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2013 Special Events at the Environmental Education Center
The following annual events are conducted at the Environmental Education Center. The EEC is located at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. For directions, please click here. For additional information, please call the EEC at 908 766-2489.
Nature Through a Child’s Eye
This annual children’s environmental art exhibit features Somerset County kindergartners through sixth graders who have expressed their love of our natural world, our environment, and our Earth through their artwork.
FREE
January 2 – January 27, 2013
9:00am-4:30pm except Martin Luther King Day
Maple Sugaring
Maple sugaring is a tradition in the Northeast that began centuries ago with the Native Americans and colonists. People of all ages are invited to see this tradition brought to life at the Environmental Education Center (EEC). You will see how trees are tapped, view sap-collecting methods past and present, and see the boiling process that produces delicious New Jersey maple syrup. This 90-minute program is conducted at our Sugar Shack, a ½-mile hike from the EEC. Please arrive at the EEC 20-30 minutes before the program start time. Organized groups (such as schools) may schedule weekday demonstrations by calling the EEC at 908 766-2489, ext. 332.
FREE
February 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24
March 2, 3, 9, 10
Saturdays - 10:00am, Noon, and 2:00pm
Sundays - Noon and 2:00pm
Project E.A.R.T.H – Swamp Search!
Join us for an exciting scavenger hunt on the Environmental Education Center trails to learn about the importance of the Great Swamp as an ecological and recreational resource. Enjoy environmental activities and games for children of all ages. Try your "eco-skills" on our scavenger hunt and participate in cool activities that promote positive environmental actions for everyone. Then return to the EEC for a special program with live butterflies to celebrate Earth Awareness Month. See the Family Program Series for more information. This is a rain or shine event – please call the EEC for scavenger hunt status in case of inclement weather.
FREE
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Noon-4:30pm
April - Earth Awareness Month
ECO-RALLY! (PDF)
April 1 – April 15, 2013
Sign up as an individual or as a team of friends, families,
scout groups, co-workers, sports teams, etc. All are welcome to enter! Receive a daily log and record the simple tasks you complete to minimize your carbon footprint! Tasks may include, but are not limited to:
• Turn the lights off when you leave a room
• Ride your bike or walk instead of driving
• Use reusable bags when shopping
• Plant a native plant garden or tree
• Use reusable containers when bringing a lunch
to work or school
Then create a display of posters, pictures, etc. showing your contribution to the environment! Awards will be given for:
"Most Creative Display", "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle",
"Water Conservation", "Green Thumb", & "
Energy Conservation"
See the awards on display and have fun for the day
by attending the Swamp Search on Sunday, April 28!
To request an application or for
further information regarding
the Eco-Rally please contact
908-766-2489 ext.334 or
e-mail mrossi@scparks.org
The County Caper
The County Caper is a one day game that takes families and friends on an interactive tour of Somerset County parks and facilities. It is designed to encourage everyone to explore, learn, and protect our parks and other natural areas. Sunday, August 25, 2013 is the date to remember for this special event open to everyone with a yearning to discover all Somerset County has to offer. Pre-registration is required.
FREE
Course Code: 51492
EEC-5 Sunday, August 25
8:00am-5:00pm
The County Caper Accelerated!
The County Caper Accelerated! is a one day game that takes adults on an interactive tour of Somerset County parks and facilities. Challenge your mental and physical capabilities while completing fun tasks throughout the day as your team races against the clock. Saturday, August 24, 2013 kicks off this exciting event for those who crave adventure in their own backyard. Pre-registration is required.
FREE
Course Code: 51597
EEC-3 Saturday, August 24
8:00am-4:00pm
The Lord Stirling 1770s Festival
Return to the past and experience daily colonial life and craft industry at the annual Lord Stirling 1770s Festival. Colonial craftspeople ply their trades while a Town Crier announces the local news. A Revolutionary War Military detachment
camps on the former estate lawn of Lord Stirling and conducts maneuvers. Stroll the grounds of "The Buildings" and tour Lord Stirling's personal 1762 wine cellar. The Lord Stirling 1770s Festival also features displays of authentic artifacts discovered on site by our archeological field project. Children of all ages enjoy the hayrides, clay crafts, stenciling, tin piercing, and colonial games. Experience what life was like here in the fall of 1770 and learn about our local Revolutionary War hero, Lord Stirling. Craft sales are prohibited to ensure an enjoyable and educational living history event. Snacks, lunch, and cold drinks are available.
Suggested donation: $5 per person
Sunday, October 6, 2013
10:30am-4:30pm
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2013 Special Events at Lord Stirling Stable
The following events are held at the Lord Stirling Stable. The Stable is located at 256 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge. For directions, please click here. For additional information, please call the Stable at 908 766-5955.
