April
Cub Scout Theme: Jurassic Park 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. on weekends
May
Cub Scout Theme: Leave Nothing But Footprints 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. on weekends.
Saturday, May 2
“WELCOME TO SPRING” WILD FLOWER WALK
1:00 - 2:15 P.M.
Observe emergent spring flowers along woodland and wetland trails.
NATURE FUN & STORYTELLING
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn about food chains and webs of woodland animals through games. Enjoy wildfife-based stories from Native American legends.
Sunday, May 3
CELEBRATE BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn about living humanely with our wildlife through American Humane Society program of inquiry based activities for children.
OUR BLUEBIRDS ARE HERE!
2:30 - 4:00 P.M.
Learn about migratory bluebirds and visit our bluebird box trail
Saturday, May 9
MAY DAY CELEBRATION
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
"Wake Up The Sun". Learn about the sun by using a 'sun spotter'. Participate in “day-time” astronomy activities. Learn about solar power as a clean natural energy resource.
COME FLY WITH ME
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Build a soda straw rocket, paper glider and play with rocket toys as you learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion.
Sunday, May 10
BEAR AWARE
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn about the myths and ecology of the black bear that lives in our woodlands.
FROGGIN IN OUR WETLANDS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Catch, identify and release frogs, crayfish and immature insect larvae that live within our wetlands. Wear old sneakers and “wet-able” clothing for this activity.
Saturday, May 16
ANIMAL HOMES TRAIL WALK
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
What animals make Stephens State Park their home? Learn about the variety of animals that live within our park.
MAMMALS: SKULLS & SKINS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Observe skulls of deer, opossum, raccoon, fox and skins of raccoon, coyote and fox as you learn about carnivores and herbivores that live in the park. Create a collection of animal tracks to take home.
Sunday, May 17
HIGHLANDS TRAIL WALK
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Not intended for young children. Bring a snack and beverage. Wear comfortable hiking boots.
Saturday, May 23
OWLS: NIGHT HUNTERS
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Owls are nocturnal birds of prey. Learn about the owl’s food chain. Dissect an owl pellet and find out what the owl has eaten. Identify and classify the bones found in the pellet.
Sunday, May 24
CRITTER CATCHING IN THE RIVER
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Join us for a river safari as we catch, identify and release critters that live in the river. Be prepared to get wet. Wear “wet-able” clothing for this activity.
Saturday, May 30
PROSPECTING FOR GOLD
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn about the old gold rush days in America. Become a prospector and pan for gold (pyrite) in our streams. Wear old sneakers and “wet-able” clothing for this activity.
Sunday, May 31
BUG BINGO
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn the basics of insect ecology. Then put that knowledge to use by playing a round of “Bug Bingo”.
“BUGGIN ALONG” TRAIL WALK
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn about beneficial and harmful insects from ticks to dragonflies. Look for signs of emerging insects along the Red Trail. Create insect rubbings as a take-home craft activity. Visit our butterfly garden and learn about the lifecycle of a monarch butterfly.
June
Cub Scout Theme: “A Camping We Will Go” at our campground
Saturday, June 6
FREE FISHING DAYS KIDS’ FISHING DERBY
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Pre-registration required.
Sunday, June 7
FREE FISHING DAYS KIDS’ FISHING DERBY
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Pre-registration required.
Saturday, June 13
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
“Your Planet Needs You” 1:00 – 3:30 P.M.
Visit our bluebird trail and observe the birds in the wild
Sunday, June 14
BEAR AWARE
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn about the myths and ecology of the black bear that live in our woodlands.
MEET AND NAME OUR TREES
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn to identify a tree by observing its leaves and bark. Create a leaf collage craft project. Read a tree’s life story by looking at a tree cookie. Create a “tree cookie” take-home craft that you can wear.
Saturday, June 20
WHAT’S BUGGIN YOU?
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Play insect related family games, including Insect Catch Ball, Professor Noggin’s Insect Game and Bug-opoly.
Sunday, June 21
TRAIL HIKE FOR FATHER’S DAY
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Not intended for young children. Bring a snack and beverage. Wear comfortable hiking boots.
Saturday, June 27
LOST IN THE WOODS
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn the important rules of survival and what to put into a take-home survival kit.
FAMILY NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Walk along the Red Trail in search of nature’s summer treasures.
Sunday, June 28
CRITTER CATCHING IN THE RIVER
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Join us for a river safari as we catch, identify and release critters that live in the river. Be prepared to get wet. Wear “wet-able” clothing for this activity.
July
Saturday, July 4
A SENSE OF LOCAL HISTORY
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn about the unique historical features of our park that reflect the diversity of our natural resources. Our research-based program will include learning about the Leni Lenape Native Americans, visiting the lime kiln, observing the Victorian homestead and about Art Neu, a champion angler, who fished the Musconetcong.
