Welcome to our Online Newsletter and Virtual Bulletin Board!

Question or Suggestion? Contact cslevin59 (at) gmail.org.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Reminder to Teens (and Parents of Teens)–applications for 2015 Bridgewater Library Summer Teen Volunteers must be turned in by 9 p.m. on Thursday April 30th. Details below.

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Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online. 
(You can also find links to great websites for families there.)

Bridgewater Library is looking for volunteers this summer! Volunteers will help shelve books, assist during programs, and sign up children and teens for our summer reading club. Summer volunteer opportunities are for teens entering 7th to 12th grade for the 2015-2016 school year.

Applications for Bridgewater Library's Summer 2015 Teen Volunteer Program must be submitted in person at the Youth Services Reference Desk  by 9 PM on Thursday, April 30. No Exceptions. You can download our application by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please contact Bridgewater Library's Youth Services Department at: bwljuv@sclibnj.org or 908-526-4016 x126.

Somerset County Library System volunteer opportunities vary by branch. Click here to contact individual branches for details.

 

Around the Community – Looking Ahead:

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IMG_3393.JPG“Hooray for May!”, a free family art day at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster, will take place on Saturday, May 9th from 1-4 p.m. Details here.

 

 


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PIRIT of the JERSEYS State History Fair
Saturday May 9, 2015
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Manalapan, NJ 07726
(732) 462-9616
www.njhistoryfair.org
Email: historyfair@dep.nj.gov
Free Admission
Parking/$10 per vehicle
Rain or Shine

The SPIRIT of the JERSEYS Marks New Location!

Experience five centuries of New Jersey’s history all in one place at the annual SPIRIT of the JERSEYS State History Fair - a historical festival for all ages on Saturday, May 9th at its new location at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, NJ.

This free, award-winning event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, annually draws more than 5,000 visitors.  The Fair is a fun-filled adventure into New Jersey’s past with living history demonstrations, military re-enactors, tours, exhibits, period music and dance, and historical organizations and museums from around the state.

There are plenty of hands-on activities for kids and adults, from participating in historical games to plowing a furrow or participating in a military drill.  Don’t miss the opportunity to meet such historical figures as Ulysses S. Grant, Ben Franklin, his son William Franklin, Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, Molly Pitcher and American General George Washington.    

One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place in the fields and forests that now make up Monmouth Battlefield State Park.  The park preserves a splendid rural 18th-century landscape of hilly farmland and hedgerows that encompasses miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas, a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse and a new Visitor Center that opened to the public on Flag Day 2013.  The park is easily accessible from Routes 9 and 33.

For more information and a complete list of activities about the Fair, visit www.njhistoryfair.org or call (732) 462-9616.

The Fair is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Historic Sites, Division of Parks and Forestry, and its partners.

Celebrate The Merry Month of May with Programs at the Bridgewater Library and Around our Community.

 

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Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online. 
(You can also find links to great websites for families there.)

 

Upcoming Programs for Kids and Parents at Bridgewater Library:

image_thumb16_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumJoin us for stories, songs, movement and fun!  Please come to the program most age-appropriate for your child.  

Programs resume on April 28th.  No Registration Required for any of these. 

Storytime (For Ages 3-6, siblings welcome) Tuesdays  10:00 a.m. Second session at 1:30pm.

Toddler Time (For Ages 18 months-36 months) Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m., repeats at 11:00 a.m.  Also Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. 

Baby Time (For ages birth - 18 months) Thursdays  9:30 a.m.

imageFRIENDS BOOK SALE   Thursday, April 30– Sunday, May 3rd, 2015.

Thursday 9:30AM-8:30PM
Friday & Saturday 9:30AM-4:30PM
Sunday 1-4:30 PM SALE
Monday 9:30AM-noon (Non-Profit Organizations with ID)

Lots of wonderful books and other materials  for kids, teens, and adults!

 

Find It @ SCLSNJ: Hiding In Plain Sight- Blackout Poems (all ages)

Just a few days left to STOP by the Youth Services department and create your very own blackout poem!

April 01 –30, 2015 No registration required.  

Instructions:  Choose a page (we will provide pages). Find the words you want to keep. Black out the rest. Voila: your poem!
You may take the poem with you or ask a librarian to post it on our board.

imageFamily Night Storytime (All Ages)  Monday, May 4  6:00-6:30 pm  Wear your PJs to our all ages storytime! No registration required.

