15 Ways to Get Outside This Season

As the higher numbers on the thermometer indicate it might be safe to venture outside again, opportunities to do just that are increasing.

The Environmental Education Center has activities for all ages to learn more about their surroundings and start enjoying the great outdoors.

"They start for children who are very young, from infants all the way through adults, and we try to offer a wide variety of topics that will both educate and entertain, and hopefully will bring people outside," said Catherine Schrein, manager of the Environmental Science Department for the Somerset County Park Commission. "It's our hope that we will be able to bring people back outside so they can play a little more."

A new program for the center is "Organic Vegetable Gardening," for families and friends on Saturday, March 27 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

"I think that this program is going to be of particular interest to people because there are so many people who want to venture out and start their own home gardens these days," Schrein said. "We're going to share with them the basics of vegetable gardening and how they can start seeds for their garden, talk about the soil they would need to get it started."

Another new program, called "Consume Green," will be held Wednesday, April 7. Families will learn how they can reduce their ecological footprint. "We'll talk about how to go shopping for food and what types of ingredients you would be looking for, and looking at how you can change your lifestyle," she said.

For those looking to get outdoors on the water, the center offers canoeing and kayaking programs. "We will teach folks how to do the strokes so they can learn the right way to paddle, and then once they have their skills down, we offer a wide variety of programming, whether it's just a couple of hours on the pond behind the building, or going down to the Passaic River, or doing a full weekend trip on the water," Schrein said.

To learn more about caring for nature along with experiencing it, the center will hold an outdoor environmental fair for Earth Day on Sunday, April 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fair, called "Project: E.A.R.T.H.," will discuss climate change, recycling, composting, energy conservation, and more. More information about the event, which is being sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, can be found on the website.

Another new program to look for in May will be titled "Deer Wrangling," for families and friends. The program will discuss the deer population and ways to keep deer out of gardens in an ecologically healthy way. It will even give information on what to do if you hit a deer with your car.

For more information or to register visit their website or call 908-766-2489. Advance payment and registration are required for most programs.

March Children's Programs

• Wake Up Already! Nature hike for ages 4-6 | Monday, March 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Eww! Gross! Nature hike for ages 7-9 | Monday, March 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Sound + Motion = Communication about animal sounds for ages 3-5 | Wednesday, March 24 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Magical Science for ages 7-9 | Wednesday, March 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Nature Hikes for Tykes for ages 2-3 | Thursday, March 25 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Little Green Thumbs for ages 4-6 | Saturday, March 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• Egg-Stravaganza egg hunt and coloring
  • For ages 3-5 with parent | Sunday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • For ages 4-6 with parent | Sunday, March 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

March Adult and Family Programs

• Jamaica Bay, Mon adult birding | Monday, March 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• A Walk to Remember adult swamp hike repeated throughout the year | Wednesday, March 24 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
• Paper Making out of recycled materials for families | Saturday, March 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.