FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi
July 21, 2011 973-621-2542
Lauren Shears
973-621-1590
LEARN ABOUT GARDENING, HIKING, YOGA, NATURE,
BIRDS, TREES, LAWN CARE AND MORE
AT THE ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Essex County Executive DiVincenzo Invites Children and Families
to Expand their Understanding and Appreciation of the Environment
Essex County, NJ – A variety of programs are being offered at the Essex County Environmental Center during the month of August that will teach children and adults about nature and help them gain a greater appreciation and understanding of our environment. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites children and adults to visit the Environmental Center where they can enjoy an enriching recreational experience through nature and conservation activities.
“Our Environmental Center has become the premiere location for environmental education and nature appreciation. With the help of our partner groups, our dynamic schedule of events and activities will captivate all ages,” DiVincenzo said. “Walk in our woods, discover habitats, get pointers on gardening, learn about nature photography and much more. It’s all about nature and it’s all at our Environmental Center,” he added.
Events scheduled for August are as follows:
“4-H Young Gardeners Club” is for children grades 1 through 8. Have you ever wondered how vegetables and flowers grow? Where spaghetti sauce comes from? How you can find a rainbow in a garden? The Young Gardener's 4-H Club will help students find the answers to these questions and many more. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-353-1338, Ext. 103. 4-H Young Gardeners Club will be held as follows:
Date: Tuesdays, August 2, 9, 23 & 30, 2011
Time: 4 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Birding Hike in Essex County Brookdale Park” is presented by New Jersey Audubon. Tour the Rose Garden and search for late summer birds and perhaps hummingbirds. Meet at the Grandstand parking lot, near the playground. This hike is free. Space is limited. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Birding Hike is scheduled as follows:
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Branch Brook Park
Cherry Blossom Visitor’s Center
Mill Street
Newark, NJ
“Evening Yoga Series” is geared for adults. This all-levels yoga series will focus on alignment, flow and stability followed by a restorative pose to unwind the body and mind for bed. Explore some cooling practices to keep you calm. Dress comfortably and bring your own mat. Cost is $40 for the series. Advance registration and monthly payment is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. No refunds will be given for missed classes. Evening Yoga is scheduled as follows:
Date: Thursdays, August 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2011
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Twilight Hike” is open for people of all ages. Discover what lives at the Environmental Center after the sun goes down. Participants will make their own insect repellant and then wander in the wooded wetland to look for “whoooo” might be awake. Cost is $6 per child and $8 per adult. Advanced registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Twilight Hike will be held as follows:
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Summer Yoga” is geared for adults. This class will introduce adult beginners to the many joys of yoga. Gain strength and flexibility as you imagine what it would be like to stand strong like a mountain, balanced and rooted like a tree, or as playful as a dog or a cat. Discover why so many yoga poses are named after the things seen in nature. This is great for beginners and all levels are welcome. Join for the entire series or just one class. Cost is $10 per class. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Dress comfortably and bring your own mat. Summer Yoga will be held as follows:
Date: Fridays, August 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2011
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Tree Whispering®– Trees Are Your Healers” is geared for adults. Trees have nature‘s truth, balance and healthy design to offer through intuitive communications. Learn a new way of putting your health puzzle together. Then, rearrange your life to heal yourself. Become nature‘s student by opening up to the wisdom of the Plant Kingdom. Gain insight into your own life. Give healing gratitude back to trees/plants. As an added bonus, stay after 1 p.m. and The Tree Whisperer® Dr. Jim Conroy will direct participants in a real, hands-on, energy-based tree-healing session as he does professionally. Bring your lunch if staying late. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Attend one class or all three. Cost is $45. Advance registration is required. For information, call 201-745-5494. Tree Whispering will be held as follows:
Dates: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Gardening With Young Children – Summer Scavenger Hunt” is for families with children ages 3 years and older. Participants will be given a list of items to find in the Environmental Center backyard. See how many your family can find. Bring them back to construct a summer memory. Cost is $8 per child per session (includes a $2 material fee). Advance registration and payment are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Summer Scavenger Hunt will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Mother Nature’s Medicine Chest Garden Club” is for children ages 7 to 12. Participants will plant an herbal garden and learn about the powerful healing secrets of plants. Students will receive recipes to make herbal remedies at home with the approval of their parents or guardian. Cost is $8 per child per session. Advance registration and payment are required. For more information, call 973-228-8776. Mother Nature’s Medicine Chest Garden Club will be held as follows:
Dates: Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Nature Crafts with Children” is for children ages 7 to 12. Participants discover how to utilize the gifts of nature to create imaginative works of art. With flowers and plants in full bloom, participants will create special sheets of paper utilizing the local horticulture. Cost is $8 per child (includes a $2 material fee). Advance registration and payment are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Nature Crafts with Children will be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“New Jersey Woodturners” is for adults. Learn to turn with the NJ Woodturners Association! Discover the wonders of creating art from found pieces of wood, wood species, and turning tips and techniques. Topics vary month to month. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Cost is $8 per adult and free for NJWA members. For information, call the Environmental Center at 973-228-8776. NJ Woodturners will meet as follows:
Date: Monday, August 22, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Birding Hike in Essex County Hatfield Swamp” is presented by New Jersey Audubon. Hikers will explore under the power lines for migrant hummingbirds and other early fall migrants. Bring bug repellant. Meet in the Stop & Shop parking lot in West Caldwell. Cost is $6 for NJAS members and $8 for non-members. Space is limited. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Birding Hike is scheduled as follows:
Date: Saturday, August 27, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Meeting Site: Stop & Shop Supermarket
875 Bloomfield Avenue
West Caldwell, NJ
“Preparing for Next Year’s Green Lawn” is geared for adults. The Rutgers Master Gardeners will provide the latest information on how to take advantage of fall and prepare your lawn for the long winter. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Cost is $8 per adult. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Preparing for Next Year’s Green Lawn will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, August 27, 2011
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
“Labor Day Paddle” is for adults and children ages 10 and older. Take a leisurely journey on the Passaic River and enjoy scenery and peacefulness as you paddle up the river and float down stream. Geared for beginners and children ages 10 and up accompanied by a parent or guardian. Two sessions will be given. Cost is $30 per canoe. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Labor Day Paddle will be held as follows:
Date: Monday, September 5, 2011
Times: 10:30 a.m. OR 2 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ
Amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate in the “2011 Essex County Nature Photography Contest.” This contest is designed to highlight the best of what the Essex County Parks have to offer its many residents each year. Anyone with a camera is invited and encouraged to submit photos that capture a part of your visit to the County park system. Deadline for submission is Wednesday September 14th. For rules and regulations, please contact the Essex County Environmental Center at 973-228-8776.
Registration is required for all programs at the Essex County Environmental Center, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register, please call 973-228-8776.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.