Community Corner
Seeds and Rocks and Bugs, Oh My!
Essex County Environmental Center Offers Summer Nature Programs and Clubs for Kids
Let’s face it. In addition to the wonderful smell of roses and the harmonic hoots of owls, nature has an icky side. Mud and moss, crawly things and bats are all part of the package, maybe that is why kids love it so much.
As the school year comes to a close, the Essex County Environmental Center is offering a wide selection of clubs and programs for kids, many of them offering hands-on experiences with both the lovely and the icky facets of nature. Located on Eagle Rock Avenue within the West Essex Park in Roseland, the center sits along the Passaic River among 1,360 acres of undeveloped wetlands, providing many opportunities for exploration and observation of nature at its best. If you would like to keep your child plugged into learning over the summer in a fun and interactive way, read on for a list of programs and clubs offered between June and August, provided by the Environmental Center.
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OUTSIDE NATURE DISCOVERIES CLUB
Monday—June 11, 4pm to 5pm
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For children ages 5 & 6. Come venture into our wooded wetland with magnifiers, trowels, containers and more to observe living things in their environment. The curriculum is not structured; we will discover as we explore. Dress for the weather as all classes will be outside. Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child per session
BUG CLUB
Tuesday— June 12, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 6 to 10. The Bug Club is devoted to young people who want to explore the wonders of insects through field walks, games, stories and crafts. Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child per session (additional material fees may apply)
GREEN KIDS CLUB
Tuesday— June 19, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 7 to 12. Discover all areas of environmental science with hands-on fun and service projects! Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child per session (additional material fees may apply)
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUB
Wednesday— June 6, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 7 to 12. Let’s get outside and see where the hour takes us. We just might build forts, collect firewood, skip rocks, tell stories, dig for critters, spot wildlife, play tag and more. Let’s blow like the wind. The hour will be directed by club members under the guidance of a Staff Naturalist who will facilitate all free-play activities. Dress for the weather as all classes will be outside. Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child per session
Nature Crafts with Children CLUB
Wednesdays— June 13, July 11, August 8, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 7 to 12. To craft means to make something with your hands, and people have been making crafts since time began. Nature provides us with colors and patterns that are gifts of the Earth. Yes, we shall make some beautiful crafts, but you will also likely discover a deeper love of the Earth. Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $8 per child per session (includes a $2 material fee)
Nature Discovery Garden Club
Wednesdays—June 20, July 18, August 15 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 7 to 12. Whether your garden is outdoors or a pot on a windowsill, you’ll learn about how plants live and grow. You will discover many exciting things about nature such as how weather, temperature and seasons affect all living things, how living things come out of seeds and soil, how earthworms, bees and other wildlife help in the garden and how our whole environment works together like an amazing puzzle. Come get in touch with the world in which you live! Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $8 per child per session (includes a $2 material fee)
ROCK-N-ROLL GEOLOGY CLUB
Tuesday—June 26, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 7 to 12. Revel in the fascinating formations of Earth’s geologic creations. Hands-on club activities include exploring local geology, discovering what’s in local soil, and identifying rocks and minerals. Advance registration and payment are required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child per session (additional material fees may apply)
4-H YOUNG GARDENERS CLUB
Tuesdays— June 26, July 10, 17, 24 &31, August 7, 14, 21 &28, 4pm to 5pm
For children in 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? Come join the Young Gardener's 4-H Club to find the answers to these questions and more. Learning and fun happen all the time here! Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advance registration required; please call 973.353.1338 x103
4-H LEGO CLUB
Fridays— June 1, July 6, August 3; 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Saturdays— June 2, July 7, August 4; 10:30am to 11:30am
For children in grades 3 through 6. Come use your imagination and build animals, castles, and more with other children who are interested in Legos. Friday classes meet in Garibaldi Hall, Saturday classes meet in the main Center. Advance registration is required; please call 973.353.1338 x103
LITTLE SPROUTS GARDENING SERIES
Fridays—June 1, 8, 15 & 29
3 year olds—11am to 12pm
Fridays—June 1, 8, 15 & 29
4 & 5 year olds—3:45pm to 4:45pm
The simple act of cultivating a garden can open up a world of growth, learning and enjoyment. A garden for young children rarely resembles a typical adult garden, but children still love to grow plants too. Join your child in a 4-week program as you both gain a new appreciation for the Earth, the food it produces, the beauty of its flowers and the importance of plants. Advance registration and monthly payment is required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $32 per child
Stop, Don’t Throw that Garbage Away!
