Beach Plum Festival at Island Beach State Park

The 21st annual Beach Plum Festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. The festival is the main fundraiser for the park’s nonprofit partner Friends of Island Beach State Park, which will use festival revenue to plant American beach grass to further enhance and stabilize dunes, as well as other park needs.

This rain-or-shine event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Swimming Area 1. An $8 donation is suggested. Visitors may take a free shuttle from an overflow parking lot to the festival area starting at 10 a.m. The shuttle will continue until the festival ends.

“The annual Beach Plum Festival highlights a number of important elements at the Jersey shore,” Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources Ray Bukowski said. “It marks the end of a great summer, the beginning of the fall festival season, and brings attention in an enjoyable way to a native seasonal fruit found only in coastal areas.”

“This event is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day at the shore while tasting beach plums and learning about the critical environment in which they grow,” Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn said. “We invite the public to come to Island Beach State Park and experience what nature has to offer.”

Festival visitors can sample or purchase beach plum jelly and ice cream, enjoy children’s activities such as a magic act and cartoonist, explore exhibits providing information about the environment and various non-profit organizations, among many other activities.

What is a beach plum?

The beach plum is a shrubby tree that thrives in sandy soil and offers dune stabilization for sensitive coastal ecosystems such as those found at Island Beach State Park. The tree is typically found in coastal environments stretching from Maine to North Carolina.

Beach plum plants produce beautiful blossoms every spring and fruit in late summer and early fall. The fruit usually measures less than two centimeters in circumference, and its taste is a mix between a plum, a strawberry and an apricot. Beach plums may be eaten raw, but are often used as a jam, jelly, marinade or dessert sauce.

Friends of Island Beach State Park formed in 1996 to encourage protection of the barrier island ecosystem and to enhance both educational and recreational programs at the park.
In addition to the Beach Plum Festival the group organizes beach grass plantings in the spring and fall, the Conservation Talks lecture series, May Day Pet Expo, the Barrier Island Surf Contest and the month-long wellness celebration on Thursdays in August. The group also prints the park's annual visitor guide.

For info on Island Beach State Park www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

For info about the Friends of IBSP and the festival www.friendsofibsp.org/events/beach-plum-festival-2/

New Jersey State Parks

The end of summer doesn't mean the end of visits to outdoor areas. In fact, with foliage becoming a major tourist attraction in many area on the East Coast, the cooler months of autumn are increasingly times for outdoor travel vacations.

Though it may be only weekend visits for families with kids, for others the less crowded fall season has advantages.

Last year I bought my lifetime senior citizen National Parks Pass for $10 and my wife and I have since visited several National Parks and plan on visiting many others. But we don't have to leave the state to see parks and forests.

The State Park Pass is available for New Jersey residents at $50 (Non-Resident $75) and means free entrance for one calendar year to the state parks and forests facilities that charge daily walk-in or parking fees. If you are a frequent visitor to the state parks, the purchase of the State Park Pass can mean a substantial savings over the payment of daily walk-in or parking fees. The pass does not cover camping fees or guarantee entry when facilities are filled to capacity or for special events. That same application also entitles New Jersey residents age 62 or over and people who are totally disabled to free admission and free parking upon providing adequate verification of their status. They also receive a $2 per night reduction in campsite rates.

There are 40 New Jersey State Parks and forests. Here are just a few options to consider this autumn.

High Point      Flickr - Thomas Hannigan 

High Point State Park is known for its High Point Monument which, at 1,803 feet above sea level, offers a great panorama of rich farmland and forest, soft hills and lush valleys in three states. The Delaware River is a blue line that marks the ridges of New Jersey from those of Pennsylvania.

But High Point also offers trails for walkers, hikers and skiers, and quiet spots for campers and anglers.

The land for High Point State Park, donated by Colonel Anthony R. and Susie Dryden Kuser, was dedicated as a park in 1923. The landscaping was designed by the Olmsted Brothers of Boston, a prominent landscape architectural firm of that time owned by brothers who were the sons of the eminent Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park.

www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/highpoint.html

Island Beach State Park is a narrow barrier island south of Seaside Park that stretches for 10 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and the historic Barnegat Bay.

Island Beach is one of New Jersey's last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem that once existed along much of the coast and is also one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast. Over 3,000 acres and 10 miles of coastal dunes remain almost untouched since Henry Hudson first described New Jersey's coast in 1609.

