Nature
Through a Child's Eye
January 2 – February 10, 2008
9:00am-4:30pm except holidays
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 Admission
Maple Sugaring
January 26, 27 February 2, 3, 9, 10,
16, 17, 23, 24, 2008
10:00am, Noon, and 2:00pm
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
This event is sponsored by The Rotary Club of Bernardsville
Project E.A.R.T.H
EARTH: Environment, Awareness, Responsibility,
Teaching, and Hope - the new special event at the Environmental Education
Center! See fine nature artwork, meet some live wild animals, and learn
about the environment in which you live. Experts in various fields
will share information about current environmental topics such as global
warming, recycling, composting, and habitat restoration projects. Find
out how you can make a difference protecting your environment and how
your actions
have a global impact. Hands-on activities for children.
Rain or Shine!
$4 per person suggested donation
Sunday, April 27, 2008
10:30am-4:30pm
Sponsored by:
The Lord Stirling 1770s Festival
Sunday, October 5, 2008
10:30am - 4:30pm
Colonial history lives at the Somerset County Park Commission's annual
1770s Festival when Lord Stirling's grand manor house and estate
come to life in Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge, NJ. Colonial
craftspeople ply their trades and a Revolutionary War military detachment camp on the former estate lawns and conduct maneuvers. The event
promotes historical and environmental education by familiarizing
people with the rich local history of Basking Ridge, highlighting
an unsung Revolutionary War hero, demonstrating the colonial heritage
of New Jersey, and recreating a typical autumn afternoon in 1770.
In 2001, the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival won the New Jersey Recreation
and Park Association's Excellence in Educational Programming Award.
Nearly 50 people attired in replicas of 1770s clothing participate
in the
festival demonstrating their trades and crafts (no crafts
are sold). These crafts people make articles such as buttons, rifles,
brooms, furniture, lace, stained glass, redware pottery, and powder
horns. Other trades and crafts include a blacksmith, tinsmith, wool
spinning, decoy carving, and colonial herbs. Children of all ages
enjoy the hayrides, clay crafts using Stirling clay, stenciling,
and toy making. Visitors may try on colonial costumes and have their
photograph taken while restrained to the Somerset Gaoler's wooden
stock.
Suggested donation: $4
The Nature of Halloween
Friday, October 24, Saturday, October 25, and
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Staggered start times from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Calling all ghosts, pirates, and scarecrows to a fun and informative
Halloween stroll on the boardwalk at the Environmental Education Center.
Led by a guide,
children and their parents will walk shadowy paths to meet and learn about misunderstood,
but very important animals, such as a sly fox, a splendid skunk, and buzzy bee.
Come dressed in costume for added fun!
Limited to ages 3-6 with parent
$4 per person
Tickets must be purchased in advance. They are not available at door on the night
of the program.
35th
Annual Festival of Trees - 2008
Friday, December5— Sunday, December 14
Early December is the time to join the Somerset County Park Commission
and the Somerset Hills YMCA and get into the holiday spirit. The Festival
of Trees
at the Environmental Education Center is an indoor display that includes more
than fifty trees decorated by community groups and individuals. A silent auction
of selected festival trees and many other delightful items is conducted through
the event's closing date. Please call 908 766-2489 for a schedule of musical
performances and to make group reservations.
$4 per adult suggested donation/ $2 per child
or senior suggested donation
| Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 14, 2008 | |
| 9:30am-4:00pm | |
| Thursday, December 11, 2008 | |
| 9:30am-8:30pm |
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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.
Combined Driving Event
The seventh Combined Driving Event will be held
on May 3 and 4, 2008. The competition begins on Saturday with the formal
elegance of Dressage,
which is a pre-determined test performed in a set area where horses
must show a willingness to go forward with energy and grace. This
will be followed by the horses and drivers completing a cones course
along an intricate route, where precision and speed are essential.
On Sunday, the Wild and Wooly Marathon course challenges drivers’ judgment
and skills, and the horses’ agility and fitness. This event
is co-sponsored with the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable. For more
information, please call the stable office at 908 766-5955.
25th Annual Family Fun Day
The 25th Annual Family Fun Day will be held on
April 20, 2008. The highlight of the event is participation in games
on horseback. Scheduled games include Musical Stalls, Break Your Gait
and Out, Ride-A-Buck, Fit To Be Tied, Trail Classes, and numerous team
events. Pre-registration is required. In addition to the games, local
groups and organizations will be on hand performing demonstrations
and sharing information. Free pony rides and hay rides will be available
from 10am - noon and from 1pm - 3pm. Arcade games, where everyone is
a winner, are also available. Food, beverages, and clothing will be
offered for sale by the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable as well as
used tack and riding clothes. For more information, call the stable
at 908 766-5955.
