(LINCROFT, NJ) -- The Monmouth County Park System is honoring Earth Day with nature walks, pond studies and more at select parks throughout the county on Saturday, April 23.
Here’s what is planned:
Nature Walks at Clayton Park, Upper Freehold (10:00am & 12:00pm). Meet in the Emley’s Hill Road parking area. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than a walk in the woods? A Park System Naturalist will lead the walk and highlight the many sights, sounds and smells of the spring season. Please wear appropriate footwear as trails might be muddy. Walks last about an hour.
Bird Walks at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen (7:00am & 9:00am). Meet at the Visitor Center. Experience the best of morning bird activity with a Park System Naturalist. Monmouth County hosts a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year and is home to some important “stopover” sites for migratory birds in eastern North America. Join us on this casual walk as we look for birds and other unique wildlife. Walks last about an hour.
Explore a Freshwater Pond at Holmdel Park, Holmdel (11:00am & 1:00pm). Meet at the Shelter Building. Spring has sprung and the ponds are teeming with life. Stroll along the pond at Holmdel Park with a Park System Naturalist searching for fish and freshwater life, perhaps even a turtle or two. Please wear appropriate footwear as trails might be muddy. Program is approximately one hour.
Discover Freshwater Creatures at Huber Woods Park Environmental Center, Middletown (10:00am, 12:00pm, & 2:00pm). Join a Park System Naturalist as we explore life in a shallow pond. We will take scoops of water from a local freshwater pond and make them available for you to explore. These scoops will contain plant material as well as lots of insects to study. The Reptile House will be open for tours afterwards. Programs last about an hour.
Nature Walks at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell (10:00am, 12:00pm, & 2:00pm). Meet in the Environmental Center parking lot. Explore the woods and wetlands around the Manasquan Reservoir during a Park System Naturalist-led walk. Observe local flora and fauna as you’re guided on this outdoor exploration. Please wear sturdy shoes; walks are on uneven trails and last approximately one hour.
Beachcombing and Cleanup at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch (10:00am, 12:00pm, & 2:00pm). Have you ever wondered what types of shells wash up on our shores? Accompany a Park System Naturalist as we comb the beach of Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park and learn about what we can find along our local shorelines. During our walk, we will also participate in a small beach cleanup. Walks are approximately one hour.
Nature on the Move at Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold (1:00pm - 4:00pm). Meet in the main parking area. See the Park System’s eye-catching Nature on the Move van that comes filled with hands-on tabletop activities and displays sure to educate and engage everyone this Earth Day. Join one of our Park System Naturalists for a hands-on interactive program.
Admission and parking for all activities are free. The Park System is also hosting an Earth Day Shore Planting from 4:00pm-6:00pm on Friday, April 22 at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth. Assist with a dune restoration project by planting native plants that will provide valuable habitat for local wildlife. Plants are in limited supply, so this free program is on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about any of these offerings, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks and Recreation agency.
