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Washington Crossing State Park Programs & Events


WASHINGTON CROSSING STATE PARK
PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Spring Programs at the Nature Center

The following is a list of activities being offered through the Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, NJ. Some programs are offered free of charge; some will require payment of a nominal program fee as indicated below. All programs will require advanced registration so that we can manage social distancing. Face coverings are also required at all these events. A gate fee of $5.00 per car ($7.00 out-of-state) will be charged to motor vehicles entering the park on weekends and holidays 5/29 - 9/6 (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day). All programs will initially meet at the Nature Center unless otherwise indicated. Attendance is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be accompanied by an adult. In the event of inclement weather, some programs might be canceled. It is always advisable to call ahead before coming out. These events are intended for families and individuals only. Programs for scouts, schools and other groups are scheduled separately by special arrangement. For additional information, please call us. Nature Center Phone : (609) 737-0609

THURSDAY AFTERNOON AEROBIC HIKE (preteen-adult) Thursday April 8, 1:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Join us for  a 2-3.5 mi. brisk guided hike on selected trails in the state park. Route to be determined. Advanced registration required. Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections. Free.

PINE BOARD BIRDHOUSES (6 - 11 yrs. old) Sunday April 11, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. With the breeding season underway, several species of common cavity-nesting backyard birds will be looking for places to nest. Come out and build a simple nest box that will accommodate these feathery critters. Bring your own hammer. Fee: $7.00 per box (exact change please). Advanced registration required.

TOMAHAWK THROWING (adults only) Saturday April 17, 1:00 -3:30 p.m. Come on out and try your hand at throwing a small hatchet into a wooden target. Maybe even hit a bull’s-eye. Free.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON AEROBIC HIKE (preteen-adult) Thursday April 22, 1:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Join us for a 2-3.5 mi. brisk guided hike on selected trails in the state park. Route to be determined. Advanced registration required. Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections. Free.

WILD EDIBLE PLANTS (3 yrs. - adult) Sunday April 25, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Participants will learn to identify and prepare some of the many native and introduced plants which earlier inhabitants of the area used to supplement their diets. This program will be led by plant lore enthusiast, Pat Chichon of Lambertville. Bring a pair of plant clippers and a garden trowel. Program fee: $2.00/person, under 6 yrs. free. (exact change please or check please). Advanced registration required.

FAMILY NATURE WALK (all ages) Sunday May 2, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Join us for an informal naturalist-guided trail walk. Free

THURSDAY AFTERNOON AEROBIC HIKE (preteen-adult) Thursday May 6, 1:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Join us for a 2-3.5 mi. brisk guided hike on selected trails in the state park. Route to be determined. Advanced registration required. Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections. Free.

GEOCACHE WASHINGTON CROSSING STATE PARK ( preteens – adult) Sunday May 9, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Geocaching is a high-tech update on the old-fashioned scavenger hunt game, which utilizes GPS (global positioning system) technology to locate objects hidden in the park.  Participants will learn how to obtain information and hints from the Geocaching.com website, on the location of dozens of geocache sites in and around the state park. They will then use handheld GPS devices to go out and find as many caches as possible. Once a cache is found, participants typically will sign in on the log contained within and then take an object from the cache box after leaving a trinket for subsequent geocachers. Participants should bring a pocket full of trinkets to exchange when they locate caches. Trinkets can include small toys and balls, plastic jewelry, pens, pencils, scratch pads, patches, action figures, coins, etc. A limited number of GPS navigation devices will be made available to participants on a first come, first served basis. Bring your own handheld GPS device or smart phone with Geocaching app installed if you have one. Advanced registration and payment required. Fee: $2.00/person (exact change please).

TOMAHAWK THROWING (adults only) Saturday May 15, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Come on out and try your hand at throwing a small hatchet into a wooden target. Maybe even hit a bull’s-eye. Free.

BALDPATE MOUNTAIN HIKE (pre-teen – adult) Sunday May 23, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. We will take the Summit Trail from its trailhead on Fiddlers Creek Rd. Meet at the parking lot by Niederer’s Pond (Church Rd). We will drive to the trail. Advanced registration required. Free.

FULL MOON BIKE HIKE (pre-teen-adult) Wednesday May 26, 8:45 p.m. Take a guided night time bicycle ride, by the light of the Flower Moon, up the Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath toward the Lambertville wing dam (approx. 13 miles round trip). Meet at the Nelson House parking lot. Bring your own bike, bike light and helmet. Advanced registration required. Call the Nature Center for directions. Free.

SOLAR OBSERVATION (all ages) Saturday May 29, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. View magnetic sun storms safely through a telescope equipped with special filters. Observe sunspots, solar flares, prominences and other solar phenomena. Learn how these storms can affect the earth as well as other interesting facts about Earth’s closest star. Jennifer and Dave Skitt and other members of the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton will lead this activity. Clear skies required. Park vehicle entrance Fee: $5.00/car. Rain date: Monday May 31, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

STREAM STOMP (6 yrs. - adult) Sunday May 30, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Come out for a wet hike as we follow a park stream in search of crayfish, salamanders, caddisflies, stoneflies, mayflies, frogs, minnows and other stream inhabitants. Wear water shoes or old sneakers and come prepared to get wet at least up to the knees. Park vehicle entrance Fee: $5.00/car.

HIKE THE ROCK HOPPER TRAIL (preteen - adult) Sunday June 6, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. The Rock Hopper Trail in West Amwell Twp. is an outlier of Washington Crossing State Park. It contains mature hardwood forests, agricultural fields and interesting rock outcrops. The terrain is gently rolling, wet in places and rugged. Wear sturdy shoes and bring drinking water. The hike will be 2-4 miles in length. Meet at the parking lot by Neiderer’s Pond in Washington Crossing State Park. (Church Rd). We will drive to the trailhead. Advanced registration required. Free

HOPEWELL VALLEY COME OUTSIDE AND PLAY - SHELTER BUILDING  (all ages)  Thursday June 10, 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.  Kids will build a weatherproof survival shelter completely of native materials in the forest. Advanced registration required. Free.

SPRING/SUMMER BIRDS OF THE PARK (all ages) Saturday June 12, 8:30 a.m. Come and join Franta Broulik and other members of Washington Crossing Audubon as we peruse the park for spring and summer resident bird species. Meet at the Nature Center. Face coverings required. Park vehicle entrance fee applies $5.00/vehicle.

TOMAHAWK THROWING (adults only) Sunday June 13, 1:30 -4:00 p.m. Come on out and try your hand at throwing a small hatchet into a wooden target. Maybe even hit a bull’s-eye. Park vehicle entrance fee applies $5.00/vehicle.

CANE POLE FISHING (4 yrs 12 yrs.) Sunday  June 20, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Come out to the pond and use a basic fishing pole made from a bamboo shoot and rigged to catch bluegills. Any caught fish will be released but you get to take your cane pole home. Meet at Niederers Pond on Church and Brickyard Roads. Rain date: Sunday June 27, 1:30 p.m. Advanced registration required. Free

FULL MOON BIKE HIKE (pre-teen-adult) Friday June 25, 9:00 p.m. Take a guided night time bicycle ride, by the light of the Strawberry Moon, up the Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath toward the Lambertville wing dam (approx. 13 miles round trip). Meet at the Nelson House parking lot. Bring your own bike, bike light and helmet. Advanced registration required. Call the Nature Center for directions. Free.

FAMILY NATURE WALK (all ages) Saturday June 26, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Join us for an informal naturalist-guided trail walk. Free

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