Halloween Party
Saturday, October 25, 2008 • 6PM
Basking Ridge Fire Co. No. 1 and First Aid Squad
join us this year to present a Halloween BASH, featuring the Chief
Ned McMahon Memorial
Haunted Hayrides*. Games, activities, a Tricky Tray, pony rides and
more will be available in the indoor ring, where food and refreshments
will be available for purchase.
Suggested donation: $13. Children 2 and
under are admitted for free.
*Note to parents:
A “non-scary” hayride will be available for younger children
from 6 – 8pm.
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2008 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 - NEW
Weekdays, March 3 - 14, Monday - Friday • 10am
- 4pm
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 in Far Hills. For additional information please
call 908 234-2677.
Gardens
of Ireland- NEW
Thursday, March 20, 10am - 12 noon
Fee: $20 per person
Garden Writer/Author Judy Glattstein will take us on a tour of Western
European gardens (and explain why it's different abroad!) First stop
Ireland. Judy will introduce us to Ireland's verdant landscape, gardening
styles, and its regional history. Then across to England, to such well-known
gardens as Sissinghurst, and quick looks over the garden fence at some
less familiar places. This program will be held at the Leonard J. Buck
Garden Visitor Center in Far Hills. Pre-registration is required by
calling 908-234-2677 or online at www.somersetcountyparks.org
Birding
at Buck – Birding Basics
Wednesday, April 9, 9am - 11am (rain or shine)
Fee: $15 per person
Join an Environmental Education Center Naturalist and Buck Garden staff
to learn how to use field guides, how to use binoculars, and tips on
bird identification. This outdoor program held at the Leonard J. Buck
Garden, will expand your birding skills and make bird watching in the
Garden State more enjoyable.
Spring Plant Sale and Earth Day Celebration
Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27
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 will be held at the Leonard J. Buck Garden
in Far Hills. For additional information, please call Buck Garden
at 908 234-2677.
Woodland
Walks
Sunday afternoons in April and May (except
holiday weekends) at 2 pm
Fee: $4 per person
Brighten your spring with a captivating and informative tour of the Leonard J.
Buck Garden. Enjoy the magnificent drifts of native wildflowers and spring perennials
blooming throughout the garden, as well as azaleas, dogwoods, and many colorful
flowering shrubs and trees. Discover the great variety of plants growing among
the rock formations and woodlands, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty
that surrounds you. Tours begin on April 6 and continue rain or shine on April
13, 20, 27 and May 4, 11, and 18.
Garden Photography
Workshop
Tuesday, May 6 9am - 11:30am (rain date May 7)
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. Space is limited; pre-registration
is required 908 234-2677
This event is sponsored by Leaping
Lizards Garden Center
in
Basking
Ridge
Preserving Memories
Saturday June 7
10:00am – 12 noon
Fee: $20 per person
A discussion of jams and jellies, marmalades and fruit
butters – and
more! Discover the joy of making delicious jams and jellies. It is
a great way to both preserve seasonal harvests and create charming
gifts. Judy Glattstein, author of “Preserving Memories: Growing
up in My Mother’s Kitchen,“ will share her tips, techniques,
and reminiscences; including tastings of some of her specialty preserves.
Pre-registration
required 908-234-2677.
Birding
at Buck II – Backyard
Habitat for Birds
Wednesday June 18 9am – 11am (rain or
shine)
Fee: $15 per person
Join an Environmental Education Center Naturalist
and Buck Garden staff to learn about feeders, and houses, what specific
birds like
to eat, and which plants provide food and shelter. This lecture and
field study requires binoculars. Pre-registration required 908-234-2677.
Breathing Space: Relaxation Techniques in the Garden
Saturday
July 26 9:30am – 11:30am
Fee: $15 per person
Join Instructor Celeste Fleming and cultivate
your inner garden…It
has been said that a garden is a delight to the eye and solace for
the soul. What better place to relax than surrounded by the beauty
of a garden! We will explore some relaxation techniques and end our
workshop with garden-inspired guided imagery. Wear loose clothing and
bring a mat or blanket.
Pre-registration required 908-234-2677.
Perennials for the Shade Garden
Tuesday August 12 9:30am – 11:30am
(rain date 8/13)
Fee: $12 per person
Shade gardening is more popular, and more necessary,
than ever as trees grow and spread, and there are many suitable plants
from which
to choose. Join Buck Garden Interpretive Gardener to learn about
a variety of sturdy herbaceous perennials that grow successfully in
the
shade at Leonard J. Buck Garden.