The dunes and white sandy beaches offer habitat to maritime plants and diverse wildlife in the dunes, thicket, freshwater wetlands, maritime forest and tidal marshes.

The state's largest osprey colony calls this park home and there are also visiting peregrine falcons, wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl and migrating songbirds.

Island Beach is nationally known as a unique resource with over 400 plants identified, including the largest expanses of beach heather in New Jersey.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

Like High Point, the best known spot at Cape May is the lighthouse. It is a great attraction for many visitors to the area, but the park’s constantly changing shoreline, dunes, freshwater coastal marsh and ponds, forested islands and varied uplands make it a well-known location for viewing the fall bird migration.

Located on the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May Point State Park is a key site on the NJ Coastal Heritage Trail, with an environmental center that houses a classroom for interpretive programs and a museum on the area's natural and historic features.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/capemay.html

Check out the Official Facebook page for New Jersey State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites at:
www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStateParks

Protecting Piping Plovers at Island Beach State Park

Newborn piping plover chick - NPS photo

Beginning Friday, June 23, a section of Island Beach State Park ocean beach will be temporarily closed to Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicle (MSFV) traffic.

A vehicle barrier will be erected approximately 3/4 mile north of the jetty.

The closure is to protect Piping Plovers, an endangered species nesting in the Southern Natural Area.

Due to the temporary closure, IBSP may reach its capacity of MSFVs sooner than normal.

Piping Plover - via Flickr, Andrea Westmoreland

For more information visit njfishandwildlife.com/saltwater.htm

Ocean Fun Day Saturday May 20 at Island Beach State Park

Island Beach State Park, the jewel of New Jersey’s State Park System, will give visitors an opportunity to watch the release of young diamondback turtles into their natural habitat, as well as other youth-oriented environmental activities during Ocean Fun Day on Saturday, May 20. The diamondback terrapin release is new this year at Island Beach State Park.

Island Beach State Park is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast. With approximately 3,000 acres of beaches, dunes, maritime forests, freshwater wetlands and tidal marshes, the park is home to the state’s largest osprey colony, as well as peregrine falcons, wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl and songbirds.

This year’s 14th annual Ocean Fun Days are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 20 at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, and on Sunday, May 21 at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s headquarters in the historic Fort Hancock section of Sandy Hook in Monmouth County. Admission and parking are free. A free shuttle bus will be available at both parks to take visitors to tour sites.

Ocean Fun Day events encourage visitors to enjoy a day outdoors while learning about New Jersey’s coastal ecosystem through educational displays, nature tours and interactive programs that include seining, crafts, a scavenger hunt, touch tanks, youth fishing clinics and more.

Diamondback Terrapin

“Ocean Fun Day is a great way to teach visitors about the critical, yet fragile coastal ecosystems along the unspoiled barrier island that is Island Beach State Park,” said Director of Parks and Forestry Mark Texel. “The planned activities will show why Island Beach is a unique classroom to learn how ocean dynamics create barrier islands, and how the plants and animals here have adapted and thrived.”

Events at Island Beach State Park will be at Ocean Bathing Area 1, which is about four miles past the park’s gatehouse.

The turtle release will be done by students and faculty from Project Terrapin and the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES). The Sandy Hook event will include guided tours of Sandy Hook sites and an open house at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory. Both sites will also offer a program on how to build a better sand castle by understanding the science behind cohesion, adhesion and surface tension.

“Ocean Fun Days have become a wonderful tradition for New Jersey’s families and visitors, and that is due to strong partnerships,” said Claire Antonucci, Executive Director of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. “This year, we are delighted to partner with the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) to add a new activity to Ocean Fun Days with students and faculty from MATES Project Terrapin inviting the public to join them to release young diamondback turtles back into their natural habitat.”

Ocean Fun Days is presented by founding sponsor New Jersey Natural Gas, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, National Park Service and NOAA.

The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment through innovative research, education and outreach programs. To learn more about the consortium or Ocean Fun Days, call (732) 872-1300, Ext. 19 or visit: njseagrant.org

For more information about Island Beach State Park, visit: islandbeachnj.org/ or find the park’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/islandbeachstatepark/


SOURCE: nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2017/17_0045.htm

Island Beach State Park Hosts 19th Annual Beach Plum Festival Sunday, September 11

A popular annual festival that supports programming and ongoing conservation efforts at one of the jewels of the State Parks System is scheduled for Sunday, September 11 at Island Beach State Park, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced.

