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.
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