ALERTS (click here)

NJMC EVENTS
In case of severe weather, please call the MEC at 201-460-8300 to confirm events and facility operation. DeKorte Park will remain open, but some trails might be closed in bad storms.

Every Monday and Wednesday
Observatory - Public Viewing Nights
The William D. McDowell Observatory is open to the public for free stargazing on Monday and Wednesday evenings throughout the year. More information on the observatory and the Meadowlands Environment Center’s astronomy programs, click here. For details on what can be seen in the weeks ahead, click here.

First Sunday and Third Tuesday of Each Month
Free Guided Bird Walks
The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society are sponsoring free two-hour nature walks on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month. Bring binoculars, bug spray, sunscreen and a sense of wonder. Check the posts below for time, location and other details.

On-going
Meadowlands Environment Center Public Programs
The Meadowlands Environment Center (MEC), a New Jersey Meadowlands Commission facility operated by Ramapo College of New Jersey presents free and low cost programs for the general public all year-round. Click here to veiw current schedule of events or see below for all events. To register call 201-777-2431 or 201-460-8300.

Don’t miss an event! Register for the MEC email list for updates on Environment Center public programs.  Click here to register now.

2013 Schedule of Events

Special note: For the past three years, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon have joined forces to offer a wide range of nature programs to the public, including twice-monthly guided nature walks – plus two inexpensive birding-by-boat trips. We are pleased to announce our tentative schedule of more than three dozen events for 2013, with an eye to adding another exciting event or two to the schedule if possible.

May

Tuesday, May 21, 10 a.m.
Third-Tuesday-of-the Month Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
This free two-hour walk of Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus features raptors, waterfowl and late spring migrants. We’ll meet at the marsh entrance at 10 a.m. (directions are on meadowblog.net in the left-hand column). The walk is run by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983. 

June

Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m.
First-Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
*New walk location:  This free two-hour guided nature walk will meet at 10 a.m. at Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus and take us down the scenic Secaucus High School Boardwalk to look for shorebirds, Black Skimmers, herons and more.  The Hackensack River is on one side of the boardwalk, and the Secaucus High School restored wetlands are on the other. The walk is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.

Sunday, June 9, 10 a.m.
Special DeKorte Park Plant Walk
Join us for a free two-hour plant walk with botanist Edith Wallace. We will be looking for the plants that attract birds and butterflies, and which ones would work in your home gardens. Past walks with Edith have been a delight. We’ll keep an eye out for birds and butterflies, too. The walk is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.

Tuesday, June 18, 10 a.m.
Third-Tuesday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
This free two-hour guided nature walk will take place at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. We’ll look for our family of Common Ravens, shorebirds, herons, nesting Ospreys and more. We meet at the big parking lot by the Laurel Hill ball fields at 10 a.m.  The walk is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.

July

Sunday, July 7, 10 a.m.
First Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
Enjoy early April out of doors by joining us on this free two-hour guided nature walk in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. We’ll walk around parts of the park, looking for spring arrivals, Bald Eagles and other birds. The walk starts at 10 a.m. outside the Meadowlands Environment Center. The walk is run by the NEW JERSEY Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.

Sunday, July 7, 1 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 1 p.m.
Butterflies For Beginners with the NJMC and BCAS
Join us for a 30-minute talk and slide show about Butterflies, and then go looking for butterflies with us around DeKorte Park. We’ll meet in the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park at 1 p.m. The event is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates and weather advisories. You will have to sign a standard liability release for this event. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com  or 201-230-4983.

Tuesday, July 16, 10 a.m.
Third-Tuesday Event: Pontoon-Boat Birding Cruise with NJMC, BCAS
This is a two-hour birding cruise along the Hackensack River and its marshes. The two-hour guided trip has a suggested donation of $15 per person. We’ll look for peregrine falcons, ospreys, northern harriers, various egrets and herons, plus diamondback terrapins. Nature photographers are welcome, but you must be unobtrusive (no tripods). The event is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates and weather advisories. Tour departs from the River Barge Park in Carlstadt. For pre-registration information or to rsvp, please contact Gaby Bennett-Meany at 201-460-4640.

Monday, July 22, 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Bonus Event: Moth Night, DeKorte Park FREE
Learn all about moths -- those amazing cousins of butterflies -- at the Meadowlands’ second annual Moth Night. We’ll be hosting the folks from National Moth Week, who’ll present a short talk on moths and why they are so awesome yet misunderstood. Then we’ll check out the NMW’s industrial-strength mercury vapor lamps and white sheets to identify and admire the various species. We'll also try "sugaring" to attract moths as well. The goal of the event – part of National Moth week -- is to raise awareness of these seldom seen insects and to celebrate biodiversity. This free family-friendly event is sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983. (Rain date: Tuesday, July 23)

Sunday, July 28, 10 a.m.
Fourth Annual Butterfly Day FREE
The Meadowlands Commission is hosting this free one-day butterfly fest at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. In addition to butterfly walks for the whole family, there’ll be brief introductory slide shows on the Butterflies of DeKorte Park, tables with loads of information on butterfly identification, binoculars and gardening to attract butterflies – plus contests and great door prizes. Butterfly Day is run by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society, with a huge assist from the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983. (Rain Date, Sunday, Aug. 4)

August

Sunday, August 4, , 10 a.m.
First Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
Enjoy early April out of doors by joining us on this free two-hour guided nature walk in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. We’ll walk around parts of the park, looking for shorebirds, raptors and other birds. The walk starts at 10 a.m. outside the Meadowlands Environment Center. The walk is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.
Note: Sunday, Aug. 4, is also the rain date for Butterfly Day.

Saturday, August 10, 8:15 a..m. to 3:45 p.m.
Fifth Annual Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day, with the NJMC and BCAS
Spend the day with noted shorebird expert and nature photographer Kevin Karlson. Karlson is leading 90-minute bird walks at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m., presenting a talk on “Improving Your Birding Skills” at 12:45 p.m.   At 1:45 p.m. Kevin will discuss and show images from his brand-new eBook on shorebirds and preview a new book in the Peterson Reference Series.  At 2:30 p.m., he and another noted photographer, Lloyd Spitalnik, will lead an hour-long wildlife photography workshop. All events are free, but you must sign a standard liability release for 2013 if you have not already. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.

Tuesday, August 20, 10 a.m to noon
Third-Tuesday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
Check out the shorebirds on this Harrier Meadow summer bird walk in North Arlington. We’ll walk around the 70-acre natural area, which is normally closed to the public, and look for herons, egrets, shorebirds, and ospreys and other raptors. The walk starts at 10 a.m. at Harrier Meadow, on Disposal Road near Schuyler Avenue.  Please park inside the fenced-in area. The walk is run by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983.