The 19th annual Beach Plum Festival, which is the main fundraiser of the year for the Park’s nonprofit partner Friends of Island Beach State Park, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 11 at Ocean Bathing Area 1. Admission to the park will be free, but an $8 parking donation is suggested to help support the festival. Members of Friends of Island Beach State Park will be at the gate that day seeking donations. Swimming will be permitted in this area during the rain-or-shine event.

“The Beach Plum Festival is one of the main highlights on the Island Beach State Park annual calendar,” said Mark Texel, Director of Parks and Forestry. “Through the hard work and dedication of the Friends of Island Beach State Park, this festival is always a much-anticipated event offering a great variety of activities for every attendee.” 

“This festival is a celebration of a great summer on the Jersey Shore and the kickoff for fall fun along New Jersey’s coast,” said Rich Boornazian, Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources. “We encourage everyone to come out to say thanks and goodbye to summer, and to kick off autumn at Island Beach State Park.”

The Beach Plum Festival offers activities such as beach plum picking, children’s games, a rock climbing wall and more. This year’s event will include a paddleboard raffle, music by Ocean County-based classic rock band New Suede Blues, nearly 100 craft and specialty vendors, and numerous other environmental exhibits, demonstrations and seminars.

Members of the Boy Scout Troop 1 Honor Guard will open the festival at 9 a.m. Throughout the day, visitors can watch lifesaving demonstrations by Island Beach State Park lifeguards, go on walks to see native plants, and participate in seining on Barnegat Bay with park naturalists to enclose and catch fish by using large nets with sinkers and floats.

A food court with numerous cuisine choices will be available. The Friends of Island Beach State Park this year received donations of 100 pounds of beach plus from The Beach Plum Association of Cape May County and 5 gallons of beach plum mash from Jalma Farms in order to make beach plum ice cream, beach plum jelly and beach plum muffins for the event.

The festival’s namesake – the beach plum - is a shrubby tree found in coastal environments from Maine to North Carolina, and is noted for its beautiful blossoms in early spring and its fruit in late summer and early autumn. The beach plum thrives in sandy soil, providing dune stabilization for sensitive coastal ecosystems such as those protected at Island Beach State Park. 

The fruit of the wild beach plum usually measures less than two centimeters in circumference. Its taste has been described as a mix between a plum, strawberry and apricot. It can be eaten raw, but is often used as a jam or jelly, marinade or dessert sauce.

“The Beach Plum Festival is a tradition that celebrates the bounty of Island Beach,” said Angelo Sica, president of the Friends of Island Beach State Park. “With the participation and support of visitors who attend the festival, we can continue our mission of improving and adding additional programs and events at Island Beach State Park.”

The volunteer Friends of Island Beach State Park formed in 1996 to encourage protection of the barrier island ecosystem and to enhance both educational and recreational programs at the park. The group now has more than 400 members, publishes and distributes 30,000 copies of the park’s Visitor Guide annually, has funded improvements to the park’s Nature Center and Interpretive Center, picnic tables, a beach camera, free Wi-Fi at Bathing Area 1, and installation of a state-of-the-art camera system to monitor an osprey nest at the park.  The group was also helpful in the successful fledging of two piping plovers at the park in August from the first oceanside nest in more than 25 years and the first in the park in more than a decade.

Last year, the Friends of Island Beach State Park provided $81,000 to support park programs and purchase needed equipment. Funds raised from the festival will help the Friends group to plant American beach grass to further enhance and stabilize dunes, among other needs.

For more information on Island Beach State Park, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

For more information on the Friends of Island Beach State Park, visit: www.thefriendsofislandbeach.org   Photos: Friends of Island Beach State Park

Island Beach State Park to Have Lifeguarded Beaches Every Weekend Through September 30

Download park map at nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/

Although Labor Day has passed, Island Beach State Park will continue to keep one of its swimming areas open and staffed with lifeguards on a limited schedule for the enjoyment of visitors until the end of this month.

Island Beach State Park lifeguards will be on duty at Ocean Bathing Area 1 beaches from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 through Monday, Sept. 12; Friday, Sept. 16 through Monday, Sept. 19; Friday, Sept. 23 through Monday, Sept. 26; and Friday, Sept. 30.

