Nature enthusiasts participate in a nature preserve hike at the Mount Rose Preserve in 2016.
By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
Nature-minded individuals looking to visit the Hopewell Valley area’s numerous nature preserves this summer can do so while potentially winning prizes through the newly introduced Preserve Passport program.
Provided by the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), the program gives visitors a fun and unique way to mark all the sites that they have visited.
“The Preserve Passport directs people to FoHVOS preserves that are hidden gems throughout the valley,” Heidi Kahme, Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance Chair, said. “FoHVOS has partnered on Come Outside and Play since its inception and the Mount Rose Grand Opening is featured as this year’s COaP Preview Activity.”
According to officials, the program is free to all interested parties and available at Mercer County Library-Hopewell Branch, Hopewell Public Library or Pennington Public Library.
Once a passport is picked up, officials said participants can visit the kiosk at three or more FoHVOS preserves and record its corresponding preserve code on the passport. Each location will have special activities listed in the passport for visitors once they’re there.
Once the passport is completed, participants have until September 1 to submit it in order to be entered for that month’s drawing.
Completed passports can also be submitted at those locations throughout the summer.
"Early birds" can also bring their completed passports to the Grand Opening of the Mount Rose Preserve from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 for a free tee shirt and an entry into a September drawing for additional prizes.
The Mount Rose Preserve is owned and managed by New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, Hopewell Township and Mercer County. It was preserved by those partners, along with Hopewell Valley Citizen’s Group Inc., NJ Green Acres Program, Stony-Brook Millstone Watershed Association, Hopewell Borough, Pennington Borough, Friends of Princeton Open Space, D&R Greenway Land Trust, Lawrence Township and Princeton.
"FoHVOS is pleased to join the Municipal Alliance and our local libraries with the Preserve Passport program to encourage residents to explore our beautiful Valley and enjoy surprises found in nature," FoHVOS Executive Director Lisa Wolff said.
FoHVOS is a nonprofit land trust that works to preserve open space and farmland, along with natural resource protection. Since its creation, the organization has partnered with private landowners, government and nonprofit organizations to preserve over 7,500 acres of open space and farmland.
