• NJAS Nature Store: Your nearby natural resource for field guides, bird feeders and accessories, children's gift items, regional trail maps, and more. Come see what's new!

• Hiking Trails: Over twenty-four miles of trails depart from the Weis Ecology Center’s private grounds and explore adjacent Norvin Green State Forest and the surrounding Highlands.

• Exhibits: Stop by our visitor center to see our snakes, turtle, and seasonal displays.

• Sugarbush Demonstration (February and March): Stop by to watch the sap run (weather-dependent), or help us collect sap!  Then come back for our Maple Sugaring Festival to see how the process turns sap from the tree into syrup for your table.

• Aviary: Built by a crew of volunteers, our aviary is home to Weis’s Red-tailed Hawk and Screech Owls.

 

PROGRAM REGISTRATION Unless otherwise noted, all programs require preregistration and payment in order to reserve your place. Stop in, mail a check (with name and date of program) or call (973) 835-2160 to register by credit card. Programs are held rain or shine. Directions, if applicable, will be sent upon registration. Refunds are available only if we cancel the event or another participant can fill the place reserved for you. Weis Ecology Center also reserves the right to limit participation in a program where a participant poses a safety risk to either themselves or other participants.

Weis ‘Quality Time’ Programs
for Kids and Families

BUILDING FOR BIRDS: Houses
Sunday, March 2
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Weis’s Habitat Handyman, Bob Weismantel, will guide families through the construction of some simple birdhouses and talk about how your family can fix up a bird-friendly backyard. Perfect for scouts needing to fulfill Wolf Achievement #5; for children ages 7 to12. Limit: 12. Fee includes supplies and applies to one chaperone and one child.
Cost: $10 members, $12 nonmembers.

NATURE DISCOVERY TIME:
Hikes for Pre-Schoolers
Thursdays,
March 6, April 10, and May 8
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Join Wendy Rhoads and Mara Marks and their preschoolers, Jake, Laddy, and Abby, as they explore the wild wonders of Weis! These short nature discovery hikes and hands-on activities are perfect for preschoolers ages 3 to 5. Limit: 10.
Cost: $5.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH FUNDRAISER
Sunday, March 16
Seatings at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 a.m. and at 12:30, and 1:30 p.m.
Celebrate the end of the maple sugaring season and the beginning of spring by joining us for a stack of fresh-made, tasty pancakes smothered in real Weis-made pure maple syrup. The menu also includes sausage, juice, and hot beverages. Brunch proceeds sup-port Weis’s educational efforts. Preregistration is a must, as space is limited and all seats are reserved. Limit: 40.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

ALL NATURAL EGG DYING
Friday, March 21
10:00 a.m. to noon
Instead of buying dye at the store, just open up your cupboards or refrigerator! Learn how to dye your eggs with com-mon household foods and items to make a unique color palette. Join the fun as we prepare over 350 eggs for the hunt on Saturday. Dying materials and “practice” eggs provided – feel free to bring your own eggs to boil, dye, and take home!
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

BASICS OF BIRDING: BIRD WALKS
Sundays, Mar 9, Aprl 27, & May 25
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Come learn the basic skills needed to help identify wild birds in the field or at your feeders on this naturalist-led walk, so you too can find joy in watching birds! Walks will meet at Weis and Carpool to local sites. Fee covers cost of handouts.
Cost: $5 members; $8 nonmembers.

CAMOUFLAGED EGG HUNT
Saturday, March 22
2:00 p.m. start time
Old traditions – with a different twist! Kids search the fields and forests of Weis for naturally dyed eggs in camouflaged colors: stone gray, grass green, leaf brown. Every participant gets a small bag of treats, plus there are special prizes for lucky hunters and finders of the Golden Eggs! Preregistration is very important, as supplies are limited. Kids hunt (rain or shine) in groups: ages 3 to 4; 5 to 7; and 8 to 10. BYO basket. Limit: 40 per age group. Cost: $5 per hunter.

