The New Year at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

The Pequest NREC on Rt. 46 between Great Meadows, approximately 9 miles west of Hackettstown in Warren County offers 3.9 miles of trails through a variety of habitats. 

The Red Trail offers interpretive signs about the habitat and is used to access the other two trails on site, the Yellow and Blue trails. (Horses, bikes, ATVs, and other motorized vehicles are not permitted on the Wildlife Management Area.)

You can learn about the Pequest Trout Hatchery by following the self-guided hatchery tour, marked by green trout on the sidewalks that lead to two different hatchery areas. The first sidewalk will take you up to the Nursery Building where you can look through the windows of both the Egg Room and the Nursery Area. The Egg Room is in operation from mid-September through early October. The Nursery Area is in use from Late September through mid-May.

The second sidewalk will take you to the Observation Platform where you can overlook the raceways or pools filled with trout. The raceways hold fish year-round.

You can also register for classes year-round 

For example, in January:

First Friday Flies: Inch Worm on January 6, 2023 at 10:00 am
The snow is coming. Ice isn’t thick enough to fish – what’s a person to do? How about tying flies for April trout? If you’ve always wanted to learn, winter is the perfect time to pick up some foundational fly-tying techniques. We have the equipment, knowledge and the basic supplies to get you started. Simple patterns can be amazingly effective at catching trout. When you learn the basics, you can tie what you need when you need it. We will talk a bit about how to fish the fly you tie, and how to match the hatch. If you don’t know the terms we just mentioned that’s okay as you will learn all about them in class. In January, this series will start out by tying a basic inch worm. This class is for ages 15 and above. To register, please go to eventbrite.com/e/first-friday-flies-tickets-483834170027

Nature Nurtures: Opossum Opposites, January 12, 2023, 10:00 am
Join us for story and craft time! Each month, Pequest staff will read a nature-based book. After the story is done, we will create a craft for you to take home. For ages 3-5 years.
To register, go to eventbrite.com/e/nature-nurtures-tickets-483860127667

Lunch and Learn: Binos and Birds, January 17, 2023, 12:00 pm
Did you get a new pair of binoculars over the holidays? Having a hard time locating birds or other wildlife on your travels? If you can manipulate a full-size pair of binoculars this class is for you. This one-hour program will connect you to one of the most useful outdoor tools. At NJ Fish and Wildlife, we have a wealth of answers to your optics questions. We also have a host of suggestions and tips that will help you bring the animals closer without taking a step. Even if you don’t have binoculars, no worries – we have some you can borrow.
Join us for the basics of binoculars, best practices for target acquisition, focusing techniques and more. If you plan on traveling or exploring nature, binoculars are the essential tool that brings everything up-close and personal. Let us show you how.
To register, go to eventbrite.com/e/lunch-and-learn-series-binos-and-birds-tickets-490622183157

Guides

Besides getting seed catalogs in the mail filled with dreams of my spring and summer garden, I also welcome on a cold winter day the newest edition of the New Jersey Travel Guide.

Of course, our 130 miles of beautiful sandy beaches are beloved but the guide will also give you information about our world-class arts and entertainment centers, attractions, historical sites and natural beauty for outdoor enthusiasts, plus accommodations, shopping and so much more!

I love using my GPS, but for an overall look at the Garden State, I still love holding a copy of the official New Jersey State Map from the Department of Transportation in my hands. It's a great way to take a bird's eye view of the state and its attractions and plan trips.

You can request or download the FREE Official NJ Travel Guide and map.

Request a guide to be delivered OR if you can't wait to get the travel guide and want to save a few trees, go with the online Digital Version or Download a version of the 2020 Travel Guide.

For the best digital experience, you can put the Visit New Jersey App on your smartphone. It highlights key attractions and experiences throughout the state. You can create a “favorites list” of places, activities and events and also discover new things to see and do based on your location. It will even give you directions on how to get there.