 

Tail Waggin' Tutors (Ages 4+) Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs  Thursday, May 5th  4-5pm  Registration begins April 24th. Tail Waggin' Tutors (Ages 4+)Thursday, May 14th 4-5pm. Registration begins April 30th.

Registration in-person or by phone only.  Did you know that dogs like listening to stories as much as kids do? Come to the Bridgewater Library for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, where children will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading a story to Xena the Therapy Dog, a friendly, eight-year-old chocolate labradoodle. Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend.

imageVery Merry Unbirthday Party! (Ages 3-8)  Monday, May 114:30-5:15 pm.  Registration is required and begins on April 27. Join us as we celebrate your unbirthday with stories, games, crafts and prizes!


imageBig Jeff (all ages)  Friends of the Bridgewater Library Concert Series Saturday, May 16, 2015 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Self described as "the hardest working 6 foot 6 inch singer-songwriter in family music", Big Jeff has been delivering performances full of humor, learning and audience participation for the last 10 years. No Registration required.

 

imageMusic & Movement (Ages birth-3 years) Monday May 18th. 9:45 am
Registration required and begins May 4.  Music & Movement (Ages birth-3 years)  10:30 am. Registration required and begins May 4. Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and feel the beat of a fun, lively music class! Led by Beth Stone of Kids' MusicRound.

imagePicture This: Art & Geometry- Celebrating the "Perfect Square" (ages 4-10)  Monday, May 18, 2015 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Registration is required and begins May 4. A square always has 4 equal sides and 4 equal angles, but with a bit of imagination, it can become anything! We'll share books on art and creativity, see what we can make by cutting up a square, explore origami, tangrams, and mathematical puzzles.


imageRocket Readers (grades 1-2)  Wednesday, May 20, 2015 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Registration is required and begins April 21. At each program we will discuss a book, play some games or create a story related craft. Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the books will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk. Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery by David A. Adler. When a baseball game is stopped because of a lost ball, Cam uses her photographic memory to find the ball.


Advocacy: Developmental Milestones for Infants and Toddlers Birth to 3 Years. Thursday, May 21, 2015 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Registration is required and begins April 16.  Jenniger Blanchette McConnell, PhD will discuss all areas of infant and toddler development, including social emotional, communication, cognition, motor development, and adaptive/self-help skills. She will identify links to helpful resources about child development and explain how to refer to NJ's Early Intervention system for a developmental evaluation at no cost to families. 1.5 professional development hours will be awarded to attendees.

imageFlutterby Butterfly! (ages 3-6) Wednesday, May 27, 2015 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Repeats from 11:30-12:30. Registration is required and begins May 13. Join us for a look at the life cycle of the butterfly with stories, music, movement, and a colorful craft!


Upcoming Programs for Tweens & Teens at Bridgewater Library:

Teen Advisory Board (Grades 7 - 12)  Tuesday, April 28th  7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Registration required and begins March 24.
TEENS: YOUR OPINION MATTERS! Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our TAB meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

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Tween Volunteers (Grades 4-6) Monday, May 4th from 7:00 - 8:00 pm Registration required. Make a difference by volunteering at the library! Help out with special projects and earn community service hours.

Tween Advisory Board (Grades 4-6)  Tuesday, May 12th  7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Registration is required. Earn community service hours by making the library a better place for you and your fellow Tweens! Come tell us what books, movies, video games, and programs you’d like at the library!



AROUND THE COMMUNITY: 

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THE PHILADELPHIA SCIENCE FESTIVAL

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More info here: www.philasciencefestival.org

THE ART OF THE BRICK IS AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE IN PHILADELPHIA

Art of the Brick Exhibit

WHILE YOU ARE IN PHILLY, CHECK OUT THIS FASCINATING MUSEUM NOW OPEN ON WEEKENDS

We're thrilled to announce that the Museum at CHF will be open every Saturday in April--and Saturdays and Sundays from May to September.

The Museum at CHF

The Museum at CHF will be open every Saturday in April--and Saturdays and Sundays from May to September.

Check their website for hours and other information to plan your visit, and stay tuned for updates about special weekend activities and tours.

Shakespeare’s The Tempest to be Performed by the Lord Stirling Theater Company at Farmstead Arts in Basking Ridge May 8 – 23 

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PHOTO CREDITS:  Ben Kator

Bernards Township, NJ: William Shakespeare’s beloved play The Tempest will be performed by The Lord Stirling Company May 8-23 in the English Barn at Farmstead Arts.  The play will open on Friday, May 8 at 8pm with additional performances on May 9 at 8pm, May 15 at 8pm, May 16 at 2pm and 8pm, May 22 at 8pm and May 23, at 2pm and 8pm.   Farmstead Arts is located at 450 King George Road in Basking Ridge, NJ. Tickets are $15, or $10 for Farmstead Members, seniors and children. Tickets may be purchased online at www.FarmsteadArtsCenter.org, or at the door.