At the same time, the Department of Environmental Protection and National Weather Service urge the public to exercise caution and swim only at lifeguarded beaches. Many municipally operated beaches have now reduced lifeguard operations following Labor Day weekend.

“Our lifeguards do a great job every year protecting the hundreds of thousands of swimmers and waders who enjoy the waters at the Jersey Shore,” said State Parks and Forestry Director Mark Texel. “We continue this service after Labor Day weekend because many local people enjoy the reduced crowds and fine weather during September at our beaches. As a result, we will have our swimming areas protected on the weekends.”

Photo: www.islandbeachnj.org

Rip currents are the leading cause of drownings in the ocean across the nation. Beach visitors are encouraged to pack appropriate safety gear and remember these safety tips:

Most beaches are posted with warning signs regarding rip currents. Read them and heed their advice.
Rip currents do not pull people under the water – they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion or lack of swimming skills.
If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can’t make it to the shore, draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.

If you see someone in trouble in a rip current, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Rip currents can be stronger than the strongest swimmer. Throw the victim something that floats, such as a lifejacket, raft, cooler or inflatable ball and stay on shore and in contact with that person until help arrives. Do not become a victim of the rip current yourself.

For more information on Island Beach State Park, including any park advisories that may be posted, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

For more information on rip currents from the National Weather Service, visit: http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/

Source:  http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2016/16_0083.htm

Piping Plovers Fledge at Island Beach State Park

Piping plover chick at 2 days

The piping plover pair nesting on the beach in Island Beach State Park successfully fledged two chicks. This was the first ocean side nest in more than 25 years and the first in the park in more than a decade.

For a summary of the nesting season visit njfishandwildlife.com/news/2016/ploversummary16.htm on the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife website.

Update: Piping Plovers at Island Beach State Park

The following is an update from NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife biologist Christina Davis on the Piping Plovers nesting on the beach in Island Beach State Park:

It's been a week of highs and lows for our plover brood!  Last Saturday, 7/23, one of the two remaining chicks was observed with a moderate limp. There was no obvious cause of injury and the bird was still quite active, but its mobility was compromised. Piping Plovers (and especially chicks) do not fare particularly well in rehab so our preference is always to leave the individual in the wild, when possible. Given the condition of the chick, we decided to take a wait and see attitude.

By Monday, the limp had not improved. We had already planned to band the chicks that day (four color markers, two on each upper leg, specific to that individual) so we took the opportunity to get the bird in hand and examine the issue. We also had a veterinarian on standby ready to review photos and videos we sent her.

The problem area was the left foot, which was swollen, and the wing, which was a bit droopy. Considering that the chick is still growing (hampering efforts to treat it) , and that there were no signs of breaks or infection, a case could be made to release it. On the flip side, the chick weighed much less than its sibling (20g vs 25g) and the limp was quite pronounced. After much debate, and the appearance of a red fox seemingly attracted to the area by the chick calling, we determined the best course of action would be a stint in rehab. The healthy chick was released and the injured one taken from the site.

At the rehabilitation facility it was confirmed that there did not appear to be any breaks or fractures to the wing or the foot. This was good news as setting or immobilizing growing body parts can do more harm than good. The goal of rehab, therefore, is to allow the chick an opportunity to rest the foot and wing and to increase its weight (which is a lot easier for this species when it isn't burning calories running around).

The chick has done very well in rehab and is expected to be released soon. It has already  gained 5g and is active and alert. The healthy chick has continued to do well on site. We look forward to reuniting them!

When chicks are banded researchers do usually name them. This is primarily for ease of reference as a name is easier to recall/refer to than a band code. These two chicks are named Phipps (healthy chick) and Freeman (injured chick) as a tip of our hats to Island Beach's history. They can be identified by their band colors:

Phipps - Left upper leg is a black over a red band and the upper right is a blue over a yellow band (LR:BY)
Freeman - Left upper leg is a black over red band and the upper left is a blue over a green band (LR:BG)

As you can imagine, it is a lot easier to say (and remember), "Hurray, Freeman is in great shape and almost ready for release!" than "Hurray, Black over red, blue over green is in great shape and almost ready for release!"

