Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend

Several Earth Day activities geared for the whole family will be offered in Burlington County’s parks on Sunday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., county officials announced.

Sponsored by the freeholders through the Division of Parks, Earth Day celebrations will be held in Pennington Park in Delanco, Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area in Moorestown, Long Bridge Park in Hainesport, Amico Island Park in Delran, and Smith’s Woods in Eastampton.

The schedule for Earth Day includes:

• Amico Island Park, Norman Avenue in Delran—Help Ranger Adam clean up the park’s shoreline from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register in advance by e-mailing the division of parks at parks@co.burlington.nj.us and providing your name, address, phone number, and email, or by calling 609-265-5858.

• Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area, Creek Road in Moorestown—Park Naturalist Jen Bulava will take visitors on a guided nature walk at 10 a.m., and Rangers Bill and Sharon will get you started on a self-guided scavenger hunt for kids and their families throughout the day.

• Long Bridge Park, Deacon Road in Hainesport—The Rancocas Nature Center will present “Scales and Tails,” a children’s reptile program, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 2 p.m., Rangers Mike and Kelly will conduct “Delightful Decomposers: Adventures Under a Log,” a fun, hands-on program that lets children get dirty while exploring the amazing world of decomposers found inside a decaying log. 

The 90-minute program is geared for school-age children in grades two and up (who must be accompanied by an adult).

• Pennington Park, Creek Road in Delanco—Meet Rangers Jim and Garry, play a game of “Nature Bingo,” and let the kids have fun making a craft piggy banks from recycled bottles with the Delanco Women’s Community Civic Club. Representatives from the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department will offer child safety seat tips and free bike inspections, and help seniors make sure their car mirrors and seats are adjusted correctly. There will also be a backyard composting information, do’s and don’ts for recycling, information on community gardens and the Burlington County Animal Shelter will share information about pet care, pet etiquette, and animal adoption.

• Smith’s Woods, East Railroad Avenue in Eastampton—At 10 a.m., Rangers Mike and Kelly will conduct “Delightful Decomposers: Adventures Under a Log,” a fun, hands-on program that lets children get dirty while exploring the amazing world of decomposers found inside a decaying log. The 90-minute program is geared for school-age children in grades two and up (who must be accompanied by an adult). At noon, Ranger Chris will show visitors how to construct a butterfly garden, and at 2 p.m. Park Naturalist Jen Bulava will take visitors on a guided nature walk. There will also be an “envirospace demonstration” that will illustrate what happens to pollutants that come from your lawn, and youth volunteers will be overseeing ring toss and ball toss games for the kids. Kids will also enjoy making fun crafts out of recycling material throughout the day.

For more information about Burlington County’s Earth Day activities in the parks, go to www.co.burlington.nj.us/Parks  or call 609-265-5858.