Download the iPhone app   |   Download from the Google Play Store

The Visit New Jersey app will help you find:

• Accommodations (Hotels, Motels, Inns, Bed & Breakfasts)
• Arts & Culture (Galleries, Museums, Performing Arts)
• Attractions (Amusement & Water Parks, Lighthouses)
• Beaches
• Campgrounds & RV Parks
• Casinos & Gaming
• Dining
• Events
• Historic Sites & Memorials
• Outdoors & Sports Recreation (Boating, Farms, Golfing, Parks)
• Shopping (Discount Outlets, Malls, Shopping Districts)
• Transportation
• Travel Information

Holiday Activities at New Jersey State Parks

Historic Christmases in New Jersey ranging from the American Revolution to the Victorian era and modern day are among the highlights of annual holiday activities planned this month at state parks, according to a NJDEP press release.

“Christmas is a special time in New Jersey, with many activities for the public to recall our important place in history and to celebrate the beauty and magic of the season,” Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn said. “There is something for everyone at many of our parks, from seeing the stately Ringwood Manor decorated as it would have been during its heyday, to watching busy elves in Santa’s workshop, to the always popular Delaware River crossing on Christmas. These activities are a great way to enjoy the holiday spirit.”

Ringwood Manor

Ringwood Manor at Ringwood State Park in Passaic County is hosting the 43rd Annual Victorian Christmas, showcasing holiday décor from the 19th century, while Washington Crossing State Park will host the annual Christmas Day re-enactment of Gen. George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River. Other activities include a reading of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol at Waterloo Village in Sussex County and history-themed fun at The Historic Village at Allaire in Allaire State Park in Monmouth County.

The 19th century Ringwood Manor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The stunning house that was home to well-known ironmasters in the 19th and 20th centuries sits on a low hill that overlooks a rustic landscape, making it a beautiful location to visit during the holidays and winter.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 16, Santa Claus and his elves will be busy in their workshop at Ringwood State Park’s Hermitage Museum Visitor Center to greet children and their families.

Children can spend time at holiday craft tables, surrounded by vintage toys, trains, Christmas trees, holiday decorations and music. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12, and free for children age 5 and younger. Santa’s Workshop is sponsored by Friends of the Hermitage.

Remaining dates to visit Ringwood Manor for the Victorian Christmas are Dec. 9, 15 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and $5 for children ages 5-12. Group tours for 10 or more people are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 12, with admission set at $7 per person.

The Women’s Club of West Milford, the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society, and the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts sponsors the Victorian Christmas. For more information, call (973) 962-2240.

Santa at Ringwood State Park

To learn more about the 2018 Victorian Christmas at Ringwood Manor, visit www.ringwoodmanor.org/victorian-christmas.html 

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A reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Waterloo Village in Stanhope, Sussex County. Admission is $10 per person. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Call (973) 347-1835 to register.

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The Historic Village at Allaire within Allaire State Park in Farmingdale, Monmouth County, is offering guided lantern tours and interactive Christmas activities for all ages.

Visitors can tour the Historic Village at Allaire by lantern light and learn about Christmas in the 1800s. Tours leave every 15 minutes from 5 to 8 p.m. p.m. on Dec. 7, 8, 15 and 21. The 90-minute, outdoor guided tours are $20 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Strollers are not permitted in the historic buildings.

Christmas at The Historic Village at Allaire will offer interactive programs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16. Activities include music, storytelling, hearth cooking, dancing, wagon rides, crafts and a visit from Santa Claus. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12 years of age.

Washington Crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day

At 1 p.m. on Christmas, visitors to Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, Mercer County, can commemorate the 242nd anniversary of the pivotal crossing of the Delaware River on Dec. 25, 1776, during the War for Independence.


The crossing led to strategic victories the next day in Trenton, followed by victories at Assunpink Creek on Jan. 2, 1777 and at Princeton the next day. These victories helped establish Washington’s Continental Army as a viable fighting force that could challenge the British Army and its Hessian mercenaries.


Prior to the crossing and the ensuing battles of Trenton and Princeton, the American Revolution was thought to be lost. But those victories turned the war around and led to the eventual defeat of the British in 1783.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive by noon to have time to park and find a good viewing location. A history narration of the event will begin at 12:30 p.m. along the riverbank. Cider and doughnuts will be provided at the Nelson House.


Approximately 100 re-enactors will start the crossing at 1 p.m. from the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, in reproductions of the Durham boats used by Washington and his troops.

The re-enactment is free and will be held weather-permitting. For more information, call (609) 737-0623.

Those interested in learning more about the history and significance of the crossing, as well as the Battle of Trenton may attend a free lecture with Washington Crossing State Park Historian Clay Craighead at 2 p.m. Dec. 15, at the park’s Visitor Center Museum.

