Kayak Tours of Mercer Lake
Friday – July 1, 8 and 29, Friday – August 12 and 26, Friday – September 9
Tours are from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., weather permitting rates: in county- $25/person, out of county- $30/person
Enjoy a morning of paddling, exploration, and wildlife viewing during a Kayak Tour! Participants will kayak along the lake shore and in the creeks and coves to encounter basking turtles, feeding songbirds and even carnivorous plants! All the supplies needed for a morning of kayaking including binoculars and life vests are provided. Basic kayak instruction is provided before the tour for adults and children over 16 years old. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Pontoon Boat Nature Tours on Mercer Lake
Thursday – July 7, 14, 21 and 28, Thursday – August 4, 11 and 25, Thursday – September 1
Tours run noon – 1:30 p.m. and 2 – 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. In county– adults $10/person, children & seniors $8/person. Out of county – adults $12/person, children & seniors $10/person
This popular boat tour is a relaxing way to experience the flora and fauna of Mercer Lake. View great blue herons, painted turtles and rose mallow in bloom from your seat on the boat! Tour tickets are sold at the Mercer County Marina beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the day of the tour. Children must be at least 6 years old. Boat seats 15 people. For more information, please call 609-448-4004.
First Friday Story Time
June 3, July 1 and August 5 10:30 a.m., Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton – donations welcome
Gather with your little ones while the educators share a story worthy of the Abbott Marshlands, followed by a craft or activity. Enjoy the best stories of wildlife and history inside or outside if the weather is nice! Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Bird In The Hand: Songbird Banding Program
Sunday, June 5, 19 and 26, 8-10 a.m. Fiddler’s Creek Preserve Adults/$20, Children ages 6-14/$10
In May of 2016, a brand new bird banding station opened at the Fiddler’s Creek Preserve in Titusville! In addition to the scientific research goals, education and outreach are a major focus. On specified Sunday mornings, the bird banding operation will be open for adults and families to experience the banding process first-hand. Programs will provide the unique opportunity to visit an active banding station, learn from friendly field ornithologists, and see wild birds up close. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Family Bird Excursion:
Naturally Friends Sunday, June 5, 1-3 p.m. Howell Living History Farm, donations welcome
Join our Teacher Naturalist for family-style birding and discover some of the ways that our feathered friends help out with the farm chores. Children will participate in a “Bird Spotting Challenge”. Binoculars available. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 or email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Birds & Bagels
Friday, June 10, 7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m., Hopewell Borough Park, donations to Sourland Conservancy
Enjoy before school birding and bagels as part of Hopewell Valley Come Outside and Play. On this morning, we’ll be surveying breeding birds in Hopewell Borough Park. Kids and adults are invited to experience field work, bird identification, and assist with bird counting. The data collected during this survey will be used in the American Woodcock Habitat Restoration Project. Binoculars and bagels will be provided. Registration required, email lcleveland@sourland.org. Co-sponsored by the Sourland Conservancy. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Beetles in the Spotlight: Naturally Friends
Friday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.- 9 p.m., Howell Living History Farm – donations welcome
Meet a new suite of insects – those that appear for a nocturnal summer show! With the farm fields as the stage, you can inspect all of the farm’s bright lights for these radical bugs. Join us for some shared time in the spotlight. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Lichen Walk
Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Mercer Meadows at Curlis Woods – Free!
Join lichenologist Dennis Waters for two hours of fun field work and learn how to identify some of the common lichens of Mercer County. Gain insight into the interesting lifestyles and ecological importance of lichens. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Turtle Tea Party
Sunday, June 26, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton 08610 $5/person or $20/family
Enjoy a “turtley” awesome afternoon with your child at this tea party hosted by Tully and Cube, the Tulpehaking Turtles. Guests will play games, create their own party favor to take home, and enjoy a choice of herbal tea or juice and treats to eat while waiting for their up-close and personal visit with the live turtles themselves. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Christmas in July
Saturday, July 16, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton – donations welcome
Give a gift to animals! The nature center will be accepting wish list items on behalf of two local wildlife charities to celebrate Christmas in July. Bring your donation for free admission to our holiday celebration with refreshing beverages, cookies, and the chance to make gifts for wildlife in your own backyard. Benefitting: The Mercer County Wildlife Center and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Annual Butterfly Count
Saturday, July 23, afternoon (time TBD) Howell Living History Farm – Free!
Join the County Naturalist for the North American Butterfly Association’s (NABA) annual butterfly count! During the survey, identify and tally individual species in the fields at Howell Farm. The NABA count has been around since 1993, and monitors butterfly populations throughout the U.S. For adults and children over 16 years old. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Butterfly Bonanza: Naturally Friends
Sunday, July 24, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Howell Living History Farm – donations welcome
As summer warms and the days lengthen, butterflies mix and mingle throughout Howell Farm’s fields. Get up close and personal with many different species and find out how these colorful, delicate insects benefit the farm with a butterfly net and scavenger hunt. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Dragonfly Walk
Sunday, July 31, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Spring Lake Entrance of Roebling Park – $5/person or $20/family
Attune your eye to dragonfly behavior and diversity on this naturalist-guided walk. With voracious appetites, dramatic lifestyle and flying ability, these predators in the sky are sure to please! Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Artifacts Show-n-Learn
Saturday, August 13, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton – Free!
Think you might have discovered Native American or historic artifacts in your own backyard? Bring your finds to be identified by archaeologists from the Archaeological Society of New Jersey. Noted archaeologists who excavated at the nature center and around our region will talk about important local sites and present displays of Native American and historic artifacts. No monetary appraisals will be given. Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Night Hike: Naturally Friends
Friday, August 26, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., Howell Living History Farm – donations welcome
The horses and sheep may be in for the evening, but that doesn’t mean the farm is asleep! Tune up your night vision and join naturalists and farmers for a walk through the barns, fields and lanes where the animals with nocturnal schedules are just starting their day! Pre-registration required, call 609-888-3218 email natureprograms@mercercounty.org.
Mercer County Park Commission, The Historic Hunt House
197 Blackwell Road, Pennington NJ 08534 Office 609-303-0706
