Environmental Issues at Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst
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Oct / Nov 2018 Volume 25 Number 5 Developing Coping Skills through Nature . .. 3 Fall in the Pinelands . .4 Restore PILOT Program Funding . 6 The Joint Base is located in the Preservation Area of the Pinelands and spans 20 square miles. Pinelands Events . 7 Environmental Issues at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Pinelands Juried by Rich Bizub, Director for Water Programs Photography This article is the first of a three part series facility. Even though the base predates the that will look into key environmental issues Pinelands Comprehensive Management Exhibit at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Plan (CMP), it was included in the Nov. 4th to Dec. 7th formerly known individually as McGuire Pinelands because of its vast holdings of Air Force Base, Fort Dix and Lakehurst Pine Barrens habitat. The base has a CMP This juried exhibit of Naval Air Station. management area designation of Military images from the and Federal Installation Area. The only Pinelands National Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst other such facility with this designation in Reserve is on display (JBMDL) is located in Burlington and at our headquarters. the Pinelands is the FAA Technical Center Ocean Counties and spans 20 square and Atlantic City Airport in Atlantic miles. The base is located almost entirely County. Exhibit Hours: in the Pinelands National Reserve. As a result, the location and extent of JBMDL It's not hard to imagine that after 100 plus Weekdays: 10am - 4pm plays a critical role with regard to main- years in operation a lot has happened at Sundays: Noon to 5pm taining the integrity of the area's natural the base. For example, numerous resources and archaeological, historic and structures have been built and torn down cultural landmarks. during this time. This includes supporting Learn more: infrastructure such as above and below www.pinelandsalliance.org The oldest portion of the base began ground storage tanks containing fuel oil operations in 1917 as an ammunition and solvents, and thousands of feet of proving ground near the town of piping to move these liquids from one Lakehurst. The Dix portion of JBMDL place to another. In addition, decades of 17 PEMBERTON ROAD was also formed that year to serve as a daily operations have resulted in soil and SOUTHAMPTON, NJ 08088 training and staging location to support T - 609.859.8860 groundwater contamination. As a result, F - 609.859.8804 the needs of World War I. Since its today there are many environmental WWW.PINELANDSALLIANCE.ORG inception JBMDL has remained an active issues that need to be addressed at the continued on page 5 Inside The Pinelands Meet Policy Advocate - Rhyan Grech Published six times a I am thrilled to be joining the PPA team have on environmental conservation, year by the Pinelands in the role of Policy Advocate! As a and I began to look for an opportunity to Preservation Alliance native New Jerseyan, the work done by influence policy, and affect on-the- PPA, partners and residents to protect ground work in a different way. Executive Editor the Pine Barrens is very personal to me. I started with PPA in September 2018, Carleton Montgomery I still have friends and family living in and am eagerly diving into the business Upper Township, where I grew up of protecting the Pinelands. I will climbing the oak and pine trees, chasing Editor represent PPA at Pinelands Commission frogs and lizards, and digging in the and Municipal Council meetings, so if Becky Free sandy soil. These experiences instilled in you attend, please say hello! I will be me not only a love of nature, but the working to get activists involved with PPA Staff understanding that we are part of it; the Pinelands Reserve, the Municipal humans affect nature as it affects us, and Richard Bizub Council, and the Pinelands Commission my childhood microcosm taught me that at the county level through the Pinelands Tom Dunn a balance is possible. Rhyan Grech Watch Activist Network. I received my Bachelor of Science degree If you are interested in Pinelands issues, Audra Hardoon in biology from West Chester University engaging with local planners and Jason Howell with a minor in psychology. During officials, and advocating for Pinelands college, I gravitated towards ecology Jessica Ray protection, please contact me by email at classes, spending both in-class and out- Ryan Rebozo [email protected] or by of-class time exploring the woods, phone 609-859-8860 ext. 122. Jaclyn Rhoads streams and lakes of southeast Stephen Sebastian Pennsylvania. After graduation, I served Jane Wiltshire for 2 years in the AmeriCorps program focusing on environmental restoration and conservation: one year in the Pinelands Adventures Berkshires of Massachusetts, and one Rob Ferber near Yakima in Washington. Barnes Laucks After a 2 year hiatus from the west coast Donald