The Monmouth County Park System has planned the following activities during March:
• Animal Hours at Huber Woods Lodge, March 3 and March 24, 2-3 p.m., Huber Woods Lodge, Middletown. Learn about snakes, turtles, frogs and bugs during these animal meet and greets while the Reptile House undergoes renovation. Free.
• E. Murray Todd Half-Marathon, March 4, 8:30 a.m., Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. Race-day registration for this 13.1-mile race starts at 7 a.m. On-site registration is $50 per runner.
• Open Ceramics, March 4, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft.
Choose from a large selection of bisque fired pottery pieces to glaze and make your own. Children age 12 and under are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 per hour plus price of bisque ware; cash or check only. Pieces will be fired in about a week.
• Co-Ed Open Basketball, age 20 and Up, March 5, 12, 19 and 26, 8-10 p.m., Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. This basketball program is open to men and women age 20 and over. Emphasis is exercise and fun. The cost is $5 per person per session; cash or check only.
• Splendid Spring Stroll, March 9, 3:30-5 p.m., Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, meet in the Environmental Center parking lot; March 23, 3:30-5 p.m., Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold Township, meet at the shelter building parking lot. Join a park naturalist on a peaceful trail walk. Free.
• Roving Naturalist, March 10, 9 a.m., Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen, meet in the Monastary Lane parking lot. Join a roving naturalist for a walk and discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife and identify a bird or two. This is a 90-minute to two-hour program, but feel free to join in or drop out at any point. Dress for the weather as light rain is not a deterrent. Free.
• Find Your Path in Volunteering, March 10, 1-3 p.m., Thompson Park Visitor Center, Lincroft. Discover the opportunities the park system’s volunteer program has to offer. Open to ages 14 and up. Free.
• Cookstove Demonstration, March 10 and March 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Visit the out kitchen and see what’s cooking on the woodstove. Free.
• Blacksmith Demonstration, March 11, 1-3 p.m., Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
Come see what the blacksmith is making in his workshop. Free.
• Quilting Demonstration, March 17, 1-3 p.m., Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
View a traditional hand quilting demonstration in the farmhouse. Free.
• Accordion Melodies of the 1890s, March 17, 1-3 p.m., Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
Hear music from yesteryear played on an accordion. Free.
• The Casual Birder, March 22, 9 a.m., Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan.
Join a park system naturalist for a laid back one-hour morning bird walk. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy this walk. Free.
• Open Shoot Archery, March 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft. This is an open shoot designed for experienced archers. All equipment is provided. No outside equipment permitted. Open to age 10 and up (under 18 with adult). Cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.
• High Flying Fun, March 24-25, 1-4 p.m., Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold. Try your hand at making an old-fashioned kite. Guests who want to fly their kite may bring a spool of kite string. Free.
To learn more, visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the park system TTY/TDD number is 711.
