“Spring Up for the Environment” will feature a variety of topics including the monarch butterfly; threats to ecosystems and what people can do about them; environmental education and wildlife conservation and more.
The Friends Enrichment Program will host its “Spring Up for the Environment” nature series at the Moorestown Friends Meetinghouse for four consecutive Thursday nights through April 10.
The program will be open to the public, with donations to the FEP at any amount strongly encouraged.
It all started last November, when the members of the Friends’ committee – Monique Begg; Begg’s son, Daniel; Maria Esche; Bob Esche; and Shannon Reilly were discussing ideas for what events the organization could have in 2025. Daniel Begg came up with the idea for an environmental fundraiser, though it was something he thought could be bigger than just one night.
“Instead of it just being one event, I wanted it to be a series of possibly four events,” he explained. ” … It’s the perfect way to start spring and get people thinking about the environment and the importance of conservation … There’s nothing like just being out there in nature; it’s just so serene and peaceful.
“It’s a subject that’s near and dear to my heart and that was instilled in me from my parents, just taking me out in the Pine Barrens when I was a kid, going on walks together …” Begg added. “They taught me to be curious.”
“To me it’s love: Love yourself, love your fellow human beings, reach out to people who are not like you, and love your environment of people … the whole environment,” Monique Begg said of what the series means to her. “Reach out to people who are not like you and find communality of interest.
“The environment (is) where we live, it’s where we go to school, it’s where we have the open space … That’s it.”
Topics for the series will range from the monarch butterfly; threats to ecosystems and what people can do about them; environmental education and wildlife conservation; a summer camp connecting children with nature; a photography presentation on the diversity of wildlife in Burlington County park; and award-winning children’s book author, photographer and naturalist Doug Wechsler, who will discuss his adventures around the world encountering exotic birds, rare and endangered species and dangerous animals.
Featured presenters will include Jennifer Van Istendal, environmental specialist and research scientist at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; Keara Giannotti, naturalist and executive director of Camp Creek Run in Marlton; and Jen Bulava, a senior park naturalist.
Istendal’s presentation on March 20 gave attendees a deeper understanding of how ecosystems work and why the survival of species like the monarch butterfly is vital to environmental health. That presentation immersed participants in the world of monarch butterflies, their life cycle, migration patterns and crucial role in ecosystems.
Giannotti’s presentation on March 27 will explore how engaging children in outdoor discovery – both at camp and at home – nurtures a lifelong love for the environment and fosters empathy for others, deepening their understanding of both natural and human communities. With more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has dedicated her career to environmental education, wildlife conversation and children’s services.
On April 3, Bulava will discuss her favorite places, trails and species in each of the 11 major parks and four regional trails within the county. Her presentation is all photograph-based and features her nature pictures of birds, mammals, butterflies, plants, landscapes and more. Bulava is responsible for planning and conducting nature programs and all other aspects of environmental education in the parks system.
Wechsler has reached remote parts of the world to study and photograph the Earth’s biodiversity. Along the way, he has participated in ceremonial sword dances, swam with piranhas and accidentally picked up a cobra. Working with teams of scientists around the world, Wechsler has photographed birds, endangered frogs and forests to carry out the missions of the expeditions.
On April 10, Wechsler will reveal what inspired those expeditions, what he discovered and where those discoveries led. His children’s books are illustrated with his own photos and several will be on display both for viewing and for purchase.
“What I really wanted to accomplish with this series was to educate people on the environment,” Daniel Begg noted, “on the threats that we face today, as well as entertain them and give them just a sense of what they can do to change things, to make an impact.
“Often people feel like, ‘What can I do and is it really going to make a difference?’” he added. “I want people to come away from this with the idea that, ‘I can make a difference.’ I want people to be entertained, I want them to be educated and I want them to have a sense of empowerment.”
Presentations will start at 7 p.m. There will be signs designating parking and outside the entrance to the event. For updates, visit the Friends Enrichment Program Facebook page.
