Clinton Township Newsletter

2 0 f e b r u a r y 2 0 2 2 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M TOT WALKS: GROUNDHOGS: Session A: Wednesday, February 2, 9:30 am to 10:15 am. Session B: Thursday, February 3, 9:30 am to 10:15 am. Location: Echo Hill. Ages: 2 through 3 (children must be accompanied by an adult). Cost: Each walk $5 per child; accompanying adult attends for free (pre- registration required). Instructor: Laura Bush, Principal Park Naturalist. Class size: 6 children. Registration: please return our registration forms (https:// www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/ProgramRegistrationForms.html) with payment. Join Ms. Laura on these early adventures to discover nature at your local park! Leave the strollers behind as we take a walk outside to see plants and animals around us. Each 45-minute program will consist of reading a story and taking a walk on each theme. We will also provide a take-home craft. Dress for the weather as we will be outside the entire time. Please select Session A or B. ADVENTURES ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: Date: Monday, February 7. Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Location: Virtual Program. Ages: 8 through adult recommended (children must be accompanied by an adult). Cost: free! (pre-registration required). Instructor: Laura Bush, Principal Park Naturalist. Registration: https://hunterdoncountynj.webex.com/ hunterdoncountynj/onstage/g.php?MTID=e4c4111c921f73e117ccc7edfb2 f8f015. The Appalachian Trail stretches 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. Approximately 3 million people visit this National Scenic Trail every year, including day hikers, section hikers, and thru-hikers. Join Principal Park Naturalist Laura Bush, who has hiked 1000 miles of the trail, for stories on the history and ecology of the trail. Learn about day hikes you can do on the Appalachian Trail here in New Jersey! Feb 1: Winter Activity Box at Hunterdon County Arboretum Feb 2: Tot Walks Groundhogs 9:30 am - 10:15 am at Echo Hill Virtual Tour of Hunterdon County Parks: Teetertown 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (virtual) Feb 3: Tot Walks Groundhogs 9:30 am - 10:15 am at Echo Hill Feb 6: Maple Tree Tapping 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm at Echo Hill Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Backyard 6:30 - 7:30 pm (virtual) Feb 7: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail 7:00 - 8:00 pm (virtual) Feb 8: Woven Heart Lawn Art 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm (virtual) Feb 9: Senior Stroll at Deer Path Park 9:00 am - 10:30 am Homeschool: Water Issues 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (virtual) Black Bears & Hunterdon 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (virtual) Feb 11: Evening Walk for Screech Owls 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm at Sunnyside Picnic Area & 911 Memorial Feb 13: Introduction to Cold Weather Skills 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Echo Hill Feb 16: FREE Recreation Walks 9:30 am - 11:00 am at Columbia Trail Maple Sap Collection 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm at Echo Hill Danah's Basket 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm (virtual) Feb 17: Owls of Hunterdon 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (virtual) Feb 20: Nature Kids: Maple Sugaring 1:00 - 2:00 pm at Echo Hill Feb 26: Naturalist Hike at Miquin 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Miquin Woods Feb 27: Maple Sap Collection 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm at Echo Hill Feb 28: Early Signs of Spring Walk 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm at Hunterdon County Arboretum NATURALIST HIKE AT MIQUIN: Date: Saturday, February 26. Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Location: Miquin Woods Preserve. Ages: 10 through adult (children must be accompanied by an adult). Cost: $3 per person (pre- registration required). Instructor: Laura Bush, Principal Park Naturalist. Class size: 14 participants. Registration: please return our registration forms (https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/ProgramRegistrationForms. html) with payment. Hike with Principal Park Naturalist Laura Bush and find out what is happening in nature in winter! Enjoy the woods, scenic pond, and the Spruce Run stream that bisects the preserve. See evidence of beavers. Learn a little about the history of the property, which was formerly a Boy Scout camp. We will hike about three miles over terrain that can be a little wet and/or rocky so please be prepared. We will meet at the entrance, 326 Newport Road, Glen Gardner (Lebanon Township). Please note that no restroom facility is available. EARLY SIGNS OF SPRING WALK: Date: Monday, February 28. Time: 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Location: Arboretum. Ages: All ages (children must be accompanied by an adult). Cost: $3 per person (pre-registration required). Instructor: Laura Bush, Principal Park Naturalist. Class size: 14 participants. Registration: please return our registration forms (https:// www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/ProgramRegistrationForms.html) with payment. Although it is still February, spring is just a few weeks away! Explore the Arboretum for the earliest signs of spring, like skunk cabbage spikes, flowering witch hazel, snowdrops, and buds. We may also hear some birds starting up their courtship songs, which is more dependent on light than temperature. Get outside and explore to see the subtle changes in nature! Please dress for the weather. Please note that the restroom facility consists of a portajohn. WINTER ACTIVITY BOX: Dates: available through February 2022. Location: Pick up at Hunterdon County Arboretum. Ages: 4 through 8 recommended. Cost: $20 per box (pre-registration required). Enjoy winter nature fun from home with your very own Winter Activity Box! Participants will receive a box containing self-paced instruction and fun on the topics of Weather, Hibernation, Trees in Winter, Animal Evidence, and Owls. Each topic will be explored with a short introductory video online (link comes in the box), an outdoor component like a scavenger hunt or walk, a game or activity, a craft, and recommendations for further study (books or other Parks programs). All instructions and specialty materials will be included. Some projects will require basic materials found around the home, like crayons or a sturdy stick. Special needs and requests can be considered on a case-by-case basis for all programming and materials. To sign up for an activity box, please return our registration form (co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/ parks/forms/ProgramRegistrationForm.pdf) with payment. Once we receive your registration, we will contact you within a few business days to pick up your Winter Activity Box from the Arboretum. Boxes will be made to order and will not be available without pre-registration. These boxes contain one of each project and are meant to be used by one child. Some included activities, like a tree scavenger hunt, will lend themselves to an entire family or group participating. Please note: these are the same activities included with the winter 2020-2021 activity box. W H a t ' s H a p p e n i n g t H i s m O n t H a t H u n t e r d O n p a r K s a n d r e C r e a t i O n ? Hunterdon Parks & Recreation | County Arboretum, 1020 Highway 31, Lebanon, NJ 08833 www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/parks.htm | email: parks@co.hunterdon.nj.u "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." ~ The 14th Dalai Lama "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." ~ Jimi Hendrix

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