After more than twelve wonderful years as Education Outreach Coordinator with the Ocean County Soil Conservation District, Becky Laboy is retiring. She will be putting down new roots in North Carolina, and begin her next adventure.
Derek Disanza entered the 2026 annual New Jersey Conservation Poster Contest with a winning idea. A love of nature and a passion for drawing helped him to create the poster selected as the winner for the 2nd-3rd grade category at the local Soil Conservation District level.
Whether you have a sprawling backyard or just a small corner of your landscape, creating a wildlife-friendly garden can make a meaningful difference for nature and the environment.
Students and teachers at Barnegat High School joined the Ocean County Soil Conservation District to create a new native pollinator garden that will provide habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects while serving as an outdoor learning space for years to come.
In 2026, MATES Team #1 earned First Place overall in the statewide competition, while MATES Team #2 captured Fourth Place overall.