30th Annual Family Fun Day (co-sponsored by the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable)
May 5
Games on horseback are the centerpiece of this fun-filled day at Lord Stirling Stable, but that's not all we've got! Free pony rides and hayrides make horses accessible to everyone; local vendors offer their specialties for sale; and child-friendly arcade games ensure that everyone is a winner. The Friends have food and beverages available for purchase, so bring the kids, bring your appetite, and enjoy a day on the farm.
8am – 4pm
Lord Stirling Stable, Basking Ridge
908 766 5955
Rebel the Pony's Special Event
August 18
Join Rebel and his friends for free lead line pony rides, hayrides, and other special activities at Lord Stirling Stable.
10am – 4pm
Lord Stirling Stable, Basking Ridge
908 766 5955
Private Horse Hunter Pace (Co-sponsored by Friends of Lord Stirling Stable)
September 8
Open to private horse owners. The 6-8 mile marked course includes 30+ jumps, all with ample room to bypass for riders who prefer to stay on the flat. Ribbons will be awarded in Junior, Open, Senior, Hilltopper, and Family divisions.
Fee: $30 per Junior rider (under 18 years of age), $35 per Adult
Teams depart between 9am – 1pm
Lord Stirling Stable, Basking Ridge
908 766-5955
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2013 Special Events at
Leonard J. Buck Garden
The following events are conducted at Leonard J. Buck Garden. Buck Garden is located at Layton Road in Far Hills. For directions, please click here. For additional information, please call Buck Garden at 908 234-2677.
Art and Photography Exhibit
February 25 – March 15 – Free to public
10am – 4pm, Monday – Friday only
Showcasing the four seasons at Leonard J. Buck Garden, this exhibit will feature photographs, paintings, and drawings of Buck Garden. See the garden’s many faces through the works of talented artists and photographers. This exhibit will be held at the Leonard J. Buck Garden Visitor Center .
Pruning Fundamentals
March 20 9am – 11am
Fee: $12
Is that shrub in your backyard getting too big? Do you want to prune it yourself, but need some guidance? Then join the Buck Garden staff to learn basic pruning techniques used in the Garden. Proper pruning tools will be discussed. There will be an outdoor presentation, weather permitting. So please dress appropriately for outdoor activities.
Preregistration required.
Garden Photography Workshop 1
April 17 9am – 11:30am
Fee: $35 per person
A Flower & Landscape Photography Class is offered to beginner and intermediate photography enthusiasts by professional photographer Brien Szabo of Nature Images, Inc. This class will involve technical instruction in the Buck Garden Visitor Center followed by outdoor photography of plant close-up and landscape scenes. The workshop is designed for both digital and film photographers. Pre-registration required, space limited.
Spring Plant Sale & Earth Day Celebration
April 27 & 28
Free to Public
Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 12pm – 5pm
Enhance your garden with some spectacular new plant treasures, and help us celebrate Earth Day. Weekend highlights include a plant sale featuring many choice selections of perennials, ferns and woody plants, inspiring garden lectures, and guided tours of this magnificent naturalistic rock garden. This event is co-sponsored with Watnong Chapter North American Rock Garden Society.
Flower & Landscape Photography II Alternative Approaches
May 8 9am – 11:30am
Fee $35
This class will involve technical instruction focusing on alternative approaches to flower and landscape photography. We’ll explore the abstract side of photography from multiple exposure images, using filters, blur techniques and more. This class will include a lecture and shooting session in the garden. The workshop will be taught by Brien Szabo at Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills. The class is designed for all levels of digital and film photographers. Pre-registration is required.
MAKE A HYPERTUFA MINI-TROUGH
May 10, 10am – 11:30am
Fee: $30.00
Hypertufa is a handmade material which resembles "tufa" a rugged volcanic rock used to make Planting troughs. These containers are especially suited rock garden plants. You will make your own hypertufa mini-trough and receive instructions for curing it at home. Wear work clothes as the process is messy. We will also take a walk through the garden to see the different hypertufas on display. Workshop fee includes the cost of supplies. Pre-registration required. Enrollment limited to 10.
Upcycling: Repurposing Pallets as Planters (NEW PROGRAM)
June 8
Upcycling is the process of converting useless materials into useful products, and the staff at Back to Nature Home and Garden have great ideas on how to reuse and upcycle. This new and popular demonstration on reusing wood shipping pallets will teach you the ins and outs on how to create your own decorative garden, pallet planter. An instructor from Back to Nature will teach the group how to successfully assemble functional and innovative containers.
