< July 2012 >

Bats have a reputation as being spooky or even fearsome, but they are actually some of the most beneficial animals to people. And right now, bats need our help.

Come learn about the amazing, insect-eating, acrobatic bats in your backyard...and what you can do to keep them around! Bat biologist MacKenzie Hall of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation will give a colorful slideshow talk, auction a bat house, and demonstrate how to find night-flying bats using an acoustic detector.

This program is geared toward kids & families.

Did you know that in 1974 only 50 osprey nests were left in NJ? Learn about the historical and current issues that the ospreys face as well as what’s being done to assist these sea hawks. Ben will discuss how major policy changes and nesting assistance have helped the NJ osprey population to increase exponentially and where the most help is needed to continue the increase for these important shore residents.

This talk is free and open to the public.

Learn about the plants and animals that are found in the pond and stream outside the nature center. Take a turn trying to catch and identify them and discover some of the unique adaptations that enable them to survive.

Come and join us for a fun-filled night of sights and sounds in Allaire State Park. As the sun sets over the horizon, we will begin our search for moths and other insects of all shapes and sizes. You will be amazed at the color, diversity, and beauty of these gentle creatures.

Summer is the season for butterflies. Take a hike with Charlene Smith, CWF Naturalist, and discover the diversity of butterflies that live in and around Allaire. Get up close and personal with the nature center's monarch butterfly exhibit.