The Tempest is one of last plays written solely by The Bard. It centers around Prospero, The Duke of Milan, who has been deposed and exiled with his daughter Miranda, to a distant island full of spirits, monsters and a party of shipwrecked royalty.   William Ward of Basking Ridge, NJ, directs and designs this creative interpretation of this Shakespeare play.

Morris Museum Logo

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http://www.morrismuseum.org Morris Museum | 6 Normandy Heights Road | Morristown | NJ | 07960 VISIT SUPPORT EXHIBITIONS THEATRE ART CLASSES

Visit the museum for free (you still need to pay for theater admissions) using the library museum pass if available. The Morris Museum also participates in the Bank of America Museums on Us program. During the first full weekend of every month, each Bank of America card holder is entitled to one free general admission to the Museum. For further information, visit museums.bankofamerica.com/

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Star Shows and Laser Concerts AT RVCC PLANETARIUM!

Call 908-231-8805 for reservations! RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL SHOWS!

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PLAN AHEAD FOR SUMMER WITH SOMERSET COUNTY PARK CAMP AND ADVENTURE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND TEENS

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Coyote Kids (Ages 4-6) --a fun nature program full of outdoor hikes, live animals, hands-on activities, games, and crafts!

Eco-Explorers (Ages 7-9) (click here for PDF) 

AWESIM KIDS (Animals, Wetlands, Environmental Science, and Incredible Minds!)  (Ages 10-13) (click here for PDF)

Xtreme Adventure  (Ages 13-16)  (click here for brochure)

LET YOUR FINGERS  DO MORE WALKING:

Report debunks ‘earlier is better’ academic instruction for young children  By Valerie Strauss


Four- and 5-year-old students listen to their teacher, Angie Clark, read at a Des Moines elementary school in 2011. (Steve Pope/AP)

The debate about appropriate curriculum for young children generally centers on two options: free play and basic activities vs. straight academics (which is what many kindergartens across the country have adopted, often reducing or eliminating time for play). A new report, “Lively Minds: Distinctions between academic versus intellectual goals for young children,” offers a new way to look at what is appropriate in early childhood education.

Katz writes that longitudinal studies of the effects of different kinds of preschool curriculum models debunk the seemingly common-sense notion that “earlier is better” in terms of academic instruction. While “formal instruction produces good test results in the short term,” she says,  preschool curriculum and teaching methods that emphasize children’s interactive roles and initiative may be “not so impressive in the short run” but “yield better school achievement in the long term.”

That reflects a finding in a report released earlier this year, titled “Reading in Kindergarten: Little to Gain and Much to Lose,” which says that there is no evidence to support a widespread belief in the United States that children must read in prekindergarten or kindergarten to become strong readers and achieve academic success. You can read about that report here.

Katz also writes in the new report that “earlier is better” is not supported in neurological research, which “does not imply that formal academic instruction is the way to optimize early brain development.” Rather, she says, the research suggests that “preschool programs are best when they focus on social, emotional and intellectual goals rather than narrow academic goals” and provide “early experiences that provoke self-regulation, initiative and …sustained synchronous interaction in which the child is interactive with others in some continuous process, rather than a mere passive recipient of isolated bits of information for stimulation.”  Read More.

Best NJ Playgrounds to Visit

Bored with your local swingset? Here are a few amazing New Jersey playgrounds worth driving to.

 

 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Spring into Spring with Programs at the Bridgewater Library and Around the Community–Dinosaurs at Morris Museum and Shakespeare Plays on Saturday, Robots at the Children’s Museum on Sunday!

 

 

Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online. 
(You can also find links to great websites for families there.)

 

Upcoming Programs for Kids and Parents at Bridgewater Library:

Tail Waggin' Tutors (Ages 4+) Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs  Thursday, April 16th  4-5pm  Registration begins March 26th.

Tail Waggin' Tutors (Ages 4+) Thursday, April 30th  4-5pm. Registration begins April 9th.

Registration in-person or by phone only.  Did you know that dogs like listening to stories as much as kids do? Come to the Bridgewater Library for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, where children will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading a story to Xena the Therapy Dog, a friendly, eight-year-old chocolate labradoodle. Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend.

