Camden County College Offers 'Green' Tips at Earth Day Celebration

Camden County College (CCC) hosted its annual Earth Day Celebration Thursday in Connector Hall at the school's Blackwood campus.

Coordinated by the school's Biology Department, featured speakers from across the state discussed wildlife, nature tourism, conservation and watershed protection.

The celebration was held one day before Earth Day, which is being recognized worldwide in some 185 countries today.

Earth Day is now in its 42nd year.

More than 100 students and community members attended both the morning and afternoon Earth Day Celebration sessions at CCC on Thursday.

Reggie Kukola, watershed ambassador for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County, was on hand to discuss practical ways to protect the area's waterways.

First, said Kukola, it is important to understand watersheds and how they work.

A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into the same place. According to Kukola, Gloucester Township is located in the Big Timber Creek Watershed. This means all rain and drain water washes into Big Timber Creek, which empties into the Delaware River.

"So when you toss your Big Mac wrapper on the ground, it washes into Big Timber Creek, then the river and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean," said Kukola.

To help improve water quality, residents can do common-sense things like avoid littering, clean up after pets, never dump anything into a storm drain and use minimal fertilizers on lawns and gardens.

Fertilizers, said Kukola, are a major cause of algae blooms in waterways throughout the state.

To minimize fertilizer pollution, Kukola recommends getting your soil tested at a local Rutgers Cooperative Extension location to ensure you are buying the correct fertilizer. Also, never apply fertilizer just before it rains, he said.

Investing in a rain barrel is another great way to minimize water runoff pollution. Rain barrels, readily available at hardware stores, collect rain water runoff from the roof. The water can be used to water ornamental gardens and lawns, meaning you also conserve municipal water.

Michael Hogan, a wildlife photographer and representative from the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, presented on nature tourism and wildlife preservation opportunities through out the state. There are numerous opportunities for residents to enjoy and protect local ecosystems, including volunteer monitoring and other field work.

Throughout the year, the Camden County College Biology Department offers opportunities for students and the community to get involved in environmental conservation. For more information, contact professor Rita Connolly at rconnolly@camdencc.edu.