621 Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ  07068
Phone: 973.228.8776 / Fax: 973.228.3793

Building hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. / Closed Sundays

Trails: Open dawn to dusk seven days a week.

CLOSINGS: Monday, September 1, Labor Day; Monday, October 13, Columbus Day; Tuesday, November 4, Election Day; Tuesday, November 11, Veteran's Day; Thursday and Friday, November 27 to 28, for Thanksgiving.
 

Essex County Environmental Center Information Page

A Partnership —

WEEKDAY MORNING FIELD TRIPS IN ESSEX COUNTY
Led by Dave Hall

This is a wonderful time of year to view fall migrants, and Dave has once again planned many exciting birding field trips. Many of these trips are to Essex County parks, the oldest county park system in the United States. Dave will set an easy pace, and most of the trails are level and wide, though a few have steep trail sections and are a little muddy. Call 908.766.5787 to register.
Cost: $6 members, $8 nonmembers.

BECKER TRACT
Thursday, September 11
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Meet at the Essex County Environmental Center. This is a great time to look for migrating passerines.

MONTCLAIR HAWK WATCH
Thursday, September 25
9:00 a.m. to noon
Meet at the parking area on Edgecliff Road or, if you arrive late, join us by climbing the stairway up to the hawk watch. Bring a hat, water, and a folding chair. Fall migration will be in full swing.

GROVER CLEVELAND PARK
Thursday, October 9
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Meet by the pond at the park. We will visit this beautiful Essex County park and also explore a nearby reserve in Essex Fells.

BRANCH BROOK PARK
Thursday, October 30
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
This Olmstead-designed park is beautifully laid out, and it attracts a variety of birds in any season. Meet at the visitor’s center parking lot in Branch Brook Park, Newark.

BECKER TRACT AND WALTER KIDDE DINOSAUR PARK
Thursday, November 6
8:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Meet in the parking lot of the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland. A walk up to the rim of the Passaic River Valley offers superb views and interesting birdlife.

WEEQUAHIC PARK
Thursday, November 20
8:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Meet at the east end of the lake in this Newark park. This area attracts a wonderful variety of waterfowl in the fall, and all can be viewed along an easy trail around the lake.

SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIPS IN ESSEX COUNTY
Led by Dave Hall

Call 908.766.5787 to register.
Cost: $6 members, $8 nonmembers.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION
Saturday, September 20
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Meet at the Turtle Back Zoo parking lot in West Orange. Essex County’s largest developed park has many good hiking trails leading into different habitats. At the peak of the fall migration, we will search for passerines, raptors, and maybe a few waterfowl.

HATFIELD SWAMP
Saturday, October 11
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Meet at the parking lot of King’s Grocery in West Caldwell, near the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Passaic Avenues. This is Essex County’s hidden gem. We will have a great chance of finding migrating birds and perhaps some native wildlife. Depending on recent weather, you may want to wear boots.

TROY MEADOWS
Saturday, November 15
8:30 a.m. to noon
Meet in the parking lot of the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland. Just across the line into Morris County, this wetland offers fall raptors, ducks, and late passerine migrants.

FAMILY PROGRAMS
AT THE ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

For children in kindergarten to third grade. Preregistration required; call 908.766.5787. Limit: 15.

INSECTS
Saturday, September 13
10:30 a.m. to noon
Insects are the largest group of animals on earth. As the temperature starts to drop in mid-September, they will begin to disappear for the season. Learn about their many groups, how insects are valuable, and their remarkable life cycles. We’ll explore insect signs, watch a few live insects along the trail, and sample some pond water for aquatic stages.
Cost: $5 members, $7 nonmembers.

OCTOBERFEST 2008
Saturday, October 4
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come celebrate autumn! There will be fun-filled activities for the entire family: games, canoeing, activities, crafts, and food. Open to the public.
Cost: free all day.

WILD TURKEYS
Saturday, November 8
10:30 a.m. to noon
Have you ever seen a Wild Turkey? Ben Franklin wanted it to be our national bird! Come prepared for an outdoor walk to try your luck with a turkey “caller.” Bring home a turkey decoration for your Thanksgiving table.
Cost: $5 members, $7 nonmembers.

THANK YOU

Many thanks to Dave Hall for all of the nature walks he led at Essex County Environmental Center’s 2008 Earth Day Festival. He gave many children and adults the chance to learn about the wildlife that is found right here on the center’s trails.

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