Signs Point to Town’s Natural Treasures

The Treasure Trail in Belmar is an interactive educational initiative developed in 2005 by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/New Jersey Sea Grant (NJMSC/NJSG) in partnership with the Belmar Environmental Commission (BEC) and is meant to educate beachgoers about coastal ecosystems and beach dynamics in Belmar. The Trail, funded in part by a matching grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, began with a series of four full-color interpretive signs showcasing interesting information about sections of Belmar beach that serve as natural habitats for countless plants and animals, and has grown each year since it’s inception. The trail was designed to provide an opportunity for residents and seasonal visitors to learn more about these natural areas and to serve as an outdoor classroom for local schools.

Treasure Trail poster at the Shark River

Jenny McCormick, Coastal Communities Agent for the NJMSC/NJSG Extension Program worked with the BEC to develop the Treasure Trail. Due to the popularity and success of the project, six additional signs were added in 2007. In 2009, Jenny worked with a local student to produce a sign for his Eagle Scout waterfront picnic area project about birds and waterfowl that has now been added to the Treasure Trail.

The project has also incorporated an interactive element that McCormick thinks makes it even more appealing, particularly with students: “After people visit the natural beach, known locally as ‘shell beach’ [at First Avenue], they can log onto a special Treasure Trail website linked through Belmar.com to take a fun quiz about what they learned and can even win a ‘treasure’ for their effort,” McCormick said.  The Treasure Trail project has served as a model for other coastal communities around the state and several neighboring municipalities, including Shark River Hills and Bradley Beach, have since collaborated with NJMSC/NJSG on similar projects.

To access the interactive Treasure Trail online, click here.

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