Fall 2016 MA-RPC Meeting Attach #6 The Greater Blairstown Area, New Jersey 1
Fall 2016 MA-RPC Meeting Attach #6 Appalachian Trail Community Application The Greater Blairstown Area Community Partnership 1) Town, City, Community Name: The Greater Blairstown Area Community (GBAC) Partnership (Knowlton, Blairstown, Hardwick, Hope, & Frelinghuysen Townships) 2) Contact information of town representative: Joel McGreen Chairman, Blairstown Open Space Committee 106 Route 94 Blairstown, NJ 07825 (908) 763-0883 joelmcgreen@hotmail.com 3) Contact information of lead volunteer: Corey Tierney Director, Warren County Department of Land Preservation 500 Mount Pisgah Avenue PO Box 179 Oxford, NJ 07863 (908) 453-3252 ctierney@co.warren.nj.us 4) Criteria selected for consideration. A. Advisory committee: Cynthia Dalton cdalton@blairstowntwp-nj.com Blairstown Township Committee Joel McGreen joelmcgreen@hotmail.com Blairstown Open Space Committee Tom Gross tcgross@embarqmail.com Blairstown Enhancement Committee Jeannette Iurato jeanetteiurato@gmail.com Greater Blairstown Business Assoc. Art Charlton acharlton@co.warren.nj.us Warren County Public Info. Dept. Corey Tierney ctierney@co.warren.nj.us Warren County Preservation Dept. Sandy Myers smyers@warrencountyscd.com Warren County Soil Conservation Dist. Kasey Errico kasey.errico@ridgeandvalley.org Ridge & Valley Charter School Lisa Masi lisa.masi@ridgeandvalley.org Ridge & Valley Charter School Susi Tilley susi@ridgeandvalleyconservancy.org Ridge & Valley Conservancy 2
Fall 2016 MA-RPC Meeting Attach #6 Gabrielle Andrews gandrews@outdoors.org AMC, Mohican Outdoor Center Misty Mott mmott@outdoors.org AMC, Mohican Outdoor Center Katie Kingsbury hikerk53@yahoo.com NYNJ Trail Conference B. Annual project or celebration: The Blairstown Fourth of July Celebration - The Blairstown Fourth of July Celebration is held every year at Footbridge Park, adjacent to the Paulinskill River and the Paulinskill Trail. Starting at 10:30 in the morning and running through late afternoon, community organizations, small businesses and volunteer groups have exhibits and displays. Games, contests and various activities are all part of the event. The GBAC will participate in this annual event by setting up a display table with free maps and literature about the Appalachian Trail and encourage them to visit both the trail and the neighboring Blairstown Area community, and to also support the protection of the trail. The GBAC will educate visitors about hiking basics, safety, and the importance of “leave -no- trace.” Warren County Preservation Day - Each spring the County of Warren holds an event to recognize the various natural, cultural, historic, and agricultural preservation efforts throughout the community. The event is moved around the county and held at a different preserved site each year in order to highlight the county’s diverse resources. Dozens of preservation organizations and related groups setup display tables where they share information with visitors. Several hundred people generally attend the event where they learn about the importance of preservation, participate in hiking, kayaking, wildlife demonstrations, historic tours, and other such activities, and also enjoy local food and music. 3
Fall 2016 MA-RPC Meeting Attach #6 The GBAC will participate in the annual Warren County Preservation Day by setting up a display table with free maps and literature about the Appalachian Trail and encourage them to visit both the trail and the neighboring Blairstown Area community, and to also support the protection of the trail. The GBAC will educate visitors about hiking basics, safety, and the importance of “leave -no- trace.” The GBAC may also lead hikes along the Appalachian Trail if the event is held nearby. The lead volunteer liaison for this event will be Corey Tierney (ctierney@co.warren.nj.us, 908-453-3252) The Warren County Farmers Fair - Each summer the annual Warren County Farmers’ F air draws thousands of visitors over the course of eight days with affordable family entertainment. The fair offers a wonderful agricultural component with animal shows, farm exhibits, information booths, hot air balloons, and more. The GBAC will participate in the annual Warren County Farmers’ Fair by setting up a display table with free maps and literature about the Appalachian Trail and encourage them to visit both the trail and the neighboring Blairstown Area community, and to also support the protection of the trail. The GBAC will educate visito rs about hiking basics, safety, and the importance of “leave -no- trace.” The lead volunteer liaison for this event will be Corey Tierney (ctierney@co.warren.nj.us) C. A.T. educational or service learning project 4
