190 Lord Stirling Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ • 908 766-2489

A guide to the seasonal programs offered at the Environmental Education Center is published in January, May, and September each year by the Courier News, and mailed to individuals on our mailing list. If you wish to be added to our list, you may call the Center at 908 766-2489. Please be aware that program maximum enrollment is met quickly; we advise you register as soon as possible in accordance with the registration dates.

Programs are age-range specific in order to ensure full enrichment for each child. The child must be the minimum age and no older than the maximum age listed on the date the program is offered. We appreciate your cooperation.

Crafty with Nature
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
For centuries nature has been the inspiration for artist. Bring your young artist to these classes and let their creative juices flow as they make art with nature. Paint, clay, and leaves will be a few of the mediums we will use to create masterpieces. Every month will have different crafts.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51446

Tree Time
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Trees can be tall, trees can be tan, can you tell which tree is which? Take a walk with a Naturalist to discover the differences between the trees that surround us. Collect leaves from each tree and create your own tree ID book to take home.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51342

Spring Squishers
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
It’s raining, it’s pouring! But we are not snoring, we are squishing! Don your rain boots and get ready to get muddy! We will take a walk out to one of our fantastic ponds in Lord Stirling Park to investigate what is happening down in the slippery-slimy mud. A sweet “mud” treat will be part of the fun.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51208

Animal Dance
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Mating season has begun and the animals are busy dancing. Learn why animals dance and try practicing some of their moves. We will look at the costumes some animals wear for their dances and create one of your own. Put on your groove and come dance the morning away!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51276

Tree House Gang
(Ages 3-5)
Bring your little ones to the Environmental Education Center for fun science and nature programming. These afternoon classes will enhance learning by going outside for hikes, hands-on activities, meeting live animals, and creating one cool craft to take home at the end of the month. Each month has a different theme. A snack is provided, and please dress for the weather.
$50 for 3 day session per person
$65 for 4 day session per person
$75 for 5 day session per person
Course Code: 51488

Who’s Awake? Me, too!
(Ages 4-6 with parent)
Come learn about who’s awake in the forest on these early evening walks. We will start off with a brief story inside and then head out for a brief walk outside.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51264

Darling Dragons and Dainty Damsels!
(Ages 4-6 with parent)
Have you ever wondered what was swimming with the fishes and spying on the frogs? Join a Naturalist to get to the bottom of this often asked question and find out how fun it is to play in swamp water. Not for the faint of heart! Just kidding. Program includes a story and outdoor exploration.
$15 per pair/$8 per additional child
Course Code: 51416

After School Antics
(Ages 4-6)
Are you looking for something to do after school? Well, the Environmental Education Center can make your boring afternoon turn into a ton of fun! Come to one or come to all! A variety of organized games and activities will take place for you to burn off that school energy!
$6 per person
Course Code: 51455

Spring Squishers
(Ages 7-9)
Please refer to program description listed under ages 3-5 with parent. (page 19)
$10 per person
Course Code: 51208

Critter Care
(Ages 10-12)
This program is all about taking care of the Environmental Education Center’s critter collection. We will go throughout the building to see and feed the various frogs, fish, spiders, and other unusual creatures that live at the Environmental Education Center. Lots to learn and lots to see!
$9 per person
Course Code: 51478

Tot Trek
(Ages infant-3 with parent)
Get your strollers ready and your sturdy shoes tied up tight! We will head out on the trails of Lord Stirling Park for a brisk walk, with breaks here and there for a snack, a story, and to admire the natural world.
$15 per pair/$8 per additional child
Course Code: 51214

Small Wonders
(Ages infant-5 with parent)
Join a Naturalist for a walk in the fields and woods of Lord Stirling Park. We will be looking for all the colors of the rainbow and signs of animal activity. Strollers welcome.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51074

Mini-Mammals
(Ages 2-3 with parent)
Small mammals are not only cute but fascinating creatures. Through activities, crafts, and stories your child will learn about special mini-mammals.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51420

