The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

We currently have two terrific opportunities available for individuals looking to get their conservation careers off the ground! TLCNJ is hiring PAID planning fellows and land steward interns to assist our staff while gaining valuable skills and experience. We've had the pleasure of working with hundreds of interns and fellows over the past four decades. Many of them go on to successful careers in the environmental sector with regional and national nonprofits, all levels of government, and other aspects of natural resource preservation. Find out more at www.tlc-nj.org/blog

SEEKING PLANNING FELLOWS! Are you a college grad who wants hands-on experience with land preservation? Our paid fellowship is a year-long opportunity to learn mapping, creative analysis, and how to work with governments and communities to promote conservation in New Jersey. Visit www.tlc-nj.org/employment for more details and to apply.

We're looking for PAID interns to help our maintain our preserves through the spring and summer. Want to get paid to work out in nature while learning about conservation? Work consists of invasive species control, fence repair, trail maintenance, property inspections, baseline inspections, debris removal, community garden maintenance, boundary posting, mowing, and weed trimming, as well as other various tasks to care for the land we manage throughout northern NJ. Learn more and apply at www.tlc-nj.org/employment.

Whoooooo's out there? We're looking to hire a part-time bookkeeper! Do you know someone who's right for the job? Get more info and apply at tlc-nj.org/employment.

We're looking for SEVEN NJ college students to award $70,000 in scholarships this year! 2024 winner Nikki Morley is exactly the kid of student we're looking for--achieving academic excellence while demonstrating leadership and a passion for protecting our natural resources. Nikki's love of birds “took flight” while volunteering at the Raptor Trust in 2016. After getting an animal science degree, Nikki was a planning intern with TLCNJ, then went back to the Raptor Trust to work on avian rehabilitation. Now Nikki is working on a master’s in ecology and ecosystems at the University of Vienna. Nikki says, "If you can get people interested in the local land they have ties to, you can get them interested in saving it and the animals that live there. That skill has been indispensable to both my work and research. I am so grateful to put the scholarship towards furthering my education and, ultimately, spreading the message of conservation." Read more about past winners and apply at https://lnkd.in/efPkDk43

Attention NJ college students! Are you a junior, senior, or graduate student in environmental science or a related environmental field? Know someone who is? This year, TLCNJ is proud to offer offer SEVEN scholarships of $10,000 each to help future environmental leaders. Apply today at https://lnkd.in/diqUK4Ej.

Did you know that one of the largest ash trees in NJ can be found at our South Branch Preserve? This tree began growing when only Lenni Lenape lived in the area. Before the Dutch settled in Jersey City. Before Galileo published his final book on physics. When Rembrandt was 18 years old. Read about the fascinating history of this tree, which is now listed in the New Jersey Big and Heritage Tree Registry, and what's being done to keep it safe in a time when the emerald ash borer is threatening ancient wonders like this one. https://lnkd.in/egPJSJYF

Each year we give the Richard M. Sargent Award to recognize one outstanding intern for the significant work they have done for the organization. This year we're honoring Brandon Zabriskie, a Montclair State biology student whose hard work, caring, and curiosity delights everyone he works with. Brandon is the kind of guy who doesn't hesitate to put on a pair of waders and scoop macroinvertebrates out of the river for kids to examine up close. He says: “When many people think about protecting the environment, they focus on rainforests or coral reefs. At TLCNJ I’ve learned that the world in our backyard is just as beautiful and important as any of these other places." Read more about Brandon and the Sargent Award at https://lnkd.in/gMEaUCRN

2024 was a banner year for TLCNJ. We won the National Land Trust Excellence Award, completed our 500th project, gave $60,000 in scholarships, and fully funded our Outdoor Ambassador Program for the next three years.? ? You can help us keep this momentum going. Please consider donating today to support three projects we are excited about: Split Rock Mountain access for the Ramapo, expanding wildlife corridors in Bobcat Alley, and preserving uniquely precious limestone forest habitat.? ? Learn more about these projects at https://lnkd.in/e6YAJcvf. If you give $75 or more before 12/31/24, you can claim a special gift of a Land Conservancy tee shirt or bandana!

So what happened at The Land Conservancy of New Jersey this fall? You probably already know that we've been celebrating our National Land Trust Excellence Award, but it's not all partying all the time around here. We cycled this year's Land Conservancy Fondo in September, observed beavers at work at the source of the South Branch of the Raritan River in October, and enjoyed a full moon hike with 25 of our community members at South Branch Preserve South in November. Delve into these stories and lots more in the the newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e8PtEkyh