Out and About in Central New Jersey: Ready…Set…Read… Summer Fun Abounds at the Bridgewater Library.

@ The Bridgewater Library

Sign up for SUMMER READING CLUBS. You can sign up at the library or online. Adults and Preschoolers keep track of books read (if you want your PreK/K child to do this as well, just mark their age “4 1/2” so they are in that club), school-aged children & teens keep track of minutes read. All can win prizes so log on or come by and check us out!

SCLSNJ is out on the town Friday, June 24! Visit our table on from 5-8 p.m. on Division St. in Somerville during Cruise Night to play video games, listen to story times, sign up for the summer reading club and have a chance to win prizes. Learn more.

Click HERE to register for these programs.

TWEENS & TEENS:

Coming Up in July:

Click HERE to register for these programs.

Around the Community:

Looking for some great places to go now that school is out? Check out the ideas in our Useful Links for Families (on the right side of the page). Here’s a summer favorite:

FREE OR INEXPENSIVE PLACES FOR FAMILY FUN IN AND AROUND NEW JERSEY has 50+ places to go in and near our state (with a great interactive map to find them!) Here’s a sampling:

1. Howell Living History Farm.

Howell Living History Farm is always a wonderful place to visit. Located in Lambertville NJ, it is fairly easy to get to. We have attended some classes and festivities there, as well as just came to enjoy the farm when no one is there. It is free to come, the classes do have a small fee. I highly recommend it as a day out with kids. To read more about our experience click HERE, and to see the classes, address and directions go to their website HERE.

2. Doylestown Castle

Doylestown Castel is located just outside of NJ, in Doylestown, PA. Why is it worth a visit? Well, simply because it’s amazing. The castle is a huge wooden castle playground. The pictures don’t do it justice, you really have to be there to believe how big it is. Even the most jaded playground goers will be amazed. Click HERE to read more about our trip, and HERE for the Doylestown website section about the castle.

3. Ponderosa Park Spray Ground

Located on Cooper Road in Scotch Plains, NJ. It is a spray ground. There is a playground, and a grass are for parents to sit on while the kids splash. Make sure to wear water shoes, as the rubber gets hot in the summer. There is hardly any shade there as well, so mind the sun, bring a hat and sunscreen. It is a great place to spend the afternoon. The best part is that the spray ground is free. To read more about our visit there, click HERE.

4. Environmental Education Center

Located in Basking Ridge, NJ, Environmental Education Center offers great hiking trails, an education center with some interesting displays. What I especially liked about this place is the hiking trails were even, and you can make the hike as long or as short as you like, which is a big deal when the littlest kids are on board. They also offer some amazing low cost classes. Environmental Education Center is actually located in Basking Ridge, NJ on Lord Stirling Road around the corner from Lord Stirling Stables. It lies on the edge of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge which includes miles of hiking trails and wildlife observation. Take a look at our visit HERE, and their website with directions HERE. The next place is right down the road from the Basking Ridge Environmental Education Center.

5. The Great Swamp and Raptor Trust

The Basking Ridge Environmental Education Center, Raptor Trust and The Great Swamp each had their own listing in the last year’s list. However, they are all down the road from each other. The Great Swamp is a national wildlife refuge and covers a large area, and is a great place to get out and see some amazing wildlife. Before heading out there make sure to see their website HERE for visitor information.

Raptor Trust was it’s own listing, but I decided to combine it together with the Great Swamp, they just fit so well together. You could visit Raptor Trust on the same day as the Environmental Center or Great Swamp. It is a bird rehabilitation center located in Central New Jersey. They are open to public seven days a week, and while the admission is free, a small donation is encouraged. We have been there several times, but it was quite a few years ago. It has always been an interesting experience. You can find out more about them, including hours and directions HERE.

KIDS ARE FREE AT THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY PERFORMANCE OF “THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (abridged)(revised)” AT THE OUTDOOR STAGE

WHEN: beginning on June 22nd and continuing through July 31s; Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:00 pm, with a special twilight performance on Sundays at 4:30 pm
WHERE: The Greek amphitheatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, is conveniently located at 2 Convent Road, off Madison Avenue (Rt. 124) in Morris Township, just minutes from Routes 287, 78, and 10. TICKETS: call the box office at 973.408.5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org online. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group discounts.

Pack a picnic, pack up the family, and enjoy Shakespeare under the stars!

Enjoy Shakespeare under the stars at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Outdoor Stage production of The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)(revised).

Back by popular demand, three wild and crazy actors will take you on an irreverent, madcap romp through Shakespeare’s entire canon. Featuring some new surprises since our last production in 2008, this is a terrific show to introduce Shakespeare to young people, and a hilarious spoof that appeals to audiences of all ages — from Bardophiles to Bardophobes! As always, picnicking under the stars with family and friends makes for a delightful evening where art, nature, and the ancient tradition of outdoor theatre all come together!

This year, the Theatre is excited to announce young people 18 and under go for free thanks to generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Take a virtual tour! The Google Tour program is made possible in part by support from Kessler Foundation, in partnership with the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Pay-What-You-Can Performance: The first preview performance on Wednesday, June 22, at 8:00 p.m., offers an opportunity for reduced-price tickets, as an incentive to first-time theatergoers and/or those who would otherwise not be able to afford a night at the theatre -- pay what you are able for that evening’s 8:00 p.m. preview performance. Offer is subject to availability. Call the Box Office at 973-408-5600 for details.

The Outdoor Stage is also generously supported by Bank of America. A partner of The Outdoor Stage since 2004, their committed and generous support has helped make The Shakespeare Theatre’s Outdoor Stage a hallmark of the summer season in the region. Bank of America customers can obtain tickets for the Outdoor Stage at the great price of $25 by using code “BOFA” for online sales and/or with the presentation of their bank cards at the box office. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Nestled into the hillside on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth, this stone and grass amphitheatre has been a popular performance space since its creation in 1932. Surrounded by a large lawn, the amphitheatre is ideal for picnicking before the show. Audience members may bring their own food and beverages, or purchase snacks and soft drinks on-site. Patrons are encouraged to bring either a low-backed beach chair or picnic blanket to sit on. Higher-backed beach chairs are allowed in the top rows of the theatre. Seating at The Outdoor Stage is general admission.