EEC - A Gold Mine of Family Activity

The Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center (EEC) is located at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. The unique facility serves as the portal to Lord Stirling Park with over 450 serene acres in the western portion of the Great Swamp Basin of the Passaic River.

The EEC provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the environment through numerous free art and wildlife exhibits and shows presented throughout the year in the Exhibit Hall. Permanent attractions within the EEC include the swamp vivarium that provides a concise view of the life in the swamp; an Environmental Library, and a book shop that offers field guides and small gift items related to environmental activities. A new permanent exhibit, “The Great Swamp Experience”, highlights the history and ecology of Lord Stirling Park featuring interactive displays, taxidermy vignettes, archeological artifacts, and a toddler area.

Branta Pond serves as the entry to Lord Stirling Park, home to a variety of habitats including floodplains, swamps, rivers, intermittent streams, marshes, meadows, fields, forests, and natural and man-made ponds. The 8.5 miles of trails and boardwalks allow visitors an up close experience to the habitats that provide homes for diverse plant and animal populations in this environmentally sensitive park.

The Great Swamp area was once home to Paleo-Indian groups, the Lenapes, and Lord Stirling, a Major General of the Continental Army, In the 1960’s a grassroots citizens group and conservation groups rallied to protect the precious wetlands from becoming an international airport, subsequently presenting 2,600 acres of land to the Department of the Interior to create the core of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Major programs held annually include Maple Sugaring on weekends from February 17 through March 11; “A Trip to the Moon” on Wednesday, February 28; Project E.A.R.T.H. Swamp Search on April 29; Trail Scramble, an obstacle course adventure on June 10, 2018; the County Caper on August 18 and 19; the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival on October 7; “By the Light of the Moon” on October 12; and the Festival of Trees beginning on December 1, 2018.

The EEC provides programs for all ages and is open year round from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily, except holidays.

Information on activities and programs at the EEC may be found online at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-766-2489.

Buck Garden & Colonial Park Recognized for Excellence

Two of Somerset County’s renowned parks have recently been recognized for excellence by national Internet experts.

GetawayMavens.com, is a web site offering entertaining and eclectic ideas for “turnkey” weekend getaways and recommendations for curious spots to explore in Northeast USA. As published on the Huffington Post website, GetawayMavins has selected Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road in Far Hills, NJ as one of “15 Perfect Spots in Northeast USE to Commune with Nature.”

Buck Garden is among 15 spots from Vermont to Virginia where people can enjoy “soul satisfying moments brought to you by Mother Nature”.

Describing Buck Garden, the editors stated “Mr. Leonard Buck deemed this hollowed out gorge on his property a ‘glacial relic,’ the perfect acreage for rock gardens, footbridges, benches, and a protective gazebo.” GetawaysMavins.com calls the Garden a “hidden gem, a lyrical place strewn with Technicolor plantings.”

Yelp, a much-referred to website that publishes consumer reviews, has recognized Somerset County Park Commission Colonial Park in Franklin Township with the 2017 “People Love” award based on positive rating and reviews submitted to the website by Park users. Colonial Park received a 4.5 rating on a 5-point system.

Colonial Park, a 685-acre facility, includes scenic frontage on both the historic Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Millstone River. Recreation facilities, including tennis courts, a challenging mini-golf course, and paddle boat rides are available, along with an inclusive playground and multiple picnic areas. There are prize winning horticultural displays at the Rudolf van der Goot Rose Garden and the Perennial Garden, and pristine natural areas are spaced amid the broad lawns and ponds of this diverse park. Located within Colonial Park is Spooky Brook Golf Course; an 18-hole championship course that offers a wide open layout with spacious fairways and greens.

For information on these facilities and Park Commission activities and programs, visit www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-722-1200.

It's Simulator Season at the Callawy Golf Learning Center

The Somerset County Park Commission has announced a series of weekly 9-Hole Golf Tournaments at the Neshanic Valley Golf Course (NVGC) Learning Center HDGolf Simulator. The indoor facility is located at 2301 South Branch Road in Neshanic Station, New Jersey.

The tournaments run weekly on one of 26 championship courses. Weekly prizes will be awarded for low gross and low net, longest drive, and closest to the pin awards. Among the prize selection is NVGC Range Membership, a custom-fit driver, new Callaway wedges, and more.

Tee times are in two hour blocks to accommodate three players. Singles and twosomes are welcome and will be paired by NVGC staff. Fee is $20 per event.

The tournament runs through March 18, 2018 with tee times scheduled every two hours on Tuesdays from 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M; Wednesdays from 8:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M; Fridays from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 P.M; and Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The High Definition Golf™ simulator sets the standard for indoor golf accuracy and realism. Revolutionary image processing software combines high resolution digital images, satellite data, and geophysical data into 3D models of golf courses. Representations look real and are completely accurate everywhere on the course with every tree, bunker and hazard reproduced exactly. Additionally, the simulator provides comprehensive and precise shot analysis including ball speed, club speed, launch angle, club face angle, ball spin and spin axis at high accuracy.

Among the courses available at the Learning Center are: Pebble Beach®, St, Andrews®, Pinehurst®, Kiawah Island®, Spyglass®, Doral®, Harbourtown®, Troon North®, Bethpage Black®, Banff Springs® and many others.

For information and registration email FGlass@scparks.org or call the Learning Center at 908-369-8232. For information on all Park Commission programs and activities, log onto www.somersetcountyparks.org.