HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Sunday, noon to 5:00 P.M. / Closed Mondays 
CLOSINGS: Saturday, July 4, for Independence Day.

Rancocas Nature Center Information Page

Spring Calendar of Events

Summer, 2009

SUMMER DAY CAMP

What would summertime be without summer camp? This year, the Rancocas Nature Center is expanding its popular nature-oriented day camp for first to fifth graders to include seven weeks of a full-day camping experience. Programs will run from June 29 to August 14, and campers can choose to attend the morning or the afternoon session or stay for a full day of fun. Continuing the Rancocas tradition, our hands-on nature camps are staffed by professional educators and offer an age-appropriate mix of creative, educational, investigative, and scientific activities. During each environmentally-themed week, campers will explore the Rancocas Nature Center’s extensive natural areas. A typical day will include hiking, outdoor discovery, educational activities, and nature crafts and games. The diverse habitats at Rancocas lend themselves to a world of possibilities for fun themes. Small group size assures that campers get plenty of personal attention. A small snack will be provided each day. Full-day campers must bring a lunch. Friday, August 14, all campers and their families are invited to an end-of-summer pizza party with a campfire and night hike.

Summer Day Camp Sessions
For campers in grades 1 to 5 (as of September 2009)
Session 1: June 29 to July 3
Session 2: July 6 to 10
Session 3: July 13 to 17
Session 4: July 20 to 24
Session 5: July 27 to 31
Session 6: August 3 to 7
Session 7: August 10 to 14
Cost per week:
Full-day program
(9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.) $210.
Mornings only
(9:00 A.M. to noon) $125.
Afternoons only (noon to 3:00 P.M.) $95.
All campers must be NJAS members. NJAS family membership is $35/year for new memberships and $45/year for renewals.
To register: Call the center at 609.261.2495 or visit our Web site to view a summer camp flier and download a registration form.

AUDUBON JUNIOR NATURALIST CAMP
Monday, July 20,
to Friday, July 24
9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Grades 6 to 8 (as of September 2009)
The Rancocas State Park is our classroom and nature will be our guide. This program is geared toward young teens with a strong interest in nature and the outdoors. Campers will explore habitats with a New Jersey Audubon naturalist and earn an NJAS Junior Naturalist Certificate. A different theme for every day of the week: N.J. wildlife; stream study; birding and bird ID; maps, compass skills, and orienteering; and shelter building and soil ecology. Campers must bring a lunch, but a snack is provided each day. Group size is limited, so sign up today!
Cost: $225. All campers must be NJAS members. NJAS Family membership is $35/year for new memberships and $45/year for renewals. To register: Call the center at 609.261.2495 or visit our Website to view a summer camp flier and download a registration form.

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES
All programs require advance registration.

INTERPRETIVE TRAIL HIKE AT RANCOCAS
Sundays, June 21, July 19, and August 16
1:00 to 2:00 P.M.
On the third Sunday of each month, join an NJAS staff person or an associate naturalist for an interpretive hike through our varied habitats. It’s a great way to become familiar with our well-maintained trails. Each season has its own highlights. Bring a camera and binoculars; we’ll stop at various scenic spots along the way. The easy pace is suitable for all ages. Please use a child carrier to transport small children.
Cost: free for members, $4 per person and $10 per family for nonmembers.

FINDING FUNGI AT RANCOCAS
Sunday, August 9
10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.
Join the New Jersey Mycological Association (NJMA) on a walk to discover the kinds of fungi found at Rancocas in August. Bracket fungi, typical mushrooms, jellies, cups, and corals are some of the many groups to be seen. The morning walk runs from 10:00 A.M. till noon. After the walk, collected specimens are identified; you will have a chance to check out the variety. Bring a bag lunch if you like. Limit: 12 participants.
Cost: $5 per person and $10 per family for members, $7 per person and $15 per family for nonmembers.

BUTTERFLIES AND BIRDS, GARDEN AND MEADOW WALK
Sunday, August 23
10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Associate naturalist Sandra Keller will share her ID pointers during this close-up look at butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. The field trip begins at RNC, in and around the center’s gardens and meadow, and then moves on to other local open space sites. We will also learn about management techniques that ensure healthy habitat for butterflies and birds. Bring binoculars and cameras (don’t forget about the annual RNC Photo Exhibit in the fall).
Cost: $7 per person and $15 per family for members, $10 per person and $21 per family for nonmembers.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
Saturday, June 6
Celebrate the day by exploring the Rancocas Nature Center trails. Our yellow, blue, red, and orange blazed trails wind through woods, meadows, and wetlands. Bring binoculars, cameras, and sketch pads to view and record the abundant wildlife found here. Stop by the visitors’ center for a colorful, interpretive trail map.
Cost: Free.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
All programs require advance registration.

MORNING BIRD WALKS AT RANCOCAS
Fridays, June 5, July 3, and August 7
8:00 A.M.
Join a RNC associate naturalist for a “first-Friday-of-the-month” bird walk; migrants and resident species can be found at our center. Sightings are added to the RNC bird list. Meet at the picnic tables by the parking lot. Walks begin promptly at 8:00 A.M.
Cost: free to members, $5 for nonmembers.

A LOOK AT BURLINGTON COUNTY’S BOTANICAL DIVERSITY
Sunday, July 26
10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Ever wondered what plant species grow in your neighborhood open space or along a trail? Burlington County is home to diverse species of flora. Join Sandra Keller for a field trip to area preserves. We will begin the day at the Rancocas Nature Center and then carpool to other local sites. Also, learn how to use a field guide to ID plants.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers.

