Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS)
Friends of the Great Swamp is a community group comprised of concerned citizens, public agencies, and local
businesses and organizations. Since 1990, it has been an active voice for protection of the functions, values and integrity
of the Great Swamp. FrOGS is organized into three committees -- scenic and research, education and tourism, and steering --
all of which work together to collect and share information, promote education programs, encourage wise land-use decisions,
and assist in watershed protection planning.
The mission of the organization is to undertake activities "to conserve, protect, and promote the functions, values and
integrity of the Great Swamp wetland and its watersheds in Putnam and Dutchess Counties, New York". FrOGS' mission is
pursued through:
- environmental education in both formal and non-formal settings
- fostering scientific research
- working towards conservation land use planning with land owners and local
governments
- supporting sustainable use of the Swamp and its watershed for recreation
and other life enhancing values.
The strength of FrOGS is the active, dedicated volunteers who organize and run the activities and events.
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Ian Barnes of "The Nature of Things" educating children about wildlife at a FrOGS
sponsored program
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| scenes from the annual FrOGS-sponsored canoe trip on the Great Swamp
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FrOGS educational programs include programs for children and the very popular, annual canoe trips on the Great Swamp.
These programs teach participants about nature and the importance of a clean environment, with an emphasis on the importance
of the Great Swamp.
FrOGS works through building partnerships with other local and national organizations, both governmental and private, which
pursue the same type of goals; we try to focus their activities on the Great Swamp. We are currently working with New York State
DEC, NYS Office of Parks, RecreationA YEAR IN THE LIFE OF FrOGS: 2009 and Historic Preservation, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, Towns of Patterson, Pawling, and
Dover, New York City DEP, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Putnam County Land Trust, Oblong Land
Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Open Space Institute, Purchase College -SUNY, Bedford Audubon Society, Audubon New York,
Wildlife Conservation Society, Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition, Trout Unlimited, the Highlands Coalition, Putnam
Highlands Audubon Society, Pawling Fish and Game Association, and others.
In 2003 FrOGS and a coalition of Fourteen partners received a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (
NAWCA) Grant to acquire
lands and conservation easements in the widest and most vulnerable part of the Great Swamp-the "Heart". Working against time and
skyrocketing land Prices, FrOGS, the Nature Conservancy, The State of New York DEC, The Town of Patterson and the Putnam County Land
Trust have acquired 471 new acres and easements on additional 112 acres more. NAWCA partners are moving forward to work to preserve
addition acreage.
| A Year in the Life of FrOGS: 2011 |
- Published three new issues of FrOGS Newsletter. Our award-winning Newsletter is a reading must-do
trip through the Great Swamp!
- All-day canoe safari through the Swamp between the Patterson Environmental Park and Green Chimneys.
- Two additional Spring canoe trips though the Swamp introducing over 100 people to this wonderful
adventure.
- First ever Fall Canoe trip through the Swamp!
- Welcomed Judith Enck, Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as she made
the announcement of the new EPA and Army Corp of Engineers regulations regarding wetlands at
the edge of the Great Swamp and the East Branch Croton River. The announcement address was
co-hosted by Green Chimneys and attended by Willie Janeway of the NYS DEC. Green Chimneys science
students released the trout they had raised as part of the celebration. Ms. Enck, her staff and
the Army Corp representative were then guided on a canoe trip of the Great Swamp by FrOGS volunteers.
- Created and printed A Paddler's Guide to the Great Swamp, a laminated guide to the flora and
fauna of the Swamp that might be seen from a canoe.
- Published a pamphlet created by Nancy Clark, Wildflowers of the Great Swamp. The guide
was printed and distributed with the co-operation of the Town of Patterson in our joint kiosk in
the Patterson Environmental Park welcoming canoers and kayakers to the Swamp.
- Completed and released the special Benthic Invertebrate Study of the Swamp River and its tributaries
contracted by FrOGS from Watershed Assessment Associates. The Study was released at meetings
hosted by the Cary Institute and the Housatonic Valley Association and sent to the towns of Dover
and Pawling and the Village of Pawling which lie in the Swamp River Watershed. Copies were also
sent to each town's Conservation Advisory Boards. The Study was uploaded to FrOGS website.
- Continued sponsorship of Michael Musnick's wood turtle study.
- Held special presentations of the Wood Turtle study results to date in. Presentations were given in
Pawling, Mahopac, and Patterson. Introduced our "Adopt a Turtle Program".
- Special hike/walk Boardwalks of the Great Swamp featuring the three areas where the Swamp
is crossed by boardwalks: the Appalachain Trail crossing, the floating boardwalk at Turtle Pond and
the boardwalk at Green Chimneys Beach.
- Participated in Dutchess County Watershed Awareness Month with two screenings of films about water
quality, one for adults and a special program for children and families.
- Promoted the values of the Great Swamp at the Earth Day Celebration at Dover High School, the
Putnam County 4-H Fair, Green Chimney's Birds of Prey Day, the Pawling Farmers Market and Green
Chimneys Farm Day.
- Participated in forums sponsored by the Dutchess County Watershed Coalition, the Hudson River
Watershed Alliance and the Hudson River Estuary Program.
- Participated in the Highlands Coalition meeting of the NY State Committee.
- Produced the 15th Annual Great Swamp Art Show and Celebration.
- As the year ended, prepared to host the special celebration and announcement of the acquisition of
the 221 acre North Hollow Property on the North Side of Haviland Hollow by the NYS DEC.
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