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• For more about Ringwood State Park, visit www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/ringwood.html#sky  
• For more information about Washington Crossing State Park, including directions and GPS coordinates, visit www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html 
• For more information about The Historic Village at Allaire and Allaire State Park, visit https://allairevillage.org/ and www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/allaire.html 
• To learn more about New Jersey’s Parks, Forests and Historic Sites, visit www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/ 
• You can Like and follow the State Park Service on Facebook  www.facebook.com/newjerseystateparks  
• Follow the New Jersey State Park Service on Instagram @newjerseystateparks 
• and follow the DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP   

Annual Fall Forestry Festival October 6

The 24th Annual Fall Forestry Festival will be held on Saturday October 6th, 2018 from
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The vent will be located at the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, NJ (enter through 370 East Veterans Highway for parking)

This is a FREE Rain-or-Shine event for everyone and a great opportunity for families to enjoy the day and learn about the forest surrounding you.

Some of the activities of the day will include:

• Maple Sugaring
• Nature Walks
• Crafts
• Forestry Displays & Demos
• Greater Pinelands Dulcimer Society
• Classroom Presentations Given by Naturalist

Questions? Call 732.928.2360

Like the Forestry Center on Facebook www.facebook.com/forestrycenter/

The Moon and Canoes at Sandy Hook

Here are three outings for this weekend at Sandy Hook.

Fall Equinox Walk
Building #18, Fort Hancock
Saturday, September 22, 6 PM - 8 PM
It is called the equinox because it's one of only two days in the year when daylight and darkness agree to equally share the 24 hours in a day. Truth or myth - can you balance a raw egg on its end? Not sure, but it's a great day for an early evening walk on the Hook. Free, call the American Littoral Society at (732) 291-0055 to make reservations. ♥1 mile

Canoeing on Sandy Hook Bay
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
Saturday, September 22, 9:15 AM - 12 PM
Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook bay from an ideal vantage point-the water itself. Rangers guide a two and a half hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Go to recreation.gov to make your reservation.

Harvest Moon Walk
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
Sunday, September 23, 7:30 PM - 9 PM
"Harvest moon" is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Bring a flashlight for this night walk that utilizes the five senses. Call (732) 872-5970 to make reservations. ♥1 mile

Beach Plum Festival at Island Beach State Park

The 21st annual Beach Plum Festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. The festival is the main fundraiser for the park’s nonprofit partner Friends of Island Beach State Park, which will use festival revenue to plant American beach grass to further enhance and stabilize dunes, as well as other park needs.

This rain-or-shine event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Swimming Area 1. An $8 donation is suggested. Visitors may take a free shuttle from an overflow parking lot to the festival area starting at 10 a.m. The shuttle will continue until the festival ends.

“The annual Beach Plum Festival highlights a number of important elements at the Jersey shore,” Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources Ray Bukowski said. “It marks the end of a great summer, the beginning of the fall festival season, and brings attention in an enjoyable way to a native seasonal fruit found only in coastal areas.”

“This event is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day at the shore while tasting beach plums and learning about the critical environment in which they grow,” Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn said. “We invite the public to come to Island Beach State Park and experience what nature has to offer.”

Festival visitors can sample or purchase beach plum jelly and ice cream, enjoy children’s activities such as a magic act and cartoonist, explore exhibits providing information about the environment and various non-profit organizations, among many other activities.

What is a beach plum?

The beach plum is a shrubby tree that thrives in sandy soil and offers dune stabilization for sensitive coastal ecosystems such as those found at Island Beach State Park. The tree is typically found in coastal environments stretching from Maine to North Carolina.

Beach plum plants produce beautiful blossoms every spring and fruit in late summer and early fall. The fruit usually measures less than two centimeters in circumference, and its taste is a mix between a plum, a strawberry and an apricot. Beach plums may be eaten raw, but are often used as a jam, jelly, marinade or dessert sauce.

Friends of Island Beach State Park formed in 1996 to encourage protection of the barrier island ecosystem and to enhance both educational and recreational programs at the park.
In addition to the Beach Plum Festival the group organizes beach grass plantings in the spring and fall, the Conservation Talks lecture series, May Day Pet Expo, the Barrier Island Surf Contest and the month-long wellness celebration on Thursdays in August. The group also prints the park's annual visitor guide.