Animal Babies
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Come find out how animal parents raise animal babies! Play some games and do some role playing. Look through pictures, read a story, make a craft or look for real animal babies on a hike. The possibilities are endless and full of fun!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51095

June Bugs
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Kids will explore the trails searching for those cool critters that make some of us jump, squeal, and run! Program will include outdoor activities and insect games.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51373

Adapt-Abilities
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Why do some animals have big ears? How do animals use their tails? Animals have many adaptations and for many reasons! You will not want to miss all the fun in this program! $10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51223

Twice is Nice
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
What do you do with all those old itty-bitty crayon pieces that are lying around? Bring them to class and learn the secret of making bigger and better recycled ones! We will also make some recycled paper and while our “new paper” is drying, we will play with our “brand new” crayons. Please feel free to bring a snack with you.
$20 per pair/$10 per additional child
Course Code: 51226

Creative Chameleon
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Chameleons sure are creative animals! With all the color changing what do they really look like? Meet a Naturalist to find out! Make a craft, read a story, and have some fun!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51483

Get Into Shapes
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
The outside world is full of shapes - circles, stars, and squares. Let us go for a walk in the Swamp to find the shapes of nature in a flower, a tree, and the sky.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51534

Serpentine of Mine
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Do not let snakes make you hiss-terical. The Swamp is home to a wide diversity of reptile species and none of them are venomous. In fact, they play an important role in the ecology of Lord Stirling Park. Join us for a walk where we seek out the snakes in the grass and elsewhere.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51535

Sweeping the Fields
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Head out to our fields where the grasses may be taller than you. Many animals depend on the field habitat to survive. Learn about the insects that live in the fields while trying to catch some of them. See what other animals come to the fields to find their food. It will be a grassy hour of fun.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51309

Beautiful Bugs
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Bugs, bugs, and more bugs. What is an insect? Where can we find them? Go on an insect hunt, make a craft, and read a story!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51381

Bird in the Nest
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
A parent’s job is never done, even if you are a bird! Let us take a walk around Lord Stirling Park to search for birds and their nests. Games and a craft will help us to learn.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51511

Nectar Sippers
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Summertime blooms are a sweet treat for the critters who find their food in flowers. Learn which animals drink nectar and what tools they use.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51290

Marvelous Marine Life
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Marine life is amazing! Who lives in freshwater? Who lives in saltwater? Are there plants, birds, mammals, and/or reptiles that depend on the water? Discover what you did not already know about the world’s aquatic ecosystems!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51389

Night Time Happenings
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
As the sun sets and the moon rises, the forest begins to come alive. Come discover what it means to be nocturnal and learn about who is awake while we are asleep.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51221

Rock n’ Roll
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
Rocks, rocks, and more rocks! Rock out with a Naturalist to learn all about rocks, play some rock games, and make a rockin’ craft!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51337

Crafty with Nature
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
For centuries nature has been the inspiration for artists. Bring your young artist to these classes and let their creative juices flow as they make art with nature. Paint, clay, and leaves will be a few of the mediums we will use to create masterpieces.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51446

Thriving Thursday - NEW
(Ages 3-5 with parent)
It is all about the letter “T.” Time to tinker with tons of totally terrific “t” things! Tortoises, tadpoles, tarantulas, and tigers galore!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51584

Tree House Gang
(Ages 3-5)
Bring your little ones to the Environmental Education Center for fun science and nature programming. These afternoon classes will enhance learning by going outside for hikes, hands-on activities, meeting live animals, and creating one cool craft to take home at the end of the month. Tree House Gang begins in September and continues until May 2011; each month having a different theme. Bring a snack and dress for the weather.
$50 per person
Course Code: 51488

