Kid-Friendly Short Films About NJ Wildlife

From filmmaker Jared Flesher (Hundred Year Films), here are some kid-friendly excerpts from a series he had done called The Creature Show. these are great for kinds who have an interest in the outdoors and NJ wildlife, for kids who don't get many chances to be out in nature, and they would be great for teachers as teaching tools or just as a good story for discussion.

They may be a bit creepy in movies, but bats do a lot of good for us. Do you like mosquitoes? Well, bats love them - to eat!

Check out this kid with Bats in the Bedroom Window and also take a trip to see Bats in the Church Attic.

Do your kids like dogs? What kid doesn't like dogs? Here is a short film where you'll Meet Bear, the Wildlife Detection Dog

You will probably never get the chance to be Releasing a Bobcat into the Wild, but you can in this video. Most kids will never have even seen a bobcat in the wild.

I monitor two local vernal (spring) pools. But in any season, you can watch a trip to see Frog & Salamander Eggs in a Vernal Pool. And you won't get your feet wet.

Snakes are another creepy crawler that gets a bad rap in movies and media. Let's go out in the woods and try Radio Tracking Snakes. Spoiler Alert: they do track and find an endangered corn snake (not poisonous). 

There are more videos on his YouTube channel for kids and adults and on his website at Hundred Year Films

3 Family Friendly Hikes

Here are three easy and family-friendly hike options to do with kids (or kids-at-heart) to close out the summer or into the fall.

The Batsto Lake Trail in Wharton State Forest is a peaceful loop through the Pine Barrens, offering lakeside views and historic buildings in the Village of Batsto. It is 4.1miles and would take a little more than a hour to complete the loop along sandy paths, bog bridges, and pine needle-covered trails along Batso Lake. Wharton State Forest is the largest piece of land managed by New Jersey State Parks. The area was a regional hub for glass and iron manufacturing during the mid-1700s to mid-1800s.

The Fairy Trail at South Mountain Reservation in Essex County is a short and magical walk perfect for kids and curious adults. This is an easy half-mile path inhabited by fairies who have built homes along the trail. The rules help to introduce kids to the principles of Leave No Trace.

Watchung Reservation's White Trail (Union County) goes over gentle terrain with scenic views and historical landmarks. At 2.7 miles, it will take you about an hour, depending on how many stops you make. Of course, like most of these hikes, you can extend the hike by continuing on the white or purple and yellow trails or turn back. Information and directions at Watchung Reservation White Trail. The Reservation also has the Trailside Museum and other trails to explore.

December at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center

Ready for some winter fun? Join the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center staff this December for some winter-themed programs!

Holiday Fly Tying December 4, December 11, December 18
The Holiday Fly is a highly effective fly to tie. No house should be without one and it is guaranteed to catch a smile. This fly also makes an amazing gift for the angler who has everything. Let the staff at the Pequest Natural Resource Education Center walk through the tying process of the fly. At the end, you will then get to take the fly home that you will tie. All tools and materials will be supplied. If you would like to bring your personal tools and vice you are welcome to. There is a $10.00 donation fee to cover materials for this program. For ages 12 years and above. Participants 16 years and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.

December 13 - Nature Nurturers  Winter Sleep – A Hibernation Story@ 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Join us for story and craft time! Each month, Pequest Natural Resource Education Center staff will read a nature-based book. After the story, we will create a craft with you to take home. The program is 45 minutes long. For ages 3-6 years.

December 21 - Winter Solstice Stroll @ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join Pequest Natural Resource Education staff on December 21st for a short hike on the shortest day of the year. We will explore the diverse habitat of the Pequest valley. Bundle up for a 2-mile hike on our trails as we move through woods, fields, and aquatic environments. Who knows what we may find? If the holiday season has you stressed, then a walk in the woods is the perfect way to unwind. We will be outside the entire time so dress appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions. For ages 10 years and above. We will be moving on trails that are not suitable for wheeled conveyances.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/learn-at-pequest/ 

Free Freshwater Fishing Day Saturday October 21

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife has two Free Fishing Days each year. The first was held on June 3 and the second Free Fishing Day will occur after fall trout stocking on October 21, 2023.

