This August go kayaking on the Navesink River, see history come to life, discover what lives in Sandy Hook Bay and more. Throughout the month, the Monmouth County Park System has planned the following family friendly activities:
The Naturalist Guided Drop-in Kayak Tour will take place Aug. 1 from 5:30-7 p.m., Aug. 3 from 5:30-7 p.m., Aug. 4 from 10-11:30 a.m., Aug. 15 from 2-3:30 p.m. and Aug. 29 from 2-3:30 p.m. at Swimming River Park, Red Bank.
Explore the river with a park system naturalist. All equipment provided; first come, first served. Open to ages 12 and up, under 18 with paying adult. Cost is $20 per person; cash or check only.
Tidal Tuesdays will take place Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 11 a.m. at
Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan. Join a park system naturalist to discover exciting things about nature and coastal habitats. Programs run for about 30 to 60 minutes. For details about the activity for the week, call 732-751-9453. Free.
Life in a Rotting Log will take place Aug. 2 from 11 a.m. to noon at
Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen. Meet in the Monastary Lane lot. Look for crickets, worms, millipedes, beetles and more while discovering how a diversity of animals depends on a healthy forest. Dress to get dirty. Closed-toe shoes only. Open to ages 8 and up, with adult. Free.
Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay will take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Aug. 2-25, from 11 a.m. to noon at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown. Join in a hands-on nature program. Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures by pulling a seine net through the calm waters of Sandy Hook Bay. Closed-toe shoes are required. Meet on the beach near the park entrance. Parents or guardians must stay with and supervise their children. No swimming during the event. Weather permitting. Free.
Boat tours of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, will take place Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
These 45-minute boat tours are narrated by park system naturalists and include opportunities to view local wildlife. The cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child, age 12 and under. Call to confirm schedule as tours are dependent on weather and water level. All tours leave from the visitors center.
The Casual Birder will take place Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell; meet in the environmental center parking lot. The Casual Birder will also take place Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. at Tatum Park, Middletown; meet in the Holland Activity Center parking lot. Join a park system naturalist for this laid-back morning bird walk. Open to ages 8 and up. Free.
Enviro-Quest will take place Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. at Tatum Park, Middletown; start in the Red Hill Activity Center parking lot; Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. at Turkey Swamp Park, Georgia Road, Freehold Township; start in the parking lot nearest the shelter building; Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. at Big Brook Park, Route 520, Marlboro; start in the grass parking lot near the pond; Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown; start in the activity center parking lot; and Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen; start in the Monastary Lane parking lot.
Follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where a park system naturalist is waiting. Once there, join in nature related activities, crafts or games for 30 to 60 minutes of nature fun. Free.
Thompson Park canoe rentals are available Aug. 5-6 and Aug. 19-20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thompson Park, Route 520, Lincroft. Canoes will be available for rent on Marlu Lake. All equipment provided; limited number of canoes available. Open to ages 3 and up, under 18 with adult. Fee is $15 per boat for one to three people for two hours. Cash or check only.
Drop-In Surprise Story Time will be held Aug. 5 from 11-11:45 a.m. at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. Join in story time. A clue at the entrance will lead participants to the secret spot in the gardens. If the weather is not nice, the program will be inside the Horticultural Center. Recommended for ages 4-7. Free.
A penny rug demonstration will take Aug. 5 from 1-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. See the art of penny rug making in action. Free.
Mill demonstrations will take place Aug. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. See the 19th century gristmill in action. Free.
Open ceramics will take place Aug. 6 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft. Choose from a large selection of bisque fired pottery pieces to glaze and personalize. 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.
An edible history program about ice cream will take place Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. at
Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Help crank, and then eat, ice cream made from historic recipes. Free.
Seabrook-Wilson house tours will take place Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 1-4 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown. Visit this house, which dates back to the early 1700s, and see displays about the ecology of the bay and local history. Free.
A butterfly walk will take place Aug. 11 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell; meet in the environmental center parking lot; Aug. 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Thompson Park, Lincroft; meet in the Marlu Lake parking lot. Together with a park system naturalist, identify butterflies found along the trail. The walk may be 1 mile or more. Open to ages 7 and up, under 18 with adult. Free.
Roving Naturalist will take place Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. at Weltz Park, Oakhurst; meet in the West Park Avenue parking area; Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. at Big Brook Park, Marlboro; meet in the Route 520 parking area. Join the park system’s roving 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 is not a deterrent. Free.
Climb Time will take place Aug. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at Thompson Park, Lincroft, Filly Run parking lot. Try a 25-foot tall portable rock climbing wall. Climbers must be 42 inches or taller and age 8 or older (under 18 with adult). Free.
Nature Lecture Series: Herons, Egrets and other Wading Birds will take place Aug. 17 from 7-8 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth, Middletown. Discover the unique characteristics of wading birds during this talk by a park system naturalist. Free.
You Can Sail will take place Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. This is an on-the-water class. A captain is provided, guests provide the crew. Limited number of boats available; maximum three people per boat. Sailors age 8 and up welcome with an adult. The cost is $40 per boat; cash or check only.
An Eco-Elephant Family Flea Market will take place Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dorbrook Recreation Area, Route 537, Colts Neck. Browse vendors at this outdoor market. Admission and parking are free.
Accordion Melodies of the 1890s will take place Aug. 19 from 1-3 p.m. at
Historic Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. Hear music from yesteryear played on an accordion. Free.
A potato harvest will take place Aug. 19-20 from noon to 2 p.m. at
Historic Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. Help the farm staff bring in the crop and then stop by the summer kitchen for some 19th century inspiration about how to prepare the potatoes. Free.
Open shoot archery will take place Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft. The open shoot is designed for experienced archers. All equipment is provided. No outside equipment permitted. Open to ages 10 and up (under 18 with adult). Cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.
For more information, call 732-842-4000 or visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. The park system TTY/TDD number is 711.