Natirar Hijinks Hike - NEW
(Ages 4-6 with parent)
Join a Naturalist on the newly opened trail in this premier park. In celebration of summer, kids will engage in games, go on a nature scavenger hunt, and revel in cooling down activities while walking through the fields and forests of Natirar. Bring plenty of water and pack a picnic lunch for afterward. The large shade trees and rolling green hills await you!
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51590

Into The Wind: Kites at Duke Island
(Ages 4-6 with parent)
Kite flying is great fun and it is easy to harness the wind’s energy. After you make your own kite, we will join in the fun. Using parachutes, weather vanes, wind socks, soap bubbles, and other wind driven things, we will discover all the fun science the wind can teach us.
$15 per pair/$8 per additional child
Course code: 51466

Hoots & Howls -NEW
(Ages 4-6 with parent)
Join a Naturalist for an early autumn walk in the forest and fields as the sun sets and the full moon rises.
$10 per pair/$5 per additional child
Course Code: 51589

June Bugs
(Ages 4-6)
Please refer to program description listed under ages 3-5 with parent.
$9 per person
Course Code: 51373

Cool Colors
(Ages 4-6)
Colors surround us! Search the gardens and trails for unique colors. Make water color paint from scratch and paint your most colorful picture ever! Pack a snack for a break in the middle!
$14 per person
Course Code: 51484

Down Under
(Ages 4-6)
What’s happening right underneath your feet? With the right tools you will find lots of creatures. After a hike, we will venture down onto the forest floor.
$9 per person
Course Code: 51467

Morning with a Naturalist
(Ages 4-6)
Mom and Dad, do you want a few hours off? Just drop your little ones off at the Environmental Education Center and we will entertain them for a morning. A nature hike will start our day, tone it down with a snack and story, play a few games, and finish with creative crafts.
$20 per person
Course Code: 51312

Raindrops to Rainbows
(Ages 4-6)
Rainbows always seem to appear magically in the sky after a rainstorm! Join us as we explore how, when, and why rainbows form. We will experiment with the color spectrum and prisms as we discover the recipe for a rainbow.
$10 per person
Course Code: 51521

What Flies in July?
(Ages 4-6)
You might be tempted to say “mosquitoes and moths”, but there are so many more things that hit the skies in July. It is a race to find the most fabulous flying things! Insects, birds, kites, planes - how many can you find? A flying craft included. $10 per person
Course Code: 51473

Dinosaur Daze
(Ages 4-6)
Are you dazed about dinosaurs? Then this class is for you! Information, games, and activities will all be focused on these magnificent ancient creatures!
$9 per person
Course Code: 51474

Imagination Station
(Ages 4-6)
Nature deficit disorder is starting to affect this generation! Allow your child time with a Naturalist to just “play” outside! Children will hike the trails to an inspiring location and create their own outdoor games and activities. Maybe they will build a fort, maybe they will become critters of the woods; only their imaginations can decide! Remember to pack a snack and water in a backpack!
$12 per person
Course Code: 51485

Marshmullers-Tadpoles
(Ages 4-6)
This three-day program of activities directs the curiosity of the child to the world of plants and animals. The purpose is to nurture a feeling of respect for all life. Each day's activities will include expeditions to the forest, field or pond. Craft projects, games, and stories will also be included.
$40 per person
Course Code: 51231

Katydid Kids
(Ages 4-6)
"Here a bug…there a bug...everywhere a bug, bug!" Bugs and insects are some of the most amazing creatures on Earth. Learn about these bizarre critters through crafts, stories, and games as we explore their homes, habitats, and lives. This will be the buggiest day of your lives!
$15 per person
Course Code: 51238

Birth of a Butterfly
(Ages 4-6)
Ever wonder how in the world a little, tiny caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly? Well, the secret is out as we explore and study the lifecycle of butterflies. Class will include a story, craft, and a field walk.
$10 per person
Course Code: 51520

