Essex County Environmental Center

SUMMER 2019 – Public Programs

The Essex County Environmental Center is located at 621-B Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland in Essex County West Essex Park and is a facility of the Essex County Parks System.

Hours of Operation: 

Monday thru Friday
9:00am to 5:00pm

Saturday
10:00am to 2:00pm

Essex County West Essex Park is open to the public every day from dawn until dusk.

Pre-registration is required for all programs unless otherwise noted.

*** All programs require a minimum number of participants to run.
For more information, please call 973.228.8776.
Visit us at www.essexcountyparks.org

Below is the list of Summer clubs for children:
— Click HERE for program details —

CLUBS FOR CHILDREN:

• Little Explorers Nature Program
  Tuesdays – June 4, 18
  Thursdays – June 6, 20
• Little Explorers Nature Program
  Tuesdays – July 16, 23, 30;  August 6, 20
  Thursdays – July 18, 25;  August 1, 8, 22
• Bio Dome Garden Club
  Tuesdays – June 4;  July 16;  August 6
• Bug Club
  Tuesday – June 11
• Bird Club
  Thursday – June 13
• 4-H Young Gardeners Club
  Tuesdays – June 11, 18, 25;  September 10, 17, 24
  Tuesdays – July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30;  August 13, 20, 27

Below is the list of Summer monthly programs for adults:
— Click HERE for program details —

MONTHLY PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS:

• Horticulture For Seniors
  Monday – June 17
• New Jersey Woodturners
  Mondays – June 24 & July 22
  Wednesday – August 28

Below is the list of Summer birding field trips:
— Click HERE for program details —

NJ Audubon Society Essex County Birding Field Trips:

• Troy Meadows
  Thursday – June 13
• Essex County Hilltop Reservation
  Thursday – July 11
• Essex County Becker Park (Tract)
  Thursday – July 25
• Essex County Hatfield Swamp
  Saturday, June 15
• Essex County South Mountain Reservation
  Saturday, July 13
• Essex County Hatfield Swamp
  Saturday, August 31

Below is the list of June 2019 seasonal programs:
— Click HERE for program details —

JUNE 2019 SEASONAL PROGRAMS:

• Smores n’ More
  Saturday, June 8
• Essential Oil Friendship Bracelets
  Saturday, June 8
• Passaic River Canoe Trip
  Saturday, June 15
• Wild Edible Walk
  Friday, June 21
• Bike Right – Learn to Ride
  Saturday, June 22
• Outdoor Adventures
  Thursday – June 27
• Wilderness Skills Summer Camp
  Wednesday to Friday – June 26, 27, 28 and/or Monday to Wednesday – July 1, 2, 3

Below is the list of July 2019 seasonal programs:
— Click HERE for program details —

JULY 2019 SEASONAL PROGRAMS:

• 4H Outdoor Adventure Camp
  Monday, July 1st through Wednesday, July 3rd
• Essential Oils For Pregnancy, Labor, & Baby
  Tuesday, July 9
• Butterfly Tent Safari
  Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 26
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  Saturday, July 13
• Evening Paddle on the Passaic
  Thursday, July 18
• Bike Right – Learn to Ride
  Friday, July 19
• Buzz into Action with Insect Education
  Saturday, July 20
• Family Walk & Campfire
  Thursday, July 25
• Butterfly Gardening Workshop
  Saturday, July 27

Below is the list of August 2019 seasonal programs:
— Click HERE for program details —

AUGUST 2019 SEASONAL PROGRAMS:

• BuzzFEST
  Saturday, August 3
• Night Hike
  Thursday, August 8
• Walter Kiddie Dinosaur Park Field Trip
  Wednesday, August 14
• Bike Right – Learn to Ride
  Friday, August 16
• Design a Terrarium
  Saturday, August 24
• Essential Oils for Back to School
  Thursday, August 29

Below is the list of photography on exhibit:
— Click HERE for program details —

PHOTOGRAPHY ON EXHIBIT:

• JUNE
  Summer Camp Adventures at Essex County Environmental Center
• JULY
  Bold and Brilliant Butterflies of Northern New Jersey
• AUGUST
  Wildlife and Nature

— Click HERE for program details —

LOOKING AHEAD:

• 2019 Essex County Parks Photography Contest
  Submissions are due by Wednesday, September 11
• Labor Day Paddle
  Monday, September 2
• 15th Annual Fall Family Festival
  Saturday, September 28
• Frog Bond Fun Camp
  Monday, October 14

EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE, AND DISCOVER AT 
THE ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

The Essex County Environmental Center is situated in a wooded wetland habitat with access to the Passaic River which makes for an interesting and affordable site to book a naturalist-led field trip for school groups, scouts, adult and community groups.

