HACKETTSTOWN NJ DEP Division of Fish & Wildlife’s WILD School Sites Program is giving away 20 native trees or shrubs in exchange for photos of schoolyard habitats. The WILD School Sites program educates about the importance of biodiversity, provides basic steps to creating or enhancing wildlife habitat, and fosters responsible action to improve communities for people and wildlife beginning on school grounds. Once again NJ DEP Division of Fish & Wildlife is offering NJ native trees and shrubs in an ongoing effort to: 1) promote service-learning opportunities for youth in nature, 2) photo document what’s going on in the state with regard to schoolyard habitats, and 3) to illustrate what is possible for prospective sites interested in developing outdoor classrooms. This year, we are offering 20 native trees or shrubs of your choice on a first come, first serve basis. The plants are available for PICK UP ONLY in exchange for 2-5 photos of your WILD School Site. The pictures should be in color and can represent seasonal changes, garden or educational themes, highlighted landscape features, etc.; and include students only if prior parental permission has been given. The photos will be posted on the DEP web site to reference what’s been done and what’s possible regarding schoolyard habitat creation and enhancement. Please include with photos: name of school and garden (if applicable), year of photo, contact name/phone number, and county. All plants offered provide ideal food and/or shelter value for wildlife. Plant varieties available are: Red Chokecherry - Aronia arbutifolia, Yellow Birch - Betula alleghaniensis, Sweet Birch - Betula lenta, Alternate Leaf Dogwood - Cornus alternifolia, Mountain Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Atlantic Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius, Carolina Rose - Rosa caroliniana, Purple Willow - Salix purpurea, Cranberry Viburnum - Viburnum trilobum. You can forward pictures by e-mail to ejackson@dep.state.nj.us or snailmail them to Pequest Trout Hatchery, 605 Pequest Road, Oxford, NJ 07863. Plant pick up will be at the Hackettstown Natural Resource Education Center. For more information contact Liz at 908-637-4125. Don’t forget to register your school site as a Certified WILD School Site. See www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/syhart for more information.