VERNAL POOLS ALIVE! (For Families)
Friday, April 11
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Spring holds many surprises for the inquisitive family, and some of the most exciting surprises are right in the vernal pools of our backyards. What is a vernal pool? It’s a great place to observe various species of frogs and salamanders laying their eggs in the springtime. We’ll put on hip waders and boots to count the various species of amphibians (including egg masses, tadpoles, larvae, and adults) such as Wood Frogs and Spotted Salamanders. Through this program, we will be adding important data to our collection from last year to observe the changing status of amphibians from year to year. This program is meant for adults, teens, and children who are interested in getting their hands dirty in amphibian biology.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

THE MAGICAL FOREST
Saturday, April 5
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“Lions, and tigers, and bears – oh my!” Well, not quite…but rumor has it that on this one very special night of the year, the animals of the Weis forest have been granted the magical ability to speak – and they have lots to share! Timed tours will be leaving every fifteen minutes to visit our “magical” animals on the forest trail. You will be given your tour time when you register. Learn all about New Jersey’s animals and some of their adap-tations for survival. Includes a “pouch” full of treats! Limit: 15 per tour.Cost:
$5 members, $8 nonmembers. Family rate: $15 members, $24 nonmembers.

MOTHER’S DAY FAMILY HIKE (Moms Hike Free!)
Sunday, May 12
Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Moderately paced, three-mile loop hike. Take your Mom to lunch…at the top of a mountain! Weis naturalist Ellie Sroczynski will lead moms and their families up to Wyanokie High Point for a picnic lunch with a 365-degree view of spring’s return to Norvin Green State Forest. Pack lunch and water and wear sturdy shoes. This activity is recommended for families with elementary-age children and above. Moms free with a paid registration. Limit: 20. Cost:
$5 members, $8 nonmembers. Family rate: $15 members, $24 nonmembers.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS NJAS’s Weis Ecology Center offers year-round day and overnight residential learning opportunities to schools, scouts, and other groups. Stop by, visit us on-line or call for a brochure. FEATURED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Maple Sugaring February and March Participants explore the concepts of winter tree identification and physiology, maple sugaring history, and the actual production of maple syrup. Hands-on demonstrations and the “maple challenge” taste test are included. Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers. Family rate: $15 members, $24 nonmembers. Weis also offers birthday parties, off-or-onsite live animal demonstrations, and scout badge programs.

NATURE STUDY

BEECH ROAD BIRD WALKS
Every Thursday, March 20 through May 15
7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Located across Route 511 from the Long Pond Boat Launch in Ringwood, this area has open water, mudflats, meadows, woodlands, and stream habitats that attract diverse migrating and breeding birds. Join associate naturalist Suzanne Serafini or another Weis naturalist for these weekly snapshots of spring’s arrival. Bring binoculars if you have them and meet at the site.
Cost: Free members, $5 nonmembers.

CALLS OF THE WILD: Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders of the Highlands
Thursday, April 10
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The warm nights of spring are filled with the squeaking, peeping, plucking, and croaking of frogs and toads. Herpetologist (frog guy) David Hulmes will be at the Weis Ecology Center to present a program that will help you to tell the "peeps" from the "plucks" and when to look for those silent salamanders. Afterwards, we’ll head outside to visit some vernal ponds and look for critters. Dress for the weather.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

CELERY FARM
Saturday, April 12
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Allendale Celery Farm expert Rob Fanning will offer an excellent birding experience at this wonderful Bergen County birding hotspot searching for early spring arrivals.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

CAVING 101: The Ins and the  Outs
Saturday, April 12
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Journey with experienced leaders from the Weis Ecology Center into and out of three different caves in northwestern New Jersey. Be prepared to duck, squeeze, and even crawl! Participants aged 10 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Limit: 12.
Cost: $12 members, $20 nonmembers.

EARTH DAY WORK DAY AND GREEN THUMB GARDEN PREP
Saturday, April 19
10:00 a.m. to noon and/or
noon to 2:00 p.m.
Which projects we tackle today depends on you! Once we know how many fine folks are coming out to help, we plan tasks appropriate to their skills and interests. Past projects have included painting, trail maintenance, weeding and planting in our butterfly garden with associate naturalist and gardener Chuck Blewett, light carpentry, and litter patrols. Please let us know if you’ll be celebrating the Earth with us on this day, and thanks!

