Join OCSCD online on February 8 for an educational soil webinar: Don't Treat Your Soil Like Dirt! Building a Foundation for Your Jersey-Friendly Yard, presented by Becky Laboy, M.Ed., Education Outreach Specialist with OCSCD, hosted by the Bergen-Passaic Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. Soil is one of the most important components of your garden, but possibly the least understood. In this program we will explore the chemical, physical and biological properties of soil and how they work together to create a healthy foundation for your native garden. All are welcome to attend. Free! Click to register. Visit OCSCD's website for more information about webinars and outreach programs for your group.

OCSCD's Education Outreach Specialist, Becky Laboy, M.Ed., will be presenting at the Native Plant Society of New Jersey's Annual Spring Meeting, on March 4. This year's full day conference will focus on the major elements affecting plants: soil, water, air and fire. Ms. Laboy will explore the topic of soil. This "hybrid" event offers an in-person, as well as an online option. Registration is required. For more details, please visit the NPSNJ website Events page.

OCSCD is excited to announce our 2023 NJ Conservation Poster Contest! This year's theme is "One Water". The Poster Contest is open to all students from grades 2-12. The Ocean County Soil Conservation District will declare a First Place winner for each grade group. One Grand Champion Winner is selected among the First Place winners and is awarded a $50 prize. All winning entries from Ocean County are submitted to the NJ Statewide Competition where they will compete for more cash prizes. Deadline to submit Ocean County entries is March 1, 2023. Visit our website for more details and to download the rules and entry form.

SAVE-THE-DATE: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, and get ready for our 26th annual Barnegat Bay Environmental Educators Roundtable offering hands-on professional development for teachers and informal educators. This year we will be back at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education. Registration will open in February; visit and bookmark our website for more details.

Calling all High School teachers! Register your group of High School students in the 2023 NJ Envirothon. This annual competition culminates in one intense day where students use critical thinking skills to create inventive solutions to complex environmental problems, and test their practical knowledge of environmental topics through hands-on and interactive problem solving. 

The 2023 NJ State Envirothon will take place on May 20, at Camp Zehnder in Wall Twp, Monmouth County. For information about registering your school for this fun, challenging and educational event for high school students, download (and share) the 2023 NJ Envirothon Flyer. Find out more by visiting OCSCD's Envirothon webpage and the NJ Envirothon website.

The 2023 Conservation District Local Working Group requests your participation to identify important natural resources issues, concerns, and opportunities. The purpose of this local working group is to provide information to help direct technical and financial resources for conservation programs and efforts locally and across the state. Your insight and input will be very much appreciated. A report of findings will be provided to all participants. Please link to this flyer for more information about how to register.