Field study focuses on area around new Montgomery High.
By: Paul Sisolak
MONTGOMERY Some ecologically minded township students took advantage Wednesday morning of their new high school’s science resources despite the fact the new building is far from completed.
Joined by members of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association in Hopewell Township, the 35 students embarked on an environmental field study of the grounds behind the construction site on Route 601 to learn about forestry, soil and wetlands.
The students were divided into groups, participating in all three ecological surveys.
"The main goal is to make the students aware of what the forest community consists of," said Jeff Hoagland, the association’s education director. Mr. Hoagland led one of three groups in the woods to learn about forest life and identify tree types.
"This is a typical New Jersey forest," he said. "There’s a huge community out here and a huge assortment of creatures."
The students examined many limbs and branches and discovered some click beetles, recording their findings on a data sheet.
Across the way, another group was hard at work mapping wetland soil and vegetation.
"It’s cool," said Montgomery High School senior Stephen Fischer. "It’s informative because that’s what we’re studying. It’s a good site because it’s our new high school," he said, taking a dirt sample with a bulb planter.
Watershed environmental educator Judy Gerardi said forested wetlands generally appear dry throughout the year.
"Usually you think of cattails and reeds and lots of water," she said.
One of the group’s assignments was to find wildlife tracks. Some students discovered deer tracks, while others nearly missed an encounter with some poison ivy growing on a nearby tree. Another goal was to map various weed growths in the area.
The final group of students studied the significance and hydrology of different soil types. Ms. Gerardi said the students would complete the project later by performing nutrient tests and invertebrate searches on their findings back at one of the science laboratories.
Ms. Gerardi hoped the activities would help students gain an appreciation for the biodiversity of their hometown.
The second portion of the day, a trip to the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority treatment plant planned for the afternoon, was canceled. The national Code Orange alert prohibited the group from touring the plant, forcing the field study to last only a half day.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies in Skillman, which sponsored the event and provided lunch for the students, donated all the field supplies. Danielle Dolbow, an environmental engineer with the company, was on hand to observe.
Ms. Dolbow said Johnson & Johnson will also be sponsoring Montgomery High School students when they participate in the May "Enviro-thon" at Stockton College in Pomona. Johnson & Johnson, she added, may also purchase study books for the event.