On these two days, only residents may fish New Jersey’s public fresh waters without a license or trout stamp. All other regulations, including size and daily catch limits, remain in effect.

It is a great day to get parents and grandparents out with kids to try fishing without needing licenses.

A valid New Jersey fishing license is required for residents at least 16 years and less than 70 years of age (plus all non-residents 16 years and older) to fish the fresh waters of New Jersey, including privately owned waters. Resident anglers age 70 and over do not require a fishing license or Trout Stamp. (license information)

Experience freshwater fishing at its finest, with destinations ranging from the Delaware River and native trout streams to urban ponds and hidden lakes off the beaten path.

For more information, please visit Free Fishing Days at New Jersey Fish & Wildlife

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

Backyard Naturalists

Image by Bessi from Pixabay

We're more than halfway through summer and if your kids are already moaning about school starting and want something to do, how about making them backyard naturalists?

I am always amazed at how many children and adults cannot name the species of the tree in the back or front yard or the kind of flowers growing around their neighborhood or the bird that landed on the deck or the insect flying or crawling nearby.

The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has created online learning resources for learning about our environment. They have some activities for kids to do while exploring, some outdoor Skills to learn and some species identification to help them become more familiar with the natural world.

There are good field guides to all these things and I have noted some below,
but a free, simple starting place can be this page:

nj.gov/dep/fgw/backyard_naturalist.htm

                    

Gateway Program Guide for Spring

It has been a mild winter so far in New Jersey - though March and April often give us some snowy surprises. Still, I'm thinking about spring, ordering seeds and planting some already, so it's also time to think about getting outside for some nature.

Here is the Gateway Program Guide for Spring so that you can Plan Your Visits.  

At Sandy Hook

Searching for Seals

Spermaceti Cove Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)

Sunday, February 23

1 PM - 3 PM

Hike to the Sandy Hook bayside with a park ranger to search for seals during their annual migration and learn about marine mammals that dwell in the waters of Sandy Hook at different times of the year. Reservations required, please call 732-872-5970. ♥ 1 mile. 

Piping Plovers are a protected, endangered species, and you will see barriers in their beach nesting areas. They are among the first migrating shorebirds to return in the spring. (Photo by Shervin Hess)

At Jamaica Bay

Upcoming programs and events at Jamaica Bay

Junior Ranger Owl Prowl-FOR KIDS

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Wednesday, February 19, 1 PM - 2:30 PM

Join a Park Ranger on an owl adventure. Learn about owls and their habitat through a hike and an owl pellet investigation. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Reservation required. Please call 718-318-4340 to reserve a spot.  ♥ 1.7 miles.

Junior Ranger Winter Woodpecker Walk-FOR KIDS

Thursday, February 20,

11 AM -12 PM

Join a ranger on a walk on the trails of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge as we seek out some of winter's noisier but beloved inhabitants... woodpeckers! Learn about the different species that can be spotted at Jamaica Bay while searching for feathered friends and their habitats. Warm up with complimentary cocoa in the Refuge Visitor Center afterwards.  ♥ 1.7 miles.

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Friday, February 21, 2 PM - 3 PM

Missing the outdoors? Come stop by

the Wildlife Refuge to brush up on how you can reduce your impact while enjoying the outdoors. Based on the outdoor ethics of Leave No Trace Inc.(LNT), participants will learn the seven LNT principles to help cultivate your own Outdoor Ethic. Learning activities may be indoor or outdoor, so please dress accordingly.

Late Winter Bird Walk

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Saturday, February 22, 10 AM - 1 PM

Join naturalist Don Riepe for an indoor presentation followed by a hike around the refuge to look for owls, waterfowl, finches, and other wintering birds. Learn how birds and other wildlife survive the winter. For information, call 718-474-0896; e-mail: don@littoralsociety.org. No reservation necessary. Free. Kids welcome.  ♥ 1.7 miles.