Pre-registration required 908-234-2677
Plants for Autumn Interest
Saturday September 6 10:00am – 12noon
Fee: $20 per person
Join nationally known author Judy Glattstein
for a morning class highlighting many ornamental plants with colorful
foliage, bark and leaf plant structure.
Autumn is one of the most spectacular seasons with its late flowering
plants and colorful leaves ablaze. Learn to select plant material that
will give you the color and texture you desire during Mother Nature’s
grand finale. Pre-registration is required l 908-234-2677.
Art in the Garden - Watercolors in the Garden
Thursday September 25
9:00am – 3:00pm
(rain date 9/26)
Fee: $35 per person
Nature and wildlife artist Beatrice Bork will
give 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 required 908-234-2677.
Birding at Buck III - Why Birds Migrate
Wednesday October
1 9am – 11am (rain or
shine)
Fee: $15 per person
Join an Environmental Education Center Naturalist
and Buck Garden staff to learn about bird migration and seasonal movement.
Learn which
birds use the stars at night to help them navigate, and which birds
utilize rising columns of warm air thermals to assist them as they
make their way south. This lecture and field study requires binoculars.
Pre-registration
is required 908-234-2677
Flower & Landscape Photography
II: Alternative Approaches
Tuesday October 28 9:00am – 11:30am
(rain date 10/29)
Fee: $35 per person
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 908-234-2677.
Fresh and Fabulous Holiday Centerpiece
Saturday, November
22 9:30am to 12 noon.
Fee: $47 per person
Join Instructor Cheryl Wiley at the Leonard J. Buck
Garden and create an elegant holiday centerpiece for your home. This
holiday arrangement
will celebrate the Harvest and Winter Holiday Seasons with wonderful
combinations of fruits, berries and cones. Information on how to keep
your arrangement fresh, and tips on transitioning your arrangement
from a Harvest motif to a Winter Holiday design. All materials included
for one centerpiece. Gloves recommended.
Pre-registration is required
908-234-2677.
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2008 Special
Events at Colonial Park Gardens
The following events are conducted at the Rose Garden and the Perennial Garden, both located in Colonial Park in Franklin Township. For directions, please click here. For additional information, please call the Horticulture Department at 732 873-2459. Events that have a program fee require pre-registration. All programs are rain or shine, unless otherwise noted.
Rose Pruning Workshop
Saturday, March 8, 2008 (rain date: March 15) • 9am - 11am
Fee: $12 per person (limit 30 people)
Someone promised you a rose garden. Now that you have the roses, come
to the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden to learn how to prune them
properly. This combination lecture and hands-on workshop presented
by the Horticulture Department 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.
Pre-registration is required and may be arranged by calling 732 873-2459.
This program will be held in the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden
in Colonial Park, Parking Lot A.
33rd Annual
Rose Day
Saturday, June 14, 2008 • 10am
- 4pm
Free (Suggested donation of $1 per person)
Rose Day, held this year on June 9 from 10am-4pm, celebrates peak
blossom in the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden in Colonial Park
in Franklin Township. This award-winning All America Selections Rose
Garden features more than 3,000 roses representing over 300 different
varieties. It is a day to stroll through the garden and attend free
lectures and workshops focusing on roses and rose care. For more information
please call the Horticulture Department at 732 873-2459.
Summer Color in the Perennial Garden
Saturday, June 21, 2008 • 9am - 11am
Fees: $12 per person (limit 30 people)
Join the Horticulture Department staff for a two-hour field study of
our summer blooming plants. Learn about low maintenance, drought, and
deer resistant plants. We will discuss basic plant care and gardening
techniques as well as answering your gardening questions. The program
will be conducted in the Perennial Garden (Parking Lot F).
Rose Insect and Disease Workshop
Saturday, June 28, 2008 • 9am - 11am
Fees: $12 per adult (limit 20 people)
You planted your dream roses. Now their leaves are dropping and insects
are munching away. What do you do? Don't fret! Join us at the Rudolf
W. van der Goot Rose Garden to learn what the Pros do. This workshop
will discuss insect and disease identification, methods of control,
and pesticide safety. The program will be conducted in the Rose Garden
(Parking Lot A).
8th
Annual Garden Party
Saturday, July 19, 2008 • 1pm
- 5pm
Free (Donations Appreciated)
The party will feature
lectures, workshops, and horticulture staff to answer questions. Plants and
refreshments will also be available. Music will round out a beautiful summer's
day in the park. For more information please call the Horticulture Department
at 732 873-2459.
Autumn in the Perennial Garden
Saturday, September 13, 2008 • 9am
- 11am
Fees: $12 per person t (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 (Parking Lot F).
