Essex County Environmental Center

09/09/2026

🍂 Celebrate Fall at the Essex County Environmental Center! 🍁

Join us for our annual Fall Family Festival and celebrate the Autumnal Equinox with an afternoon of FREE family fun!

📅 Sunday, September 20, 2026
⏰ 11 AM – 3 PM
📍 Essex County Environmental Center
🌧️ Rain Date: Sunday, September 27

Enjoy hands-on nature games and crafts, naturalist-led walks, live butterflies, live animals, canoeing, Native American life, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, food and more!

🎃 FREE EVENT – some items may be available for sale.

Bring the whole family and spend a beautiful fall day with us!

09/09/2026

FOREST FRIENDS CLUB
Thursdays—September 17, October 15, November 12, December 17; 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 5 through 10. We’ll explore the forest using nets, binoculars, magnifiers and microscopes to investigate nature in our wooded wetland habitat. Together we hope to foster an ethic of stewardship and offer an opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects. This is a drop-off and pick-up class (children only). This is a 4-class session series; must sign up for the entire series. Fee: $60 per session series

REGISTER HERE
https://my.hornblower.com/assets/scripts/ecec/forest-friends-club.html

Held at Essex County Environmental Center, 621b Eagle Rock Ave, Roseland, NJ 07068

09/08/2026

09/07/2026

🌻💐 Those flowers in your garden? They could be a fair entry!

This week’s Fall Fair Project Spotlight is all about Outdoor Gardening! 🌿

Bring in something you’ve grown — dahlias, marigolds, sunflowers, zinnias, a potted plant, a bouquet, saved seeds, pollinator plants and more! There are even classes for a compost sample, chicken or duck eggs, and found feathers.

So before the summer garden starts winding down, take a look around… your next ribbon-winning project might already be growing outside! 🏆🌼

📍 Project Drop-Off — Garibaldi Hall, Essex County Environmental Center
Friday, September 18 | 3:00–6:00 PM
Saturday, September 19 | 2:00–5:00 PM

📖 Find all categories, requirements and rules in the Fall Garden Contest Entry Book:
https://essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/youth/fairs/

🍂 Fall Fair & Showcase: Sunday, September 20 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM

09/02/2026

EVENING CANOE PADDLE ON THE PASSAIC
Tuesday, September 15 5:30pm to 7:30pm
For adults and children ages 10 and older. Take a leisurely paddle on the Passaic River! Paddlers will enjoy scenery and peacefulness as they paddle up the river and float downstream. Geared for beginners and children 10 and up accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meet in the Garibaldi Hall parking lot. Fee: $40 per person

Meet at Garibaldi Hall, 621A Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068 (Part of the Essex County Environmental Center Campus)

REGISTER HERE
https://essexcountyparks.org/facilities/environmental-center/calendar/evening-canoe-paddle-on-the-upper-passaic-13836

08/31/2026

What a fantastic season at our Nature Explorers Summer Camp! 🌿✨

Big thanks to Naturalist Maura Toomey and our dedicated Environmental Center volunteers for leading such engaging and fun outdoor adventures.

And to our camper families: thank you for being a wonderful part of our community this summer! We hope your campers had as much fun exploring the Essex County Environmental Center as we had hosting them.

We hope to see you all again soon!

Our Autumn Public Program Calendar is Available Here:
https://essexcountyparks.org/facilities/environmental-center

08/31/2026

🍅🌽 Grown something you’re proud of this summer? Show it off!

Your backyard harvest could earn a ribbon at the Essex County 4-H Gardeners Contest! From tomatoes and peppers to pumpkins, herbs, fruit, and even unusual garden growth, there are so many ways to enter. 🌱

This week’s project spotlight: Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs! Entries are judged on quality, condition, and presentation.

✨ Youth AND adults are welcome to enter — you do not have to be a 4-H member!

📍 Project Drop-Off — Garibaldi Hall, Essex County Environmental Center
Friday, September 18 | 3:00–6:00 PM
Saturday, September 19 | 2:00–5:00 PM

🍂 See all project options and rules in the Fall Garden Contest Entry Book:
https://essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/youth/fairs/

🏆 Projects will be showcased Sunday, September 20 from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM!

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

LITTLE EXPLORERS

Fridays—September 11, 18; October 9, 23; November 13, 20; December 11, 18; 3pm to 4pm

For ages 2 to 5. Join us for explorations of nature as we study plants and animals and observe the colors, shapes, textures and sounds in the Environmental Center’s forest habitat. Please come dressed for the weather; all classes include an outdoor adventure. All children must be walking and accompanied by an adult. Paths cannot accommodate strollers. Please be prepared for all weather conditions. Maximum of two children per adult. All sessions are limited to 10 children. This is not a drop-off class; adults must accompany children. This is an 8-class session series; must sign up for the entire series. Fee: $160 per session series

Held at Essex County Environmental Center - 621b Eagle Rock Ave, Roseland, NJ 07068

Register Here:
https://essexcountyparks.org/facilities/environmental-center/calendar/little-explorers-nature-club-series-13955

08/27/2026

Register Here
https://essexcountyparks.org/facilities/environmental-center/calendar/hive-explorers-honeybee-club