Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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Celebrate Earth Week in New Jersey's State Parks and Forests

Events & Programs

20

April

Wednesday Walk in the Woods
  • Wednesday
  • 9AM-12:30PM
  • Bass River State Forest

Description Join Volunteer Naturalist Kathy Gardiner for a 5-8mile moderate paced hike. Location TBD. Bring snack and beverage. Heavy rain will result in cancelation. Hike is free but donations are welcomed.

Meeting Location TBD

Age 15 and up

Registration Registration is required. Hike is free, but limited to 25 participants.

Additional Information For registration questions contact Kathy Gardiner at 609-405-0360 or kgnaturalist1@comcast.net. Dress for the weather!

20

April

Spring Break Sawmill Walk
  • Wednesday
  • 1:30PM-3PM
  • High Point State Park

Description Join a park naturalist on a fun and informal 1.5 mile walk around Sawmill Lake to see evidence of beaver activity and search for signs of spring. You may want wear boots as some portions of the trail will be muddy. Meet at the Sawmill Boat Launch. Suitable for adults and kids ages five and up. (Younger children are welcome if they're good walkers or can be carried.)

Meeting Location Sawmill Lake Boat Launch

Age Adults and kids age 5 and up

Registration Registration not required, but optional via Eventbrite (free).

Additional Information For registration questions contact Kate Foord at 973-875-1471 or highpointprograms@dep.nj.gov. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear boots or old shoes as portions of the trail will be muddy.

22

April

Out of an Egg Talk/Walk
  • Friday
  • 10:30AM-11:30AM
  • High Point State Park

Description Spring time is egg time (and not just eggs filled with jellybeans)! Come learn about different kinds of eggs, and the animals that lay them through stories, games, and a short nature walk.

Meeting Location TBA

Age All ages welcome, but activities are best for kids ages four to eight.

Registration Registration via Eventbrite (Free)

Additional Information For registration questions contact Kate Foord at 973-875-1471 or highpointprograms@dep.nj.gov. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear boots or old shoes as portions of the trail will be muddy.

22

April

Rid Litter Day
  • Friday
  • 10AM-11:30AM
  • Kittatinny Valley State Park

Description Join us on a 2.5-mile round-trip walk to pick up litter along a park roadway.

Meeting Location KVSP Visitor Center parking lot

Age Teens and adults

Registration Registration is free, but required through EventBrite.

Additional Information For registration questions contact Lynn Groves at 973-786-6445 or lynn.groves@dep.nj.gov. Masks recommended when social distancing is not possible. Weather permitting. Participants advised to wear comfortable walking shoes.

23

April

Dog Walk!
  • Saturday
  • 9AM-12PM
  • Bass River State Forest

Description Volunteer Naturalists invite you to bring your pooch on a 5-mile hike in the woods. Bring water for you and your dog. Heavy rain will result in a cancel. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. If you do not have a dog you are still welcome to join the group!

Meeting Location Office parking lot

Age 15 and up

Registration Registration is required and free. Hike is limited to 25 participants.

Additional Information For registration questions contact Kathy Gardiner at 609-405-0360 or kgnaturalist1@comcast.net. Please dress for the weather. Hiking boots recommended.

23

April

Drive Less, Hike and Paddle More
  • Saturday
  • 10AM-4PM
  • Belleplain State Forest

Description Come visit our Nature Center to rent a canoe and pick up a map to hike some of our trails. Feel the water through your paddle and feel the earth through your hiking boots, while not using up earth's limited resources. Use less fossil fuels - INVEST in your own health and invest in mother earth.

Meeting Location Nature Center

Age All ages!

Registration No registration need, first come first served.

Additional Information For any questions call 609-861-2404 or email belleplaincamping@dep.nj.gov. Canoe rentals are only $10/hour. Trail maps are FREE.

23

April

Earth day at Cheesequake
  • Saturday
  • 10AM
  • Cheesequake State Park

Description Enjoy a guided nature hike! You can also give back to the park by planting 10 seedlings and as a reward you get take one home!

Meeting Location Trailhead

Age 8 and up

Registration No registration needed.

Additional Information For any questions you may have, contact Jim Faczak at 732-566-3208. Dress for the weather. Rain date 4/24.

23

April

Friends of High Point State Park Earth Day Celebration
  • Saturday
  • 9AM-3PM
  • High Point State Park

Description We have birding, reptiles, yoga, a lake cleanup, family crafts, and many more! All hosted by Friends of High Point State Park!

Meeting Location Interpretive Center

Age All ages!

Registration No registration needed but donations are greatly appreciated!

Additional Information For more info, a schedule of events and/or questions, email www.friendshighpointstatepark.org

23

April

Earth Day Volunteer Shoreline Cleanup
  • Saturday
  • 10AM-12PM
  • Liberty State Park

Description Celebrate Earth Day by coming out to Liberty State Park and help lend a hand cleaning up the shores of the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area by removing trash that has come in with the tides.

Meeting Location Nature Center

Age 5 and up

Registration Pre-registration required. Please call or email our nature center at 201-915-3400 x503 and LSPNatureCenter@dep.nj.gov

Additional Information Please dress to work outdoors and wear sturdy shoes. Sunscreen, water, and insect repellent are also recommended if it is a hot day.

