08 Jan Tread Lightly! Impact Report: Pinelands Cleanup

Project: Pinelands Cleanup
Project #39/50
State: New Jersey

Description: This project was funded by the Quadratec 50 for 50 Initiative. Together with Tread Lightly!, Quadratec has committed to fund a project to improve off-road trails and public lands in each state over 24 months. 

On November 12, 2023, 30 volunteers cleaned up 890 pounds of trash from forest roads and public lands in the New Jersey Pinelands. To kick off the event volunteers met at an outreach event at the Pic-A-Lilli Inn in Shamong, NJ where trash bags and information about the importance of responsible recreation were distributed.

Read more about this awesome project here.

Thank you to the following partners for their support:

• Quadratec 
• Open Trails New Jersey
• National Wild Turkey Federation Wharton Chapter
• Pine Barren VENOM Jeep Club
• Pic-A-Lilli Inn

“OTNJ was thrilled about the participation in our recent 50 for 50 project.  It is clear that the community really wants to make a difference in our state forests.  We are confident that community volunteer and protection projects can avoid the need for road closures and permits.  I’m really hopeful that the DEP will come around to supporting community involvement and will embrace volunteer support and labor.  “ John Druding, Open Trails New Jersey

“Cleaning up the pinelands is a major focus of the National Wild Turkey Foundation Wharton Chapter, to conserve the habitat for the birds we hunt as much as the enjoyment of the other types of visitors to Wharton State Forest and the surrounding public lands. Motorized access is important to sportsmen to be able to spread out to hunt in areas where interactions with other recreationists are minimal.” Andrew Demarco, National Wild Turkey Foundation Wharton Chapter

“Quadratec was pleased to fund this cleanup in the pine barrens, one of the closest places to our headquarters where people can get out in nature and enjoy unmaintained public roads. We sincerely hope that projects like this will help keep this area open to the public for generations to come, and that the knowledge passed on by Tread Lightly! will help recreationists to minimize their individual impact and keep our hobby sustainable. The Pic-A-Lilli Inn was kind enough to host the outreach portion of the event and has great wings as well!” -Eric Ammerman, Director of Media for Quadratec

Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.