10am – 11:30am
Fee: $18
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
908 234-2677
The Secret Life of Trees
June 29
This program at Buck Garden designed for children 9 – 11 years of age is all about trees. The goal is to develop an interest and appreciation of trees by observing them in their everyday lives. Activities will include; bark rubbing; leaf tracing; and ring counting. A discussion of the important role trees play in our lives will conclude the session. Parents are welcome to attend and/or enjoy a walk through the garden.
Enrollment limited to 10 children. Rain or shine
9am – 11am
Fee: $12
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
908 234-2677
MAKE YOUR OWN SCARECROW
September 28
Our friends from Back to Nature will teach you how to make your own scarecrow, perfect for the harvest season. Bring long pants, one long-sleeved shirt and pillow case. Feel free to add any other trimmings, such as hats and scarves. We will supply the leaves and stakes. A great class for
the family! Pre-registration required.
10am-11:30am
Fee: $18.00
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
908 234-2677
Make a Hypertufa Mini-Trough
October 4
Hypertufa is a handmade material which resembles "tufa," a rugged volcanic rock used to make planting troughs. These containers are especially suited for small rock garden plants. You will make your own hypertufa mini-trough and receive instructions for curing it at home. Wear work clothes as the process can be messy. We will also take a walk through the Garden to see the different large hypertufa troughs on display. Workshop fee includes the cost of supplies. Pre-registration is required.
Enrollment is limited to 10 participants.
10 – 11:30 a.m.
Fee: $30
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
908 234-2677.
Art in the Garden - Watercolors in the Garden
October 17
Nature and wildlife artist Beatrice Bork will lead a one-day class at Leonard J. Buck Garden to capture the garden's beauty on paper. Students will be guided in choosing a location when painting outdoors, paint application, mixing colors, composition, and how to create a finished watercolor painting. Basic drawing skills are recommended. Call for art supply list and bring your lunch. Ms. Bork, internationally known nature and wildlife artist, has received many special achievements and awards during her career. Pre-registration is required. Rain Date 10/18/13.
Fee: $35 per person
9:30am – 3pm
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
908 234-2677
Flower & Landscape Photography – Autumnal Brilliance
October 23
While each season in Buck Garden has its own special qualities, none are quite as spectacular as the colors of the trees and shrubs in the fall. Lecture and field session will cover the use of light, composition, landscape photography, close-ups, and how to find the right picture. The workshop will be taught by Nature Photographer Brien Szabo. The class is designed for all levels of digital and film photographers. Pre-registration is required.
Fee: $35 per person
9am – 11:30am
Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
908 234-2677
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2013 Special Events at Colonial Park Gardens
The following programs/events will be conducted in the Colonial Park Gardens in Franklin Township. For additional information, please call 732 873-2459 ext. 21 or the NJ Relay Service at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. Programs that have a fee require pre-registration. All programs are rain or shine, unless otherwise noted. If you have individualized needs due to a disability, please call the Therapeutic Recreation Department at 908 526-5650 and we will be happy to arrange reasonable accommodations. Three weeks notice is required to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be provided.
ROSE PRUNING WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 9, 2013, 9 – 11am (rain date: March 16)
Fee: $12 per person (limit 30 people)
This combination lecture and hands-on workshop presented by the Horticulture staff will give you all the basics you need to help ensure a season of healthy roses in your garden. Bring your leather gloves and pruning equipment, and remember to dress warmly. The program will be held in the Rose Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A. (click here for flier)
SPRING PRUNING DEMONSTRATION
Saturday, April 6, 2013, 9 – 11am (rain date: April 13)
Fee: $12 per person (limit 30 people)
Do you want to prune the shrubs in your backyard, but don't know where to start cutting? Then join the Horticulture staff at the Colonial Park Gardens as they demonstrate and discuss the basic pruning techniques and proper tools used for pruning. Please dress for the weather as this will be an outdoor presentation. The program will be held in the Arboretum in Colonial Park, Parking Lots A and F. Please meet at the entrance to the Rose Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A. (click here for flier)
39TH ANNUAL ROSE DAY
Saturday, June 8, 2013, 10am – 3pm
Free (Suggested donation of $3 per adult and $1 per senior or child)
Rose Day celebrates peak bloom in the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A. This award-winning All-America Rose Selections display garden features more than 3,000 roses representing over 325 different varieties. Horticulture staff and members of the Jersey Shore Rose Society will be available to answer questions. It is a day to stroll through the garden and attend free lectures focusing on roses and rose care.