Sulewski (in Boston), I moved back, this time to John Volpa Portland, Oregon where I spent 5 years working for an environmental non- Distributed to profit, SOLVE. During this time, I PPA members & volunteers, discovered my passion for community- state legislators, based restoration: the notion that Pinelands municipalities, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds elected officials, can accomplish high-priority, high- and planning boards quality restoration work while learning about and experiencing nature, and Mailing services generously becoming stewards. donated by Swift Mailing www.swiftmailing.com After returning to the tri-state area in 2014, I again put that passion to work for Printed on 100% recycled paper (made from post-consumer pulp the National Audubon Society, produced in a chlorine-free managing the restoration, education and pulping and bleaching process) engagement programs in Philadelphia. Circulation: 550 0 Working closely with the City demonstrated to me the nuanced impact, This is Glen Onoko Falls in Jim Thorpe, PA in Available online at positive or negative, that regulations can www.pinelandsalliance.org the Lehigh Valley. 2 Developing Coping Skills through Mindfulness in Nature by Becky Free, Director for Membership & Communications and Ivette Guillermo-McGahee, CEO Allies in Caring Recently, Allies In Caring, teamed up with Under stress, humans cope in a variety of teach people or kids that nature is important Pinelands Adventures and the Center for ways. One coping tendency is to avoid or in life and it helps us live. I also like making Hispanic Policy, Research and suppress difficult emotions, such as new friends because I get to communicate Development to offer a week-long frustration, jealousy or fear. Substance abuse with other people that are close to my age EmpoderArte Mindfulness Summer Day can become a preferred way to cope because and I learn how to get along with different Camp in the heart of the Pinelands. Fifteen it temporarily reduces the intensity of diffi- types of people. A cool thing I learned was youth, aged 12 - 15 years, participated in a cult feelings. To prevent addictions youth how the lake water is actually groundwater week of adventures all built around mind- need to develop skills to deal with emotions. and that it has iron in it - that is why it has a fulness training designed to help improve These skills may be fostered through red and orange color, and how the Lenni the youth’s ability to manage their emotions Mindfulness and Nature-based experiences. Lenape used to use nature’s items to and respond more positively to stressors. Nature-based programs can support the survive. I would do this program again skill to move “outside” of oneself and broad- because it is fun and I get to learn about Allies in Caring is a New Jersey nonprofit en one’s mental and emotional perspective. nature and I get to experience new things organization that provides mental health A youth for example during our program also I get to meet new people and make counseling and educational services for realized that while he was kayaking he was friends.” Latino, Deaf and other underserved not focused on his worries. Another skill is populations. Their EmpoderArte the ability to be mindful - aware of To learn more about the programs offered program, which translates to the “the art of present-moment experience without by Allies in Caring you can visit them on the self-empowerment,” is a mindfulness trying to push it away or over-engage. A web at www.alliesincaring.org. program for young adults that uses youth discovered that being aware of his mindfulness practices to help young body while walking and noticing the people develop healthy coping skills when patterns of the trees helped him manage his faced with the inevitable stressors that come social anxiety, relax and felt more at peace. from being a young person especially in tough circumstances. Ivette Guillermo-McGahee, the founder and CEO of Allies In Caring, Inc and board The program that was offered from August member with the Pinelands Preservation 20th to 24th in the Pines combined mind- Alliance said, “In our work with children fulness practices with staff from Allies in and youth who are challenged with mental Caring and nature experiences led by staff health, behavioral issues and/or substance from Pinelands Adventures and the abuse we have incorporated outdoor experi- Pinelands Preservation Alliance. ences and mindfulness as part of our thera- Participants took a hike between the peutic interventions because we find that Mullica and Batsto rivers with Director of these contribute significantly to improve Conservation Science, Dr. Ryan Rebozo. mental health and overall health, fostering They created a list of over 40 species found stress recovery and optimizing cognitive Identifying plants with Dr. Rebozo (above) and during the hike including a coastal plains function as well as improved emotional reg- protecting rare plants (below).