Great Escape

Explore Environmental Center on Earth Day Scavenger Hunt

Play a game that also teaches about our natural environment — our backyard swamp!

Sometimes there's just not enough days to go around, but each week we'll give you an idea of something to do to relax, spend time with family and just take some time for yourself. Next Sunday, April 28, you can celebrate Earth Day and also go on an exciting scavenger hunt when Somerset County's Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge presents the 5th annual Project E.A.R.T.H. (Environment.Awareness .Responsibility.Teaching.Hope) celebration. Project E.A.R.T.H — Swamp Search! will provide adventure, exercise and even cool prizes after a hunt along the EEC's trails that also will educate participants about the importance of the Great Swamp as an ecological and recreational resource. The even is scheduled for noon to 4:30 p.m. at the …

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Solar Panels Restored on EEC, First County Building to Have Them

Ribbon cutting for new solar installation after 20 years.

When the Somerset County Park Commission's Environmental Education Center was built in Basking Ridge in 1976, it was one of the first educational buildings in the nation to have solar panels as one of the primary features. On Thursday, Somerset County officials gathered outside the building at 190 Lord Stirling Road in the township for an official ribbon cutting on a new solar installation that will keep the wooded EEC building current for today's solar technology. "It's particularly fitting that we're unveiling solar panels here at the  Environmental Education Center, which was one of the first educational facilities in the U.S. to feature solar panels back in the 1970s," said  Freeholder Patricia Walsh, park commission liaison. "Now that…

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Community Art Show Reception on Sunday

Bernards Township artists will display pieces at the Environmental Education Center through April; Mayor's awards Sunday.

More than 20 Bernards Township artists are be featured through the Parks & Recreation Department’s 2nd annual Community Art Show, on display through April at the Environmental Education Center at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. Opening reception and Mayor's awards on Sunday An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the EEC, to officially welcome all the artists and announce the 2013 Mayor’s Arts Awards.  The Mayor’s Arts Awards, first established in 2011, honors those demonstrating leadership and dedication to the fine and performing arts in Bernards Township. All artists are adults who reside in Bernards Township. Their artwork spans all mediums, including oils, watercolors, photography and sculpture. The …

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Ridge Student Art Show Will Focus on Geckos

Fourth annual art and nature show highlights work of Advanced Placement studio arts students at Ridge High School.

"The Order of Squamata from the Animalia Kingdom," the annual Ridge High School Advanced Placement studio art class show portraying a nature-oriented theme, opened this month at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge and will continue through March 17. A reception for the student artists and their families, friends and art fans is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday night at the EEC at 190 Lord Stirling Road. This year's show — with exhibits from 24 Ridge artists — will feature mostly charcoal, crayon, oil paint and Sharpie pen drawings of geckos, said Jane Parks, environmental events specialist at the EEC. This is the fourth annual art show with Six-foot gecko sculpture to be part of exhibit Although the exhibit opened on …

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Mayor's Saturday Ski Event Turns into Walk Instead

Even with little snow, 2013 Mayor Carolyn Gaziano will host first event in 'Mayor's Wellness Campaign.'

If weather forecasts were accurate, and the Basking Ridge area got enough snow on Friday as predicted, then new Mayor Carolyn Gaziano said she would host her first Mayor's fitness event, cross country skiing, this Saturday morning. Walk instead at 9 a.m. on Saturday at EEC Even with too little snow, Gaziano said that all members of the public are invited to enjoy conversation with the mayor while exercising from 9 to 10 a.m. in the setting of the Somerset County Environmental Education Center at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. Gaziano said in an email that she will meet instead for a walk on the trails of the center. Skiing is only allowed at the EEC when there is more than four inches of snow on the trails and only on trails in …

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EEC Student Art Show on Nature Lasts Through Jan. 27

Students from 21 schools in Somerset County have work showcased at environmental center.

For more than 20 years, the Somerset County Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge have invited children from throughout the county to display their vision of nature at the annual "Nature Through a Child's Eye" exhibit. This year's show, with more then 500 works of art from 21 elementary and middle schools throughout Somerset County, opened on Jan. 2 and will continue through Jan. 27 at the EEC at 190 Lord Stirling Road. This past weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, the EEC held another event that Environmental Sciences Catherine Schrein called "one of the highlights of our year."  Annual reception welcomes hundreds of student artists and their families Those children whose work is on display this month were invited to a …

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More Than 500 Student Artists to Exhibit at Nature Center

Children from 21 schools in Somerset County portray their feelings about nature at exhibit at the EEC in Basking Ridge.

On the day following New Year's, the Somerset County Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge will open its annual "Nature Through a Child's Eye" art show, with pieces produced by students from all Bernards Township elementary schools, the Bedwell Elementary School in Bernardville and other schools. All in all, more than 500 children from 21 schools throughout Somerset County have contributed pieces that portray how they feel about nature — sometimes using materials from nature in their art, said EEC naturalist Vanessa Darras. The exhibit at the center at 190 Lord Stirling Road, part of the county park commission, runs every day from Wednesday, Jan. 2 through Sunday, Jan. 27, except major holidays. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and …

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