Winter Beach Experience at Fort Tilden

Building 1 at Fort Tilden

Sunday, February 23, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM 

The sun, moon and earth should be in position that day to create a notable low tide.  Explore the intertidal zone and "walk the sea floor" with American Littoral Society naturalist Gordon Lam and NYC Botanist Zihao Wang to observe the usually-hidden biological treasures from beyond the tides.   ♥ 2 miles.

At Staten Island

Midwinter Recess - Birds

Great Kills Park

Education

Field Station

Tuesday, February 18 , 12 PM - 2:30 PM

Join us for a walk, art project and indoor workshop identifying local winter birds. Bring snacks and dress appropriately. Reservations required: 718-354-4655 ♥ 2 miles.

Midwinter Recess - Winter Waterfowl Art Contest--FOR KIDS

Great Kills Park

Education Field Station

Wednesday, February 19 

12 PM - 2:30 PM

Join us for a walk and participate in an art competition. Bring snacks and dress appropriately. Reservations required; 718-354-4655. ♥ 2 miles.

Midwinter Recess -Story Hour Programs-FOR KIDS

112 A Mont Sec Avenue  Mont Sec House, Fort Wadsworth                                                                        

11:00 AM

Wednesday, February 19:

Celebrate Black History Month with "Follow the Drinking Gourd"

Thursday, February 20:

Winter Stories

Friday, February 21:

Rhymes and Verses

Celebrate winter with Story Hour programs at historic Mont Sec House during your child's winter break. Each story will be accompanied by a fun craft or activity. For information email

Diane_Wulff@nps.gov

Fort Walking Tour

Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center

Sunday, February 23

2 PM - 3:30 PM

Join us for a 1.5-hour hike at Fort Wadsworth as we explore both the natural areas and the remnants of the former harbor defense system. Inclement weather will cancel the program. Reservations required. Call 718-354-4655. ♥ 2 miles.

Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Team Leader Training

The Division of Fish & Wildlife will host a 2-day Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) leader training May 15-17, 2020, at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education in Ocean County.

HOFNOD is a great way to introduce youth to fishing, their local waters and other natural resources while supporting positive outdoor recreation and life skills.

This workshop is for adult staff and volunteers of youth-centered organizations looking to offer a youth fishing program. The program is flexible enough to be tailored to fit most organizations.

Registration is required and due by May 1, 2020.

For more information about this training, visit the HOFNOD Team Leader Training announcement

National Lighthouse Day and more at Sandy Hook

Today is National Lighthouse Day and at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse from 12 PM - 5 PM they will be joining in honoring the beacons of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. Visit the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and learn about the oldest operating lighthouse in the nation with the long-serving Lighthouse Keeper Samuel P. Jewell (1869-1909). Learn what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper during the 18th Century. Must be 48" or taller to climb the lighthouse. Wear appropriate footwear.

OTHER UPCOMING PROGRAMS - also check the SANDY HOOK PROGRAM GUIDE

Stars of Sandy Hook
Beach Plaza @ Lot E
Thursday, August 8, 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Join STAR and a park ranger to view the night skies. It is the best time of month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is little light in the sky. Bring binoculars and/or telescopes. Free.

Annual Fluke Tagging Trip
American Littoral Society
MIJo II Charters, Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, NJ
Saturday, August 10, 7 AM
Join Jeff Dement, the Society's fish tagging director, for a day of fishing and tagging in New Jersey waters. If you've never tagged fish before, this is a great opportunity to learn from experienced taggers. Cost: $75 for Members/$100 for Non-Members. Cost includes boat ticket, all tackle, bait, and tags. If you have your own tackle, feel free to use it. Space is limited. Contact or call 732-291-0055 X106 for info. Places on the boat are secured when payment is received.

