When Anne Norris approached Rutgers Gardens with the idea to form an Invasive Species Strike Team comprised of volunteers and fellow Rutgers Environmental Stewards, her eagerness to make an impact in Helyar Woods was immediately apparent.
The group started with eight people and expanded to twenty in the first year. In 2024, three Warren County residents, Michelle St. Andre, Jennifer Correa-Kruegel, and Clairanne Arcaro, were part of the Rutgers Environmental Steward (RES) class. Each had her own independent project establishing native gardens in Knowlton, Belvidere, and Allamuchy, respectively, but they worked […]
Discover how the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program is transforming lives and communities across New Jersey. In this tribute video, program participants share their personal experiences, how they’ve tackled environmental challenges, built stronger communities, and inspired sustainable change. Watch now and hear their stories of commitment, collaboration and impact. Watch the RES Stories
Written by Kirsi Bhasin, RES Class of 2024, Certified 2024 It all began with a Monarch butterfly, which I spotted fluttering through our backyard during our first summer after moving to NJ. Despite not having planted flowers or having any blooms at the time, the butterfly’s presence intrigued me. However, the following week, I found […]
Eastern Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring Submitted by: Nick Bernardo, RES 2024, Certification Candidate Project Host: Monmouth County Huber Woods Park For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to exploring nature and understanding the challenges facing our environment. I found my answer in the Rutgers Environmental Steward (RES) Program, which opened a […]
Sharonda Allen, MPA Founder and Executive Director, Operation Grow Inc. RES 2023 Operation Grow Inc. and the NJDEP Greenway Pop Up Garden was the first and only activation at the proposed Greenway, which is the site of a decommissioned, 9-mile railway that stretches from Upper Montclair to Jersey City, right here in New Jersey. Operation Grow Inc. […]
Written by Carolina Dias, RES class of 2024 For my certification project, I am working to educate local schools and restaurants about ways they can reduce their food waste, by talking to restaurant managers about food waste and handing out flyers. I was motivated to start this project after learning in the Rutgers Environmental Steward […]
My Journey from Rutgers Environmental Steward to Boat Steward – Ann Cucchiara RES 2019 Cert 2020 It was back in 2019 that I decided to enroll in the Rutgers Environmental Steward Program being offered at my favorite outdoor playground – Duke Farms. As a recently retired schoolteacher, I wanted to learn more about the negative, […]
Nancy chose to complete her certification project by improving biodiversity at the Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Somerset County. She began by inventorying invasive Callery pear trees and initiated their removal and replacement with native species.
Middlesex Borough Environmental Commission By Clare Levourne, RES Class of 2017, Certified 2019 After attending the Rutgers Environmental Steward (RES) program in 2017, I was inspired to create a Middlesex Borough Green Team as my project. Unfortunately, there was little interest, so I created a Monarch Waystation Garden at the public library instead. While tending […]