The chicks hit an important milestone today (Thursday, July 28), by surviving 25 days. At this point, their flight feathers are coming in and they will start trying to fly very soon. It will take them time to become competent, but just like the Wright brothers, every day forward will bring them closer to mastering this skill.

For information on beach nesting birds in New Jersey visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/beachnester_info.htm

Nesting Pair of Piping Plovers at Island Beach State Park

A pair of piping plovers is now nesting on the beach at Island Beach State Park, the first ocean side nest in more than 25 years and the first in the park in more than a decade.

This is great news for recovery of this federally threatened and state endangered bird.

NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists hope this is an indication of a rebounding population after sharp declines witnessed between 2003 and 2014.

To give this new pair of piping plovers their best chance of successfully fledging their young, sportfishing vehicles are temporarily restricted from the beach. DEP officials did not make this decision lightly, recognizing that anglers who have purchased passes for the privilege of driving on the beach will be temporarily restricted from the area.

Without this measure, it would be highly likely that one or more of the chicks would be killed by the high volume of traffic this section of beach experiences on a typical summer weekend day. The state recognizes its responsibility to support the recovery of this imperiled species and to follow guidance provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state Endangered and Nongame Species Program biologists to protect the chicks.

Pedestrian access to the area will remain open, but the public is required to observe fencing and other regulations (such as no dogs on beach) to protect the nest and chicks. While the vehicle closure will provide some protection for the plovers, it by no means guarantees that plover chicks will survive. Many other factors play a role in determining fate of piping plover broods, such as weather, predation and feeding success.

For more information on the nest, including its impact on park visitors, and links to more information, visit njfishandwildlife.com/news/2016/ploversreturn.htm

NJ Webcams

There are a good number of webcams online that let you peek at parts of the state.

You can watch folks on the quiet end of the boardwalk at Seaside Park, or move north to the livelier boardwalk in Seaside Heights, or much further north to the Great Falls in Paterson.

EarthCam and the Friends of Island Beach State Park set up a live streaming look at an osprey who calls Island Beach State Park. Island Beach is one of New Jersey's last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem that once existed along much of the Atlantic coast. That webcam has been more off than online this summer, but you can check it out at  earthcam.com/usa/newjersey/islandbeachstatepark/osprey/

Final Harvest the Bay Festival October 12

The third and final Harvest the Bay festival of 2013 will be held Saturday, October 12, at Island Beach State Park, giving visitors another opportunity to learn about the clams, crabs and fish that are important to the ecology and economy of Barnegat Bay.

The festival’s finale will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ocean Bathing Area 1, rain or shine. The event is free with park admission.

“Our first two Harvest the Bay festivals over the summer proved to be really popular and interactive events that allowed visitors to not only get a unique perspective of Barnegat Bay, but to also get a better sense of the interpretive programming we have available at the park,” said State Park Service Director Mark Texel. “This is also our last scheduled event for what has truly been a great year at Island Beach State Park. We have made a tremendous recovery from Superstorm Sandy and that’s reason enough to celebrate.”

The festival is designed to foster public appreciation of the bay’s natural environment and the commercial fishing industry that depends on this watershed. Park naturalists will teach visitors about the role clams, crabs, and fish play in the Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and how they depend on a healthy bay. Visitors will also learn proper techniques for harvesting these resources and will be able to sample locally caught seafood.

New Jersey-based rock band, The Chillers, will also perform throughout the festival.

Island Beach State Park, one of the crown jewels of the state park system, saw strong attendance numbers in its first summer since Superstorm Sandy. A full raft of interactive and educational nature programs, including the Harvest the Bay series, were installed after the park re-opened earlier this year. A new park naturalist was also hired. The park hosted its first two Harvest the Bay events on July 23 and on August 20.

The Harvest the Bay education programs are made possible through a generous grant from the Barnegat Bay Partnership, which also provides the programs in Spanish. The Barnegat Bay Partnership is providing funding support for the series.

Island Beach State Park interpretive programs are supported by a partnership between the New Jersey State Park Service, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the Friends of Island Beach State Park, Save Barnegat Bay, Ocean County Vocational-Technical School’s MATES Academy, ReClam the Bay and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.

To learn more about Island Beach State Park, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

To learn more about educational programs at Island Beach State Park this year, visit: www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/programs/islandbeach/

Annual Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament, Sunday October 6

The Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging anglers of all ages to register for a day of fishing at the 22nd annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 6 at Island Beach State Park.

