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Park Commission Press Releases

Calendar of Family Fun Events In Morris County
Saturday, January 3 & Sunday, January 4
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors all year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, January 4
Eagle Watching Trip
Ages 16 & Up.
Join this van trip into NY and PA to view majestic, wintering Bald Eagles. Dress warmly, and bring a bag lunch. Space is extremely limited, so register today.
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Meet at the Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $35 per person.*


Sunday Snowshoe: Moderate
Ages 10 & Up.
Enjoy an afternoon of guided snowshoeing and trekking. Call for condition status and to register. Use your own snowshoes, or rent them for an additional $10. No experience necessary.
Time: 1 p.m. if renting shoes, 1:30 p.m. if using your own.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person for trek, $15 for trek and snowshoe rental.*

Tuesday, January 6
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain, Montville Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Wednesday, January 7
Creature Crafters
Ages 5 - 9.
Learn about a different NJ animal with a short walk and touchable artifacts. Make a craft featuring that animal.  Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Saturday, January 10
Eagle Watching Trip
Ages 16 & Up.
Join this van trip into NY and PA to view majestic, wintering Bald Eagles. Dress warmly and bring a bag lunch. Space is extremely limited, so register today.
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Meet at the Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $35 per person.*

Pteridomania: Fern Crazy
Learn about the best ferns for New Jersey gardens, great ferns for growing indoors, and the history of the Victorian’s fern craze. Decorate a pair of 3 inch clay pots, and plant them with a duo of ferns suitable for your home. This program is eligible for 2.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s. Snow date is Saturday, January 17.
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $35.* Includes all materials.

Weekend Family Walk: Easy
All Ages.
During these guided walks designed for families, stroll the wooded trails and discover the unique animals and plants found at Pyramid Mountain.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $2 per person ages 3 & up.*

Saturday, January 10 & Sunday, January 11
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, January 11
Family Science Day: Skull-astics!
All Ages with an adult.
Learn about animal skulls and bones while rotating through hands-on activity stations designed to challenge families to work together while discovering about vertebrates and invertebrates. 
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost:$8 per child ages 5 & up.*

Monday, January 12
Toddler Trek: Good Night, Bear
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
This is the time of year that bears settle down for a winter’s nap. Enjoy a story about bears, and then wander the trails looking for signs that these animals left behind.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Garden Sprouts: Treats on Trees
Ages 3 - 5 years with an adult.
Explore the gardens of the Arboretum and discover treats for all the feathered and furry friends. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Awesome Animal Artists
Ages 5 - 9.
Budding young artists mix nature and art in this indoor/outdoor program. Each class features a different NJ animal to learn about and draw. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Tuesday, January 13
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Mt. Hope County Park, Rockaway Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Pre-School Walk: Owl Prowl
Ages 4 & 5 with an adult.
Learn amazing facts about New Jersey owls with fun activities and an owl-themed craft.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Toddler Trek: Good Night, Bear
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
This is the time of year that bears settle down for a winter’s nap. Enjoy a story about bears and then wander the trails searching for signs that these animals left behind.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Family Science Day: Skull-astics!
All Ages with an adult.
Learn about animal skulls and bones while rotating through hands-on activity stations designed to challenge families to work together while discovering about vertebrates and invertebrates.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost:$8 per child ages 5 & up.*

Wednesday, January 14
Home-school Adventures: Winter Trees
All Ages.
How can you identify a tree when it has no leaves? Learn the tricks naturalists use by studying branches, buds, and bark. Hands-on activities and a walk on the trails help participants practice their new skills.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $8 per child ages 3 & up.*

Wednesdays, January 14  through February 18
Nature’s Little Explorers
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Discover the wonders of nature through six weeks of walks, activities, and crafts. 
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $55 per child.*

Thursdays, January 15 through February 19
Nature’s Little Explorers
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Enjoy discovering the wonders of nature through six weeks of walks, activities, and crafts. 
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $55 per child.*

Saturday, January 17
Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Saturday, January 17 & Sunday, January 18
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, January 18
Sunday Snowshoe: Moderate
Ages 10 & Up.
Enjoy an afternoon of guided snowshoeing and trekking. Call for condition status and to register. Use your own snowshoes, or rent them for an additional $10. No experience necessary.
Time: 1 p.m. if renting shoes, 1:30 p.m. if using your own.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person for trek, $15 for trek and snowshoe rental.*
 See Page       

Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation
This beautifully illustrated talk looks at the lives of the founding fathers and how their attitude to plants, gardens, nature and agriculture shaped our nation. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison regarded themselves foremost as farmers and plantsmen. For them, gardening, agriculture, and botany were elemental passions, as deeply ingrained in their characters as their belief in liberty for the nation they were creating. In a unique retelling of the creation of America, award-winning historian Andrea Wulf discusses how plants, politics, and personalities intertwined as never before. This program is eligible for 2.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s.
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $45 per person.*


Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Monday, January 19
A Day Off with Nature: Winter Birds!
Ages 5 - 9.
Spend a day off from school learning about our avian friends. Discover the challenges of migration, learn to identify birds by their bills, and find out how to be a bird scientist. Make a bird feeder to take home during this fun, educational program. 
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $30 per child.*

Tuesday, January 20
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails.  Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Hacklebarney State Park, Chester Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Pre-School Walk: Owl Prowl
Ages 4 & 5 with an adult.
Learn amazing facts about New Jersey owls with fun activities and an owl-themed craft.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Wednesday, January 21
Awesome Animal Artists
Ages 5 - 9.
Budding young artists mix nature and art in this indoor/outdoor program. Each class features a different NJ animal to learn about and draw. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Saturday, January 24
Lil’ Critters Storytime
Ages 3 - 6 with an adult.
Hear engaging nature stories read aloud. Participate in fun activities, such as crafts, games, or walks that build upon the stories’ themes.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Weekend Family Walk
All Ages.
Take to the trails to discover the unique animals and plants found at the Great Swamp. Everyone’s sure to learn some amazing new nature facts.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.*

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Sunday, January 24 & Sunday, January 25
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, January 25
Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.
           
Monday, January 26
Toddler Trek: Tricky Tracks
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Even though it’s cold outside, many animals are still active. Hunt for their tracks in the snow, and enjoy a story a read aloud.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Garden Sprouts: Take Five
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Using the five senses, look at various types of plants and discover the reasons they smell, have thorns, or make fruit. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Lil’ Critters Storytime
Ages 3 - 6 with an adult.
Hear engaging nature stories read aloud. Participate in fun activities, such as crafts, games, or walks that build upon the stories’ themes.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Tuesday, January 27
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Hedden County Park, Dover
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Meet the Critters
All Ages.
Get a closer look and a chance to touch the LIVE resident animals of the GSOEC in this indoor program.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.*

Saturday, January 31 & Sunday, February 1
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Saturday, February 1
Eagle Watching Trip
Ages 16 & Up.
Join this van trip into NY and PA to view majestic, wintering Bald Eagles. Dress warmly and bring a bag lunch. Space is extremely limited, so register today.
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Meet at the Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $35 per person.*

A Winter’s Day on the Farm
Enjoy a tractor-pulled wagon ride, maple tapping, wood sawing, cracking corn, collecting eggs, and more. Watch the farmers harvest ice on the pond, and see how the ice is stored in The Willows ice house, weather permitting. Meet the Jersey cows and other farm animals. See what’s cooking in the cozy farmhouse. Enjoy a great outdoor family-friendly day.
Time:12 noon - 4 p.m.
Location: Fosterfields.
Cost:Admission is $8/adult; $7/senior (65+); $6/child 4 - 16, and $4/child 2 & 3. FREE/child under age 2.


Sunday Snowshoe: Moderate
Ages 10 & Up.
Enjoy an afternoon of guided snowshoeing and trekking. Call for condition status and to register. Use your own snowshoes, or rent them for an additional $10. No experience necessary.
Time: 1 p.m. if renting shoes, 1:30 p.m. if using your own.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person for trek, $15 for trek and snowshoe rental.*

Sunday, February 1 through
Saturday, February 28
Gallery Exhibit: Space Flowers by Artist John Darvie
Enjoy the bright, exciting, and innovative work of artist John Darvie. Mr. Darvie has been a visionary in oil and acrylic painting for the last 20 years, and teaches acrylic painting workshops.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: FREE.

