

Barred Owl – Threatened

The barred owl is a year-round resident of NJ’s mature forested wetlands. They are most vocal during their courtship from February to mid-April, with peak vocal activity occurring in March. They may call at night or during the day. The barred owl’s call is most commonly represented as “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all”.

Rider University Students Celebrate MLK Day of Service with FOPOS

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, a group of 15 volunteers from Rider University’s Athletic Department joined Friends of Princeton Open Space to help with land stewardship in John Witherspoon Woods.

A group of 4 students, led by FOPOS Board Member, Clark Lennon, carried lumber and installed much-needed boardwalk across three sections of the area’s muddiest trails. The additional 40 plus feet of boardwalk helps ensure year-round access to this beautiful wooded wetland.

Meanwhile, the remaining volunteers helped FOPOS’ Naturalist restore the wetland’s plant communities. They eradicated hundreds of invasive vines and shrubs, including Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, and Oriental bittersweet. The volunteers’ hard work has helped improve John Witherspoon Woods for all its visitors- people and wildlife, alike!

A big THANK YOU to the Rider University students for all of their help!

If you or your group would like to volunteer outdoors with Friends of Princeton Open Space, please contact us at info@fopos.org!

Welcome Winter Walk at Mountain Lakes Preserve, January 4th

Join Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed’s Education Director, Jeff Hoagland, on a morning walk at Mountain Lakes Preserve to explore the wonders of the natural world in winter. Discover the unique survival strategies of local plants and animals, from milkweed to meadow vole and red oak to robin. Learn where animals store food and how they survive the season’s relentless chill. Enjoy the fun of the ‘Hibernation Game’. Dress warmly, boots are recommended, and bring your sense of wonder. Fee of $5 per person,payable that day. This hike is appropriate for adults and families, children 5 and older.

Registration is required – please email mpolefka@thewatershed.org.

When: Saturday, January 4, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Where: Mountain Lakes Preserve, Princeton NJ