Anglers from New Jersey and neighboring states are expected to descend upon the beaches of the state park in hopes of catching the longest fish of the day, while enjoying a day of surf fishing with family and friends.

“This is a great annual event that shows off our state park and offers some terrific fishing,’’ said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “But it has even more meaning this year, showing once again the resiliency of our state and residents, and the recovery of the Jersey Shore after Superstorm Sandy.’’

In addition to great fishing, the tournament also is a fundraiser for worthwhile causes, including the purchase of specialized wheelchairs to provide beach access to disabled and elderly persons, surf fishing instruction programs and equipment, and marine education and restoration efforts.

Since its inception in 1991, the tournament has generated more than $130,000 for these and other causes.

The individual who catches the overall largest fish during the event wins the "Governor's Award," and has his/her name engraved on the Governor's Cup, which is permanently displayed at the park. The grand prize winner last year was Bill Sheppard of Seaside Park. Fishing equipment also is awarded to winners who catch the largest fish in a variety of species and age group categories.

The Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament is sponsored by the DEP's Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry, as well as the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.

The registration fee the day of the tournament is $20 for persons 18 and older. Registration for ages 13-17 is $5 and registration is free for kids 12 and under.

Tournament anglers may be asked to verify their compliance with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. If you have not already registered please make sure you do before hitting the beach the day of the tournament. Registration is quick, easy and free. Anglers simply need to log on to http://www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry/ and follow the instructions on the page.

For more information on the tournament or to receive a registration form please visit: NJFishandWildlife.com/gsft.htm or call (609) 748-4347.

For information on new, Department of Transportation traffic pattern changes at the Route 35 interchange with Route 37 which could impact some travelers en route to the tournament, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2013/090613s.shtm

Island Beach State Park is located in Berkeley Township in Ocean County. For more information on the park, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

New Jersey Shore Hurricane Remediation at IBSP

More than 75 volunteers, including Field & Stream staffers, gave up a Saturday to clean up and restore Island Beach State Park, a 10-mile-long barrier island off the New Jersey coast that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

More about IBSP projects at http://www.thefriendsofislandbeach.org

Learn more about other volunteer conservation projects nationwide at fieldandstream.com/heroforaday

Harvest the Bay Programs at Island Beach Stae Park

The newest editions to the summer programs at Island Beach State Park are the widely-anticipated Harvest the Bay Educational Programs, where participants will be able to engage in popular Jersey Shore pastimes like clamming, crabbing, and fishing.

via www.thefriendsofislandbeachstatepark.org

Harvest the Bay combines seaside recreational enjoyment with active support of commercial industry and local food resources. Park Natural Educators will join visitors as they explore clams, crabs, and fish, their role in the Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and how they are impacted by the health of the bay. Afterword, participants will learn proper techniques for harvesting these creatures.

The Harvest the Bay education programs are made possible through a generous grant from Barnegat Bay Partnership, which will also include implementation of the programs in Spanish.

The Barnegat Bay Partnership also funds the Harvest the Bay Day’ Festival: A Celebration of Barnegat Bay’s Natural Resources. Fresh local seafood, hands-on activities, and nature programs are the star of the show, which will take place on three different dates: July 23rd, August 20th, and October 12th, extending Jersey Shore summer fun well into autumn.

For more information on Island Beach State Park, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html 

Summer Nature Programs at Island Beach State Park

photo via media.nj.com

Island Beach State Park, one of the most popular destinations in the state park system, is offering a full raft of nature programs this summer as the park continues to progress following Superstorm Sandy.

Shaped by storms and tides, Island Beach State Park is a narrow barrier island stretching for 10 miles between the ocean and Barnegat Bay. It is one of New Jersey's last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem and is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast.

The park is continuing to work on rebuilding four beach access boardwalks with the goal of having the park fully operational for the peak summer season. Two of the boardwalks were completed by Memorial Day, and the remaining two are expected to reach completion by the Fourth of July holiday.

While many flock to Island Beach for its excellent swimming and fishing opportunities, there is a wilder side of the park that offers opportunities for deepening the visitor’s appreciation of wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. In recognition of this fact, the State Park Service continues to expand its nature programs that focus on the plants and wildlife that have adapted to the harsh barrier island ecosystem.