TOUR OF PRIVATE BUTTERFLY GARDENS IN BURLINGTON COUNTY
Saturday, August 1
9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Mary Belko, former program director at RNC, will lead this year’s tour. After starting with the wildlife and children’s gardens at the Rancocas Nature Center, we will then explore several private residential butterfly and hummingbird gardens in Burlington County. Learn some of the secrets to successful gardening and get ideas for your own garden design. Every garden has a personality of its own; fluttering gems like butterflies and hummingbirds only enhance the experience. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at a stop along the way. Limit: 25 participants.
Cost: $20 members, $30 nonmembers.

FIELD TRIPS

Unless otherwise noted, all field trips require a five-day pre-registration and advance payment of $15 for NJAS members or $20 for nonmembers. No refunds are made unless we cancel the trip. Field trips meet at or near the trip locations. Instructions will be provided by email or mail, or can be picked up at the center. Trips take place rain or shine (within reasonable limits). Group size is limited and a minimum number of participants is necessary. Bring binoculars and/or scopes, lunch, and appropriate gear. Register by calling 609.261.2495 with credit card information, or by mailing a check to Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly, NJ 08060. To facilitate sending site directions, please include your e-mail address with your registration.

ALLAIRE STATE PARK, MONMOUTH COUNTY
Sunday, June 7
6:00 A.M. at the campground
and 8:00 A.M. at the main lot.
Explore Allaire State Park, off of I-195 in Monmouth County, with long-time Sandy Hook Bird Observatory associate Bruce Fetz. Sightings of nesting warblers and late migrants are possibilities.

ELEPHANT SWAMP AND PINEY PRESERVE
Saturday, June 20
8:00 A.M. to early afternoon
Last year’s inaugural trip to Piney Woods and Elephant Swamp in eastern Gloucester County was so well-received, it deserved a repeat performance. Piney Woods Preserve features former cranberry bogs surrounded by typical Pine Barrens uplands and scattered white cedar. Elephant Swamp features an old railroad right-of-way through various habitats including hardwood swamp. Enjoy the morning looking for summer songbirds while savoring the scenery. This is a joint trip with SHBO led by Lloyd Shaw.

TED STILES PRESERVE/BALDPATE MOUNTAIN
Saturday, June 27
7:30 A.M. to early afternoon
It’s the first time a field trip to Ted Stiles Preserve/Baldpate Mountain in Mercer County has been on the schedule. Join associated naturalist Brian Clough and explore for birds and natural history in this new location. This is a joint trip with SHBO led by Brian Clough.

WEBBS MILL AND CHATSWORTH
Sunday, June 28
9:00 A.M. to early afternoon
Expert naturalist Rick Radis will continue his program of Pine Barrens field trips with a visit to Webbs Mill and Chatsworth for great botany and general natural history. This is a joint trip with SHBO.

WINSLOW WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Saturday, July 11
8:00 A.M. to early afternoon
Join SHBO associate naturalist Lloyd Shaw for an expedition to Winslow WMA to look for birds and other interesting finds. The day will include a stop at the mysterious “Black Hole of the Pine Barrens.”

ATSION AND QUAKER BRIDGE
Saturday, August 8
9:00 A.M. to early afternoon
Naturalist extraordinaire Rick Radis’ last event of his Pine Barrens natural history tour is a visit to Atsion and Quaker Bridge. Natural wonders are plentiful in these areas. This is a joint trip with SHBO.

FORSYTHE (BRIGANTINE) NWR FOR RETURNING SHOREBIRDS
Sunday, August 16
7:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Beat the heat with a 7:30 A.M. start time. The trip will focus on shorebirds; we’ll try to find as many as possible. This trip should also produce herons, terns, and early migrating passerines. Leader: Tom Bailey.

EXPLORING EDWIN B. FORSYTHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Saturday, August 29
8:45 A.M. to early afternoon
Who says the shore is just for tourists heading to the beach? When the beaches start to get quiet, migration starts to heat up. Visit this reliable site at the peak of shorebird diversity. Godwits, Buff-breasted, and Baird’s Sandpipers are possibilities. This is a joint trip with SHBO led by Lloyd Shaw and Rob Fanning.

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

Each season we like to say thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers and acknowledge the many hours they contribute; Rancocas would not be the vibrant place it is without their help. Thank you to Heddy Bauer, Bob Birdsall, John and Marilyn Courtney, Fran Cox, Katie Doyle, Laura Edwards, Bob Hall, Janet Jackson-Gould, Mary Klingelhoeffer, Bob Lord, Steve Mattan, Mary Metrione, Ken Mitchell, Candy Myers, Pat Pawlowski, Louise Tompkins, Abe Reuther, Diane Rothschild, George Rowland, Arlene Spangler, Barbara Wiley, Bill Wiley, Al Wiley, David White, all members of the Work Group, Blake Elkins, and Amy and Rachael Collings. At Rancocas’ Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in January, we acknowledged Mary Klingelhoeffer’s contributions to the center. Mary “retired” from active volunteer status this past winter and her presence will be missed. She was an engaging member of the bookstore staff, always ready to share stories and history. Thanks to Nate Reuther, a former staff member, the Rancocas Nature Ccenter bookstore now features a wonderful mural depicting the elements of the NJAS logo. The colorful landscape draws your eye into the room and is a great complement to the merchandise. Thank you, Nate, for donating your time and creative energy. Best of luck as you continue your education at Longwood Gardens.

Members receive discounts on program fees. If you are not a member and would like to become one, consider Joining New Jersey Audubon Society.