For info on Island Beach State Park www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

For info about the Friends of IBSP and the festival www.friendsofibsp.org/events/beach-plum-festival-2/

Upcoming at Sandy Hook

Gateway National Recreation Area, which covers parks in in NY and in NJ, offer programs to the public throughout the year - but as the weather improves they certainly get more visitors.

There are three geographic units: Sandy Hook, New Jersey; Jamaica Bay and Staten Island, New York City. The NYC units include Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Fort Tilden, Riis Park in Queens, Floyd Bennett Field and Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn. Staten Island has Great Kills Park, Miller Field and Fort Wadsworth. These sites and others make up the 27,000 acres of Gateway, one national park.

Two events upcoming this weekend at Sandy Hook:

Surf Fishing Clinic
Building #18, Littoral Society Headquarters
Saturday, April 21, 8 AM - 3 PM
Join Jeff Dement, Tagging Director, for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach. He will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and "reading" a beach. All skill levels are welcome. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided. Children under 18 are welcome with a supervising adult. Bring lunch. This is a fee-based program. Call (732) 291-0055 to make a reservation.

Clean Ocean Action's 33rd Spring Beach Sweep
Parking Lot D
Saturday, April 21, 9 AM - 12:30 PM
Clean Ocean Action's Beach Sweeps is a biannual, statewide beach cleanup that occurs at over 70 locations throughout the state of New Jersey. Each beach sweeper becomes a citizen scientist for the day as they record each piece of debris that they collect. This turns a one-day, cleanup event, into a legacy of data that impacts research and legislation. For more information, please visit Clean Ocean Action's website:www.cleanoceanaction.org or call (732) 872-0111.

Annual WILD Outdoor Expo This Weekend

New Jersey’s great outdoor locales and activities will be featured Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10 during the Department of Environmental Protection’s eighth annual WILD Outdoor Expo at the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township.

The Expo will highlight the state’s natural resources and outdoor heritage with more than 100 environmental and conservation exhibits, demonstrations and seminars. The rain-or-shine event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission and parking at the Expo are free as are most activities.

One of the Expo’s highlights will be a giant mobile aquarium, which will show off a variety of New Jersey’s fish species. The tank will be loaded with warm water game fish from the state’s fish hatchery located in Hackettstown. Casting and fishing demonstrations as well as instructional tutorials for new anglers are planned.

Expo visitors can also sharpen their camping and backpacking skills, get an introduction to archery, learn about osprey platform building, hone their bird and tree identification skills, walk through a mobile reptile zoo, and view raptors up close.  Other activities will include zip lining, stand up paddle boarding, nature photography, and outdoor learning on everything from fishing to kayaking, rock climbing, shooting sports and watching wildlife.

“The Expo provides a great opportunity for people of all ages to acquire new outdoor skills, while also learning about New Jersey’s bountiful natural resources” said Larry Herrighty, Director of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “It is truly a one-stop event for learning how to explore, experience and enjoy New Jersey's great outdoors."

The numerous exhibits, demonstrations and seminars scheduled during the Expo will focus on New Jersey’s air, water, soil, flora, fauna and history. Experts will be on hand to discuss topics ranging from hunting to bird watching to scuba diving and forestry stewardship in the state. There also will be a living history encampment and demonstrations of crafting dating back to the 1740s.

Many of the free activities and programs offered at the Expo can help fulfill Boy Scout and Girl Scout badge requirements. View a complete list of free scout badge activities as well as a complete list of Expo events at www.wildoutdoorexpo.com

The Expo will also feature an equipment flea market featuring outdoor recreation and other environmental-related products for purchase. Food will be available from a variety of food  trucks and food vendors.

The WILD Expo is sponsored by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, State Forest Service, State Forest Fire Service and the State Parks Service, as well as the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and L.L. Bean. It is partly financed by a grant from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s Trailblazer Adventure Program.

Directions to the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, located at 299 East Colliers Mill Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533 – can also be found at the Expo website.



Source: www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2017/17_0086.htm

June at Sandy Hook

View of Fort Hancock from the Sandy Hook Lighthouse at sunset (NPS photo)

Here are some June and summer events at Sandy Hook National Recreation Area.