GARRET MOUNTAIN’S
BOTTLENECK OF BIRDS
Sunday, May 4
8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
This is one bottleneck along Route 80 that you won’t want to miss. Suzanne Serafini and Weis program director Mike Krug will familiarize you with this gem of a location. Garret Mountain’s geography makes it a popular “rest stop” for northbound migrants. Trip meets at Garret Mountain – directions sent upon registration. Limit: 20.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL WORLD SERIES OF BIRDING
Home Run for Habitat
Saturday, May 10
6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
4 For over a century through research, conservation, and education, NJAS has been raising public awareness of the many plants and animals that live in and migrate through New Jersey.
4 For over twenty-five years, NJAS has been celebrating and highlighting this biodiversity with a "friendly" competition, the World Series of Birding, in which teams try to spot as many species of birds as possible in just one day of birding.
4 Now you can join Weis Ecology Center’s team, the Passaic Pewees, for a full day of birding at the hottest hot spots in Passaic County. Led by sanctuary director Karla Risdon, the Passaic Pewees seek teammates and sponsors to help raise money in support of Weis’s environmental education efforts.
Join the team by pledging $1 per species seen (limited to twenty teammates), OR support the team with a per-species pledge of any amount. For more information about the event and other ways you can get involved, please visit: www.worldseriesofbirding.org 

NEW! WILDFLOWER HIKES
WITH GEORGE PETTY
Precious and ephemeral, spring wildflowers are a real treat to see. Learning when and where to look will increase your chances of being able to catch these sometimes inconspicuous plants in bloom. Associate naturalist and author George Petty will share his knowledge and experience. All hikes carpool from Weis at 10:00 a.m., or meet at the trailhead parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Directions sent upon registration. (Heavy soaking rain postpones hikes to the next day.) Wear hiking footwear, dress in layers appropriate for the weather, and bring plenty of water. All hikes are included in George’s book, Hiking the Jersey Highlands, and are numbered in the description below, so you can follow along with your copy. George will have copies of his new book available for purchase and signing.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

PYRAMID MOUNTAIN: Hike #6
Saturday, April 26
Join George for this easy to moderate hike on the remains of the Morgan farm and up Pyramid Mountain. Expected spring wildflowers include Bloodroot, anemones, Spicebush, Shadbush, Dwarf Ginseng, hepatica, Spring Beauty, Trout Lily, violets, and Early Saxifrage. In addition, the hike will pass two notable glacial erratics, Bear Rock and Tripod Rock, and two long viewpoints.
Distance: almost three miles.

LONG POND IRONWORKS: Hike #21
Saturday, May 3
This moderate hike in part follows a woods road built in the mid-nineteenth century to carry ore from the Patterson Mine to the Long Pond Ironworks. The summit of Big Beech Mountain is just over 1,200 feet high, the tallest peak in the Sterling Forest tract. Open ledges at the south end of the Big Beech Ridge offer year-round views. Expected wild-flowers include: Bloodroot, Rue and Wood Anemones, Spicebush, Shadbush, Trout Lily, hepatica, Violets, Early Saxifrage, and the scarce Yellow Corydalis. 4½ miles.

CARRIS HILL: Hike #22
Saturday, May 10
Expected wildflowers on this moderate hike include anemones, hepatica, Fringed Polygala, Pink Lady’s Slipper, Spring Beauty, Trout Lily, and Pinkster. Waterproof footwear is necessary. Bring water and a lunch. There is a steep climb and excellent views of the beautiful Chikahoki Falls from the Carris Hill summit. Distance: Four miles.

HIGH POINT – IRON MINES LOOP: Hike #18
Saturday, May 17
Join us at Weis for a moderate climb to the High Point summit and a ramble past the Roomy Mine in a search for Pink Lady’s Slipper, Pinkster, anemone, Columbine, Wild Geranium, and other spring wildflowers. Waterproof boots will be needed if the brooks are high. Bring water and a lunch. Distance: 3+ miles.

PINE BARRENS BOTANY, BIRDS, AND BUTTERFLIES
Saturday, May 3
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Lucille’s Restaurant on Route 530 in Warren Grove.
Visit to the Pine Barrens for botany, birding, and – weather permitting – for butterflies such as elfins and other early spring species. We will visit the East Plains and its dwarf Pitch Pine forest, Warren Grove, Webbs Mills, Whitesbog, and other areas for early blooming plants such as Sand Myrtle, Pixie, Birdfoot Violet, and Swamp Pink and will stop at areas known for Pine, Hoary, Henry’s and Brown Elfins, and Hessel’s Hairstreak. Frosted Elfin is a possibility if there is time. Come early if you’d like breakfast. Leader: Rick Radis.

