LEARN ABOUT GARDENING, NATURE, BIRDS, BUGS, FROGS 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

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A variety of programs are being offered at the Essex County Environmental Center during the month of March 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 March are as follows:

“Little Explorers Spring Nature Program” is for children ages 2 to 5. This child-caregiver class uses stories, walks and crafts to develop an awareness and appreciation for science and nature for the child as well as the caregiver. Each week, a different nature or science topic is covered. Cost is $12 per child/session. Advance registration and payment are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Little Explorers Winter Nature Program will be held as follows:

Age: 2 year olds

Dates and Time: Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 10 a.m.

Age: 3 year olds

Dates and Time: Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 1 p.m.

Ages: 4 and 5 year olds

Dates and Time: Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 4 p.m.

OR Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 9:30 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Chair Yoga” is for adults. If you are new to yoga or feel that most yoga classes might be too strenuous, chair yoga can provide a more easy-going supported style. Come experience how gentle yogic breath decreases stress and increases comfort and fluidity of movement, not only through yoga practice, but potentially throughout life, as well. All poses are enjoyed at each participant’s own pace, seated or standing next to a chair and using it for support whenever needed. The class will end in a peaceful restorative pose and optional gentle shoulder massage. All levels are welcome. Dress comfortably and bring a mat. Cost is $15 class and $10 per class for those 65 years and older. No refunds for missed classes. Advance registration, monthly prepayment and a minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Chair Yoga will be held as follows:

Dates: Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2019

Time: 3 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Thursday Evening Yoga” is for adults. In this “all levels” yoga series, each student is invited to explore and play through the breath and asanas/poses, flowing at their own pace with self-compassion and joy; followed by an optional gentle shoulder massage and restorative pose or Savasana of transformation and peace. All levels are welcome. Dress comfortably and bring a mat. Cost is $15 per class and $10 for those 65 years and older. No refunds for missed classes. Advance registration, monthly payment and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Thursday Evening Yoga will be held as follows:

Dates: Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2019

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Animal Tracking: Uncovering Wildlife in Wintertime” is for families. Be a nature detective and discover evidence of wildlife. Children will become familiar with the footprints of several kinds of wild animals through observation on a short hike. An animal story will be read, and the children will create the story’s events with ink prints of animal tracks on their own map. Cost is $30 per family (up to two adults and two children) or $10 per child, $12 per adult. Advance registration and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Animal Tracking will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2019

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Scout Service Day” is for scouts ages 10 and up. This is an open day for scout troops with adult leaders to attend and work with Environmental Center staff to spread woodchips, remove invasive species and participate in other physical outdoor improvement projects. Please come dressed for outdoor work. Cost is $10 per child. All participants must have a signed liability waiver on file. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Scout Service Day will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2019

Time: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Bug Club” is for children ages 6 to 10. The Bug Club is devoted to children who want to explore the wonders of insects through field walks, games, stories and crafts. Cost is $10 per child per session. Advance registration, payment and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Bug Club meets as follows:

Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Time: 4 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Birding Field Trip in Essex County Weequahic Park” is presented by New Jersey Audubon. This Newark park is a fascinating place to view a variety of gulls, ducks, and geese, plus some woodland birds on their northward migration. All can be viewed along an easy trail around the lake. Enter at Meeker Avenue and Empire Street and meet in the large parking area on the south side of the lake. This is a free event. To register, call 908-396-6386. Birding Field Trip will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2019

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Place: Essex County Weequahic Park

Meeker Avenue

Newark, NJ

“Child & Me: Therapeutic Play-Doh” is for children ages 3 to 7. In this craft, each child will make Play-Doh scented with therapeutic grade essential oils that can help children stay calm and focused. Jenn Forino, founder of plusoils.com, will teach a kid-friendly, mini-workshop on how essential oils can be powerful tools for overall health and wellness. Each child will pick their favorite essential oil aroma to add to their Play-Doh. Cost is $15 per child. Pre-registration and minimum number of participants are required. For more information, call 973-228-8776. Therapeutic Play-Doh will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 16, 2019

Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Horticulture for Seniors” is for senior citizens. Join the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Essex County for this horticulture class especially designed for senior citizens. The topic for March is Raising Rhizomes: Oxalis from A to Z. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. This is a free program. Advance registration is required one week prior to program. For registration or more information, call Helen at 973-731-0717 or the Master Gardner Helpline at 973-228-2210. Horticulture for Seniors will be held as follows:

