Native Plants of the Pine Barrens Ecosystem:
We are lucky to live in the Pine Barrens, a beautiful temperate climate landscape whose forests are home to a diverse array of plants, animals, and insects. From towering oaks to sphagnum moss, every member of this ecosystem works in harmony to maintain balance and abundance amongst the greenery.
Trees
1. Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
- Thick, resinous bark protects against fire and insects.
- Seeds are often serotinous, requiring fire to open cones and release seeds.
- Can sprout new branches from dormant buds on the trunk and roots after damage.
2. Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)
- Thrives in wetlands and acidic soils.
- Wood is resistant to decay, making it valuable for construction.
- Provides important habitat for wetland wildlife.
3. Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Adaptable to various soil types, from wetlands to uplands.
- Known for its brilliant red foliage in autumn.
- A key source of food for squirrels and birds.
4. Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)
- Grows in sandy, nutrient-poor soils.
- Leaves are thick and waxy, adapted to drought.
- Produces acorns that serve as food for forest mammals.
5. Swamp Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
- Produces fragrant white flowers in spring.
- Leaves are semi-evergreen in southern climates.
- A vital nectar source for pollinators.
Shrubs
1. Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- Thrives in acidic, wet soils.
- Berries are an important food source for birds and mammals.
- Popular for human consumption and cultivated varieties.
2. Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)
- Produces bright pink flowers in clusters.
- Toxic to livestock if consumed in large quantities.
- Prefers acidic and sandy soils.
3. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Low-growing evergreen shrub with red berries.
- Berries are consumed by bears, hence the name.
- Adapted to sandy, nutrient-poor soils.
4. Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
- Produces fragrant white or pink flowers in summer.
- Thrives in wetlands and stream banks.
- Important nectar source for bees and butterflies.
Herbaceous Plants
1. Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata)
- Listed as a federally threatened species.
- Grows in wetlands with consistent water levels.
- Features vibrant pink flowers in spring.
2. Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens)
- Produces small red berries with a minty flavor.
- Leaves are used to produce wintergreen oil.
- Prefers acidic, sandy soils.
Orchids
1. Pink Lady’s-Slipper (Cypripedium acaule)
- Produces distinctive pink, slipper-shaped flowers.
- Requires specific mycorrhizal fungi for germination.
- Grows in acidic, sandy woods.
2. Rose Pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides)
- Features fragrant pink flowers in summer.
- Found in wet meadows and bogs.
- Attracts pollinators like bees.
3. Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Platanthera integra)
- Critically imperiled, with small, delicate yellow flowers.
- Grows in wet, acidic soils.
- Pollinated by specific moths.
Carnivorous Plants
1. Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
- Carnivorous, trapping insects in water-filled “pitchers.”
- Produces digestive enzymes to break down prey.
- Found in nutrient-poor bogs.
2. Round-Leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)
- Carnivorous, trapping insects with sticky glandular hairs.
- Grows in nutrient-poor acidic bogs.
- Produces tiny, star-like flowers.
3. Bladderwort (Utricularia fibrosa)
- Uses tiny sacs to trap and digest microscopic prey.
- Found in boggy soils or submerged in water.
- Flowers are small, often yellow or purple.
4. Thread-Leaved Sundew (Drosera filiformis)
- Long, thread-like leaves with sticky glands to trap insects.
- Found in nutrient-poor sandy soils.
- Produces small pink flowers.
Ferns and Mosses
1. Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
- Named for its cinnamon-colored fertile fronds.
- Thrives in wetlands and shaded areas.
- Provides habitat for small wildlife.
2. Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum spp.)
- Forms dense mats in bogs, creating acidic conditions.
- Used in horticulture and as a natural wound dressing historically.
- Retains significant amounts of water, shaping wetland ecosystems.
Rare Species
1. Broom Crowberry (Corema conradii)
- Northern species with disjunct populations in the Pine Barrens.
- Blooms in early spring, around March.
- Thrives in sandy soils with low nutrients.
2. Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata)
- Listed as a federally threatened species.
- Grows in wetlands with consistent water levels.
- Features vibrant pink flowers in spring
3. Pine Barrens Gentian (Gentiana autumnalis)
- Listed as a state endangered species.
- Grows in acidic, sandy soils of the Pine Barrens.
- Features striking blue to purple flowers in late summer to fall.
https://pinelandsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pine-Barrens-S-Jersey-native-plant-list.pdf
http://www.pineypower.com/plants.htm
Ways to reduce waste and help reverse damage being done to our environment with everyday tasks:
Climate change is destroying some of the most vital natural resources and ecosystems on earth, but there are ways you can help! Here are some things you can do to help lower the impact of climate change and make your household and community a more environmentally sustainable place:
1. Reduce Plastic Use
- Switch to Reusables: Use reusable shopping bags, water bottles, straws, and containers instead of single-use plastics.
- Buy in Bulk: Purchase bulk goods to reduce packaging waste.
2. Recycle Properly
- Know What to Recycle: Check local recycling guidelines to ensure you’re recycling items correctly.
- Clean Your Recyclables: Rinse containers to prevent contamination.
- Separate Materials: Avoid mixing different types of recyclables.
3. Compost Organic Waste
- Set Up a Compost Bin: Compost food scraps and yard waste to reduce landfill contributions.
- Compost Indoors or Outdoors: Options exist for small apartments or large yards.
4. Reduce Food Waste
- Plan Meals: Shop with a list to avoid buying unnecessary items.
- Store Food Correctly: Use proper storage techniques to prolong food freshness.
- Get Creative with Leftovers: Repurpose leftover food into new meals.
5. Avoid Disposable Products
- Choose Durable Alternatives: Use cloth napkins, reusable coffee filters, refillable water bottles, and rechargeable batteries.
