On March 10, the 29th annual Pinelands Short Course will feature a record-breaking 41 presentations. Held at Stockton University, the event will feature 29 new programs that will explore the unique history, ecology, culture and music of the region.

“The event continues to grow in popularity, and we want to build on our success by offering more programs than ever before,” says Nancy Wittenberg, the commission’s executive director. “Our main goal has always been to educate and inspire people to learn more about the Pinelands.”

Members of the university’s environmental studies programs will share their expertise on the Pinelands, with presentations about the bald eagle population in New Jersey, carnivorous plants, mammal skull identification, the hidden world of glowing organisms in the Pinelands, and the recent archaeological excavation of Cedar Bridge Tavern. Other new courses include citizen-driven mosquito control, coastal flooding and the impact on Pinelands, ghost forests of the Mullica Valley, the impact of World War I on the Pinelands, and much more. Nelson Johnson, author and Atlantic County’s superior court judge, will host a workshop on the politics behind the Pinelands Protection Act.

Three new field trips will also be offered this year including a daylong birding and nature walk at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, a van trip to see pygmy pine plains, and a tour about life along the Wading River in the 1800s.

Denizen Pine and The Pitch Pines will be this year’s live musical entertainment. In addition, the Jersey Devil will also provide entertainment. Guests will enjoy Pinelands-themed food, coffee and other refreshments that will be available at Stockton’s Campus Center.

Location: 101 Vera King Farris Dr., Galloway. Registration required. For more information, or to register, visit Stockton.Edu/Continuing-Studies/Conferences.html. 

1800s.