Past favorites, free with paid admission, are daily programs that delve into the state’s growing population of ospreys, a coastal predator that is an indicator of good environmental health; allow visitors to pull a seine net through Barnegat Bay; provide insights into the plants and animals of a dune system; and explore the watery domain of indigenous fish in tanks at the Pavilion.

Island Beach State Park is also offering guided programs led by an expert team of naturalists. Pre-registration is required for these guided programs, and may be obtained by calling the park office at (732) 793-0506 or by visiting www.conservewildlifenj.org. Visitors will be able to explore the park beyond the beach through these interactive and educational programs, which include kayaking tours (equipment provided), fishing lessons, and the popular WILDCHILD programs for kids.

Tours of Barnegat Bay and Sedge Islands are enhanced by the Birding by Kayak, Sedge Islands “Then and Now” Kayak Tour, and Sunset Paddle excursion options. Park Natural Educators will also offer a Beginner’s Surf Fishing Clinic, where visitors can learn the basic techniques for successful surf fishing. Bait and equipment are provided.

The WILDCHILD Programs include a hands-on course for toddlers, an “Island Explorers” unit for older children, and the WILDCHILD Surfing Safari, in which children from 8 to 17 learn not only about waves and how they are made, but also how to surf them.

Trail hikes and guided walks return for the summer season as well, which will also require pre-registration. The Moonlight Hike allows visitors the opportunity to see the park from a completely new perspective – at nighttime. This hike gives special attention to the more nocturnal residents of the park. Bonfire, marshmallows, and ghost stories are included.

The Time-Travel Trail Hike offers a historical take on the Park, as hikers learn about the people who lived there long ago. A hike geared towards birdwatchers, bird aficionados, and the curious alike gives hikers the chance to see osprey, herons, warblers, and cormorants among the other feathered inhabitants of the park. The Island Eco-Hike provides a glance at the diverse habitats and creatures of the barrier island ecosystem.

For more information on Island Beach State Park, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html 

Island Beach State Park's Second Season

Island Beach State Park is one of New Jersey’s most popular parks, a picturesque strand of coastline visited by a million people each year. A vast majority visit in the summer, drawn to beaches that offer a more natural experience than can be experienced anywhere in New Jersey.

But the season doesn't end with Labor Day. During the Jersey Shore's "second season" at Island Beach offers surf fishing for stripers at sunrise, intimate kayak explorations of Sedge Island on Barnegat Bay, crabbing and clamming along quiet coves, tiny shorebirds searching for morsels along the surf line, the wonders of a child learning about barrier island ecosystems from a park naturalist – can be enjoyed all summer long, or long after the crowds have gone.

Stretching for nearly ten miles of Ocean County, the 3,000-acre park protects the last significant stretch of undeveloped barrier island ecosystem in the state, the sandy necklace of New Jersey’s park system. The island’s dunes remain virtually untouched since the first written accounts of New Jersey’s coast were penned during the voyage of Henry Hudson’s “Half Moon” in 1609.

The park officially opened in 1959, largely from land purchased from Henry C. Phipps, a partner of industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The state wanted to preserve an area of the rapidly developing shore for swimming, hiking and fishing.

Now a peninsula, the area that was Island Beach was once cut off by an inlet, believed to have been located in the area of present-day Ortley Beach. The inlet was closed off by the natural drifting of sand in the early 1800s.

Fishing has been popular on Island Beach, long before it was a park. Stripers, fluke, bluefish, kingfish, and blackfish are just some of the species that can be hooked, depending on the season. Access for people with disabilities is available.

The Nature Center contains multiple exhibits on the Barnegat Bay watershed, shells and various animals found around the park. One of the several self-guided trails on the island, the Johnny Allen’s Cove Trail, starts near the center and provides and introduction the park’s varied ecosystems. The Spizzle Creek Bird Blind Trail gives visitors the chance to see ospreys or wading birds from a bird blind.

History lovers can take the Time-Travel Trail hike, which offers glimpses of the past on a walk to the site of the Reed’s Hotel, fancied by 19th century sportsmen hunting waterfowl on Barnegat Bay. On Island Eco-Hikes you may see countless fiddler crabs burrowing into marsh mud or perhaps catch a glimpse of diamondback terrapins (New Jersey’s only saltmarsh turtle), a fox, or even seals basking on marshy hummocks.

SOURCE: http://www.nj.gov/dep/daw/islandbeach/