- Ditch Paper Towels: Replace with washable cloths.
6. Donate and Repurpose
- Donate Unused Items: Give away clothing, furniture, and other items in good condition.
- Upcycle: Turn old items into new, useful products (e.g., jars for storage).
7. Shop Sustainably
- Choose Eco-Friendly Brands: Support companies with sustainable practices.
- Buy Secondhand: Opt for thrifted clothes and refurbished electronics.
- Invest in Quality: Higher-quality items last longer and reduce waste.
- Avoid Overpackaged Products: Choose items with minimal or no packaging.
- Buy Locally: Shopping locally helps the local economy
- Support Local Farms: Buy a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share. By supporting local farmers by having a CSA means your food is local and seasonal
8. Reduce Energy and Water Waste
- Use Energy-Efficient Appliances: Look for ENERGY STAR-rated products.
- Conserve Water: Turn off taps when not in use and fix leaks promptly.
- Use Renewable Energy: If possible, switch to solar or wind power.
9. Advocate for Change
- Support Environmental Policies: Advocate for waste reduction initiatives in your community.
- Educate Others: Share waste reduction tips with friends and family.
10. Participate in Cleanup Efforts
- Join Local Cleanups: Help remove litter from beaches, parks, or streets.
- Organize Your Own Cleanup: Rally neighbors to clean your local environment.
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-waste-what-you-can-do
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
https://www.organicvoices.org/10-ways-to-reduce-waste-and-help-the-environment/
Reusing vs Recycling:
- Reusing involves avoiding waste by finding new uses for items that would have become trash.
- Recycling involves turning waste back into raw materials (such as plastic, glass, and paper) to be used for new products.
- How to reuse:
- Donate items you’re finished with to thrift stores or charities.
- Reuse glass, plastic, metal, and cardboard containers rather than throw them out.
- Carry a reusable shopping bag with you when you go out.
- Save wrapping paper and gift bags to reuse.
- Turn old clothing, towels, and sheets into cleaning cloths.
- How to recycle:
- Visit https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/345/Recycling to find out what can and can’t be recycled in Burlington County
- Make sure you have an outdoor recycling bin to put your materials in.
- Check the date that recycles are picked up in your area each week.
- Make a designated place to store recyclable materials in your home.
- Encourage everyone in your home to recycle and teach them the proper ways to do it.
- If recycles aren’t collected curbside in your area, find the nearest drop-off location.
Camp Ockanickon History: Look to the Past to Guide the Future
Pine Barrens History:
- Around 10,000 years ago, the land on which Camp Ockanickon sits (and the pine barrens as a whole) was home to a thriving temperate forest ecosystem and iconic campground, it was actually covered in permafrost and had a tundra-like climate. Few humans occupied it and had to adapt to the freezing wintery conditions
- 10,000 years after that, the environment began to warm up and the first oak and pine forests sprouted in the area
- Indigenous communities used the natural landscape in innovative ways, such as hickory wood for its nuts, to make tools, and as charcoal for smoking meat and sphagnum as astringent wound dressing and diapers.
- European Settlers came to the pine barrens after the Lenni Lenape and began settling, many of the trees were logged to build dwellings and fuel factories for what became a very lucrative iron industry
Camp History:
- Before it was Camp Ockanickon, it was a cranberry bog and water mill.
- Camp Ockanickon was established as a YMCA camp in 1906 as a place for young men to spend their summers and do character-building outdoor activities. The camp switched locations a few times before planting roots, at its current location, in Medford.
- The name Ockanickon honors the Mantas Lenape chief. A man named Henry Stockwell acquired the camp’s current location, which is why the day camp at Ockanickon is now named after him.
- Chief Ockanickon’s wife was Princess Matollionequay, who inspired the name of the girl’s overnight camp at Ockanickon that opened in 1937.
- From the YMCA website: Chief Ockanickon, who died around 1681, is buried under a huge sycamore tree in the Friends Meetinghouse cemetery in Burlington City, NJ. A boulder near the tree bears his mark and a bronze plaque is etched with his final words: “Be plain and fair to all, as I have been.” To this day, the YMCA camp’s principal mission is to honor his words, by encouraging the Golden Rule to all who visit here: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-overview/
https://www.nj.gov/pinelands/reserve/hist/
https://ycamp.org/about/organization/history/
Wildlife Fun Facts: Edible Plants
Edible Plants at Camp Ockanickon:
- First, it’s important that we respect the forest ecosystem by not taking plants or over-harvesting, and not eating anything found outside unless an informed adult confirms it’s safe.
- Wintergreen has leaves that can be eaten raw or steeped into a tea. It has chemical properties which are similar to aspirin!
- Pine needles can also be steeped to make a vitamin-rich tea. The other parts of the tree, such as the bark and the seeds, can be made into a flour that can be substituted for wheat flour in baking.
- The root bark of the sassafras tree is the main flavor component in root beer! It’s said to help with digestive issues.
- Greenbriar shoots can be cooked or chopped up and eaten raw in a salad.
Marketa’s Journey: Who is Marketa?
The Inspiration Behind the Project, Marketa McCabe:
- Marketa was a very bright, passionate young woman and lifelong Girl Scout.
- She was also incredibly kind and caring, and her goofy jokes and warm personality could cheer anyone up on their worst days
- Her greatest passions included nature, environmental protection, and social justice.
- She studied engineering at Rowan University.
- Marketa had a dream to one day use her degree to advance the systems we use to keep our planet clean and protect the natural environment.
- Unfortunately, she passed away in 2021 during her sophomore year at Rowan.
- She always wanted to help people and make the world a better place for human beings and every other creature on the planet.
- This project aims to carry on Marketa’s dream of helping to protect the environment while educating others in our community about how to do the same.