FOPOS Land Stewardship Volunteer Session // 10.19.25

Join FOPOS for a FALL planting session at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve! Volunteers will work under the guidance of the FOPOS stewardship team to plant native trees and shrubs, helping to restore native habitats and support biodiversity.

Volunteer Sessions Date & Time: Sunday, October 19th | 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

Meetup Location: Mountain Lakes House Parking Lot

Directions & Parking: We will meet at the Mountain Lake House parking lot, located within the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Here is a link to the parking lot location on Google Maps & Apple Maps. The address of the Preserve is 57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540; this will bring you to the entrance of the Preserve, not our meet-up location. To get to the Mountain Lakes House parking lot, look for the white gate along Mountain Avenue, marked by a series of black mailboxes along the road. Drive slowly down the long paved driveway. The gravel parking lot will be on your left, approximately 1/2 mile down the driveway.

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

About this restoration project:

Volunteer activities will take place in the 25-acre riparian restoration project area, located along the shores of Mountain Lake and its feeder streams. This area plays an important role in stabilizing streambanks, filtering pollutants, and providing vital habitat for wildlife.

Native plants support hundreds of insects that fuel the food chain, and provide high quality habitat for a diversity of wildlife. For instance, in the fall and winter months, the berries of native shrubs, such as silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), offer excellent nutrition to migrating and overwintering songbirds in the form of fats and proteins.

Riparian areas play an important role in improving water quality by slowing down stormwater and filtering out pollutants before they enter the water system. Water that flows through Mountain Lakes Park ultimately finds its way into the Raritan River, an important drinking water source for central NJ. Riparian areas also provide critical habitat for birds, insects, and aquatic life.

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 summer? Register HERE.

Host or Publisher Friends of Princeton Open Space