Sunday, July 5
DINO DAZE
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
This total hands-on fun experience will entertain and enlighten the junior paleontologist. Use dinosaur rubbing plates, answer questions from our Dino catch ball and play a game of Dino-opoly.
Saturday, July 11
BIRDING WITH CHILDREN
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn to identify resident birds. Learn about resident water birds and visiting birds of prey. Visit our bluebird box trail.
BATS: LITTLE FLYING MAMMALS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Observe our bat house and learn about the little brown bat.
Sunday, July 12
NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Learn how the Lenape Indians survived using arrowheads to hunt prey. Create a Native American craft as you listen to Indian music. Play Indian games.
Saturday, July 18
BEAR AWARE
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn about the myths and ecology of the black bear that live in our woodlands.
MAMMALS: SKULLS & SKINS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Observe skulls of deer, opossum, raccoon, fox and skins of raccoon, coyote and fox as you learn about carnivores and herbivores that live in the park. Create a collection of animal tracks to take home.
Sunday, July 19
NATURE FUN & STORYTELLING
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn about food chains and webs of woodland animals through games. Enjoy wildfife-based stories from Native American legends.
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
We will use a scavenger hunt approach to learn about these invertebrates that live in our wetlands.
August
Saturday, August 1
NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn how the Lenape Indians survived using arrowheads to hunt prey. Create a Native American craft as you listen to Indian music. Play Indian games.
Sunday, August 2
FAMILY SUMMER NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Walk along the Red Trail in search of nature’s summer treasures.
BUG BINGO
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn the basics of insect ecology. Then put that knowledge to use by playing a round of “Bug Bingo”.
Saturday, August 8
BEAR AWARE
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn about the myths and ecology of the black bear that live in our woodlands.
MAMMMALS: SKULLS & SKINS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Observe skulls of deer, opossum, raccoon, fox and skins of raccoon, coyote and fox as you learn about carnivores and herbivores that live in the park. Create a collection of animal tracks to take home.
Sunday, August 9
DINO DAZE
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
This total hands-on fun experience will entertain and enlighten the junior paleontologist. Use dinosaur rubbing plates, answer questions from our Dino catch ball and play a game of Dino-opoly.
Saturday, August 15
COME FLY WITH ME
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Build a soda straw rocket, paper glider and play with rocket toys as you learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion.
BATS: LITTLE FLYING MAMMALS
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Observe our bat house and learn about the little brown bat.
Sunday, August 16
BIRDING WITH CHILDREN
1:00 – 2:15 P.M.
Learn to identify resident birds. Learn about resident water birds and visiting birds of prey. Visit our bluebird box trail.
SEASONAL TRAIL WALK
2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
Enjoy a short afternoon family walk along the Highlands Trail and observe the effects of glaciers on our wetlands.
Saturday, August 22
OWLS: NIGHT HUNTERS
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Owls are nocturnal birds of prey. Learn about the owl’s food chain. Dissect an owl pellet and find out what the owl has eaten. Identify and classify the bones found in the pellet.
Sunday, August 23
CRITTER CATCHING IN THE RIVER
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Join us for a river safari as we catch, identify and release critters that live in the river. Be prepared to get wet. Wear “wet-able” clothing for this activity.
Saturday, August 29
PROSPECTING FOR GOLD
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Learn about the old gold rush days in America. Become a prospector and pan for gold (pyrite) in our streams. Wear old sneakers and “wet-able” clothing for this activity.
Sunday, August 30
HIGHLANDS TRAIL WALK
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Not intended for young children. Bring a snack and beverage. Wear comfortable hiking boots.
September
Saturday, September 19
WORLD WATER MONITORING DAY WHAT’S IN OUR WATER?
1:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Learn to conduct chemical water quality tests in the Musconetcong River. Support our yearlong Water Monitoring Project data collection.
Sunday, September 20
JOHNNY APPLESEED
1:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) planted apple trees around the northwest United States. Learn about this legendary conservationist, his apples and his unique life.
Saturday, September 26
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY
10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Help cleanup our park during our annual fall environmental day at our bluebird trail.
Sunday, September 27
BLUEBIRD PROJECT
1:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Monitor and winterize bluebird boxes along the bluebird trail at Union Cemetery.
October
Saturday, October 10
NJ FISH & WILDLIFE FALL STOCKING KIDS’ FISHING DERBY
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. (Rain date October 11 th)
Children 7 to 11 years old. Bring a lunch and beverage. Bait provided by sponsors. Pre-registration required one week prior to event.
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