Book our state-of-the art facility for an educational birthday party, community event, or a corporate business outing.  Take advantage of this County facility, stay local and explore the nature of Essex in your own “backyard”!

Programs for Adults and Children to Enjoy!

• Book a Field Trip/Outreach for your School, Scout, Adult or Community Group
• Lenape Learning Programs with Traditional Earth Skills
• Professional Development Workshops for Educators
• Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Fall Family Celebrations
• Spring, Summer, Winter & Holiday Break Camps
• Sustainable Homes & Habitats Gingerbread & Parks Photo Contests
• Adult Yoga & Meditation Programs
• Nature Birthday Parties
• Tot and Pre-K Little Explorers Club, Bug Clubs
• Healthy Living Kids Club & Gardening Programs

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 4-H  –  Join us at the County Fair!  K-12 youth are invited to enter projects in the 4-H Fall 2019 County Fair.  The Fair will be held in partnership with Essex County’s Annual Fall Family Festival at the Essex County Environment Center on Saturday, September 28th.  a detailed Fair submission book can be found at  http://essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h    Youth can subit projects in any of the fall divisions including:  Outdoor Gardening, Food and Nutrition, Fruits and Vegetables, and Miscellaneous.  Projects will be judged, showcased and ribbons will be given to all submissions.  Scouts, school groups and homeschool groups are encouraged to submit projects.  Also, adults, please look out for a new adult division for Fruits and Vegetables!
• ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION –  Meetings are typically held the firs Monday of each month at 6pm at the Essex County Environmental Center.  Some dates may change.  For an up to date listing of meetings dates or for more information, please contact Essex County Environmental Affairs Coordinator Tara M. Casella at 973-228-8776.
• FARMERS MARKET QUALITY PRODUCE –  Delivered to Essex County Environmental Center
  Sign-up for Field Goods to get delightful variety of fresh and healthy, sustainably grown produce and artisan products.  Fruits and Vegetable Bag subscriptions as well as a la carte local produce items, bread, cheese, eggs, pasta, salad, yogurt, and more from over 60 small farms and producers.  Orders start at $16.  New customers save $10 with code REALFOOD10.  Produce is non-GMO and mostly organic.  Go to  www.field-goods.com click “Order Now” and search Essex County Environmental Center location.
• GARDENING –  Do you have garden-related questions?  Contact the Rugers Cooperative Extension of Essex County and a Master Gardener will gladly assist you on their FREE helpline service.  Helpline hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm.  Call 973.228.2210 or e-mail mastergardenerec@gmail.com
• WOODTURNING –  The NJ Woodturners Association would like to diversify its membership and gain more participation from women and children.  The association has half a dozen very talented female members, but is encouraging women and children to come to the meetings and learn about the wonderful world of woodturning.  The Woodturners meet on the fourth Monday of every month from 7pm to 9:30pm in Garibaldi Hall.  Contact Bob Amarant at 908.442.4729 for more information.

To register or to inquire about Essex County Environmental Center Programs, please call us at 973.228.8776.  To register or for more information about programs sponsored by our partner agencies, please refer to the contact list below and reach out to the agency directly.  –  Thank you!

ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER PARTNER AGENCIES

• New Jersey Audubon (NJA) – Kelly Wenzel 908.396.6506
• Essex County Beekeepers Society (ECBS) – Joe Lelinho 973.403.8662
• West Essex Park Conservancy (WEPC) – Ron Pate 973.669.8030
• Rutgers Master Gardeners of Essex County (MGEC) – Jan Zientek 973.228.3179
• New Jersey Woodturners Association (NJWA) – Bob Amarant 908.442.4729
• Essex County 4-H Youth Development Program (4-H) – Marissa Blodnik 973.353.1337

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.  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.

—  Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive

ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

• Brendan W. Gill, President, Freeholder-At-Large
• Wayne L. Richardson, Vice President, Freeholder District 2
• Patricia Sebold, Freeholder-At-Large
• Rufus I. Johnson, Freeholder-At-Large
• Romaine Graham, Freeholder-At-Large
• Robert Mercado, Freeholder District 1
• Tyshammie L. Cooper, Freeholder District 3
• Leonard M. Luciano, Freeholder District 4
• Carlos M. Pomares, Freeholder District 5

COUNTY OF ESSEX
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs
ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
621-B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068
973.228.876/www.essexcountyparks.org

Putting Essex County First

ATTENTION:
If you are not already on our e-mail list, and you would like to receive an electronic file of our brochure as well as other e-notices and alerts, please call the Center (973.228.8776) or e-mail tcasella@parks.essexcountynj.org with an e-mail address.  Thank you!