PRE-REGISTRATION MAY BE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS
No walk-ins for programs that require pre-registration
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Birding the Meadows
The Nature Conservancy's South Cape May Meadows 692 Sunset Blvd, Cape May, NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO naturalists for this 2-hour walk around The Nature Conservancy's South Cape May Meadows property! The spring birding can be very rewarding at this freshwater wetland for lingering waterfowl and migrant shorebirds. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. COST: $8 members, $12 nonmembers. Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today! IMPORTANT INFORMATION: We bird in all weather. Be sure to check the forecast in advance and dress in layers appropriate for prevailing weather conditions. The weather in Cape May can differ considerably from nearby inland areas and may be warmer, colder, or windier so it’s best to be over prepared. We may have to bird in the rain, so please bring your rain gear. TRANSPORTATION: We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. We reserve the right to substitute leaders, if necessary, though this rarely happens. REGISTER HERE
Creative Hands Club: Spring Button Bouquets
Nature Center of Cape May 1600 Delaware Avenue, Cape May, NJ, United StatesCreate colorful button bouquets to brighten up your space this spring. We will use a variety of buttons, foam, felt, jewels, and other materials to design flowers. Then we will arrange them into bouquets to be placed in “vases” of upcycled salt and pepper shakers. These are adorable! Pre-registration is required. COST: $30 Members, $38 Non-member. CANCELLATION POLICY: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. REGISTER HERE
NJ Audubon Learning the Birds by Song Series
New Jersey Audubon's Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary 11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville, NJ, United StatesLed by Randy Little, Associate Naturalist For beginners and those with some experience, this birding-by-song series will improve your bird identification skills. More often than not, birds are heard before they are seen (if seen at all!) Learning their songs will add another dimension to your birdwatching. Randy Little is a former NJA board member and long-time NJA volunteer. Randy learned birding as a youngster under the wings of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s founders and is a master at recording bird songs for the Cornell Lab. This series will begin Thursday March 2 and continue every Thursday evening until April 6. March 2 & 9 classes will cover the winter resident birds, March 16 & 23 classes will cover the early migrant birds, and March 30 & April 6 classes will cover the summer resident birds. After the end of the series participants may join Randy for a free, outdoor, “practical hands-on” Learning the Birds by Song walk at the Sanctuary. COST PER CLASS: $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today! IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This class will be held in-person at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary. Registration and fee are per class. You must pre-register for each class you wish to attend. One person per ticket. Ticket sales ends at 4:00 PM on the day before each class. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. REGISTER HERE
Raritan Bay Waterfront Park
Raritan Bay Waterfront Park 201 John T O'Leary Boulevard, South Amboy, NJ, United StatesEarly spring birding for loons, grebes, gulls, & migrants. If winds are right, we could have a modest hawk flight. Raritan Bay Waterfront Park has long been known as a concentration point for Bonaparte's Gulls in spring. If we're lucky a Little Gull or Black-headed Gull could be among them. The bay usually hosts a variety of waterbirds in early spring and some landbird migrants could be around. Once you enter the park, go north and park at the end of the lot close to the bay. Be prepared for easy walking for 3 hours. Restrooms on site. Led by Scott Barnes and Hank Burk. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED COST: $15 Members, $20 Non-members REGISTER HERE
Muddy Hands Academy: SPRING 2023
Lorrimer Sanctuary 790 Ewing Avenue, Franklin Lakes, NJ, United StatesNew Jersey Audubon's Muddy Hands Academy - utilizing a Nature Preschool model. A great choice for your 3–6-year old's! *Free to apply! * Looking for a way to add nature learning to your little one's week? Join New Jersey Audubon Staff as we use local phenomena to explore the world around us. Children will spend their time outdoors on the Lorrimer Sanctuary property bouncing between hands-on, inquiry-based activities and free-play to help them develop their own understanding of the natural world. We will use Nature as a guide during this twice weekly program over a period of eight weeks. Lessons will include activities focused on natural history topics, a story and craft, age-appropriate risk taking, all with attention to mindfulness and fun. Children must be a minimum of 3 to enroll and cannot be older than 6 years old to participate. All children in Muddy Hands Academy must be potty-trained and bathroom independent. The Muddy Hands Academy utilizes a Nature Preschool model with children spending as much time as possible outdoors. Children should be prepared for the weather including wet and muddy conditions. Class sizes are limited to 5 children per session. New Jersey Audubon’s Lorrimer Sanctuary is not a licensed childcare center. PLEASE NOTE: this application does not guarantee your child(ren)s acceptance into the program. COST: For entire 8-week program, 1 day a week (Friday) from 9 am to 12 noon. $960 for New Jersey Audubon Members $1000 for New Jersey Audubon Non-Members *NO COST TO APPLY! * YOUR EDUCATORS: Alexa Fantacone has been an Environmental Educator in Bergen County for a decade. Mary Birrer has taught Environmental Education curriculum in nature centers throughout New Jersey, and most recently ran Lorrimer Sanctuary’s Summer Camp experience. LOCATION: Lorrimer Sanctuary@ 790 Ewing Ave, Franklin Lakes NJ 07417 DAYS: Wednesdays and Fridays, from March 22nd, 2023 - May 12th, 2023 TIME: 9:00am-12:00pm. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. REGISTER HERE
