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Park Commission Press Releases

12th Annual Matilda’s Tea Party
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Invite your favorite child to accompany you in the grand tradition of afternoon tea, food, and entertainment. Grab your hat, gloves, and pearl necklace, and celebrate this grand tradition and honor Miss Matilda Frelinghuysen, who as a child and resident of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum enjoyed this wonderful experience. The 12th Annual Matilda’s Tea Party held on Saturday, February 21, at 1 p.m.

When Matilda was a child Hershey Kisses were created, and keeping the tradition, chocolate is this year’s theme. Tea-takers learn the history of chocolate and make their own chocolate treat to take home. “The life and times of Matilda Frelinghuysen continues to provide generations of children with a connection to the past and inspires their interest in the future of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Plus, how can you go wrong with ‘chocolate’ as a theme?” queried Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education.

This popular program is intended for children ages six and up and is sold-out each year, so reserve your seat at the table early! To register, visit arboretumfriends.org or call 973.326.7603. In the event of snow, Matilda’s Tea will be held on February 28.

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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.
A Winter’s Day on the Farm
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Bundle up, and join in the unique cold-weather fun! Experience a day-in-the-life-of early 20th century farm families. At A Winter’s Day on the Farm take a rare glimpse into an estate farm, as it opens its doors to offer traditional, hands-on winter-season activities. The outdoor family adventure takes place on Sunday, February 1 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township.

Climb aboard the open-air, tractor pulled wagon for a memorable ride around the farm, and meet the farm animals including horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep. Discover why ice harvesting was important on the farm, and see the special tools used to cut ice. Pitch in and help with another cold-weather job, and tap the maple trees to collect sap. Lend a hand with on-going daily farm chores, such as sawing wood. Visit the Farmhouse and follow the scent of savory seasonal food being prepared in the wood-burning stove.

Stop by the Visitors Center auditorium to see a sewing demonstration and try a hands-on weaving craft. Visit the Transportation Exhibit to see Charles Foster’s Rockaway carriage, and Caroline Foster’s Model T Ford and Hupmobile. Be sure to try all the interactive displays. Admission is $8/adult, $7/senior (65+), $6/child 4-16, $4/child 2 & 3, FREE for children under age 2. For more information call 973.326.7645.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!

Sweet Maple Sugaring at the Great Swamp OEC

MORRISTOWN, NJ – Maple syrup is winter’s sugary treasure! The sap is flowing and the sugaring season is underway at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham Township. Come experience all the sweet sights, sounds, and smells at one of the Maple Sugaring Demonstrations held on select Saturdays and Sundays in January, February, and March, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Get involved in the process from start to finish by identifying and tapping maple trees, collecting sap, and seeing syrup made over a wood-fired evaporator. Think you can identify the differences between maple syrups? Take a taste test of three distinct maple syrups, a store bought syrup made from corn syrup, a farm produced syrup made from sugar maple trees, and the syrup made from the red maple trees at the Great Swamp OEC. Let us know which one you enjoy the most! Admission is $3 per person.

The peak of the sugaring season is celebrated with the annual Maple Sugar Festival on Saturday, March 14, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Head outside and watch smoke billow from the evaporator, and become engulfed in the sweet smell of maple sugar. Make maple cream first hand and taste the final product. Kids enjoy a variety of crafts and games, and maple snow cones.

Bring your friends and family and take a fascinating guided ‘Hike Through Maple Sugaring History,’ to discover how sugaring has changed since it was started by the Native Americans hundreds of years ago.

If you are thinking of making your own syrup at home, spiles are on sale along with easy instructions on how to get started. Purchase fresh, local, maple products from a maple sugar farmer and treat yourself to delicious food available for purchase. Festival admission is $4 per person, rain or shine. For more information please call the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center at 973.635.6629.

Maple Sugaring Demonstrations take place on the following dates:

January: 17, 18, 24, 25 & 31
February: 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22 & 28
March: 1, 7 & 8

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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.
Where to Go for Outdoor Winter Fun
MORRISTOWN, NJ – It’s time for winter fun! Get up, get out, and discover the many winter activities waiting for you right here in Morris County. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy winter fun like snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and sledding.

Discover a new, healthy hobby with friends and family by welcoming the snow with a day out on the sled at Tourne County Park’s various hills in Denville. Cross-country ski through the beautiful trails at Loantaka Brook Reservation in Morris Township. Lace up your skates and glide across the ice at the flooded, in-line skating rink at Central Park of Morris County in Parsippany. Director of Recreation, Reynold Fauci stated, ‘There’s nothing more invigorating then sledding down the Doe Meadow hill at Lewis Morris County Park. The snow flies past your face, and your heart races down one of our largest sledding hills. You have to be a real daredevil to attempt it from the top!’

If indoors is more your style, head over to Mennen Sports Arena and check out one of the three ice surfaces. Don’t have ice skates? Rent a pair of ours, both hockey and figure skates are available. So quit hibernating and embrace one of New Jersey’s most cherished

seasons. There’s so much excitement and adventure waiting for you, don’t miss out! For more information, including a full list of outdoor recreational sites and activities, please visit morrisparks.net.

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The Morris County Park Commission features one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey. It currently protects and maintains 18,730 acres at 38 distinct sites plus offers a year-round calendar of events and activities for all to enjoy!
Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Beyond allegedly chopping down a cherry tree, what else do you know about George Washington’s gardening habits? The father of our nation and his compatriots, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison regarded themselves foremost as farmers and plantsmen. For them, gardening and botany were elemental passions, as deeply ingrained in their characters as their beliefs in liberty for the nation they were creating.

At Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation the New York Times best-selling author and historian, Andrea Wulf,, shows how plants, politics and personalities intertwined. This unique re-telling of the creation of America is offered on Sunday, January 18, 2015, at 1:00pm, at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township, NJ.

This beautifully illustrated lecture looks at the lives of America’s founding fathers and how their attitude towards plants, gardens, nature, and agriculture shaped our nation. “We are thrilled that a book about gardeners achieved the status of best seller,” remarked Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education. “Gardening is America’s second favorite pastime and we expect that gardeners, along with history buffs, lovers of architecture, and foodies will enjoy this program,” she added. This talk will be followed by light refreshments and a book signing. To register and learn more about the program, which costs $50, visit arboretumfriends.org.

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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.
Fresh, Local, Food, All Year Long
MORRISTOWN, NJ – The Morris County Park Commission and Fosterfields Living Historical Farm partner with the Foodshed Alliance Farmers’ Access Network, Sustainable Morristown, and local farmers to bring a monthly winter farmers’ market to Morris County. Beginning Sunday, December 14, the Winter Farmers’ Market will offer a variety of fresh, locally-produced goods for purchase on the second Sunday of every month through May (12/14, 1/11, 2/8, 3/8, 4/12, 5/10). Products will include meats, cheeses, artisan breads, prepared foods, honey, preserves, and winter produce grown by farmers within the Foodshed Alliance.

It is more important than ever to eat and shop locally. With the help of the Foodshed Alliance, Sustainable Morristown, and the Morris County Park Commission, locally-produced goods are available for purchase at a convenient location, throughout the colder months. Mark Sutherland, Manager of Historic Sites, stated, “Supporting our local farmers is so important to us here at Fosterfields. In the winter months finding a place to purchase these goods becomes a challenge due to the lack of famers’ markets. It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the effort to bring locally grown and raised products to Morris County through all the seasons.’

The Market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is located in the Visitors Center at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm on 73 Kahdena Road in Morris Township. For more information on the participating farms and products please visit, www.morriswinterfarmersmarket.com or email kendrya@foodshedalliance.com.

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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.