The Monmouth County Park System has planned a full slate of activities in January. To learn more, visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.
Co-ed open basketball (age 20 and up) will be held on Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 8-10 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. The emphasis of the program is exercise and fun. The cost is $5 per person per session; cash or check only.
A roving naturalist program will take place on Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. at Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan; on Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. at Crosswicks Creek Park, Upper Freehold. Meet in the Province Line Road parking lot. Join a naturalist for a walk and discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife, and identify a bird or two. This is a 90-minute to two-hour program, but feel free to join in or drop out at any point. Dress for the weather as light rain and snow are not deterrents. Free.
Open ceramics will take place on Jan. 7 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft. Participants will choose from a large selection of bisque fired pottery pieces to glaze and make their own. Children age 12 and under are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 per hour plus price of bisque ware; cash or check only. Pieces will be fired in about a week.
Nature story time will be held on Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 11 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Expand a child’s imagination while listening to nature stories. Open to ages 6 months to 5 years, with adult. Free.
Lunch with a Master Gardener – Oh Deer! will be held on Jan. 11 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Big Brook Park Elsa’s Lodge, Marlboro. Bring a brown bag lunch and join members of the Monmouth County Master Gardeners for a discussion on the deer population in New Jersey and its effects on the landscape. Learn methods of control and plants that are deer resistant. Free.
Wondrous Winter Walks are scheduled for Jan. 12 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen Township; and Jan. 26 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Big Brook Park, Marlboro. Tag along with a park system naturalist and explore the serenity that is nature in the wintertime. Free.
A cookstove demonstration will be held on Jan. 13 and Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Visit the out kitchen and see what’s cooking on the woodstove. Free.
Cabin Fever? Wallpaper in Early America is the topic on Jan. 13-14 from 1-4 p.m.
at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. See samples of early American wallpaper designs. Free.
A blacksmith demonstration is scheduled for Jan. 14 from 1-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Come see what the blacksmith is making in his workshop. Free.
School’s Out Drop-In Days at the Fort will be held on Jan. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. Enjoy Science Exploration Stations, Take Home Kids Creations and Building Time during this self-guided program open to ages 5-10 with adult. The cost is $5 per child per day; cash or check only.
The Casual Birder will be held on Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen Township. Join a park system naturalist for a laid-back morning bird walk. Open to ages 8 and up. Free.
A Seashore Open House is scheduled for Jan. 21 from 1-4 p.m. at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Activity Center, Long Branch. Enjoy seashore fun, hands-on activities and light refreshments while learning about the shore and the sea. Create a beach keepsake. Free.
Lunch with a Master Gardener – Vegetable Gardening will be held on Jan. 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Big Brook Park Elsa’s Lodge, Marlboro. Bring a brown bag lunch and join members of the Monmouth County Master Gardeners for a discussion about vegetable gardening. Get help deciding what vegetables to plant, how to develop a planting timeline, the best planting locations for certain crops, and how to make a vegetable garden productive throughout the entire growing season. Free.
Nature Lecture Series: Captain Kidd – the Pirate of New York and New Jersey will take place Jan. 25 from 7-8 p.m. at the Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Middletown. Join a naturalist for a talk about Captain William Kidd and the lore of his buried treasure while learning about the lives of pirates and their dealings in local waters. Free.
WinterFest will be held Jan. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. at Thompson Park, Lincroft.
Celebrates the fun that winter brings with wagon rides, cross-country skiing and more. Some activities may have a fee. Admission and parking are free.
A program about clouds will be held Jan. 27-28 at 11 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Learn how to identify clouds by their shape, density and distance from the earth. Free.
Paper Dolls: Historic Fashions, Hands-on Fun will be held Jan. 28 from 1-4 p.m.
at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Color, cut and assemble paper dolls. Open to ages 12 and up, under 18 with adult. Free.