Outdoors in the Garden State: CCC in New Jersey Parks, 1937

This silent film from 1937 explores New Jersey's state parks, highlighting the natural beauty and the extensive work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Reel 1 presents picturesque landscapes of Palisades Interstate Park, High Point Park, and Watchung Reservation State Park, showcasing rivers, lakes, and other points of interest. It also captures CCC members in action, clearing underbrush, managing tree health, preparing picnic areas, and controlling pests like caterpillars, with glimpses of urban Jersey City. Reel 2 continues with CCC activities in South Mountain Reservation and Parvin State Park, where they are involved in building maintenance like bridges and drains, painting, and engaging in physical exercises. The film also includes scenes of the natural environment, including forests, lakes, streams, and wildlife, culminating in a delightful performance by a Negro CCC jazz band, adding cultural vibrancy to the conservation narrative.