MPA Workshop: Pine Barrens. June 6-7, 2026. Covering a quarter of the state of New Jersey, the sandy, coastal Pine Barrens are a world set apart from the endless city corridor between New York and Philadelphia. When established in 1978, the Pinelands National Reserve encompassed 1.1 million acres and remains the "largest tract of wild land along the Middle Atlantic Seaboard." (quote by President Jimmy Carter). We'll go deep into an Atlantic white cedar swamp, see a pygmy forest and blackjack oak, wander along its breathtaking bogs, and see birds, birds, birds at a spectacular heron rookery at sunrise. We’ll photograph at Liz’s favorite spot in all New Jersey. Woven into our exploration, we'll step back in time to think about the significance of the Pines on the Revolutionary War, glass-making, cranberry farming, and its role as an industrial hub in early America. The Pines have long been a culture set apart from the mainstream. To make sure we’re nourished, we'll take in a local favorite eatery or two (and, likely, PIE). Learn More