Putting Your Garden to Bed Workshop
Saturday, October
18 , 2008,
(Rain date October 25) • 10am
- 12 Noon
Fees: $12 per person
(limit 30 people)
Learn
how to prepare your perennial garden for winter. Bring pruners, loppers,
and gloves and participate as we demonstrate techniques used
to winterize your garden. This program will be conducted in the Perennial
Garden in Colonial Park, Parking Lot F, East Millstone (Franklin Township),
NJ.
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Duke Island Walkers
January
2, 2008
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 2, 2008. Warm up with coffee, tea, and
refreshments following the walk. For more information, call the Recreation
Department at 908 722-1200 ext. 226.
Cabin Fever Kids
February 16, 23; March 1, 8,
2008
Duke Island Visitor Center - 10:30am – 1:30pm
Need something for you kids to do during those dreary winter Saturdays?
Join us at Duke Island Park Visitor Center for a four week activity
series which will explore the arts through music, theatre arts, crafts,
and photography. This program is designed for children between the
ages of 6 through 10. This program will be conducted in conjunction
with the Therapeutic Recreation Department and is open to children
of all abilities.Please pack a bag lunch for your child. A light snack
will be served following an after lunch hike through beautiful Duke
Island Park. Registration is required. Space is limited.
Fee:$30 for the 4-week series. $10 for individual sessions.
Wine and Blues Festival
May 24 and 25 from 12noon – 5pm
Natirar, Main Street, Peapack, NJ 07977
Garden State Wine Growers Association
Rogue
Bass Fishing Derby (PDF)
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Youth fishing derby for children ages five to fourteen. Pre registration
required. Prizes awarded. All proceeds benefit the Therapeutic Recreation
Department.
Fee: $7 per child. Applications will be available as of May 1. Pre-registration
is required. To be placed on the mail list or for an application, please call
908 526-5650.
The event
is co-sponsored
by Rogue Bass, ATON Computing, and other local businesses. Pre-registration is
required. For an application, please call 908 526-5650.
This event is sponsored by Rogue Bass and ATON
Computing
National
Trails Day
June 7
Come celebrate National Trails Day and help us maintain the beautiful trails
of the Washington Valley Park. Rain date is June 8th.
Free
Washington Valley Park, Bridgewater
908 231-0802 ext.22
Fourth of July Family Festival
Friday, July 4, 2008 5pm – 11pm
Free
Music, children’s activities, climbing
wall, costumed characters, historical re-enactments, and fireworks
at 9:30pm. For more information, please call 908 722-1200.
Mischief Night Madness -
Colonial Park Putting Course
Friday, October 24, 2008
Fee: $8.00 for family of two; $10.00 for family of three or more
Play miniature golf with the ghouls! Wear your Halloween costume and
get a free Halloween goodie bag. Admission includes: Spooky Tales from
the Witches Cauldron and Moonlight Hayrides (non-scary variety). Bring
along your family Jack-O-Lantern and enter it in the Best Carved Pumpkin
Contest. (Judging will take place at 6:30pm) Free apple cider and donuts.
12th
Annual Turkey Trot
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Fee: $18 if postmarked by November 9; $20 onsite registration
(USATF members receive a $2 discount)
Lace up your sneakers for the Turkey Trot 5K
Race, to be held in Colonial Park, Franklin Township. There will also
be a 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 following age groups: 14 and under; 15-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49;
50-59; 60-69; and 70 and over. A turkey will be awarded to the top
male and female finisher in each age group. Join us for a morning of
fun for the whole family! Event t-shirts are included in all pre-registration
fees, and while supply lasts for all on-site registrations. On-site
registration and race packet pick-up will begin at 8am. Event times
are 9am for the 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and 9:30am for the 5K Turkey Trot.
Registration forms are available by calling 908 722-1200 ext. 226.
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The 2008 tournaments require pre-registration and an entrance fee. Application forms are available at the Golf Shops. For more information on Golf, please call 908 369-1458.
Welcome Back Tournament
April 26 All courses
A 2-Person Best Ball tournament.
4th
Annual William W. Anderson Match Play Tournament (Men and Women)
May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18 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.
49th
Annual Dr. Michael S. Kline Memorial Somerset County Golf Tournament
(Men
and Women)
First Round September 6 All courses
Open to registered golfers, ages 10 and older. Players compete in flights,
based on registered handicap. "A" flight plays 18 holes September
6, 7, 13, and 14 for a total score of 72 holes. Other flights play
18 holes on September 6 and 13 for a 36-hole total. Flights conducted
at designated courses. Awards in each flight.
30th
Annual Senior Golf Tournament (Men and Women)
September 17 Warrenbrook 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.
Club Championships
October 4 & 5 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.
Season End Thank You Tournament
October 18 All Courses
A 2-Person Best Ball Tournament.
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