World Oceans Day: Our Oceans, Our Future--Beach Lot C, Beach Plaza Thursday, June 8, 10 AM - 12 PM Celebrate your love for the oceans. Prevent marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future. Help the park rangers clean the beach and learn about solutions to plastic pollution with our park partner Clean Ocean Action.

In Search of the Lighthouse, Fort, and Refugee Town on Sandy Hook: A Story of Archaeological Research--Sandy Hook Chapel, Tuesday, June 13, 7 PM to 9 PM.Presenter/Lecturer: Richard Veit, Ph.D.: Professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Department of History & Anthropology, Monmouth University.
From 1692 to 1817, Sandy Hook was the private property of the Hartshorne family of Middletown. Since 1764, the historic lighthouse on the Hook has guarded the treacherous approaches to New York Harbor. During the American Revolution, Continental forces tried unsuccessfully to deny the British control of the lighthouse. British troops and partisans captured Sandy Hook early in the war and, despite repeated raids by Continental forces, retained control of the sandy peninsula until the end of the conflict. Indeed, the British fortified the lighthouse and Loyalists, many of African descent, constructed a Refugee Town near the light which served as a base of operations for raiding parties along the Jersey shore. Monmouth University's 2016 archaeological field school investigated the lighthouse property in an attempt to identify the location of the Lighthouse Fort and Refugee Town. Learn what was discovered from the study

Fridays--Canoe Cruise-
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E) June 16 through August 25 9:15 AM - 12 PM. See program guide for other canoe programs.

Check out the Summer Program Guide  nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/

This Weekend: Pequest Open House and Sportsmen's Flea Market

The Open House at the Pequest Trout Hatchery is this weekend - June 3 and 4 and coincides with National Fishing and Boating Week (June 3 – 11) and Free Fishing Day on June10.

For information and updates visit njfishandwildlife.com/peqoh.htm on the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife website.

The free 2017 Pequest Open House and Sportsmen's Flea Market located in Oxford, Warren County and this event is free of charge and is held rain or shine.

Trout tank display

This event is great for people of all ages and there are many things to see and do throughout the day. There will be numerous environmental and conservation exhibits, historical reenactors, wildlife artists, carvers and taxidermists with goods and services to sell.

Activities include fishing for kids between the ages of 4 and 16, archery ranges for those aged 10 years and above, hunter education (pre-registration required), kids' coloring corner and more.

A sportsmen's flea market will be open so you can purchase what you need to get started or to stock up for the upcoming fishing and hunting seasons.

Sportsmen's Flea Market

Food vendors will also participate or you can bring your own lunch and enjoy our picnic groves. Please leave pets at home - only service dogs are permitted on site.

The Open House is a great way for people of all ages to celebrate spring's arrival. Families, friends, scout troops, church groups, fishing clubs and anyone else who enjoys the outdoors are encouraged to spend a day at this event!

Ocean Fun Day Saturday May 20 at Island Beach State Park

Island Beach State Park, the jewel of New Jersey’s State Park System, will give visitors an opportunity to watch the release of young diamondback turtles into their natural habitat, as well as other youth-oriented environmental activities during Ocean Fun Day on Saturday, May 20. The diamondback terrapin release is new this year at Island Beach State Park.

Island Beach State Park is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast. With approximately 3,000 acres of beaches, dunes, maritime forests, freshwater wetlands and tidal marshes, the park is home to the state’s largest osprey colony, as well as peregrine falcons, wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl and songbirds.

This year’s 14th annual Ocean Fun Days are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 20 at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, and on Sunday, May 21 at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s headquarters in the historic Fort Hancock section of Sandy Hook in Monmouth County. Admission and parking are free. A free shuttle bus will be available at both parks to take visitors to tour sites.

Ocean Fun Day events encourage visitors to enjoy a day outdoors while learning about New Jersey’s coastal ecosystem through educational displays, nature tours and interactive programs that include seining, crafts, a scavenger hunt, touch tanks, youth fishing clinics and more.

Diamondback Terrapin

“Ocean Fun Day is a great way to teach visitors about the critical, yet fragile coastal ecosystems along the unspoiled barrier island that is Island Beach State Park,” said Director of Parks and Forestry Mark Texel. “The planned activities will show why Island Beach is a unique classroom to learn how ocean dynamics create barrier islands, and how the plants and animals here have adapted and thrived.”