Going Bunkers: Nine Gun Battery
Lot M
Sunday, August 11, 6 PM - 7:30 PM
Explore and tour the north end of Fort Hancock's Nine Gun Battery, the longest gun battery the U.S. Army ever built for harbor defense. When construction began in 1897, the battery was originally intended to mount three 10-inch caliber disappearing guns, but when construction was completed in 1904 an additional six 12-inch caliber disappearing guns were emplaced, creating a nine gun battery that operated until 1944. Free. Call 732-872-5970 to make a reservation.

Ocean Beach Walk
Beach Plaza @ Lot D
June 17 through August 26, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Monday, Tuesday.
Come and take a guided walk with a park ranger along the beach, collecting and identifying some of the ocean's natural treasures. Wear comfortable shoes & sunscreen, and bring binoculars and water.

Canoe Cruise
U.S. Life-Saving Station Parking Lot (between Lot D and Lot E)
June 27 through August 29, 9:15 AM - 12 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Take a two-mile morning paddle to explore Sandy Hook bay from an ideal vantage point-the water itself. Rangers guide you on a two and a half hour tour of the bayside waters and Skeleton Hill Island. Go to www.recreation.govor call 877-444-6777 to make your reservation. Fee-based program. Days vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Junior Ranger
June 27 through August 29, Children ages 7 to 12 years old. Tuesday, Thursday.
See Junior Ranger section located after the calendar listings, for rotating schedule of programs and each location. . Offerings vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Junior Jr. Ranger
June 19 through August 28, 10 AM - 11 AM, Wednesday.
Children ages 3 to 6 years old
See Junior Jr. Ranger section below located after the calendar entries, for rotating schedule of programs and each location. Offerings vary; check listings in Sandy Hook Program Guide.

Horseshoe Crab's Crown

Book illustration by Valentina Gallup

With the New Moon and Full Moons, horseshoe crabs appear on the Delaware Bay shore of New Jersey. At the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a free event on June 9th features the debut of Horseshoe Crab's Crown, a children's book by Heather feather about oceanic friends working together to make a better world.

The American horseshoe crab is not a true crab and is not even a crustacean. It is more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to crabs, shrimps, and lobsters.

Horseshoe crabs have been around for at least 450 million years, making them one of the oldest lineages of animals alive today. They were roaming the seafloor more than 200 million years before dinosaurs existed.

A live reading and puppet show will take place at 1:30 at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It will be followed by a reception from 2-4, where attendees can explore the book making process and see the watercolors up close and personal. Crowns or fancy hats are encouraged.

The exhibit, on the creation of the book, runs for two months. Books on sale at the Wildlife Refuge Store.

Sunday, June 9, 1:30 Reading by the author; 2:00 -4:00 PM Opening reception 1:30

To Rake or Not To Rake

It's time to start raking leaves. Or is it?

Most of us rake up our leaves. Some of us bag them, some can dump them on the roadside and let the town pick them up. Fewer people mulch them. But you might want to consider letting them stay where they fall.

The leaves that fall and stay there in woods (known as leaf litter) are habitat for salamanders, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, worms, and lots of insects that most of can't identify.

Leaves are important for wildlife and there is a cycle of life contained there. If you raked under that fallen forest log, you would be destroying some wildlife.

One species you might find there are the butterflies that find shelter (in the egg, pupal, or adult form) as a protected place to over winter and wait for spring.

Besides shelter, leaves offer food to some invertebrates who in turn help break down the leaves, which feeds the soil.

Deeper piles support spiders but ladybugs, salamanders, toads, and other predators of pest insects (like aphids) are fine with naturally occurring piles.

Of course, I understand if you don't want piles on your front lawn, but consider leaving a pile or two in the backyard corner. When spring comes, you can watch the birds picking through the leaves in search of a natural meal.

And more people are trying out leaving the leaves and using them as mulch or running a mulching mower over them and letting the leaves help the lawn's soil.

Leaving them is not as easy with all the oak leaves that I have in my backyard. Their size and chemicals make them slower to break down than most other deciduous tree leaves. They might form a mat that could actually rot your plants underneath.

