An Introduction to Highlands Volunteering

Contact Highlands to Volunteer

     The Highlands Project Inc. was formed in June 1998 by five Warren County educators with the assistance and guidance of Captain Kent Bergmann of the Warren County Prosecutors Office. The original impetus for the formation of Highlands was the clear need for a meaningful outlet for the energies of youth sentenced to community service by the Warren County Court system. It was felt and discussed that youth found community service "meaningless" and simply "punishment". It is the stated goal of Highlands to bring meaning and purpose to court directed community service. We intend to promote pride and a sense of accomplishment in each of our youth workers. Educational and counseling components are interwoven into all projects that Highlands conducts.

To this end, Highlands has created the goal of working with at-risk youth to:

        a. improve and maintain historically important property in Warren County.

b. to establish and maintain "Bread Lock Park"; a historical and recreational park on Warren County property in New Village

c. to establish, build, maintain, and operate "The Warren County Historical Learning Center".

    Warren County has, in the past couple of years, bought a number of parcels of land through "open space" funds. It is upon these lands that Highlands will focus it's energy. One such parcel, in New Village, has a section of the Morris Canal and "The Bread Lock" (more later). The county has granted Highlands the opportunity to develop this parcel and create a county historical park. Much of the work that Highland's youth workers will be doing will be physical in nature. The first task is to clear the canal basin and towpath of brush, trees, and a century of accumulated trash. After the canal is uncovered, construction of walking paths will begin. The plans for the future include a physical fitness trail, a self-guided historical tour, renovating and restoring the lock, building a full sized canal boat, and restoring a historic barn on site. There is plenty of work to keep us busy! The Historical Learning Center is one of the educational aspects of the project. Youth workers will "graduate" from manual work to both vocational and historical instruction in the construction of the center.

    As a volunteer with Highlands you will have the opportunity to work directly with young people. It is important to remember that our primary goal is centered on them, their maturational development and pride of accomplishment. The development of Bread Lock Park and The Historical Learning Center is secondary to this goal and a vehicle for their development. This volunteer introduction will give you guidelines to help meet this goal.

Volunteering at the Warren County Historical Learning Center

    A second opportunity for volunteering with Highlands exists. The Historical Learning Center will be open on Sundays and volunteers are needed to staff the museum. While you would not be working with Highlands youth, you would be meeting visitors at the Learning Center, interpreting the exhibits and giving the public a glimpse into Warren County History. This "gentler and kinder" type of volunteer work is of great importance. Please use this link  Contact Highlands to contact us.

The Morris Canal and The Highlands Project

    The Morris Canal was conceived in 1822 by George Mcculloch. Digging began in October 1825. Over 1,100 workers along with scores of mules, worked on the canal for four years. Water began to flow in 1829 and the canal was fully operational by 1836. The canal was unusual in that it does not follow any major waterway as do most others. It also had the highest elevation change of any canal built. The canal rose 760 feet from Phillipsburg to Lake Hopatcong and fell 914 feet to sea level in Newark. This is a total of 1674 feet in only 102 miles. The canal used twenty three inclined planes and twenty three locks to overcome this elevation. In 1845 the canal carried 58,000 tons of Pennsylvania coal to Newark; by 1866 nearly 900,000 tons made the trip. However, by the late 1800's, competition from the railroads made the canal unprofitable. In 1923 ownership of the canal passed to the State of New Jersey, which destroyed most of the structures and transferred title back to the original owners. Lock # 7 West in New Village had a drainage culvert installed and was then filled in. It is hoped that the lock is well preserved because of this.

    The Morris Canal was the only canal ever built to use inclined planes. The basic task was simple, to move a canal boat onto a cradle and pull it up a hill to the next level of water. The cradle ran on steel rails and was pulled by a cable. Water from the upper section of canal flowed through a pipe to an underground turbine. The water powered the turbine which, through a system of gears, pulled the cradle and boat up the incline. A lock is another method used to overcome a lesser elevation change. A boat would float into the lock, its doors would close and water from the upper section would flow into the lock floating the boat higher.

    The Highlands Headquarters and Bread Lock Park include a section of the canal prism, the remains of Lock # 7 West and the foundation of the lock-tenders house. The lock was named because the wife of the lock tender sold fresh baked bread to the boatman as they traversed the lock. In 1999 the Warren County Freeholders granted Highlands the right to develop this seventeen acre County owned property. Highlands intends to create a historical park on the site. These plans include: walking trails with historical interpretation, restoring the canal prism and the lock, picnic areas and a physical fitness trail.

    Highlands also is developing the Warren County Historical Learning Center. The center has a head start as it has inherited a number of models created by students of Project Excel during the 1990's. At the moment, the fledgling center is located in the modern house on the Bread Lock Park property. Future plans for the Historical Learning Center are being developed and offer many exciting possibilities.

    Again, it is important to remember, that as exciting as all our plans are, it is our youth workers that we must continue to focus upon. Highlands was formed for them, not to restore locks. The formation of the park and center are but vehicles to give these youth workers the opportunity to participate in meaningful and educational work. Self-development and an increase in responsibility and self-esteem in our workers is the ultimate goal of The Highlands Project.

The Nitty Gritty

As of January 2001, Highlands is planning to schedule work projects every Saturday morning starting at 8:00 AM and working until 12:00 PM. We will meet at Bread Lock Park (see map below). Much of the work will be outside and appropriate clothing should be worn. Highlands will provide tools, work gloves and safety glasses. If the weather is inclement, we do have a limited amount of indoor work to do. There will also be times that a youth worker has "graduated" to the next level of work and we will need supervisors for vocational or historical work in the center or shop. Once the center is open to the public historical guides and interpreters will be needed. Please call Highlands @ 689-6350 or E-mail Highlands@nac.net if you intend to work with us on any given Saturday. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to get hold of us.

Legal Considerations

    Because Highlands works with youth assigned to us by the Warren County Court system, there are a few legal necessities. Volunteers must respect our youth workers confidentiality. No photographs of their faces may be taken and their names must not be disclosed to anyone outside of Highlands.

    Upon arrival at the work site, all volunteers must sign in and indicate their work hours. While on the work site you will have limited coverage by Warren County insurance for injury and by the Highlands Project insurance for liability. All volunteers must also fill out a volunteer profile sheet for Warren County.

Safety Considerations

1. Safety is of primary concern. If you have any questions or comments about the safety procedures you must let us know!

2. If you are asked to perform any task or use any tool that you are unfamiliar with you must let us know!

3. Safety glasses must be worn during any outdoor work project.

4. Before using any tool, you must be checked off on proper procedures.

5. Be aware of your own safety and the safety of those around you.

6. Do not assume responsibility for any task before the safety procedures for the task have been reviewed.

7. Do not under any circumstances:

a. climb a ladder higher then 6 (six) feet.

b. operate a power (electric or gas powered) tool without permission

c. drive or operate a motor vehicle without permission.

d. handle or use toxic or flammable material.

8. Be aware of deer ticks that can carry Lymes disease. Deer ticks are very small, about the size of a period. Check yourself after a day in the woods. Read the brochure on Lymes that you have been given and ask questions if you do not understand any part. Long Pants, long sleeve shirts and insect repellent (or Skin-So-Soft spray) will help repel the ticks.

Joining The Team

     If volunteering with Highlands and youth in Warren County sounds like something you would like to do, please use the feedback form on our site or e-mail directly to Highlands@nac.net. Thanks.

Send mail to fplynah@nac.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: January 25, 2002