Galloway, N.J. -- The 35^th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature 30 presentations, including 14 new programs that will explore the region’s unique history, ecology, culture, and music.

Registration is now open for the daylong event, which will be held at Stockton University’s main campus in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, on March 9, 2024. To register online and read the full course descriptions, please go to: https://www.stockton.edu/continuing-studies/pinelandsshortcourse.html

“We’re thrilled to offer such an abundance and diversity of presentations,” said Susan R. Grogan, the Commission’s Executive Director. “This year’s event will once again raise awareness of the Pinelands and inspire the public to explore and learn more about a region that is unlike any other.”

“Stockton University is excited to host the 35th annual Pinelands Short Course, especially since it will feature 14 new programs this year,” said Stockton Interim Provost Marissa Levy.  “We are very proud that Stockton’s Galloway campus is located on 1,600 acres within the Pinelands National Reserve, and this event showcases many of the amazing aspects of our home.”

This year’s Short Course includes the following new presentations: The Lenape People and Colonists in Early South Jersey, Historic Maps of the Pinelands, Exploring Aquatic Ecosystems in the Pinelands With Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Time for Moths, Paddling in the Pines: An Introduction to Kayaking and Canoeing in the NJ Pine Barrens, The People of Double Trouble Village,  Geologic History of the Pine Barrens, Seven Bridges Road: From the Past to the Future, The Richards Era at Batsto (1784 – 1876): Pine Barrens Industries in a Company Town, Weather in the Pinelands, Cedarview Lodge at Wells Mills and the Musical Traditions of the Pines, Soils of the Pines, Exploring the Great Bay – Mullica River Estuary, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The day will also include popular presentations from the past, including a Stockton Campus Birding Walk (field trip), Harrisville: 19^th Century Life on the Wading River (3-hour bus tour), Snakes of the Pine Barrens (with live snakes),  Raptors of the Pines (with live raptors), The Still Family: Its Significance and Relevance to the History of South Jersey, New Jersey’s Fish Hawk: The Amazing Osprey, Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Pinelands, The Legends and Lore from the Barrens to the Shore, Keeping Up With New Jersey’s Changing Climate, Community Science Projects and Pine Barrens – From Forests to Frogs,  The Batona Trail – The Premier Walking Path of the Pinelands, A Beginner’s Look at Lichens, and No Wild Rivers in South Jersey.

The event will also feature live musical performances by Jackson Pines, Pat Seiler, and Valerie Vaughn.

Participants should register early to help ensure that they receive their first course selections. The Pinelands Short Course is registered with the New Jersey Department of Education, and professional development credits are available to New Jersey teachers who attend.