Even if you rake your leaves or don't have leaves to clean up, there is the possibility for a good lesson here for kids on what is "alive" in and under those leaf piles.

Check out these sites for information about leaves, raking (or not raking), and leaf pile  wildlife:
agreenhand.com/who-lives-in-the-leaves-great-play-outdoors-fun/
beautifulwildlifegarden.com
healinglandscapes.org
insects.about.com

                 

And don't forget The Lorax  by Dr. Seuss. I wrote a post about that book elsewhere but it's a good environmental stewardship tale for all of us.

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/

Family Fishing Classes at Pequest

Family Fishing Basics classes geared towards families new to fishing are offered at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center this summer.

Topics covered include safety, ethics and casting techniques, followed by actual fishing time on the Pequest Education Pond.

Registration is required and opens two weeks prior to the program date.

All classes begin at 10:30 am and end at 12:30 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, July 17
Thursday, July 26
Friday, August 10
Thursday, August 16
Tuesday, August 21
Thursday, August 27

For more information visit the DFW website at njfishandwildlife.com/budding.htm

Annual Statewide Youth Fishing Challenge and Free Fishing Day Saturday, June 9

Recreational anglers and those new to the pastime can try their hand at freshwater fishing during a statewide challenge and Free Fishing Day, both on Saturday, June 9.

The statewide Free Fishing Day allows anglers of all ages to fish on June 9 without having to buy a license or a trout stamp. Other regulations, including size and daily catch limits, will remain in effect. A second Free Fishing Day is scheduled Oct. 20.

Also on June 9, the city of Trenton is partnering with DEP to host its Youth Fishing Derby from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Stacy Park in Trenton. The free event will be held rain or shine and is open to Trenton youth in grades 2 – 8.

Each child must register in advance to compete in the Trenton derby and be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Trenton’s fishing derby includes a 60-minute fishing derby competition with trophies along with fishing instruction and open fishing for youth; interactive displays, equipment and vehicles related to water quality and aquatic habitats; and free food and drinks for children.

For details about the Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs Program in New Jersey, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/hofnodnj.htm

For a comprehensive list of trout fishing information, including directions to more than 300 trout fishing access points, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo.htm

To learn more about Free Fishing Days, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/ffd.htm

Anglers are urged to respect private landowners who allow fishing on their properties by obeying boundary signs and not littering. Fishing regulations may be found in the Freshwater Fishing Digest at www.njfishandwildlife.com/digfsh.htm

Start 2018 With a First Day Hike

How will you be ringing in the New Year? I don't mean the Eve. I mean that first day. Do you have a resolution to be better about getting out and getting some exercise?

How about joining one of New Jersey's 2018 First Day Hikes? First Day Hikes is a national effort to get people outdoors. Yes, January 1 can be tough to get outside because of the weather and because we are recovering from the night before, but this tradition has gained numbers each year.

The New Jersey State Park Service is hosting 24 guided hikes, 2 mountain bike rides and 1 horseback ride in state parks, forests and historic sites on New Year’s Day as part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes program. 

These free First Day Hikes offer a great incentive to get outside, exercise, experience history, enjoy nature, and celebrate the New Year with friends and family in one of your state parks. 

For all hikes and rides, wear sturdy footgear and bring water and snacks. Check the weather before you leave the house and wear weather-appropriate clothing. Layers are best for exercising in colder temperatures.

One South Jersey biking possibility is the Batsto First Day Mountain Bike Ride in Wharton State Forest. This will be a guided 10-mile unpaved bike trail ride through the New Jersey Pinelands to ring in the New Year. They will meet in the Batsto Village Parking Lot at 11am. Bring your own bike to participate in this event. Registration for this ride is REQUIRED. To register or for more information email Gil Mika at wharton.nature@comcast.net

Need an easier way to get into 2018? I may ease into 2018 with one that is local for me - the Grover Cleveland’s Historical Visit & Hike. You can visit the Grover Cleveland Birthplace and/or join in on an easy/moderate 1.5 walk. The route starts at the Birthplace, proceeds down to and around the Grover Cleveland County Park, then back to the Birthplace. The Birthplace will be open from 11am to 12 noon. The Hike begins at 12 noon.

