Whether it was walking through the woods on a guided hike, or learning about nature photography or organic gardening, everybody had fun. Below is a list of our 2008 events.

Watch this space for news of our upcoming Walks & Talks 2009 schedule.

WALKS & TALKS 2008

November

Sunday, Nov. 9

ANNUAL DONALD JONES MEMORIAL HIKE

Meet at the historic Prallsville Mill in Stockton, New Jersey to explore NJCF’s Wickecheoke Creek Greenway by hiking various preserved properties. The hike is in recognition of the work that the late Donald Jones accomplished in this region during his lifetime. Three hikes of varying difficulty are followed by a tea at the Prallsville Mill. Click above link for more detailed information about the hikes.

October

Saturday, October 25
COLD BROOK WATERSHED – LANCE TRAIL DEDICATION & HIKE
Join us in opening and dedicating trails on the Lance property in Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, acquired by the Tewksbury Land Trust in a multi-agency effort to protect the headwaters of the Cold Brook. The trails have long been available to equestrians, but the trail network will now be expanded and opened to the public. A brief dedication ceremony will be followed by a walk along cornfields and into the woods, continuing onto the Upper Raritan Watershed Association’s Fox Hill Preserve.

Saturday, October 25
EVERT TRAIL HIKE
See the foliage changes where the inner coastal plain meets the outer coastal plain of the Pine Barrens in the hardwood forests of Pemberton Township, Burlington County. Relaxed morning hike through boggy terrain.

FREE; reservations requested but not required.

Saturday, October 18
FALL FOLIAGE HIKE
Enjoy fall’s beautiful colors at the Apshawa Preserve in West Milford, Passaic County. Hike along rocky outcrops overlooking thousands of acres of preserved forest.  Along the way we will pass tumbling brooks, a pond and artifacts of the
site’s history as a source of drinking water. FREE; reservations are required.

Saturday, Oct. 4

7th ANNUAL GREAT SWAMP WALK

Join NJCF and the Great Swamp Watershed Association to explore GSWA's Conservation Area off Tiger Lily Lane in Harding Township. Upstream from the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, this 50-acre forested wetland contains vernal pools, streams, and woodland with wildflowers and wildlife aplenty. FREE. Register by Oct. 1.

September

Saturday, Sept. 13

ORGANIC GARDENING WITH MARK CANRIGHT

Organic farmer Mark Canright will delight you with his dry sense of humor while giving valuable tips on how to grow organic produce. There will be activities for the children including planting seeds to take home and grow. Registration is required.

August

Saturday, Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

BUTTERFLY WALK THROUGH THE PARK

Our resident biologist, Dr. Emile DeVito, will spark the interest of children and adults alike with little known facts about New Jersey’s beautiful butterflies, and tips on creating gardens to attract caterpillars and butterflies. After a brief presentation, take a walk to find and identify the numerous butterflies in the park! Registration is required.

June

Tuesday, June 17

PHOTO WORKSHOP WITH DWIGHT HISCANO

Dwight Hiscano, professional photographer, will offer a brief description of photography equipment, techniques, locations, film processing, and printing and framing. An hour of field work will help you assess the potential of a natural setting for artistically rendering images on film. The field work will be followed by a slide presentation including discussion of locations & subjects, proper exposure, behavior of natural light and more! Registration is required and a $20 per person fee is payable in advance. Space is limited to 20 participants.

May

Saturday, May. 17

SPRING FUN: OUR 2nd ANNUAL KIDS DAY

Children will learn the wonders of nature and have fun at the same time while completing a scavenger hunt in our lovely park setting. Other games and crafts will delight children ages 2-10. Registration is required.

February

Saturday, Feb. 2

WINTER ASTRONOMY: THE RADIANT NIGHTTIME SKY REVEALED

Nearly 50 stargazers came out to discover the beautiful night sky. A slide show introduction to basic astronomy was followed by an outdoor laser sky tour. Participants were able to view Mars in transit, Saturn, and deep sky objects such as planetary nebula, globular star clusters, asterisms and constellations, galaxies, and double stars. Telescope viewing was provided by members of the Willingboro Astronomical Society (WAS) and Astronomical Society of Toms River Area (ASTRA), and other volunteers.

Thursday, Feb. 21

MAPPING YOUR COMMUNITY: USING GIS

Laura Szwak, Director of Statewide Greenways at NJCF, helped participants discover the natural features in their communities through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a powerful computer map-making tool. During this interactive workshop, co-led by NJCF's GIS manager Tanya Nolte, more than a dozen participants learned about local forests, wetlands and trails, locate preserved land, and discover what open spaces are in need of preservation. Participants received customized maps of their towns and counties