 

Baby Loves to Boogie! (Ages birth to 18 months) Thursday, April 16
4:30-5:00 pm. Registration is required and begins on April 2. Babies get your groove on! Join us for this new program that unites creative movement and storytime songs. Caregivers please wear comfortable clothing and shoes as you will be moving just as much as your child!

Advocacy: Navigating Services- Your Questions Answered  Thursday, April 16, 2015  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM  Please join Amy Smith, Information Director for Autism New Jersey, as she gives an overview of Autism New Jersey's services and answers your questions about navigating service systems for young children. Topics to be covered are Early Intervention, Insurance, Special Education and working with the Department of Children and Families. Registration is required and begins Mar. 26.


Trees Are Terrific (Ages 3 and up)  Saturday, April 18  10:00 - 11:00 am. Arbor Day is a special day to recognize the importance of trees and the difference they make in our lives. The Bridgewater Shade Tree Board will help us celebrate all that's terrific about trees with stories and activities.Registration is required and begins April 3.


Toddler Dance Party (ages 2-6)  Monday, April 20 4:30-5:15 PM.  Read, rock and roll to your favorite toddler tunes! No registration required.


Rocket Readers (Grades 1-2) Tuesday, April 21 4:30-5:30 pm
Registration is required and begins March 17.
An exciting program for brand new readers! At each program we will discuss a book, play some games or create a story related craft. Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the books will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.  Cork & Fuzz: Short and Tall
The friendship between Cork, a muskrat, and Fuzz, a possum, is in trouble when Cork decides that since he is older, he has to be taller than Fuzz.


Toddler Art Class (ages 2-6) Wednesday, April 22, 2015  10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Toddler Art Class (ages 2-6)  11:00 AM - 11:45 AM  Enjoy the tactile wonders of paper, scissors, glitter, glue and more!  Registration is required and begins April 8.


Lego Club (Ages 5-12) Thursday, April 23, 2015  4:30  - 5:30 PM. Lego Club (Ages 5-12) Saturday, April 25, 2015 10:00  - 11:00 AM. Hey LEGO fans, here's a club just for you! Get together with other LEGO-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time!Library LEGOS will be available for building, so you do not need to bring your own. Registration is required and begins April 9. Please Note: We are sorry, but no siblings between 6 months and 5 years are allowed to join us. Parents should plan to stay in the Lego room if their child is 5 years old.


Sing Spring: Happy Earth Day! (all ages)
  Saturday, April 25, 2015 10:00  - 10:30 AM. Join us as we celebrate the season with some high energy tunes! No registration is required.   Sing Spring: Sensory Friendly Sing Along (all ages)  Saturday, April 25, 2015 11:00 - 11:30 AM. Designed for children on the autism spectrum or with other special needs. Registration is required and begins April 10.  Sing Spring: Happy Earth Day! (all ages) Monday, April 27, 2015 10:00  - 10:30 AM.  Repeat of Saturday’s program.

And, continuing all month:

Find It @ SCLSNJ: Hiding In Plain Sight- Blackout Poems (all ages)

Stop by the Youth Services department throughout the month of April to create your very own blackout poem!

April 01 –30, 2015 No registration required.  

Instructions:  Choose a page (we will provide pages). Find the words you want to keep. Black out the rest. Voila: your poem!
You may take the poem with you or ask a librarian to post it on our board. 

image_thumb16_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumJoin us for stories, songs, movement and fun!  Please come to the program most age-appropriate for your child.   No programs the week of April 21st.  Programs resume on April 28th.  No Registration Required for any of these. 

Storytime (For Ages 3-6, siblings welcome) Tuesdays  10:00 a.m. Second session at 1:30pm.

Toddler Time (For Ages 18 months-36 months) Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m., repeats at 11:00 a.m.  Also Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. 

Baby Time (For ages birth - 18 months) Thursdays  9:30 a.m.

FRIENDS BOOK SALE  MEETING ROOMS ABC Thursday, April 30– Sunday, May 3rd, 2015.


Upcoming Programs for Tweens & Teens at Bridgewater Library:

Tween Craft: Foam Paint (Grades 4-6) Monday, April 20  7:00-8:00 pm. Registration is required and begins March 30. We're mixing up a few simple ingredients to make our own foam paint masterpiece! All supplies will be provided by the library!