Events at Island Beach State Park will be at Ocean Bathing Area 1, which is about four miles past the park’s gatehouse.

The turtle release will be done by students and faculty from Project Terrapin and the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES). The Sandy Hook event will include guided tours of Sandy Hook sites and an open house at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory. Both sites will also offer a program on how to build a better sand castle by understanding the science behind cohesion, adhesion and surface tension.

“Ocean Fun Days have become a wonderful tradition for New Jersey’s families and visitors, and that is due to strong partnerships,” said Claire Antonucci, Executive Director of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. “This year, we are delighted to partner with the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) to add a new activity to Ocean Fun Days with students and faculty from MATES Project Terrapin inviting the public to join them to release young diamondback turtles back into their natural habitat.”

Ocean Fun Days is presented by founding sponsor New Jersey Natural Gas, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, National Park Service and NOAA.

The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment through innovative research, education and outreach programs. To learn more about the consortium or Ocean Fun Days, call (732) 872-1300, Ext. 19 or visit: njseagrant.org

For more information about Island Beach State Park, visit: islandbeachnj.org/ or find the park’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/islandbeachstatepark/


SOURCE: nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2017/17_0045.htm

90 Years of the Presby Iris Gardens in Montclair

The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Montclair - the "Rainbow on the Hill" - celebrates its 90th anniversary this May. The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens is recognized internationally for its horticultural and historical significance. 

Following them on Instagram, I am reminded that forsythia blooming means its time to fertilize my own irises. Autumn is the time to divide irises, but if you buy new ones or just have a really crowded bed, take a look at their YouTube channel which has a video on how to divide the clumps and replant. 

For many years, it was a Mother's Day tradition for me to take my mom to the gardens, as irises were always one of her favorites in our own home garden.

The anticipated bloom season is May 12 through June 2. The bloom season begins with the “minis” bearded collection, then to the famed tall bearded irises, and ends with the non-bearded irises.

The gardens were established in 1927 to honor Frank H. Presby, a Montclair resident involved in improving the town's parks and recreation as well as the Montclair Art Museum. Presby was also a founding member of the American Iris Society, hence the decision to focus on that plant.

Starting with two 4-foot-wide beds, the public gardens now contain nearly 14,000 irises of approximately 1,500 varieties.

In addition to enjoying the iris blooms, you can visit the Bloom Room gift shop, and their Plant Sale will offer iris dug from the gardens.

The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens is located at 474 Upper Mountain Avenue in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. During bloom season, admission is a suggested $8 donation to help fund garden costs. The Gardens are open daily from dawn until dusk.

Bloom Room Gift Shop Opens & Iris Plant Sale
Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Bloom Room Gift Shop features an exciting mix of affordable home and garden accents. Potted and bare root irises from our collection are available for purchase. Visitors also may reserve summer grab bags.

Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Enjoy the day with Mom at Presby. Treat her to a special iris or item from the Bloom Room Gift Shop. Enjoy a free music program. A special luncheon is planned; check the website for ticket information. Artist Lisa Palumbo will be available from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to sign artwork.

Family Garden Party
Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Essex County Family Garden Party is a free community event sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs with entertainment, crafts, face painting, booths from local organizations such as the Essex County Environmental Center and Master Gardeners, and various food trucks. A student art exhibit will also be featured. Rain date: Sunday, May 21.

Live Jazz Music
Weekends during Bloom Season from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

TaikoZoku Japanese Drumming Show
Sunday, May 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Hear the thrilling sounds of this Japanese style drum troupe from Glenn Weber’s New Jersey School of Percussion in West Orange.

Outdoor Movie Screening Disney’s Moana
Saturday, June 3 at 9 p.m.
Hosted by the Montclair Film Festival and Essex County Parks System.

Pequest Open House Rescheduled to June

Due to excessive snow cover and resulting poor condition of the grounds at the Pequest Trout Hatchery, the Open House originally scheduled for April 1 and 2 has been rescheduled to June 3 and 4. 

The new date will coincide with National Fishing and Boating Week, which runs from June 3 – 11, and the June 10 Free Fishing Day.

For information and updates visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/peqoh.htm on the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife website.