And there are plenty of options across the state at different levels.

Click the link below to see the list of all the hikes to welcome the New Year!

http://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/first_day_hikes.html

Time for Jersey Summer

It is summer and that means the Jersey Shore, but there is a lot more to do in the Garden State. After you hit the beaches and boardwalks, here are more suggestions from VisitNJ.org.

You don't have to hit a boardwalk to get your thrills because other amusement parks and water parks are throughout the state. 

From our maritime heritage, historic lighthouses along the coastline are scenic and historic. Sandy Hook Lighthouse (Highlands) is the oldest working lighthouse in the country, built in 1764. Check out the lighthouses in New Jersey.

Our Garden State also has hillsides covered in grapevines, so check out our wineries and vineyards. You can enjoy wine tasting in a tasting room and take in the views.

How about cruising gently above NJ in a hot air balloon? I thought I'd be afraid of one of these rides (heights are not my thing) but it was great. No fear! You can also watch them from the ground at the July QuikChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Readington every July.) Watch Video!

I often write here about state parks in New Jersey. They offer swimming and boating, hiking and mountain biking and many state parks, such as Monmouth Battlefield State Park (Manalapan) and Long Pond Ironworks State Park (Hewitt), also have important American history sites.

The state parks are great for mountain bikers but there are plenty of places for mountain bikes or a beach cruising. Take an early morning boardwalk ride or an all-day excursion on the Henry Hudson Trail. Check out some places to ride bike in NJ.

And that brings us to camping. Sitting around the campfire on a cool night beneath a starry sky in one of our campgrounds and RV parks. Here are just a few of our favorite campsites with gorgeous scenery.

In New Jersey we are surrounded by history. There are many free and low cost visit a historic sites for a day trip. We have living history villages such as Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (Morristown) to experience farm life in the early 1900s, or Howell Living History Farm in Lambertville, which also has field, barn and craft programs or just explore the grounds on a self-guided tour.

We have more than 400 publicly accessible lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and many secluded rivers and streams for your fishing trip. That can be a day with the little kids fishing for little fish at a little pond, or aiming for a big, trophy fish on a charter fishing boat to go deep-sea fishing.

Start planning your NJ trip with the FREE travel guide and travel map.


View it online or get a copy mailed directly to your door, see www.visitnj.org

Visiting the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Education Center

If you missed the spring Open House at the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Oxford, NJ, or have never been there, you have plenty of opportunities this summer.

Some people only know Pequest for its state-of-the-art techniques and procedures to produce some 700,000 trout each year for stocking in nearly 200 ponds, streams and lakes throughout New Jersey. But the Pequest facility includes a Natural Resource Education Center for environmental education.

If you visit, you can learn about trout and how they are raised. You can also use the 5,000 acres of state Wildlife Management Area land that surrounds the hatchery for recreational opportunities such as hiking, hunting and bird watching - and fishing opportunities abound in the nearby Pequest River and with programs held at the education pond.

Pequest is open for visitation year-round (hours vary seasonally). The best time to see the hatchery area is  is October through May when all areas of the facility are in operation (May through September, the nursery building is not in use). But the staff and volunteers at Pequest are fully engaged with teaching visitors about a variety of natural resource topics - from fishing to forestry - with the goal that visitors will develop the behaviors and skills necessary to become stewards of wildlife and natural resources.

Educational programs are scheduled year round for groups of all ages.

Upcoming programs for July at Pequest include:

First Saturday Hike
Saturday, July 2 9:00 a.m.

The Fundamentals of Earthworms & Waste Reduction
Saturday, July 9  10:00 a.m.

Vermiculture: The Art & Science of Home-Composting
Sunday, July 10  10:00 a.m.

Family Fishing Basics
Tuesday, July 12  10:30 a.m.

Fly Fishing with Dry Flies
Saturday, July 16  10:00 a.m.

