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The Rutgers Environmental Steward program trains volunteers on important environmental issues in New Jersey and how they can make a difference in their community. Stewards learn how to help advance sustainable climate change solutions, not just in their own lives, but in their communities.
Environmental Stewards is a certificate program offered through Cooperative Extension, a unit of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Make a difference in your community! Become a Rutgers Environmental Steward.
Thank you to our program partners, and the Atlantic County Utility Authority for their continued support.
Program Updates
2023 Impact Summit graduates 41 new Environmental Steward Volunteers
41 new volunteers were certified as Rutgers Environmental Stewards on Saturday October 28, having each completed a project that helped address an environmental issue in…
Tips on Sustainable Lawncare
Michele Bakacs and Amy Rowe discuss sustainable lawncare with WNYC’s All Of It with Allison Stewart.
Native Plants Initiative: Cultivating Change in Garden Centers.
What’s the number one complaint of native plant customers? Over and over, Native Plant Society of NJ (NPSNJ) members say, “I can’t find the native…
Managing Spotted Lanternfly
Irene Riegner’s certification project involved educating her community about the invasive Spotted Lanternfly during the Sustainable Highland Park Earth Day event. Irene conducted a survey…
Science
Save Your Seedlings for New Jersey’s Sake!
New Jersey was predominantly forested for thousands of years until widespread clearcutting made way for agriculture and later, sprawling development. Currently, NJ has 40% forest…
Using Underwater Robots to Study the Ocean
“It’s a bird.” “It’s a plane.” “No, it’s a glider!” “What’s a glider?!?” “An underwater robot!” Observing the ocean is inherently difficult whether it is…
How’s the Water? Updated Stream & River Water Quality Report Released
In December 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) report. This report presents the results of the…
December Invasive Plant of the Month: Angelica tree
December Angelica Tree Aralia elata Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata) is an extremely aggressive, fast growing, deciduous tree that invades forest canopy gaps, forest edges,…