By Hugh Carola, Program Director at Hackensack Riverkeeper
Up here in the Hackensack River Watershed – and I suspect, wherever YOU are – the snow is gone, crocuses & daffodils are popping, and birds are singing. In other words, Spring is here! But even if your snowblower is still gassed up, your snow shovel’s at the ready, and there’s nary a birdsong to be heard, Earth Month is still around the corner. And A LOT of us – your EarthShare NJ nonprofit partners included – have got you covered.
Clicking the partner links on the ESNJ website or searching “Earth Day events near me” is guaranteed to provide a wealth of opportunities for you, your family, friends & neighbors to get out, enjoy and celebrate nature in New Jersey. When you think about it, our state is pretty much the best when it comes to nature. From the ridges and valleys of Sussex County and the NJ School of Conservation to the beaches of Cape May and the NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, there is so much to see and explore.
There are tons of guided walks, birding tours, outdoor presentations and more conducted by our partners at nature centers, arboreta, and parks large and small. Plus, there are LOTS of indoor presentations and Earth Day/Month/Season special events for you and yours to enjoy. For those looking to explore nature from the water, unless you have your own boat/s you’ll probably need to wait until May when most boat rentals and kayak liveries (like Hackensack Riverkeeper’s three Paddling Centers) open for business. Same is true for the Eco-Cruises aboard our pontoon boats.
Then there are always opportunities to simply get out into nature and simply enjoy – especially in springtime. Not a fan of noisy, crowded summer beaches? During Earth Month you’ll probably have the beach to yourself (and the birds, of course). And while many popular county and state parks often play host to lots of people on warm spring weekends, a weekday can be a glorious time to take your time and wander a forest trail or alongside a lake – and simply drink it all in. Oh, and you probably won’t have to worry much about mosquitoes or gnats (but don’t quote me on that!).
Of course, if you enjoy spending good times with your neighbors & other cool folks, there are Earth Day festivals and Green Fairs galore, many including farmer’s markets, craft fairs and lots of family-friendly activities as part of the fun. There’s no better place to score a jar of local organic honey, jewelry made from upcycled materials, or to meet up with some representatives from environmental organizations; people just like me. See you there!
Hugh Carola is currently celebrating his 25th year as Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Program Director. Although their popular Eco-programs don’t begin until May, there’s a jam-packed schedule of Eco-Cruises, kayak trips, river cleanups & special events waiting for you. For all the ways you can join them on and at the river, check out: www.hackensackriverkeeper.org.
Fun fact: Hugh’s birthday is April 22 – Earth Day itself.