Family Fishing Basics
Saturday, July 16  10:30 a.m.

World of Amphibians
Saturday, July 23  2:00 p.m.

Coldwater Conservation School Day
Sunday, July 24  9:00 a.m.

Family Fishing Basics
Wednesday, July 27
10:30 a.m.

Woodland Animal Tracks
Sunday, July 31  11:00 a.m.

See the detailed schedule and information on registering at www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/budding.htm

For more information on the Pequest Trout Hatchery, visit: www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pequest.htm

Programs and Events at the Pequest Trout Hatchery

The Pequest Trout Hatchery is open seven days a week through October. Take a self-guided tour of the hatchery facility, explore the outdoors on the trails or enjoy for a FREE program! Guided trail hikes, beginner fishing classes, fly fishing classes, bird walks and talks, fish talks and amphibian programs - there's something for everyone! All programs require registration.

 Look what is scheduled so far for May.

First Saturday Hike
Saturday, May 7
9:00 a.m.
Join Wildlife Conservation Corps member and member of the NJ Woodland Stewards Program, John Hooven in a two-mile guided hike on our trail system. Explore animal tracks and evidence and immerse yourself in a variety of different habitats as you explore the Pequest Wildlife Management Area. Open to anyone able to walk 2 miles on moderate trails.

First Saturday Hike
Saturday, May 7
12:00 p.m.
Join Wildlife Conservation Corps member and member of the NJ Woodland Stewards Program, John Hooven in a two-mile guided hike on our trail system. Explore animal tracks and evidence and immerse yourself in a variety of different habitats as you explore the Pequest Wildlife Management Area. Open to anyone able to walk 2 miles on moderate trails.

Take Mom Fishing
Saturday, May 7
10:30 a.m.
Help mom learn the basics of fishing in this hands-on session. Topics will include fish biology and identification, casting techniques, equipment, knot tying and more. Discussions will be followed by an actual trout fishing experience in our Education Pond. This program is geared for ages 8 years and above. Younger children are welcome to participate with direct adult assistance. All equipment is provided for the program. You supply the nightcrawlers. We recommend that at least one adult per family has a fishing license, so come a few minutes early and buy yours at the front desk when you sign in.

Hunter Education
Saturday, May 14
8:00 a.m.
Beat the fall rush and get ready for hunting by taking your Hunter Education class at the hatchery. You must have your completed homework with you at the class and be pre-registered. To register for your class go to www.nj.wildlifelicense.com. After you pass the class, stop by the front desk and buy your hunting license. Youth hunting licenses are free!

Fly Fishing with Streamers
Saturday, May 14
10:00 a.m.
In this course, Wildlife Conservation Corps volunteers Pierre Benoist and Jim Flatley will discuss reading a trout stream, basic knots, fishing streamers and a review of streamer patterns. After the morning discussion, students will get to test their new knowledge on the Education Pond. This program is the second in a series of seven fly fishing/tying classes. Students completing all seven classes will receive a course completion certificate. Those unable to attend all sessions or not wishing to earn a certificate may pick and choose the classes to attend. Students should bring their own equipment if available. Open to anyone 10 years old and above.

All About Bluebirds
Saturday, May 21
1:00 p.m.
Join us and get the scoop on bluebirds! Volunteer Leo Hollein will present his fabulous slide show with fun facts and cool info! Program includes a walk to check out nest boxes! This presentation will cover all aspects of bluebird breeding as well as discussing their nest box competitors and predators. Open to all ages.

Leo is a long time member of NJ Audubon and The Friends of the Great Swamp. He has authored several articles on bluebirds for NJ Audubon magazine and for over 10 years he has coordinated the monitoring of the 140 box bluebird trail in the Great Swamp.

Warbler Walk
Saturday, May 28
9:30 a.m.
Wildlife Conservation Corps volunteer and member of the NJ Bluebird Society, Frank Budney, will lead this discussion and walk as you roam the grounds searching out warblers. Discussion will include why warblers migrate and where they go and where they are from. You will learn to look at distinguishing marks that will help you identify birds in the field and their habitat requirements. Please bring binoculars and a birding field guide if you have one. Open to anyone aged 10 years and above.