23

April

Earth Day Clean-Up
  • Saturday
  • 10AM-11:30PM
  • Parvin State Park

Description Support a healthy park ecosystem by picking up trash/litter and weeding invasive plant species. Trash bags will be provided. Bring your own gloves, limited amount available.

Meeting Location Park Office 701 Almond Road, Pittsgrove, NJ

Age All ages!

Registration Please call Parvin's Park Office at (856) 358-8616 to register for free.

Additional Information Dress appropriately for this clean-up activity. Long pants, long sleeves and sturdy closed-toe shoes recommended. Refreshments will be provided!

23

April

Round Valley's Geological Legacy
  • Saturday
  • 10AM-12PM
  • Round Valley Recreation Area

Description See and learn why Round Valley’s geology is special. Take a short hike on two of our trails, see and feel the rocks and learn how they made our world. Maybe find a piece of iron ore from our long gone mine. Bring a compass if you have one!

Meeting Location South Lot - first right after the toll booth area

Age Any age!

Registration Please call the Park Office at 908.236.6355 to pre-register for the free event.

Additional Information Dress for the weather!

23

April

Interpretive Nature Walk
  • Saturday
  • 12PM-1:30PM
  • Parvin State Park

Description What's a better way to celebrate Earth Day than a walk in nature? Join us for a ~2 mile naturalist guided walk as we enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of spring!

Meeting Location Park Office 701 Almond Road, Pittsgrove, NJ

Age All ages!

Registration Please call Parvin's Park Office at (856) 358-8616 to register for free.

Additional Information Dress appropriately for the weather. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are recommended. Refreshments will be provided!

24

April

Spring Hike In The West
  • Sunday
  • 10AM or 12PM
  • Bass River State Forest

Description Join us on Sunday, April 24 at 10AM or 2PM for a six-mile hike on the West Pine Plains Natural Area which is part of Bass River State Forest and home to the "Pygmy Pines", the world's largest acreage of this globally rare forest community. Hikes depart promptly and meander along sand roads and trails at a moderate pace near the NJ Forest Fire Service's Coyle Field. Portions of the hike will be through sugar sand. The hikes will travel through parts of the forest that were burned in the March 2019 Spring Hill wildfire and you will see first-hand the regeneration of the forest. The hikes will traverse several ridges that provide fantastic views which is a rarity for this part of the state. Each hike will follow the same route.

Meeting Location Along NJ 72 between mile markers 11 and 11.5; the eastern boundary road of Coyle Field. The location is about 11.3 miles east of the intersection of NJ 72 and NJ 70, and about 2.4 miles west of the intersection of NJ 72 and Ocean County Road 539. Parking is along NJ 72. There is no street address for this location. (N 39 48.804 W 74 24.845)

Age 10 and up

Registration Registration REQUIRED through park office 609-296-1114, but event is free.

Additional Information Service animals are permitted. Wear appropriate clothes and shoes. Wear clothes you don't mind getting ash or soot on. Bring water, snacks and bug spray. There are no restrooms or drinking water available. Hikes will be cancelled only due to thunderstorms and heavy rain. Hike is capped at 30 participants.

24

April

Drive Less, Hike and Paddle More
  • Sunday
  • 10AM-4PM
  • Belleplain State Forest

Description Come visit our Nature Center to rent a canoe and pick up a map to hike some trails. Feel the water through your paddle and feel the earth through your hiking boots, while not using up earth's limited resources.

Meeting Location Nature Center

Age All ages!

Registration No registration need, first come first served for canoe rentals.

Additional Information For any questions call 609-861-2404 or email belleplaincamping@dep.nj.gov. Canoe rentals are only $10/hour. Trail maps are FREE.

30

April

Arbor Day Celebration
  • Saturday
  • 10AM-2PM
  • Bass River State Forest

Description Celebrate Arbor Day at New Jersey's FIRST State Forest on April 30th! Join our Seasonal Naturalist for free educational activities for the whole family between the hours of 10am and 2pm at the Interpretive Center (just past campsite #13). Take home a free tree (while supplies last), have fun making Arbor Day crafts, take home an Arbor Day coloring book, gather together to listen to a great book - The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and find out about upcoming events that will celebrate and teach about nature.

Meeting Location Interpretive Center

Age Any age!

Registration No registration needed

Additional Information Coming soon- A reading of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and how you can become a Lorax too!

30

April

Woodland Wildflower Walk
  • Saturday
  • 10:30AM-12PM
  • High Point State Park

Description Join our Park Naturalist for an easy 1.5 mile walk around Sawmill Lake in search of the delicate woodland wildflowers of early spring.

Meeting Location Sawmill Lake Boat Launch

Age All ages!

Registration Registration not required, but optional via Eventbrite (free).

Additional Information For registration questions contact Kate Foord at 973-875-1471 or highpointprograms@dep.nj.gov. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear boots or old shoes, as portions of the trail will be muddy.

About Earth Week

Connect with nature and celebrate Earth Week in a New Jersey state park, forest or historic site! A variety of interpretive programs and hikes are being hosted throughout the state.

DEP 50+2 Earth Day Celebration

Discover on Your Own

New Jersey's state parks and forests offer a variety of public programs throughout the state, but we do understand some prefer to discover on their own.

Click here for self-guided activities, videos, crafts and recipes which will allow you to explore and learn about the historic and natural treasures found within your state parks at your own pace.

Find a State Park Near You!

Planning a hike? Click here to see detailed trail guides for many of New Jersey's state parks and forests.