New Weis Center for Education, Arts, and Recreation Hikes - 2022
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The Passaic County Parks & Recreation department is partnering with the New Weis Center for Education, Arts, and Recreation to provide a series of spring hikes throughout Passaic County!
Winter Trees & Sugaring
Sunday, March 20 @ 10:00 AM - Apshawa Preserve - West Milford, NJ
When trees lose their leaves, they are not hibernating or sleeping, but are still actively producing energy to survive! On this hike we will learn how to recognize trees without leaves, and learn about what trees are doing throughout these quiet months. We will also discuss a star winter species – the sugar maple – and how its sap is made into syrup (with even tasting some maple sap!) This is a moderate hike with occasional difficult spots on rocky terrain.
Forest of Frogs
Saturday, April 2 @ 1:00 PM - Highlands Preserve - West Milford, NJ
Spring peepers loud squeaky calls are the first sign of spring for many people around NJ. On this hike, we will learn about these super tiny frogs as well as the other amphibians who use early spring to breed, like wood frogs and American toads. With a diversity of wetland habitats at the Highlands Preserve, we likely won’t just hear these species, but see them too! This is an easy to moderate hike on possibly muddy terrain.
Spring Migration Mania
Saturday, April 16 @ 9:00 AM - Garret Mountain Reservation - Woodland Park, NJ
There is nothing like the excitement in the air on a spring morning as birds hurry to their breeding grounds, search for safe spots to raise their young, and flaunt their most beautiful feathers to find a mate. This birding walk is designed for beginners to learn about seasonal migration and how to identify some of the most exciting spring migrants. Bring binoculars if you have them! This is an easy walk around the pond on grassy and dirt terrain.
What's on the Forest Floor
Sunday, May 22 @ 1:00 PM - New Weis Center - Ringwood, NJ
Mosses, lichens, and mushrooms are tiny, but mighty! Some of the most unique and interesting life in the forest lays right below our feet. We will discover the world that lies within a lichen, and the ancient methods of survival used by mosses. Get ready to see these incredibly unique organisms up close and magnified as we peer into a world so often unseen! This is a moderate hike on rocky and dirt terrain.