Monday, February 2
Garden Sprouts: Forever Green   
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
A walk around the Arboretum reveals plants that are green throughout the winter. Learn the reasons plants remain green, and how the plants protect themselves in winter. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Groundhog Day: The Real Story
All Ages.
Learn the truth about theses furry creatures and how they have come to symbolize winter’s end. Enjoy a story, an indoor activity, and a walk in the winter woods.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Groundhog Day
Ages 5 - 9.
What do you really know about groundhogs? Join ‘Pyramid Mountain Phil’ as we separate the facts from the fiction through games and activities. You may even see your own shadow! Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Tuesday, February 3
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Dismal Harmony, Mendham Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Full Moon Hike: Moderate
Ages 16 & Up.
Catch a winter sunset followed by a view of the full moon, if all goes well, we may even hear owl calls.
Time: 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person.*

Wednesday, February 4
Creature Crafters
Ages 5 - 9.
Learn about a different NJ animal with a short walk and touchable artifacts. Make a craft featuring that animal.  Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Saturday, February 7
Weekend Family Walk: Easy
All Ages.
During these guided walks designed for families, stroll the wooded trails and discover the unique animals and plants found at Pyramid Mountain.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $2 per person ages 3 & up.*

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Saturday, February 7 & Sunday, February 8
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, February 8
Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Sunday Snowshoe: Moderate
Ages 10 & Up.
Enjoy an afternoon of guided snowshoeing and trekking. Call for condition status and to register. Use your own snowshoes, or rent them for an additional $10. No experience necessary.
Time: 1 p.m. if renting shoes, 1:30 p.m. if using your own.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person for trek, $15 for trek and snowshoe rental.*

Monday, February 9
Toddler Trek: Frigid Flyers
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
It’s cold outside, but there are always cool birds to see. Enjoy a story read aloud and a walk as we look for these feathered friends.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Garden Sprouts: Crazy Composters
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Worms are one of the gardener’s best friends. Learn why these critters are a good friend to have in your garden. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Awesome Animal Artists
Ages 5 - 9.
Budding young artists mix nature and art in this indoor/outdoor program. Each class features a different NJ animal to learn about and draw. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Tuesday, February 10
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Buttermilk Falls, Mendham Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Pre-School Walk: Tricky Tracks
Ages 4 & 5 with an adult.
Find animal tracks left behind in the mud or snow, and learn how the different animals move. Join us for track-themed craft.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Toddler Trek: Frigid Flyers
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
It’s cold outside, but there are always cool birds to see. Enjoy a story read aloud, and a walk to look for these feathered friends.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Saturday, February 14
Valentine to the Birds Hike: Easy
Ages 5 & Up.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by taking part in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Each year, birdwatchers count birds to create a snapshot of where birds are across the continent. Walk with a naturalist to a good vantage point where we can learn about the local bird population, and then report your bird count data back to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bring binoculars or use ours.
Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $1 per person.*

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.
See Page

Fergus Garrett and Great Dixter
Enjoy this wonderful opportunity to hear famed horticulturist, Fergus Garrett speak. Mr. Garrett is the head gardener at Great Dixter House and Gardens in Northiam, England. Great Dixter is an historic house, a garden, a center of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists and garden lovers from across the world. Log on to arboretumfriends.org for more details. Light refreshments will be served. This program is eligible for 2.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s.
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $45 per person.*
See Page

Saturday, February 14 & Sunday, February 15
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Great Backyard Bird Count: Easy
Ages 5 & Up.
Participate in this annual event as birdwatchers count birds to create a snapshot of where birds are across the continent. Pick up an observation packet at the Visitors Center and go to your favorite vantage point to count the birds you see in a 15-minute period. Report your data back to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bring binoculars and your curiosity. 
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: FREE.*

Sunday, February 15
Sunday Snowshoe: Moderate
Ages 10 & Up.
Enjoy an afternoon of guided snowshoeing and trekking. Call for condition status and to register. Use your own snowshoes, or rent them for an additional $10. No experience necessary.
Time: 1 p.m. if renting shoes, 1:30 p.m. if using your own.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person for trek, $15 for trek and snowshoe rental.*       