Sturgeon
Saturday, May 28
1:00 p.m.
Division employee, Russ Dodge will lead this program on sturgeon. Russ will cover the unique physical and living characteristics of sturgeon and paddlefish, as well as the commercial value of sturgeon (caviar). Most sturgeon species in the US closed to commercial and recreational fishing. Open to all ages.

World of Amphibians
Sunday, May 29
2:00 p.m.
Join us as we learn about the world of amphibians. In this program for adults young and old, we will discover where amphibians came from, how they grow up, and their importance in the ecosystem. Amphibians were some of the first animals in history to move onto land, but they still rely on water for major parts of their life cycle. They are key species in their environments not only because they eat bugs and are eaten by top predators, but they also tell us how healthy their environment is. Then, once we learn all of these amazing things about amphibians, we'll go meet some in person at Pequest's own muck pond! Please bring nets if you have them and boots that can get wet.

Presented by Allegra Mitchell, Wildlife Conservation Corps. Allegra completed a Bachelor's degree in Conservation Biology and a Master's degree in Biology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her Master's degree work on amphibian locomotor performance as it relates to habitat preference is being published in the scientific journal, Functional Ecology. She has led and assisted in multiple research projects on herpetofauna and other groups of species, both domestically and abroad. Allegra also educated her fellow students in herpetology as a teaching assistant at her university. She now shares her knowledge of amphibians through symposia presentations and through volunteering with educational programs in her home state of New Jersey. She is passionate about amphibian conservation and carries this mission with her as she begins her career in wildlife biology.

For the full program schedule visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/budding.htm

NJ WILD Outdoor Expo September 12-13

The NJDEP's sixth annual NJ WILD Outdoor Expo will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, at the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.

This family event is designed for visitors to discover new ways to appreciate and enjoy New Jersey's great outdoors. Participants can try a many of the outdoor activities available within the state's forests, parks and natural areas such as fishing, kayaking, hiking, shooting sports, rock climbing, camping skills, compass navigation and wildlife watching. Demonstrations of sporting and tracking dogs, historical re-enactments, SCUBA dives, reptiles and raptors, turkey calling, nature photography and much more await.

Admission and parking are free. All activities are free with the exception of a $3 fee to use the climbing wall.

For more information visit http://www.wildoutdoorexpo.com

This Fossil Shark Is Safe

"Cretaceous Shark Teeth" by Wilson44691 Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

It is Discovery Channel's Shark Week once again and sharks will get a lot of good and bad attention. The Shark Research Institute in Princeton is offering a safe way to engage with sharks that will not be threatening at all. Hunt for fossilized shark teeth.

Kids and adults can join experts from the Shark Research Institute and the American Littoral Society this Saturday, July 11, and wade into the Big Brook in Middletown to sift for ancient shark teeth.

Sharks continually shed their teeth; some Carcharhiniformes shed approximately 35,000 teeth in a lifetime, as well as replace them by producing thousands of more. There are four basic types of shark teeth: dense flattened, needle-like, pointed lower with triangular upper, and non-functional. The type of tooth that a shark has depends on its diet and feeding habits.

In some geological formations, shark's teeth are a common fossil and  they are often the only part of the shark to be fossilized. The most ancient types of sharks date back to 450 million years ago, during the Late Ordovician period, and are mostly known by their fossilized teeth. However, the most commonly found fossil shark teeth are from the Cenozoic era (the last 66 million years).

The shallow water (about 18 inches deep) of the Big Brook sediments were deposited during the Late Cretaceous 100 to 66 million years ago when modern sharks began to appear on Earth.


INFO
9:30 a.m. to noon, July 11. $5 for adults, kids are free. Call 609-921-3522 to sign up.
Future shark teeth hunts at Big Brook are 5:30 p.m., July 30 and 9:30 a.m. to noon, August 15.