Thursday, June 21, 5:30pm to 7pm
Ages 6 and up. Join Essex County 4-H to help save the environment as we learn how to reuse and recycle "used" items into unique and imaginative crafts. Bring your newspapers, magazines, and egg cartons to create some amazing little critters and gift ideas you can use for any occasion. Advance registration is required; call 973.353.1338 x103. Fee: $10 per person
Moveable Models
Saturday, July 7, 11:30am to 1pm
Ages 5 and up. Have you ever wanted to build your own cars, bugs, machines, or even roller coasters? Join Essex County 4-H to create your own moveable models. Come prepared to build creations of your own imagination or test your direction making power to build a magnificent model following detailed directions. Advance registration is required; call 973.353.1338 x103. Fee: $10 per person
SUNSET PADDLE ON THE PASSAIC RIVER
Tuesday, July 10, 6pm to 8pm
For adults and children ages 10 and older. A leisurely evening canoe ride provides wonderful opportunities to view wildlife at dusk. All equipment is included. Some paddling experience is helpful but beginners are welcome. Advance registration is required; call 973.228.8776. Meet in the Garibaldi Hall parking lot. Fee: $30 per canoe
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR
Saturday, July 14, 10am to 11am or 12pm to 1pm
For ages 3½ to 5. Join Ms. Barbara for the reading of the Very Hungry Caterpillar, learn about their metamorphosis from egg to adult, and paint and create your own caterpillar craft. This program includes a few minutes in our live butterfly tent. Advance registration is required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child, $8 per adult
BUTTERFLY TENT SAFARI
Monday, July 16 through Friday, July 27, 12pm to 3pm
For all ages. Flutter on over and visit our live butterfly tent. All are welcome to make-and-take a butterfly craft and participate in table activities. $2 suggested donation to the Essex County Parks Foundation
BUZZ INTO ACTION WITH INSECT FUN AND GAMES
Saturday, July 21, 10am to 11am OR 12pm to 1pm
For children ages 5 and up. Love Insects? Join us for a family fun and hands-on presentation all about Bugs n’ Butterflies. This program includes a few minutes in our live butterfly tent. Advance registration is required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child, $8 per adult
SUNSET PADDLE ON THE PASSAIC RIVER
Monday, August 6, 6pm to 8pm
For adults and children ages 10 and older. A leisurely evening canoe ride provides wonderful opportunities to view wildlife at dusk. All equipment is included. Some paddling experience is helpful but beginners are welcome. Advance registration is required; call 973.228.8776. Meet in the Garibaldi Hall parking lot. Fee: $30 per canoe
TWILIGHT HIKE
Thursday, August 9, 6:30pm to 8pm
All ages are welcome. Discover what lives at the Environmental Center after the sun goes down. First we’ll make our own insect repellant, and then we’ll wander in the wooded wetland to look for whoooo might be awake. Advanced registration is required; call 973.228.8776. Fee: $6 per child, $8 per adult
Junior Scientist Laboratory 101
Thursday, August 16, 5:30pm to 7pm
Ages six and up. Step into the 4-H laboratory and experience the fun (and dirty) side of science. Bring your sense of adventure and join our mad scientists to experience what happens when you start mixing and matching chemicals and creating your own mad science lab. Please wear clothing that can get dirty and maybe even destroyed! Advance registration is required; call 973.353.1338 x103. Fee: $10 per person