FOPOS Land Stewardship Volunteer Session // 10.11.25

Join FOPOS for a FALL Planting Session in Community Park North! Volunteers will work under the guidance of the FOPOS stewardship team to plant more than 500 native trees and shrubs to support forest regeneration and remediate the damage done over the decades by severe storms, invasive species, and heavy deer browsing.

Volunteer Sessions Date & Time: Saturday, October 11th | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

These plantings will:

• Boost long-term carbon sequestration,
• Provide essential habitat for wildlife, and
• Create a healthier, more resilient environment for the entire community.

What to Wear & Bring :

• We recommend dressing for working in the woods. Dress in layers and wear long pants and work boots
• Bring water to stay hydrated
• Bring shovels, pick axes, buckets, and work/garden gloves (if you have them)

What we will be doing:

Our volunteer day will focus on planting trees that are in 1–2 gallon containers. Volunteers will help with key stewardship tasks including:

• Diggers – prepare holes for planting
• Planters – place and settle the trees
• Compost & Mulch Movers – transport and spread compost/mulch using buckets
• Plant Movers – help carry young trees to planting sites

Meetup Location: Main Parking Lot for the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve

Directions & Parking: We will meet at the main lot for the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve on Mountain Avenue. The address of the Preserve is 57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Event waiver: Please complete this event waiver - fopos.org/waiver. This needs to be completed once per calendar year.

Looking to register for multiple volunteer sessions this fall? Register HERE.

We’ll be digging, planting, mulching, and working together all fall long to make a tangible impact on our local ecosystem.

Come out, get dirty, and help grow the future, one tree at a time!

About this ecosystem restoration project: Community Park North was planted in the mid-20th century with rows of non-native Norway spruce and Eastern white pine. Both species are known to be vulnerable to climate change. Over the past decades, a significant portion of the forest has been blown down in major storms, which has allowed non-native invasive species to flourish and suppress native forest regeneration. FOPOS’s stewardship team and volunteers will plant thousands of climate-resilient native trees and shrubs, enhancing the park’s ability to store carbon and support native wildlife. Specialized deer exclosures and ongoing monitoring by FOPOS and the Municipality will ensure the success of these plantings.

This 45-acre forest restoration project will advance long-term goals for climate resilience and habitat recovery. The project is a joint initiative between the Municipality of Princeton and the Friends of Princeton Open Space, and it is funded in part by a $552,000 Natural Climate Solutions grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

About FOPOS: Founded in 1969, FOPOS has been working to preserve and protect natural spaces in the greater Princeton area for more than 50 years. As a part of our work, we rely on volunteers to help make progress when it comes to restoration work, such as our current forest and riparian restoration projects in the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.

Can't make this session? Consider making a donation to show your love for our local environment! All donations support our year-round stewardship work.

Looking to register for multiple volunteer sessions this fall? Register HERE.

Also check out other Meetups in Princeton, Nonprofit events in Princeton.