Morning Walk at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
New Jersey Audubon's Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary 11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville, NJ, United StatesEnjoy a quiet morning at the Sanctuary walking the trails with an NJ Audubon staff or Associate Naturalist. Enjoy a quiet morning here at the Sanctuary walking the trails with an NJ Audubon staff or Associate Naturalist. These walks are informal and informative: birds, trees, tracks, wildflowers, reptiles, and amphibians are a few of nature’s wonders waiting for us to discover. The walks are cancelled if there is snow, rain, or weather warnings. Registration required by 4:00 PM the day before the walk. You must pre-register, walk-ins will not be allowed to participate. One person per ticket. COST: Free for members, $5 nonmembers. Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today! IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please bring binoculars if you have them. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. REGISTER HERE
Birding Cape May Point
Cape May Point State Park Hawkwatch Platform NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO naturalists for 2 hours of birding around beautiful Cape May Point! The “shoulder season” in Cape May is a wonderful time for birding and there’s no better place to do it than the Cape May Point State Park. With its diversity of habitat – beach, dunes, ponds, forest, and marsh – it’s the perfect spot for migrating waterfowl, songbirds and shorebirds to stop and refuel as the push of spring migration begins. We’ll travel the trails, check out CMBO’s Northwood Center and other surrounding hotspots on The Point, as we soak up the wonder of this annual phenomenon of Nature. Join us every Saturday for 2 hours of birding at the Cape May Point State Park and let us share with you the wonder of this special time of year. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. COST: $8 members, $12 nonmembers. Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today! IMPORTANT INFORMATION: We bird in all weather. Be sure to check the forecast in advance and dress in layers appropriate for prevailing weather conditions. The weather in Cape May can differ considerably from nearby inland areas and may be warmer, colder, or windier so it’s best to be over prepared. We may have to bird in the rain, so please bring your rain gear. TRANSPORTATION: We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. We reserve the right to substitute leaders, if necessary, though this rarely happens. REGISTER HERE
The Backyard and Beyond Exhibit
NJ, United StatesRobert Mathewson is a full-time professional photographer. In recent years, wildlife photography and specifically bird photograph has become a passion of his. His photographic journey from Backyard to Beyond will be on display at the Wayrick Wildlife Art Gallery through April 30, 2023. Artist’s reception on Sunday February 5th, 2023 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM. The Art Gallery is open Fridays 9:30 – 4:30, Saturdays 9:30 – 4:30 and Sundays 12 noon – 5pm. Cost: FREE Location: Wayrick Wildlife Art Gallery on the second floor of the Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary, 11 Hardscrabble Rd. in Bernardsville.
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook - Lot B Hartshorne Drive, Sandy Hook, NJ, United StatesEarly spring migration at “the hook.” If the winds are right, we could have a good flight of hawks, swallows, and other migrants. The wide variety of habitats here ensures a good diversity of bird species from herons and egrets to shorebirds, hawks, and songbirds. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking over flat and sometimes sandy terrain. Led by Linda Mack, Carole Hughes, and Chris Daly. Location: Meet at Parking Lot B, about halfway down the lot by the restrooms. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED COST: $20 Members, $25 Non-members REGISTER HERE
Earth Day and Marine Debris Clean Up
Nature Center of Cape May 1600 Delaware Avenue, Cape May, NJ, United StatesLearn about wildlife gardening and other basic maintenance chores while you assist Nature Center staff and volunteers in sprucing up the gardens for spring. We’ll plant, mulch, deadhead, weed, and prune throughout the Center's grounds and along the harbor. This date coincides with Clean Ocean Action's annual Beach Sweeps. Join us at the Nature Center to help clean our ocean and harbor beaches here in Cape May. Our Earth Day Clean-Up is a great community service project for your civic organization or scout group. We ask that you bring along your own tools (our supply is limited). Refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration NOT required. If you plan to bring a large group, we would appreciate a call ahead of time. Contact Gretchen Whitman at (609) 400-3839. COST: FREE! CANCELLATION POLICY: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future.