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Monday, February 16
A Day Off with Nature: Sleep, Stay, Fly Away!
Ages 5 - 9.
Through fun, interactive activities, learn the secrets of how animals live in the cold weather. Enjoy a winter animal craft, stories, and a trail walk.
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $30 per child.*

Tuesday, February 17
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Schiff Nature Preserve, Mendham Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Pre-School Walk: Tricky Tracks
Ages 4 & 5 with an adult.
Find animal tracks left behind in the mud or snow, and learn how different animals move. Enjoy a track-themed craft afterwards.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Wednesday, February 18
Home-school Adventures: The H20-lympics
All Ages.
Water is more than just a drink. With fun experiments and activities, learn about the unique properties of this life-giving substance and how it affects nature.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $8 per child ages 3 & up.*

Awesome Animal Artists
Ages 5 - 9.
Budding young artists mix nature and art in this indoor/outdoor program. Each class features a different NJ animal to learn about and draw. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Saturday, February 21
Meet the Critters
All Ages.
Get a closer look and a chance to touch the LIVE resident animals of the GSOEC in this indoor program.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.*

Lil’ Critters Storytime
Ages 3 - 6 with an adult.
Hear engaging nature stories read aloud. Participate in fun activities, such as crafts, games, or walks that build on the stories’ themes.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $3 per child*

12th Annual Matilda’s Tea Party
Ages 6 & Up.
Celebrate Matilda Frelinghuysen by attending a tea party in her honor. Enjoy tea, great food, and some age appropriate entertainment. When Matilda was a child in the 1890’s, Hershey’s Kisses were invented and became very popular. Now young people, along with their favorite adults, can learn the history of chocolate, partake in a chocolate feast, and make their own chocolate treat to take home. Snow date is Saturday, February 28.
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $35 per child, $25 per adult.

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Saturday, February 21 & Sunday, February 22
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, February 22
Sunday Snowshoe: Moderate
Ages 10 & Up.
Enjoy an afternoon of guided snowshoeing and trekking. Call for condition status and to register. Use your own snowshoes, or rent them for an additional $10. No experience necessary.
Time: 1 p.m. if renting shoes, 1:30 p.m. if using your own.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per person for trek, $15 for trek and snowshoe rental.*

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Monday, February 23
Toddler Trek: Maple Sugaring for Seedlings
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
All pancakes need syrup, but where does it come from? Learn about the maple sugaring process and taste the sweet breakfast treat, too.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Garden Sprouts: Sappy and Sweet 
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Yum! It’s that time again when the maple trees are waking up and sending their sap upwards. See how trees are tapped, taste a little sap, and stay for the waffles and real maple syrup. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Lil’ Critters Storytime
Ages 3 - 6 with an adult.
Hear engaging nature stories read aloud. Participate in fun activities, such as crafts, games, or walks that build on the stories’ themes.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Winter Insects
All Ages.
Where do all those pesky flies and mosquitos go once the weather turns cold? Learn what insects do to get themselves through the long winter months. Come dressed for the outdoors.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child. *

Tuesday, February 24
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Kay Center, Chester Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Saturday, February 28
Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Saturday, March 1 through
Tuesday, March 31
Gallery Exhibit: Plants of the Water and the Sun by photographer Karel Raska
Treat yourself to the stunning photography of young artist Karel Raska. Karel attends Morristown High School and developed his love of photography when he received his first camera at age 9. He takes his camera with him on his many travels and primarily photographs nature. His spectacular scenes highlight his incredible talent and his love of the world around him. The maturity shown in his gorgeous works will amaze you.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: FREE.

Monday, March 2
Toddler Trek: Hoot, Hoot Hooray for Owls
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Enjoy a story read aloud and look for these ‘hooting’ creatures on the trails.
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Garden Sprouts: Giants in the Garden
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Who – or what – is the biggest in the garden?  Trees, of course. Young explorers use a bit of math to discover just how old the trees can be. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Tuesday, March 3
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Tourne County Park, Boonton Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Thursday, March 5
Bus Trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show
"Lights, Cameras, Bloom" is the theme for the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show paying homage to the silver screen with a dazzling entry garden, complete with a red carpet, that leads you into an Art Deco movie palace. The world of movies and flowers merge to capture some of movies greatest moments in lush landscapes featuring both classic films and recent hits. The largest flower show in the Northeast offers something for everyone: awe inspiring gardens, a chance to see the newest plants that will be available at nurseries this spring, stunning floral arrangements, lectures, and shopping.
Time: 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Bus leaves from The Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $90 per person.*