Don’t Eat Me! - NEW
(Ages 4-6)
Why does that plant have spikes and why are those frogs brightly colored? Come learn the answers to these questions as we check out some amazing adaptations that plants and animals have to defend themselves from predators. Keep a good eye open in this program as these creatures might be in your own backyard!
$6 per person
Course Code: 51585

Camping In and Out
(Ages 4-6)
Have an entire weekend camping trip in one afternoon. We will pack our gear, pitch our tent, tell some stories around the ‘campfire’, and make S’mores. Bring a sleeping bag or blanket!
$15 per person
Course Code: 51227

Let’s Get Batty - NEW
(Ages 7-9)
Holy cow, Batman - bats are amazing mammals!! They fly with wings, eat tons and tons of insects, and they hibernate too. Come learn all about our bat friends that live in New Jersey. We will play some bat games and make bat crafts.
$10 per person
Course Code: 51595

Mad Scientist Club
(Ages 7-9)
If your child yearns to experiment with the world, they will enjoy this series of programs. The Mad Scientist Club is 90 minutes of hands-on science. The young scientist will have hands full of fun!
$12 per person
Course Code: 51567

Afternoon with a Naturalist
(Ages 7-9)
Here is a way that Mom and Dad can get a few hours off. Just drop your little darlings at the Environmental Education Center and we will entertain them for an afternoon. We will start with a nature hike, tone it down with a snack and story, play a few games, and finish with creative crafts.
$25 per person
Course Code: 51241

Bird Beak Bonanza
(Ages 7-9)
Just in case you have not noticed, bird beaks come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Each bird beak is specifically designed to eat different foods. We will use some household items and food to help us pretend to have bird beaks and learn all about these wonderful birdie adaptations!
$10 per person
Course Code: 51522

Weather Wonders - NEW
(Ages 7-9)
You may have wondered why June is so rainy and July is so hot. Work together with a Naturalist on a weather scavenger hunt and figure out how weather affects everything around us! Along with the scavenger hunt you will partake in some neat weather experiments!
$6 per person
Course Code: 51586

Lovable Lepidoptera
(Ages 7-9)
These amazing six-legged creatures with two pair of wings (some brightly colored, others bland with the ability to blend in) fly gracefully through the sky, skipping, gliding, and fluttering. Some lay their eggs and die; others travel thousands of miles to mate another day. Come observe these natural wonders up close and in person, as we search for some lovable Lepidoptera.
$9 per person
Course Code: 51464

Critter Care
(Ages 10-12)
This program is all about taking care of the Environmental Education Center’s critter collection. We will go throughout the building to see and feed the various frogs, fish, spiders, and other unusual creatures that live at the Environmental Education Center. Lots to learn and lots to see!
$9 per person
Course Code: 51478

The Green Team
(Ages 13-15)
o you need to fulfill your community service requirement for school? Is natural science a subject you find interesting? Do you like the outdoors? Is the Great Swamp a place you like to visit? If so, join us at the Environmental Education Center for educational and fun volunteering opportunities. Pre-registration is required.
FREE
Course Code: 51438

MOST CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED OUTSIDE,
SO PLEASE DRESS ACCORDINGLY

    • Program Registration Application (pdf)
    • Monthly Newsletter (pdf)  
    • 2010 Calendar (pdf)  

PROGRAM OFFERINGS
    • Program Registration Information & Locations
    • Educational Public Programs for Children
    • Educational Public Programs for Adults & Families
    • Garden Discovery Tours
    • Canoe & Kayak Programs & Trips
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Birthday Parties
    • School Group Programs
    • Scouts/Other Group Programs
    • Maple Sugaring

  summer two-week sessions
    • Eco-Explorers
    • Awesim Kids

 PARK FEATURES
   • Special Events
    • Exhibits
    • Workshops
    • Family Program Series
    • Trips
    • Library
    • Trails
    • Natural History Book & Gift Shop
    • Room Rental

E-mail the EEC any questions or comments