Winter activities abound at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center. Hikes, gardening and home school programs provide great ways to beat the winter blues and welcome spring. Flat Rock Brook is located at 443 Van Nostrand Ave. in Englewood. Winter and early spring programs include:
Birds of Prey Program – Sunday, March 4, 2-3 p.m.
Day and night, raptors are flying, hunting and roosting in New Jersey. Through artifacts and live birds of prey, you will learn about Flat Rock Brook’s feathered ambassadors, including their behavior, physiology, adaptations and natural history.
This program is for families, teens and adults, and is free to all.
Home-school – Thursdays, March 15, 22, 29; April 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17
Join educators this spring from Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Teaneck Creek Conservancy and Tenafly Nature Center as they introduce your home school explorers to a plethora of plants and the interesting world of insects. Each month explorers will discover a new locale that is a part of beautiful Bergen County and explore the hidden gems within. Topics will range from basic botany to identifying aquatic macro-organisms and will feature hands-on/minds-on exploration perfect for a budding to intermediate naturalist.
Meet other home school families while kids strengthen their knowledge and appreciation for the environment. This is a drop off program intended for students ages 4-7 and 8-12. Students should wear appropriate outdoor gear and sturdy, closed-toed footwear. Rain or shine, the program will take place indoors and outdoors. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
The cost is $135 for members, and $180 for non-members. Online registration required.
Students ages 4-7 meet from 9:30-11 a.m., and students ages 8-12 meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Students will meet in March at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, in April at Teaneck Creek Conservancy and in May at Tenafly Nature Center.
Spring Fling Hike – Sunday, March 18, 2-3 p.m.
New life will be stirring at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center as the spring season approaches. Take a leisurely stroll around the trails looking for spring flowers, the stirrings of active wildlife, and other signs of spring. Come stretch your legs and shake off the winter blues!
This program is for adults and children ages 6 and older, and is free to all. Online registration required.
Spring Camp – April 2-6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Just because school is out doesn’t mean kids can’t keep learning! Join Flat Rock Brook for a week of learning through hikes, hands-on activities and fun! Each day will follow a different spring theme.
Spring Camp is for children in grades 1-5. The cost is $250 per child for members, and $275 per child for non-members. Online registration required.
Garden in the Morning – Every Tuesday, April through October, 9-11 a.m.
The Flat Rock Brook Gardeners invite one and all (everyone is welcome regardless of experience) to the kick-off of the 2018 gardening season. Gardeners meet every Tuesday, April through October. Just bring willing hands and gloves!
This program is for adults, and is free to all. No need to register.
Animal Tracking Hike – Sunday, April 15, 2-3 p.m.
How do we know what animals are around if we haven’t seen them? Learn how to spot the clues that animals leave behind! From tracks to game trails, participants will search for it all during a hike on the trails.
For adults and families with children ages 8 and older. Free to all. Online registration required.
Earth Day Hike – Sunday, April 22, 2-3 p.m.
The first Earth Day was 48 years ago in 1970. Today, people continue the tradition by honoring the planet and making a commitment to keep the Earth green. Join the center for a nature hike on the trails and an eco-friendly craft.
For families with children ages 5 and older. The program is free to all. Online registration required.