PLANT SALE FUNDRAISER
Saturday, May 3
Show your support for backyard habitat and Weis’s environmental education efforts when you participate in the annual plant sale. Order forms will be mailed to past participants approximately six weeks in advance – additional forms can be picked up at the visitor center. Please call for more details.

Nature Adventure

WEIS WOMEN’S HIKES
Saturdays,
March 8, April 12, and May 24
8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Moderately paced, two- to three-mile hikes. Join Wendy Rhoads and Weis sanctuary director Karla Risdon, along with Laura Hoogstrate and/or Penny Galvany, for these early morning hikes to some of their favorite scenic spots! A great way to enjoy time outdoors, get some exercise, and get home early enough to spend the rest of the day with family and friends! Hikes meet at Weis (may carpool to the trailhead if needed). Wear hiking footwear, dress in layers appropriate for weather, and bring plenty of water. Hazardous driving conditions will cancel. Cost: $5.

TREADING TRODDEN TRAILS (TTT)
YOUNG ADULT HIKES
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
These moderately paced social hikes are meant for adults ages 18 to 30. A great opportunity to spend some time outside, unwind from papers and projects, and make some new friends! Led by Charlie Sontag. Each hike will meet at Weis and carpool to the trailhead, if necessary (directions sent upon registration). Please wear appropriate hiking footwear, bring plenty of water, and dress in layers for the weather. Hazardous driving conditions will cancel. Cost: $5 per college student.
Sunday, March 2
This seven-mile loop through Abram S. Hewitt State Forest will follow Bearfort Ridge up to Surprise Lake. The hike will follow a small section of the Appalachian Trail right near the N.J./N.Y. border, and will follow a ridgetop with fantastic views of Greenwood Lake.
Sunday, April 6
This seven-mile trek through Sterling Forest State Park will begin with a walk north along Sterling Lake. The route will then turn south and follow the Highlands Trail along Sterling Ridge to the Sterling Forest fire tower.

HIGHLANDS HIKES
Moderately paced hikes led by Charlie Toole.

Charlie’s hikes offer an opportunity to visit and explore some of the many special places in the Highlands region. Participants must wear appropriate hiking foot-wear. Dress appropriately for the condi-tions; bring lunch and plenty of fluids. Hikes meet at Weis unless otherwise noted.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: WAWAYANDA STATE PARK
Sunday, March 9
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Short but tough, this hike includes a one-mile steep climb up the Appalachian Trail to the best views in the park., then a gradual decline through Wawayanda State Forest. Length: three miles.

STERLING FOREST: Indian Trail Loop
Sunday, April 20
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A great way to spend your Sunday! This moderate, four- to five-mile loop will draw you into some of the best views of Harriman and Sterling State Forest! Highlights include: Little Dam Lake, Green Pond, and the Wildcat Mountains. Length: Four to five miles.

BUCK MOUNTAIN SHORT LOOP
Sunday, May 18
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Explore the wonders that exist right in Weis’s own backyard with a moderate, four- to five-mile loop hike. This hike will depart from the center, and offers spectacular views from the Pine Paddies; Buck and Assiniwikam Mountains. Length: Four to five miles.

Weis Wyanokie Wanderers: Club Hikes*
Strenuous hikes led by Don Weise.

The terrain is steep and the pace is fast, good cardiovascular fitness required. Participants must wear appropriate hiking footwear and dress in layers for weather conditions. Bring lunch and plenty of fluids. Limit 25.
Cost: $5 members, $8 nonmembers.

PANCAKE BRUNCH HIKE
Sunday, March 16 
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Enter Norvin Green State Forest’s wildest corners, where two climbs are required, in the West Milford “Baker’s Dozen” peaks along the way. Finish just in time for Weis’s annual Pancake Brunch, featuring homemade maple syrup from Weis’s sugar maple trees. Hike meets at Weis.
Distance: Eight to nine miles.

DUNDERBERG MOUNTAIN ON THE HUDSON
Sunday, April 13
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“Thunder Mountain” towers high above the Hudson River, offering constant views of Bear Mountain, Bear Mountain Bridge, Anthony’s Nose, and much more. We’ll pass the old railroad site, look across the water to Peekskill, and visit the cliffs of the Timp. Hike meets off-site.
Distance: A nine-mile loop.

