New, exciting programs at Island Beach State Park this summer
by Lindsay McNamara, Communications Manager
The Jersey Shore has changed immeasurably over the past century. But one place gives you the chance to recapture the beauty and wild feeling that once encompassed the entire coast – Island Beach State Park.
At Island Beach State Park, you can still find hands-on adventures along the Atlantic Coast and the Barnegat Bay. You can still be immersed in the nature of coastal beach dunes, maritime forest, and vast saltmarsh. You can still find wildlife like osprey, red fox, diamondback terrapins, piping plover, sea turtles, and an incredible array of fish and shellfish.
We are excited to partner once again with New Jersey State Parks and offer incredible programs about New Jersey’s natural world at Island Beach State Park.
Programs include:
- Daily programs include: Seine Barnegat Bay
- Guided programs (cost between $5-25) include: Beginner’s Surf Fishing Clinic, Sedge Islands Kayak Eco-Tour, Sunset Paddle, Moonlight Hike
- And there are several nature programs just for kids (including toddlers)
A new feature has been added to the Moonlight Hikes this year. The hike will start in parking lot A13, through the thicket, over the dunes, onto the beach and the bonfire will be in front of the judges shack. A representative will be there to talk more about the shack’s history. The astronomers will be with us again this year too.
The Kayak Eco-Tour and the Sedge Islands Then & Now Tour have been merged into one program. The program is now called the Sedge Islands Eco-Tour and will be an all-encompassing kayak tour of the area.
Also new this year, Island Beach State Park has partnered with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center to offer Mock Stranding events. There will be four this year, two mock dolphin strandings and two mock sea turtle strandings.
Make sure to point your browser to the new, Island Beach Nature Programs website. Check out the list of programs. Bookmark the site and share it with your friends! Make sure to include some awesome, educational outdoor recreational plans for your summer vacation along the Jersey Shore!
Lindsay McNamara is the Communications Manager for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.