FLOWER & GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Saturday, June 15, 2013, 9 – 11:30am
Fee: $35 per person (limit: 12 people)
Experience the Rose Garden with your camera like never before. Join professional photographer Brien Szabo for a brief lecture then hands on adventure in creating stunning flower images and garden landscape photographs. You will be immersed in both creative and technical approaches that are aimed at improving your photography or simply giving you alternative ideas to help spark your own creativity. This class is aimed at all levels of photography. Every participant will have the opportunity to work one on one with the instructor. The program will he held in the Horticulture Building, next to the Rose Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A
14TH ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY
Saturday, July 20, 2013, 11am – 3pm
Free (Suggested donation of $3 per adult and $1 per senior or child)
The Garden Party will feature lectures, workshops, and Horticulture staff to answer questions. Plants and complimentary refreshments will also be available. Music will round out a beautiful summer's day in the park. The program will be held in the Perennial Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot F.
AUTUMN IN THE PERENNIAL GARDEN
Saturday, September 7, 2013, 9 – 11am
Fee: $12 per person (limit 30 people)
Fall is almost here and the Perennial Garden is at its peak. Join the Horticulture staff for a field study of fall blooming perennials. We will discuss plant care and gardening techniques as well as answer your gardening questions as we stroll through the garden. The program will be conducted in the Perennial Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot F.
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2013 Special Events in the Parks
Duke Island Walkers
January 2, 2013
Start the New Year by joining our weekly walking program that will meet at the Duke Island Visitor Center every Wednesday morning at 9:30am beginning January 5, 2010. Warm up with coffee, tea, and refreshments following the walk. For more information, call the Recreation Department at 908 722-1200 ext. 226.
National Trails Day
June 1
Come celebrate National Trails Day and help us maintain the beautiful trails of Washington Valley Park. Rain date is June 2.
Free
Washington Valley Park, Bridgewater
908 231-0802 ext.22
Friday Nights at the Drive-in Movies
July 12, 19, and 26
Travel back in time with drive-in movies just like in the 50's - complete with large screen and popcorn.
Free
8:30pm
Duke Island Park, Bridgewater
908 722-1200 ext. 351
Mischief Night Madness - Colonial Park Putting Course
October 25 (Raindate - October 26)
Enjoy a game of miniature golf with the ghouls. Wear your costume and get a free goodie bag. Free cider and donuts along with moonlight hay rides, spooky tales from the witch's cauldron, and a Park Ranger guided night hike.
Fees: $10 per family, $8 for two ghostly golfers
4pm - 9pm
Colonial Park Putting Course, Franklin
908 722-1200 ext. 226
"Adopt-A-Boulder" and sourland smackdown bouldering competition
Saturday, April 20, 2013 9am - Volunteer Day
Sunday, April 21, 2013 9am - Bouldering Competition
Sourland Mountain Preserve, Parking Lot, East Mountain Road
Join us for something completely different. Even if you have never heard of
"bouldering," come out and join local boulderers" (rock climbers) and other
volunteers for a day of trail maintenance and invasive species removal. If you want, you can challenge yourself by participating in the Bouldering Competition the next day. Be prepared to get dirty. Take home some valuable info and giveaways.
Please RSVP for this program by calling 908 231-0802 ext. 22 or
e-mail: ddendler@scparks.org
18th Annual Turkey Trot
November 16, 2013
Lace up your sneakers for the Turkey Trot 5K Race and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk. The course is certified in length and USATF sanctioned. Medals will be awarded to the top three male and female 5K finishers in each of the several age groups. T-shirts guaranteed only to those who register by November 2.
Fee: $20 until November 2; $25 from November 3
(USATF members receive a $2 discount)
9am
Colonial Park (Registration in Parking Lot C), Franklin
908 722-1200 ext. 226. (top)
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2013 GOLF TOURNAMENTS
The 2013 golf tournaments require pre-registration and an entrance fee. Application forms are available at the Golf Shops.
9th Annual William W. Anderson Match Play Tournament (Men and Women)
May 11, 12, 18 and 19 Neshanic Valley Golf Course
18-Hole Medal Play
Open to registered golfers, ages 10 and older. Tournament format is match play for low 16 stroke play qualifers.
Club Championships
August 3 and 4 All courses
Open to registered golfers, ages 10 and older. Tournament format is 36 holes, low gross. Each course holds its own tournament. Prizes in the form of Golf Shop Gift Certificates will be awarded
to first, second, and third place finalists.
54th Annual Dr. Michael S. Kline Memorial Somerset County Golf Tournament
(Men and Women)
First Round September 7 All courses
Open to registered golfers, ages 10 and older. Players compete in flights, based on registered handicap. "A" flight plays 18 holes September 7, 8, 14, and 15 for a total score of 72 holes. Other flights play 18 holes on September 7 and 14 for a 36-hole total. Flights conducted at designated courses. Awards in each flight.
35th Annual Senior Golf Tournament (Men and Women)
September 10 Spooky Brook Golf Course
18-Hole Medal Play
Open to registered senior golfers, ages 62 and older, men and women. Players compete in flights based on age. Awards in each flight.
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