TERRACE POND & FLAGPOLE VISTA 
Sunday, May 4
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sheer purple cliffs plunging into clear waters create a prehistoric setting on this official West Milford “Baker’s Dozen” Thirteener hike. Cross rugged mountains and enjoy views from High Point to Manhattan. There is an optional bushwhack-scramble to a trailless vista. Hike meets at Weis.
Distance: Ten miles end-to-end.

SCHUNNEMUNK AND MEGALITHS 
Sunday, May 25
9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Meeting place to be announced. Explore fractured caves, a ravine and giant rock formations on this classic hike up Orange County’s highest peak. Join us for a fun day of rock-hopping and great views!
Distance: A nine-mile loop.

* Note: You do not need to be a member of the Weis Wyanokie Wanderers (WWW) to attend these hikes, but card-carrying WWW Hiking Club members get guaranteed admittance to twelve monthly WWW hikes and two annual Challenge Hikes at a flat annual rate of $60. New WWW members are welcomed with a pack patch and a Weis trail map T-shirt.

“Bakers Dozen” Challenge: West Milford Thirteeners
Attention hikers, take the “Baker’s Dozen” Challenge and learn some of the greatest hikes in the Highlands region, sharpen your trail-finding skills, and earn your membership into the West Milford Thirteeners organization! Call for more details.

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Critter-Care Sponsorships

Weis Ecology Center has a small menagerie of critters that visit schools, scout groups, and libraries throughout the year (our Environmental Edu-critters). You can help us defray the cost of their upkeep (care, feeding, checkups, etc.) by becoming a Critter-Care Sponsor!  Contact or visit the Center for more information and to register.

Adopt-a-Sugar Maple

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade
you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson
Invest in the future by adopting one of Weis's sugar maples and thereby support our environmental education endeavors.
Cost: $30 members, $40 nonmembers.
Supporters receive:

• An attractive adoption certificate.
• A plaque posted on a Weis maple for the sugaring season
• Two tickets to the Pancake Brunch (March 16, 2008).
• An 8oz. jar of homemade Weis maple syrup.

Contact the Center to register for this event.

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SUMMER NATURE DAY CAMPS at WEIS

Our day camps give children entering kindergarten through eighth grade opportunities to discover and explore the wonders of the natural world through fun, hands-on activities and adventures. Call 973.835.2160 or stop in for a registration packet. Space is limited and camps usually fill quickly.

JUNIOR NATURALISTS (entering grade K) Wednesday, July 30, to Friday, August 1
WONDERERS  (entering grades 1 and 2)  Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11
ADVENTURERS  (entering grades 3 and 4)  Monday, July 21, to Friday, July 25
EXPLORERS  (entering grades 5 and 6)  Monday, August 4 to Friday, August 8
TRAIL BLAZERS  (entering grades 7 and 8)  Tuesday, June 24 to Saturday, June 28

PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Weis welcomes skilled amateur or professional naturalists and outdoorsy folks to propose classes, walks, and workshops they might like to lead, as well as programs appropriate for teen Service Learning volunteers.

SANCTUARY NOTES

Weis Ecology Center gratefully acknowledges the following people for their help and support:
Program and Field Trip Leaders: Chuck and Margaret Blewett, Deb Davidson, Tom, Dave, Ali and Steven Heerema, Laura Hoogstrate, David Hulmes, Mara Marks, Penny Nichols-Galvany, George Petty, Wendy Rhoads, Lance Risley, Charlie Sontag, Ellie Sroczynski, Eve Tomczak, Charlie Toole, Holly Van Dyk, Don Weise, and Ken Witkowski. 
Program Support Staff: Derrick Andresen, Jill Bennetta, Ellen Caleca, Rebecca Carvallaro, Deb Davidson, Philip De Rea, Ray Fowlie, Gomes Family, Madonna Hayes, Jeremy Hunt, Pauline Maniscalki, Teri Rocco, JJ Rusher, Suzanne Serafini. 
Technical Support: Bill Boesenberg (www.snakes-and-scales.com), Joe Hayes, Mike Lyncheski and Al Ligertwood and The Harrier Group, Len Soucy and The Raptor Trust, and Joe Troy Green Mountain Tree Experts. 
Gardening and Invasive Plant Management: Chuck Blewett and family.
Resource and Display Donations: Norman Schantz and William Paterson University, Suzanne Serafini, Mary Jo Sichak.
Trail Maintenance: Estelle Anderson and Bob Jonas (New York-New Jersey Trail Conference).