Date: Monday, March 18, 2019

Time: 1 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

Garibaldi Hall

621A Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Frog Pond Science Club” is for children ages 5 through 9. Uncover and discover ecosystem interactions at the frog pond. Explore with nets, magnifiers and microscopes to investigate what lives at the pond and learn from a naturalist what can be done to protect and conserve the pond inhabitants. Cost is$10 per child per session. Advance registration, payment and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Frog Pond Science Club will meet as follows:

Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2019

Time: 4 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Birding Field Trip in Essex County Hilltop Reservation” is presented by New Jersey Audubon. Explore edge and meadow habitats for spring migrants with an easy walk through the reservation. Meet at Mountain Avenue and Courter Lane, North Caldwell. Cost is $6 for NJA members and $8 for non-members. To register, call 908-396-6386. Birding Field Trip will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2019

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Place: Essex County Hilltop Reservation

Mountain Avenue and Courter Lane

North Caldwell, NJ

“Bird Club” is for children ages 5 through 10. Come explore the wooded wetland and see what birds live here. Use binoculars, field guides, and a keen sense of observation to discover and identify all sorts of birds. Cost is $10 per child per session. Advance registration, payment and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Bird Club will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2019

Time: 4 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Owl Pellet Dissection” is for children ages 7-13. Learn about the beautiful and mysterious silent hunters of the night. Discover what they are eating as predators, prey and food chain dynamics are discussed. Carefully reconstruct the bones found inside owl pellets. Cost is $10 per child. Advance registration and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Owl Pellet Dissection will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2019

Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Build a Bird House” is for adults and children ages 8 and older who are accompanied by an adult. Build a home that encourages breeding birds and other wildlife to take residence. Putting out a bird house now creates a good chance of having a nesting pair of songbirds in the garden by spring. Cost is $10 per child and $12 per adult. (The adult fee is waived for a second adult if one is registered for the “Attract Birds with Native Plants” lecture.) Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Build a Bird House will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 23, 2019

Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Attract Birds with Native Plants” if for adults. The workshop will be led by native plant expert Deb Ellis, who will teach participants how to bring beautiful birds to their backyard by using native bushes, flowers and other tips for creating a bird habitat. This is a great workshop to prepare for gardening season, whether you are a new or experienced gardener. Ellis has had a Certified Backyard Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation since 2005 and became a Master Gardener in 2014. She is a co-leader of the Essex County chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. Cost is $12 per adult. Advance registration and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Attract Birds with Native Plants will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 23, 2019

Time: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“New Jersey Woodturners” is for adults and children ages 3 and up. Learn to turn and discover the wonders of creating art from found pieces of wood. Topics vary by the month. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Cost is $10 per adult and free for NJWA members. Call Gualberto Malave at 908-310-3557 for details. New Jersey Woodturners will meet as follows:

Date: Monday, March 25, 2019

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

Garibaldi Hall

621A Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Essex County South Mountain Reservation Birding Walk” is presented by New Jersey Audubon. Explore the reservoir and other habitats for early migrants with an easy walk through the reservation. Meet in front of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo by the gate to the Reservoir path. Cost is $6 for NJA members and $8 for non-members. To register, call 908-396-6386. Birding Walk will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 30, 2019

Time: 8 a.m.

Meeting Site: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

560 Northfield Avenue

West Orange, NJ

“Eco-Art” is for ages 10 and up. Master Gardener and artist-naturalist Maya Bloom will teach how to make jewelry using recycled and natural materials. All materials will be provided. This is a great class to make gifts (not only jewelry), to incorporate seeds from around the world and to simply have some fun. Cost is $15 per child and $20 per adult. Pre-registration and minimum number of participants are required. For more information, call 973-228-8776. Eco-Art will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 30, 2019

Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Family Yoga” is for ages 5 and up. At this Family Yoga Class, participants will share and enjoy an adventure of calming breath, fun asanas/poses, and gentle stretches with their nearest and dearest in a friendly, go-with-the-flow atmosphere. Cost is $10 per child and $12 per adult. Advance registration and minimum number of participants are required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Family Yoga will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 30, 2019

Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

“Protecting Birds In (Sub)urbia” is for ages 8 and up. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Protect Our Species.” Humans, animals, plants and micro-organism all rely on each other to sustain a healthy planet. Join a Ricoh USA representative in this thoughtful presentation to learn about how through (sub)urban landscapes, the lives of many beautiful inspiring birds are threatened every day. Ricoh USA offers a simple solution to take action for protecting our species together. This is a free program. Protecting Birds will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 30, 2019

Time: 12 p.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue

Roseland, NJ

During the month of March, a photography exhibit titled “Wildlife and Nature” by Jane Murphy will be on exhibit in the Essex County Environmental Center.

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.