Teachers: Bring the Salt Marsh to Your Classroom

Teachers: You can join NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's Sedge Island staff and explore the salt marsh with activities that you can bring back to your classroom and students.

Participants in this overnight workshop will engage in classroom-ready activities, learning about New Jersey's salt marshes, all while staying at the Sedge House.

During the workshop, educators will:

• Explore the unique ecology of the salt marsh by kayak.
• Learn about the flora and fauna of the marsh through trawling, seining, clamming, fishing, and more.
• Receive classroom-ready lesson ideas and resources aligned with science standards.

Two dates to choose from: August 17-18 or August 18-19.

Registration deadline is August 7, 2026.

More information and registration

Student Programs at Sedge Island

 

Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center is excited to offer two three-day programs this summer for middle and high school students with opportunities to explore the salt marsh.

Sedge Island Field and Research Experience - July 11, 12, and 13, 2022
This is an in-depth program for high school students interested in pursuing a college education in marine or environmental studies.      INFORMATION  and APPLICATION

Sedge Island Field Experience - July 20, 21, and 22, 2022
Middle school students will spend their time learning about salt marsh ecology and conservation while kayaking, fishing, and clamming.     INFORMATION  and APPLICATION

Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center, located in Barnegat Bay off Island Beach State Park, in New Jersey's only marine conservation zone offers residential environmental education programs to participants 12 years of age and older. A short 15-minute boat ride from the Sedge Dock at Island Beach State Park takes you to the island. The renovated duck hunting lodge dates to over 100 years old and is full of the history of famous sportsmen, historians, and conservationists. Sedge Island continues to fuel memories as it is home to scientists, researchers, and explorers who wish to experience the "magic of sedge."

Living Shoreline at Sedge Island

Aerial view of the project location 

Staff from the NJDEP, the Barnegat Bay Partnership, and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, have completed the installation of a Living Shoreline near the caretaker's house at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center. 

Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center is located within NJ's first Marine Conservation Zone, just off Island Beach State Park in Barnegat Bay.

The project's goal is to slow post-Superstorm Sandy erosion and promote natural accretion of the coastal wetland.

Living shorelines may include rock, concrete, and other material. This project used only biodegradable materials and an innovative method of rolling coir log (made from the outer husk of the coconut), in fiber matting to improve durability.

Ccir logs used in the project

Partners in the project will be involved with monitoring and adaptive management to assess the viability of these techniques and possible applications in other estuaries.

Thanks also go to partners at BBP (www.barnegatbaypartnership.org) and PDE (www.delawareestuary.org), and the DEP Bureau of GIS, for their critical roles in bringing this ongoing project to fruition.

Source: njfishandwildlife.com/news/

Sedge Island Sampler August Workshops Open for Registration

Bay fishing, crabbing, clamming and kayaking will be offered at two Sedge Island Sampler workshops. 

Held August 3 & 4 on Sedge Island in beautiful Barnegat Bay, these low-cost NJ Outdoors Program workshops are designed for women and families to learn new skills and new ways to enjoy the outdoors. 

• Outdoor Women Sedge Island Sampler
  
• Outdoor Families Sedge Island Sampler

Register soon as workshops fill every year.

Sedge Island Summer Field Experience

Did you know that the bay area around the Sedge Islands is the state's only Marine Conservation Zone? 

Sedge Island is a very unique and pristine salt marsh ecosystem that is home to a variety of wildlife, including the state's most densely populated colony of nesting ospreys (a state-threatened species).

Sedge Island is located just off of Island Beach State Park in the Barnegat Bay.

Summer programs for adults and children at Sedge Island are offered by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, our partner in many management, research and educational programs. Programs range from fishing to kayaking to professional development workshops for teachers.  To learn more, visit the CWF's Sedge Island Summer Field Experiences page.