The following is a list of activities being offered through the Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, NJ. Some programs are offered free without registration requirements; some will require advanced registration as indicated below. A fee of $5 per vehicle will be charged to all motor vehicles entering the park for daytime prorams on weekends and holidays through Monday 9/6 (Labor day). Programs will initially meet at the Nature Center unless otherwise indicated. Attendance is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be accompanied by an adult. In the event of inclement weather, some programs might be canceled. It is always advisable to call ahead before coming out. Phone: (609) 737-0609.
July
NATURAL DYES (all ages) Sunday July 4, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Many interesting colors can be derived from wild plants. Come out to learn how several of our more common plants can be coaxed to yield dyes for coloring natural fabrics and take home a few samples of your own. Advanced registration required. Park vehicle entrance fee; $5.00 per car.
NIGHT HIKE (6 yrs. - adult) Saturday July 10, 8:30 p.m. Explore the park for nature at night and have some good old fashioned fun on this naturalist-guided hike and campfire. Advanced registration required. Bring a flashlight. Enter the park from the entrance on Bear Tavern Rd (Phillips Farm/ Group Camping Entrance) and follow the event signs. to the Nature Center. Free
POND STUDY (6 - 10 yr. old) Sunday July 18, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Kids will use pond nets to collect and examine the various organisms that inhabit our pond. Meet at the pond by the park service entrance off of Church Road in Titusville. Advanced registration required Free.
FAMILY NATURE WALK (all ages) Sunday July 25, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join us for an informal naturalist-guided trail walk. Park vehicle entrance fee; $5.00 per car
August
NIGHT HIKE (6 yrs. - adult) Saturday August 7, 8:30 p.m. Explore the park for nature at night and have some good old fashioned fun on this naturalist-guided hike and campfire. Advanced Registration required after 7/16. Bring a flashlight. Enter the park from the entrance on Bear Tavern Rd (Phillips Farm/ Group Camping Entrance) and follow the event signs to the Nature Center. Free
POND STUDY (6 - 10 yr. old) Sunday August 22, 1:30 - 3 p.m. Kids will use pond nets to collect and examine the various organisms that inhabit our pond. Meet at the pond by the park service entrance off of Church Road in Titusville. Advanced registration required after 7/20. Free.
MONARCH MADNESS (all ages) Saturday August 28, 1 to 2:30 p.m. The monarch butterfly is a summertime classic here in Washington Crossing State Park. Come out for an introduction to the life cycle of this fascinating insect. We’ll show you how to locate monarch eggs and larva and how to build a simple hatchery for raising the creatures. Advanced registration required after 7/28. Park vehicle entrance fee; $5.00 per car.
September
SOLAR OBSERVATION (all ages) Saturday September 11, 1 to 4 p.m. View naturalistic activity on the sun safely through a telescope equipped with a special filter. Observe sunspots, solar flares, prominences, and other solar phenomena as they are available. Learn how these storms can affect the earth as well as other interesting facts about our planet’s closest star. Gene Ramsey of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton will conduct this activity. Clear skies required. (rain date: 9/18) Free.
TREES OF THE PARK (adult) Sunday September 12, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Washington Crossing State Park is home to scores of species of native trees and shrubs as well as many non-natives that have become naturalized. Join the park naturalist on a walk and learn how to identify many of the most common species. Free.
NATURE CRAFTS (all ages) Sunday September 19, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Leaves, seeds, fall wildflowers and other artifacts of nature will all be utilized to create an interesting wall hanging in a surf clam shell. Come out to the Nature Center and let your imagination run wild. Advanced registration required. after 8/18. Free.
FAMILY NATURE WALK (all ages) Sunday September 26, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join us for an informal naturalist-guided trail walk. Free.
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