Teen Advisory Board (Grades 7 - 12)  Tuesday, April 28th  7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Registration required and begins March 24.
TEENS: YOUR OPINION MATTERS! Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our TAB meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

volunteer

Tween Volunteers (Grades 4-6) Monday, May 4th from 7:00 - 8:00 pm Registration required. Make a difference by volunteering at the library! Help out with special projects and earn community service hours.

Tween Advisory Board (Grades 4-6)  Tuesday, May 12th  7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Registration is required. Earn community service hours by making the library a better place for you and your fellow Tweens! Come tell us what books, movies, video games, and programs you’d like at the library!



AROUND THE COMMUNITY:

 

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The Children's Museum programs in the Cafeteria at the PeopleCare Center 120 Finderne Ave.Bridgewater, NJ 08807  908-725-4677 http://childrensmuseumnj.org/ presents their last program of the season ROBOTS!!!

Everyone loves robots! Come join The Children's Museum (of Somerset County NJ) for a fun day of hands-on activities as we learn about electronics and mechanics while exploring robots!
A $3/child donation is suggested for those who can afford it. For more information, please email us at: somersetcminfo@gmail.com or call us at 908-595-0001.
Parents and/or caregivers are expected to stay with children during the museum visit. Please use discretion in bringing very young children, as the museum is NOT baby-proof (some craft items are small and could present a choking hazard).

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Pet Comedy Theatre

Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre Family Series Gregory Popovich Saturday, Apr. 18 at 7PM  The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a blend of the unique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich, and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets.

Egg and Spoon

Egg and Spoon TinyTots 2+
Lyngo Theatre, Aberdeen, Scotland
Monday, Apr. 20 at 10AM, 1:30 & 4PM
Tickets: $10 General Admission

Egg and Spoon is an interactive romp through the seasons where you come in and out of our magic circle and get to open all the gifts of nature. A perfect gentle introduction to the magic of theatre.

StepCrew

The StepCrew Major Artists
Saturday, Apr. 25 at 2PM   Ottawa Valley stepdance, Irish stepdance, and tap come together as this cast of champions show you the amazing similarities and differences between these three captivating styles.

 

Morris Museum Logo

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http://www.morrismuseum.org Morris Museum | 6 Normandy Heights Road | Morristown | NJ | 07960 VISIT SUPPORT EXHIBITIONS THEATRE ART CLASSES

Visit the museum for free (you still need to pay for theater admissions) using the library museum pass if available. The Morris Museum also participates in the Bank of America Museums on Us program. During the first full weekend of every month, each Bank of America card holder is entitled to one free general admission to the Museum. For further information, visit museums.bankofamerica.com/

FINAL PERFORMANCES OF “SHORT SHAKESPEARE” FUN FOR ENTIRE FAMILY @ STNJ

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

2015 Shakespeare LIVE! ensemble. Photos © Jerry Dalia

THE ART OF THE BRICK IS AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE IN PHILADELPHIA

Art of the Brick Exhibit

WHILE YOU ARE IN PHILLY, CHECK OUT THIS FASCINATING MUSEUM NOW OPEN ON WEEKENDS

We're thrilled to announce that the Museum at CHF will be open every Saturday in April--and Saturdays and Sundays from May to September.

The Museum at CHF

The Museum at CHF will be open every Saturday in April--and Saturdays and Sundays from May to September.

Check our website for hours and other information to plan your visit, and stay tuned for updates about special weekend activities and tours.

PLAN AHEAD FOR THE PHILADELPHIA SCIENCE FESTIVAL

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More info here: www.philasciencefestival.org

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Star Shows and Laser Concerts AT RVCC PLANETARIUM!

Call 908-231-8805 for reservations! RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL SHOWS!

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PLAN AHEAD FOR SUMMER WITH SOMERSET COUNTY PARK CAMP AND ADVENTURE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND TEENS

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Coyote Kids (Ages 4-6) --a fun nature program full of outdoor hikes, live animals, hands-on activities, games, and crafts!

Eco-Explorers (Ages 7-9) (click here for PDF) 

AWESIM KIDS (Animals, Wetlands, Environmental Science, and Incredible Minds!)  (Ages 10-13) (click here for PDF)

Xtreme Adventure  (Ages 13-16)  (click here for brochure)

LET YOUR FINGERS  DO MORE WALKING:

 

7 NJ Playgrounds Worth Traveling To

The snow is finally melting! Make your spring jungle gym debut somewhere new and different—NJFamily has found the best playgrounds in New Jersey.

 

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