Saturday, March 7
Fifth Annual Community Garden Conference 
The keynote speaker is the renowned botanical explorer Joseph Simcox. The impressive list of session speakers, all experts in their field, cover topics both relevant and pertinent to community gardeners, garden managers, and those trying to establish a new community garden. It’s a full day of education, networking, and camaraderie. For complete details, visit aboretumfriends.org. Lunch is provided. Snow date is Sunday, March 8. This program is eligible for 5.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $50 per person before February 1, $60 per person after February 1.

Weekend Family Walk: Easy
All Ages.      
During these guided walks designed for families, stroll the wooded trails and discover the unique animals and plants found at Pyramid Mountain.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $2 per person ages 3 & up.*

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Saturday, March 7 & Sunday, March 8
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, March 8
Adult Hike: Frozen Falls
Ages 16 & Up.
Join this moderate-level hike to the falls of the Valhalla Brook on the Turkey Mountain side of the park.
Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $1 per person.*

Maple Sugaring Demo
All Ages.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.

Monday, March 9
Garden Sprouts: Whose Garden Is It?
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Spring is on its way, and there are all kinds of life to be found in the garden. Little Gardeners learn just who shares the garden and how to find them. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Nature’s Playground
Ages 3 - 6.
The natural world is the best place to play, especially with a naturalist and some friends along. Children use their imaginations as they explore the wonders of the forest through free play.
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Tuesday, March 10
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Jockey Hollow National Park, Harding Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Toddler Trek: Hoot, Hoot, Hooray for Owls
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Enjoy a story read aloud and hunt for these ‘hooting’ creatures on the trails.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Saturday, March 14
Maple Sugar Festival
All Ages.
Enjoy ‘Hikes through Maple Sugaring History,’ games, maple syrup snow cones, crafts, syrup taste tests, and more. Rain or shine.
Time: 12 noon - 4 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $4 per person ages 3 & up.

Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.*

Sunday, March 15   
Luck of the Farm:
Farm Hands and House Maids
Join the celebration of the Irish who worked at Fosterfields during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Help with farm and domestic chores, and tour The Willows to discover what jobs house servants performed for the Foster family. Learn about the Irish culture through dance, crafts, and music.
Time:12 noon - 4 p.m.
Location:Fosterfields.
Cost:Admission is $8/adult; $7/senior (65+); $6/child 4 - 16, and $4/child 2 & 3. FREE/child under age 2

Monday, March 16
Toddler Trek: Spring Has Sprung!
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
See, hear, smell, and touch what’s awake and active as spring warms the earth. Stroll along the trails and hear a spring-themed story read aloud.
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Garden Sprouts: Yo, Buddy!
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Buds are everywhere on all kinds of plants, but what is inside? Pick buds, open them up, and see what kind of blooms and leaves are just around the corner. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Lil’ Critters Storytime
Ages 3 - 6.      
Hear engaging nature stories read aloud. Participate in fun activities, such as crafts, games, or walks that build on the stories’ themes.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Awesome Animal Artists
Ages 5 - 9.
Budding young artists mix nature and art in this indoor/outdoor program. Each class features a different NJ animal to learn about and draw. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Tuesday, March 17                            
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Hedden County Park, Dover
Cost: $2 per person.* Call 973.635.6629.

Wednesday, March 18
Creature Crafters
Ages 5 - 9.
Learn about a different NJ animal with a short walk and touchable artifacts. Make a craft featuring that animal. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Grow, Cook, Eat Series
This month, the focus is on perennial vegetables, such as asparagus and rhubarb. We have seeds or plants, recipes, and a tasting to get you motivated to get out in the garden and plant. Each session in this series is eligible for 1.5 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s. Log on to arboretumfriends.org for a complete list of topics.
Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $20 per person.*

Wednesdays, March 18 through April 22
Nature’s Little Explorers
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Discover the wonders of nature  through six weeks of walks, activities, and crafts! 
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $55 per child.*

