Staff at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County are taking popular nature programs on the road while work continues to restore the park following superstorm Sandy, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced recently.
Educators and experts with the state parks system are now bringing the Scales and Trails, Birds of Island Beach, and Shells on the Shore programs to any interested group or school.
The programs are being conducted by members of the park’s interpretive program staff and supporting partners, Conserve Wildlife Foundation and Friends of Island Beach State Park.
The DEP recently reopened the northern portion of Island Beach State Park for walking, fishing and driving.
“We are committed to a full recovery from Sandy,” said Island Beach State Park Manager Ray Bukowksi. “Reopening the gates to the park was a significant symbol of our resolve. So is resuming interpretive programs that have helped so many people experience a deeper connection to this special place. We remain committed to these programs and invite groups to again enjoy the unique and important learning experiences they provide.”
The DEP partially reopened Island Beach on Jan. 25 for walking, sport fishing and four-wheel driving, for vehicles that obtain a permit, at Ocean Bathing Area 1, and is making every effort to fully reopen the park by the peak summer visitor season, according to a press release.
On April 12, Martin announced that more areas of the park have reopened.
In addition to the increased beach access points, which stretch about 5 miles down into the nearly 10-mile-long park, operating hours of the park will expand from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for the first time since Sandy struck.
Visitors with 2012 and 2013 mobile sport fishing permits will now be authorized to use Gillikin’s Road south to the A-7 access point.
The Reed’s Road parking area at the northern end of the park is also reopened, allowing fishermen on foot to access the beach through the maintenance trail. As of today, the Nature Center is also open for group use by appointment only. Those reservations can be made through the park office at 732-793-0506. Access to the park remains free until May.
The touring educational programs last an hour and cost $85. Staff will travel to groups in the Ocean County and Monmouth County area. A maximum of 25 participants is allowed per program.
Larger groups can be accommodated by scheduling consecutive programs. An additional consecutive program about the same topic is $50.
For more information or to schedule a program, call the park at 732-793-0506.
Scales and Tails provides insights into the ways Island Beach State Park’s animals, such as the diamondback terrapin, adapt to the harsh environment of a barrier island.
Birds of Island Beach provides a glimpse into the wide variety of songbirds, wading birds, shorebirds and birds of prey that depend on the Island Beach ecosystem.
Shells on the Shore focuses on the wide diversity of seashells found at Island Beach and the animals that depend on them for survival, according to the press release.