Princeton Environmental Film Festival

The 2017 Princeton Environmental Film Festival will be held March 28 – April 2, 2017. The Festival is sponsored by the Princeton Public Library and is held annually at 65 Witherspoon Street in downtown Princeton, New Jersey, with additional special events offered throughout the year.

Founded in 2006, the PEFF’s mission is to share exceptional documentary films and engage the community in exploring environmental sustainability from a wide range of angles and perspectives.

The film screenings are free of an admission charge and accompanied by a Q&A with film directors and producers, as well as talks by invited speakers visiting the festival or by those who live here in our community.

Birds of May trailer from Hundred Year Films on Vimeo.

Check out the full schedule of films, but one film that caught my attention is "Birds of May." It is a 30-minute film directed by Jared Flesher that will have its New Jersey premiere at the festival. It tells the story of the federally threatened rufa red knot bird and its annual visit to the Delaware Bay.

Following the movie, a Q&A with the director, and a presentation by shorebird biologist Larry Niles and Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s David Wheeler will be held. Wildlife art by James Fiorentino, and poetry readings by the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Program, featuring Cynthia Arrieu-King and Catherine Doty will also be part of the screening. The event is part of “Because We Come from Everything: Poetry and Migration,” a series organized by the newly formed National Poetry Coalition.

This screening is March 26 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Princeton Public Library.

On This Week's Enviro-Events Calendar

Two items via the Enviro-Events Calendar - an good source for environmental forums, seminars, workshops,  conferences, educational, social and networking opportunities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware...

February 14, 2017

Horticultural Society of South Jersey presents:

100 Years of Blueberry Cultivation at Whitesbog
7 p.m.

Carmen Tilelli Hall, 820 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Join Rick Prickett from the Whitesbog Preservation Trust talk about the wonderful blueberry and the history of its cultivation. Free and open to the public. For more information, check the website: www.hssj.org or call 856-816-8508. 

February 15, 2017
Creating a habitat for the golden-winged warbler  

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sussex County Library
125 Morris Turnpike A workshop for owners of forestland in northwestern New Jersey will be held at the Sussex County Main Library in Frankford to outline programs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture designed to create habitat for endangered species. Of particular concern is the golden-winged warbler, a small migratory bird that breeds in specific habitat and has seen its population decline by 66 percent since the 1960s, according to the department. A species of concern to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which maintains the national threatened and endangered species lists, the warbler is at the center of other programs and what is known as the Young Forest Initiative. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will outline the technical and financial assistance available to owners of forests. More information here

Running the Long Path: A 350-Mile Journey of Discovery

January 14, 2017 at 1 pm

Running the Long Path:a 350-Mile Journey of Discovery in New York's Hudson Valley

at the Catskill Interpretive Center, Mt. Tremper, NY.

Join Ken Posner for a talk on New York's greatest trail, the 358-mile Long Path which stretches from New York City all the way to Thacher State Park outside Albany, along the way crossing through some of the Hudson Valley's most magical spots including the Palisades, Harriman, Shawangunks, Catskills, and the Schoharie Valley.

 The presentation will feature the history of the Long Path, including the voice of historical figures like Walt Whitman and John Burroughs, landscape images by award-winning photographer Steve Aaron, discussion of planning and gear, and some of Ken's adventures during his 2013 record-setting thru-run of the trail.

Public Meeting About South Jersey Gas Pipeline Project in the Pinelands

January 24, 2017

NJ Pinelands Commission
Public Meeting - South Jersey Gas Pipeline Project  

9:30 am

New Location: Parish Centre, St. Ann's Catholic Church

22 Trenton Road, Browns Mills NJ 08015 

Former location was Ocean Acres Community Center in Manahawkin.

via http://enviro-eventscalendar.blogspot.com

Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities at HPSP

High Point Monument

What's the highest point in New Jersey? That's a really easy question to answer if you know anything about our state parks. It is within High Point State Park in Sussex County, the northernmost of New Jersey’s 40 state parks.

The 15,413-acre High Point State Park is well-regarded for its hiking and skiing trails, as well as locations for camping, fishing and numerous other activities.

Established in 1923 in the state’s Skylands Region, the park also is home to the High Point Monument, the highest point in New Jersey. High Point is the highest elevation in the state at 1,803 feet (550 m).