Thursdays, March 19 through April 23
Nature’s Little Explorers
Ages 2 & 3 with an adult.
Enjoy discovering the wonders of nature through six weeks of walks, activities, and crafts. 
Time: 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $55 per child.*

Saturday, March 21
Weekend Family Walk
All Ages.
Take to the trails to discover the unique animals and plants found at the Great Swamp. Everyone’s sure to learn some amazing new nature facts.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $2 per person ages 3 & up.*

Lil’ Critters Storytime
Ages 3 - 6 with an adult.
Hear engaging nature stories read aloud. Participate in fun activities, such as crafts, games, or walks that build on the stories’ themes.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Saturday, March 21 & Sunday, March 22
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, March 22
Family Science Day: Water World!
All Ages with an adult.
Learn about water while rotating through hands-on activity stations designed to challenge families to work together while discovering this key to life. 
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $8 per child ages 5 & up.*

Monday, March 23  
Garden Sprouts: Salad Daze
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Spring is just around the corner, and it’s not too early to start planting that early spring salad garden. The program includes a story time, and indoor and outdoor activities.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per child.*

Nature’s Playground
Ages 3 - 6.
The natural world is the best place to play, especially with a naturalist and some friends along. Children use their imaginations as they explore the wonders of the forest through free play.
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per child.*

Tuesday, March 24
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Lewis Morris County Park, Morris Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Pre-School Walk: Peepers & Quackers
Ages 4 & 5 with an adult.
Listen to the chorus of frogs singing throughout the swamp. Find out what all that noise is about. Enjoy a frog-themed craft.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Family Science Day: Water World!
All Ages with an adult.
Learn about water while rotating through hands-on activity stations designed to challenge families to work together while discovering this key to life. 
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost:$8 per child ages 5 & up. *

Wednesday, March 25
Home-school Adventures: Honey Bee Wonders
All Ages.
Experience the life cycle of a honey bee, act out the various roles of bees in a colony, build a volunteer into a bee, and try on a beekeeper’s equipment. This program includes movement and audience participation.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $8 per child ages 3 & up.*

Benjamin Blackburn Scholarship Tea
Join The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum for this delightful afternoon tea. Speaker Randolph Scott Little, treats us to his talk on “Bird Songs in Your Garden” based on a book he helped produce with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Learn how to identify birds and attract them to your garden. All proceeds from the tea fund the Benjamin Blackburn Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a student of Horticulture at County College of Morris.
Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $55 per person.*
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Awesome Animal Artists
Ages 5 - 9.
Budding young artists mix nature and art in this indoor/outdoor program. Each class features a different NJ animal to learn about and draw. Parents are welcome to stay and participate.
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*

Friday, March 27
Frog Jamboree
All Ages.
The spring peepers and wood frogs are calling from the vernal pools. Learn about these two frogs while listening to their chorus.
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Great Swamp OEC.
Cost: $3 per person ages 3 & up.*

Saturday, March 28 & Sunday, March 29
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt
Grab a camera or phone and stop by the Haggerty Education Center for this month’s nature photo scavenger hunt. Take a photo of every item and get a prize. Theme and prizes change monthly. A great way to get the family outdoors year-round.
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $10 per family.

Sunday, March 29
Frog Slog: Easy Walk
Ages 5 & Up.
Join a naturalist to listen for the calls of lovelorn amphibians in the forest pools.
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $1 per person.*

Cooking Demonstration: Tea Time
In conjunction with ‘Focus On England’ programs, this cooking demonstration shows you how to prepare a proper British Tea. We make scones, dainty tea sandwiches, a bakewell tart and shortbreads.
Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
Cost: $25 per person.*

Tuesday, March 31
Baby and Me Hike
Put your baby in a backpack and explore one of many wonderful Morris County area trails. Adults are welcome.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.       
Location: Pyramid Mountain, Montville Twp.
Cost: $2 per adult.* Call 973.635.6629.

Pre-School Walk: Peepers & Quackers
Ages 4 & 5 with an adult.
Listen to the chorus of frogs singing and learn what all that noise is about. Enjoy a frog-themed craft afterwards.
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Pyramid Mountain.
Cost: $5 per child.*
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.