Fall 2016 MA-RPC Meeting Attach #6 Kasey Errico and Lisa Masi, along with other Ridge and Valley Charter School teachers have completed the “Trails to Every Classroom” professional development program and ha ve incorporated it into their curriculum at the Ridge and Valley Charter School, located just outside of Blairstown in Frelinghuysen Township. Additionally, they have participated in professional development opportunities offered to Trail to Every Classroom alumni, such as Outdoor Leadership, Wilderness First Aid and Trail Maintenance. Kasey and Lisa have assisted Trail to Every Classroom in mentoring and guiding new teachers in the program. The Ridge and Valley Charter School has a K-8 Expeditionary Scope and Sequence that integrates the Appalachian Trail into the curriculum co ntent. The Appalachian Trail plays a central role in the students’ learning of natural history, physical education, outdoor skills and ethics, Leave No Trace principles and sense of place. Students from Kindergarten through 8 th grade have developmentally appropriate experiences that culminate in the 8 th grade students planning and participating in a three night backpacking expedition on the Appalachian Trail. Students learn outdoor safety procedures and first aid, how to properly use and care for various outdoor gear, prepare seasonal, nutrient dense food, read and use topographical maps and build compass skills, Through the Appalachian Trail and the surrounding area, students study geology, botany, ecology, real world local events that impact the area, as well as participate in service learning projects, such as invasive species removal and water quality studies. Future curriculum goals connected to the Appalachian Trail include each Ridge and Valley Charter School student completing the entire NJ section of the Appalachian Trail by the time he or she graduates and increasing connections for service learning projects, including connections with the NY/NJ Trail Conference. Additionally, Ridge and Valley Charter School would like to find ways to encourage other local district schools to participate in Trail to Every Classroom and act as mentors in their development of curriculum. The lead volunteer liaison for this project is Kasey Errico (kasey.errico@ridgeandvalley.org). D. Language for the protection of the A.T. is included in land-use plans, planning tools, ordinances or guidelines; or there is demonstrated support to amend, change or add such plans. The Appalachian Trail and its appurtenant areas in Warren County are largely protected by virtue of the Trail’s location within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Worthington State Forest. Nevertheless, the County of Warren and the municipalities included within the Greater Blairstown Area support the protection of the Appalachian Trail, its adjoining open space buffers and view-sheds, surrounding nature corridors, and recreational trail connections. The support is not only evidenced by this application, but by the community’s commitment to preservation. To date, the County of Warren has helped preserve over 23,000 acres of farmland, 2,000 acres of parkland, and has assisted in the preservation of over 130 municipal and nonprofit projects preserving both natural and historical resources. These efforts have not only helped to preserve the rural character of Warren County, but have protected productive farmland, sensitive environmental areas, and unique historic buildings. In addition, these efforts have helped provide residents with access to fresh, locally grown produce, recreation areas, and learning opportunities. Additionally, all of the municipalities within the Greater Blairstown Area have also worked to preserve their farms, parks, and historic sites through similar local efforts. So while protection of the A.T. may not be specifically emphasized in plans, ordinances, or guidelines, it is noted in a number of official county and municipal planning documents as an important resource. Moreover, the county and member townships have a demonstrated interest in protecting such resources and the GBAC partnership will advocate for additional A.T. protections as necessary. 5
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