The Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center (GSOEC), situated on 44 acres of the eastern end of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, serves as an important crossroads between nature and civilization. Walk along two miles of flat trails and boardwalk and enjoy the spectacular views of swamp, marsh, meadow, pond, forest habitats and wildlife. This unusual intermingling of habitats and diverse terrain gives the Great Swamp its unique character.

In the late 1950s, The Great Swamp was chosen as an ideal location for a new Port Authority jetport. Local residents fought to preserve it and it became the nation’s first U.S. National Wildlife Refuge. The effort to save the swamp was an early “win” for the conservation movement.

Of Special Note:

• The Great Swamp is not all swamp – it’s a mix of marshes, meadows, dry woods and brush-covered swamps
• The Visitors Center has environmental exhibits with 24 taxidermy animals and a replica bear den
• Managed by the Morris County Park Commission