FOPOS
2025 Annual Membership Letter

Dear Friend:

2025 has been a stellar year for FOPOS’s impact on the health of our ecosystem and for our volunteer conservation work. We’ve expanded our educational offerings with new programs, completed and adopted a new strategic plan, moved forward our major restoration projects, and made our Program Coordinator a full-time employee. It’s been a busy year!

2025 Annual Membership Letter
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
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
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

How to Get Lumber Up a Hill

In a massive logistics operation reminiscent of D-Day, the FOPOS trail crew recruited a small army and provided it with the necessary equipment (work gloves, water, bug spray) in order to move the vast quantity of materials needed for building infrastructure uphill and into position for the coming Woodfield Campaign.  The temperature was around 95 degrees, the army was primarily 9th grade girls (9) and boys (3) from PDS.

The crew.

The crew.

The materials were 80 2x10x8 foot planks and 120 4x4x2 foot cross ties needed for the planned construction of 320 feet of new boardwalk to accompany the 220 feet installed last summer.  Although this project was not officially part of the work covered by last year's ANJEC grant, we were persuaded by this year's floods that many more feet of boardwalk were needed.

The materials to be moved.

The materials to be moved.

Hitching a ride and taking a break. 

Top 10 DO NOT PLANT LIST

These plants are readily available at many nurseries, but they are invasive and can rapidly take over a natural area.  Native plants are easier to care for, require no fertilizer, and create habitats for wildlife.  There are many places to purchase native plants, such as D&R Greenway's Native Plant Nursery.  http://www.drgreenway.org/NativeNursery.html

Celebrate National Trails Day, June 3rd

Saturday, June 3rd is National Trails Day! We invite you to grab your copy of Walking the Trails In and Around Princeton and go exploring the many miles of beautiful trails in our town.

ABOUT NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: National Trails Day is the only nationally coordinated event designed to unite all muscle-powered trail activities with the goal of connecting more people to trails. Every trail beckons adventure and has a story to share with any person willing to discover it, and American Hiking Society believes these trail experiences can improve the lives of every American.

Each year, on the first Saturday of June, American Hiking Society and the trails community invite Americans of all ages and abilities to find their own adventure and discover their unique story at one of the thousands of events hosted throughout the country.

By coordinating a wide array of trail activities on a single day, National Trails Day attracts new trail users and helps connect existing trail enthusiasts with local clubs and organizations with the hopes of creating trail advocates and stewards. The task to protect and maintain more than 200,000 miles of trails in the U.S. requires a collaborative effort among trail clubs, organizations, government agencies, and most importantly passionate trail advocates and stewards.

Click here for a list of National Trails Day events around New Jersey.

 

Mother's Day at Mountain Lakes

Bring Your Mother to Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve
Sunday, May 14
2PM to 4PM
57 Mountain Avenue
Princeton

Stop by Mountain Lakes House between 2PM and 4PM on Mother's Day for tea and cookies on the lovely stone terrace overlooking the lakes.

We will have Frank Sauer's stunning photos of Mountain Lakes Preserve on display. And Sophie Glovier will be at the Mountain Lakes House with updated copies of Walk the Trails In and Around Princeton -- an invaluable trail guide to Princeton. And we will have a special treat for all moms!

We also invite you to take a Mother’s Day Trail Walk at Mountain Lakes Preserve. Maps will be available for family-friendly self-guided walks in the Mountain Lakes Preserve. Over eight miles of trails as well as lots of birds, wildlife, and spring wildflowers. Celebrate Mother's Day by spending some invigorating and inspiring outdoor family time!