High Point is the highest peak of the Kittatinny Mountains. Three states – New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania – can be seen from the top.

At the peak is the High Point Monument, a 220-foot (67 m) obelisk, built in 1930 as a war memorial. From the monument, there is a spectacular panorama of hills, valleys, lush farmland and more in the 3 states.

High Point is the site for some activities this month for adults and children. Ranging from storytelling, games and crafts focused on nature during wintertime, to outdoor exploration and trail walks at the park.

Many people stay indoors more in winter, but it can be a great time to get out, explore nature, and enjoy the scenery at our state parks and forests.

To learn more about the programs below or to register, email register.highpointprograms@gmail.com or call (973) 875-1471.

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January 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Nature in Winter Walk: A guide and participants will look for tracks and signs of wintering wildlife, as well as dormant trees, plants, insects and more. A limited number of snowshoes in child and adult sizes are available, and must be reserved by 4 p.m. the Friday before each walk. Use of snowshoes will be weather-dependent. Reservations are required and locations vary. Ages 7 and up.
Fee: $2 per person for the walk, $5 per person to borrow snowshoes

January 12 and 26, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
January 13 and 27, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Fledgling Naturalists: Children’s curiosity will be encouraged through hands-on outdoor activities involving stories, games and crafts. For children ages 3 to 5, with an adult partner. Each adult may bring a maximum of two children, not including infants. Children or siblings over age 5 may not attend. Registration is required by 4 p.m. the day before the program.
Fee: $5 per adult/child pair, $2 for additional children ages 3 to 5.

January 13, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Homeschool Naturalists: Hands-on activities will give homeschooled children an opportunity to explore the natural world and interact with peers. Suggestions for additional study and resources will be provided. Registration is required by noon the day before the program. For children ages 6 to 10 in grades 1-5 with some ability to read and write.
Fee: $5 per child (must be accompanied by an adult)

January 14, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Snow and Ice: Games, crafts and experiments will be utilized to teach families about snow, ice and winter weather. A guide will explain how park wildlife survives frozen temperatures, and participants will be able to cut their own snowflakes. The free program is both indoors and outdoors. Ages 6 and up.


To learn more about High Point State Park, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/highpoint.html

Batsto Village Country Living Fair October 16

Batsto Village, a beautiful historic village within Wharton State Forest, will host the annual Country Living Fair on October 16, 2016, as part of the Village’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The 31st annual Country Living Fair will take place on Sunday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Batsto Village is located on Rt. 542 in Washington Township in Burlington County. The Village, which is listed on both the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, includes more than 40 sites and structures, including the Batsto Mansion, a sawmill, a 19th-century ore boat, a charcoal kiln, ice and milk houses, a carriage house and stable, a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, a gristmill and a general store. The Batsto Post Office, established in 1852, still processes mail with a postmark having no zip code.

The popular fair will provide visitors to the South Jersey historical area with many opportunities to experience the joys of country life from when Batsto was founded in 1766 and right up to the current day. The fair will offer crafts, exhibits, music, old-time engines and cars, food, antiques, pony rides, farm equipment, chain-saw art, quilting, and more authentic South Jersey country attractions.

About the Country Living Fair batstovillage.org/country-living-fair.htm.

Directions to the village batstovillage.org/road-directions.htm

Learn more about Batsto Village batstovillage.org

More about Wharton Stae Forest state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/wharton.html

Passaic River Symposium October 13-14 2016

The seventh Passaic River Symposium on October 13-14, 2016 will be an event featuring and integrating environmental management, watershed science, flood prevention, urban environments, sustainable development, and the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project. 

Registration Deadline: Friday, September 30  

The symposium will include invited keynote speakers and plenary sessions/presentations on all aspects of environmental management challenges relevant to the Passaic River Basin and other regional watersheds. 

The event will be held at Montclair State University.

This conference year will focus on the Record of Decision for the Lower 8.3 Miles of the Lower Passaic River, environmental monitoring results, flooding, storm water management, water quality and water supply, ecosystem restoration, and environmental advocacy and public outreach efforts. Projects in the upper River and tributary watersheds will also play a prominent role in this conference. Together, the Symposium will discuss in the context of how to achieve a vision for a sustainable Passaic River.

MORE INFORMATION   www.csam.montclair.edu/pri/conferences