Volunteer Opportunties

The Somerset County Park Commission provides a wealth of active and passive recreation opportunities for the residents of Somerset County and beyond. The well-trained experienced Park Commission staff provides a maximum level of customer service throughout the entire park system.

Supporting the Commission’s year-round and seasonal employees is an army of volunteers whose efforts provide much needed support to ensure that our parks and recreation programs fully meet the expectations of millions of annual visitors.

The Park Commission welcomes volunteer community service from individuals who seek the satisfaction and enjoyment gained through active participation. For those who enjoy the great outdoors, volunteer opportunities exist as maintenance assistants; garden guides and horticultural assistants; leaders and side walkers in the therapeutic riding program; horse groomers, equestrian trail guides, and stable workers; members of the Volunteer Park Patrol working closely with the Park Rangers; and support for special events including the July 4^th Fireworks, the 1770s Festival, and the free summer concert series

Group and corporate volunteer opportunities exist for projects at various locations throughout the park system. These include conservation efforts, land management projects, park beautification, and assistance at major events. The support of corporate and community groups enables necessary improvements to our parks while fulfilling the mission and goals of many community-minded organizations.

For information on Somerset County Park Commission volunteer opportunities, contact Nancy Meola, Volunteer Coordinator, at 908-722-1200, ext. 5528 (NJ Relay 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment) or at nmeola@scparks.org.  

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.

Torpey Complex Earns Statewide Award

The Baseball Field at the Somerset County Park Commission Frank “Nap” Torpey Athletic Complex in Bridgewater is the recipient of the 2017 Sports Field Managers of New Jersey (SFMANJ) “Field of the Year” award.

The 2017 award complements the 2013 award for the softball field, and is the second time that the baseball field has earned the honor, having also been recognized in 2011. The award criteria is based on playability and appearance of the playing surface, maintenance procedures, and physical improvements.

The Torpey Complex consists of one lighted grass baseball field, one lighted grass softball field and a state-of-the-art synthetic turf multi-purpose athletic field with seating for 1,500 programmed for seasonal sports. All fields are available for rental for tournaments, league play, and practice.

Additional amenities at the complex include a 10,000 square foot building that includes a climate-controlled press box; two team lockers rooms with bathrooms; large public restrooms; a concession area; and a staff support area and office.

“This award is a tribute to Athletic Field Specialist Dave Kuczynski and the Torpey staff,” commented Pierce Frauenheim, Deputy Director/Maintenance for the Park Commission. “We are proud to provide a facility that is used virtually every day during peak seasons and even more proud of the fact that it is in the same great condition today and the day it opened.”

Kuczynski, former groundskeeper at TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots, is also responsible for field preparation at the recently opened Mountain View Park in Hillsborough and North Branch Park in Bridgewater.

The SFMANJ is an organization committed to enhancing the professionalism of athletic field managers in New Jersey. Goals include improved safety, playability, and appearance of athletic fields at all levels.

Information on this event and other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org.

Business Partnerships Make Park Commission Programs Possible

Partnerships with the business community enable the Somerset County Park Commission to offer enhanced programming for county residents, often and at nominal or no cost. The generosity of our sponsors supports many of the programs that are available throughout the year at all Commission facilities.

Thankfully, the list of Park Commission supporters continues to grow as business leaders and their families partake in events and programs, experiencing first hand the value of having a corporate name associated with these award winning programs and facilities.

Leading the way is the Hughes family and Hughes-Plumer Associates who have assumed a leadership role in the annual Pro Celebrity Golf Outing that has raised over a million dollars for the Somerset County Park Foundation and the Therapeutic Recreation programs over the past 26 years.

The free summer concerts at Duke Island Park are made possible by the generous donations from Magic 98.3 WMGQ, The Courier News& mycentraljersey.com, and New Jersey State Council on the Arts through funds administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program Grant.

Horticulture events and programs at the Colonial Park Gardens received support from Storr Tractor Company, Messinas, Four Seasons Nursery & Landscape Company, Wegmans Food Market, ShopRite of Somerset, and Sunrise Creek Deli & Grocery.

The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable are an active group of volunteers who present programs and activities to raise funds to support the efforts of staff at Lord Stirling Stable. Stable programs are also supported by businesses including Horsemen’s Outlet, Phoenix Performance Products, and Marcello’s Italian Ristorante.  

The Environmental Education Center received support from Portfolio Evaluations, Jersey Cares. Ingredion, Applegate, BASF, Enbridge, Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, and REI.

           

Park Ranger programs receive extensive support from local businesses including National Trails Day sponsored by Recreational Equipment, Inc., REI, Eastern Mountain Sports, Princeton Tec, Access Fund, Jersey Off Road Bicycling Association 

All of these programs enjoy support from dozens of businesses that understand the importance of these events as contributors to the quality of life that we enjoy in Somerset County. To sponsor Park Commission events and activities, call 908-722-1200.

Park Commission Thanks Volunteers

The Somerset County Park Commission is all about the people of Somerset County who visit the parks by the millions annually. The enjoyment of the parks is due to the efforts of employees and volunteers who assure that every visit to the parks exceeds expectations. While active and passive parks and programs and activities rely on both of these groups, it is the volunteers who are a most cherished resource.

Volunteer opportunities are available in every facet of the Park Commission. Individuals interested in wildlife and resource conservation may participate in park cleanup projects and trail construction and maintenance projects. The Volunteer Park Patrol plays an important role in maintaining trails at Washington Valley Park and the Sourland Mountain Preserve by patrolling for safety hazards and trail erosion. There are also opportunities for individuals in garden docent programs, planting, general maintenance, horse grooming, and stable cleaning.

The Park Commission welcomes volunteers with skills and interest in athletics, crafts, dance, cooking, and theater and vocal arts. Volunteers help with the Junior Golf summer program, serve as Naturalists assistants, help out with the Therapeutic Recreation programs, and assist with equestrian classes. Volunteers also support special events, helping with facilities setup and breakdown, and parking.

Scout, school, and corporate groups contributed thousands of hours in 2017. The Environmental Education Center (EEC) was fortunate to have nine different corporate groups working on a variety of outdoor projects.  Portfolio Evaluations, Jersey Cares, and Ingredion all worked to complete a large renovation and restoration project in the Discovery Garden an educational native plant garden. Applegate and BASF removed invasive plants and re-planted the area with bare root native trees. Enbridge, Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, and REI assisted with rebuilding the Boondocks Boardwalk Trail, with REI also volunteering at the Sourland Smackdown. Oak Knoll School students did a fall cleanup of the native plant and rain gardens in front of the EEC building.

Five Eagle Scout candidates have completed or will complete their Service Projects at the EEC in 2017. James McCarron, Troop 28 built and mapped Bluebird boxes and Wood Duck boxes. Julien Wadhwa, Troop 555 created a life-size wing span chart of native birds. John Kavouras, Troop 83 built a kiosk and bluebird boxes. William Bigham, Troop 28 created a children’s nature discovery area in the Discovery Garden. Jason Quinn, Troop 351 is nearing completion of the new one-mile Orange Trail. A group of scouts from Troop 154 replaced the trail maps on all of the EEC trails. Additionally, Zachary Wyman, Troop 351, built and installed bat boxes at the Ross Farm and Brandon Pierson, Troop 555, built and installed compost bins and garden paths at the Ross Farm.

Individual volunteers from the area high schools including Ridge High School, Oak Knoll, and Watchung Hills Regional High School assisted year round at the EEC with park maintenance and beautification, Naturalists Programs, and Special Events.

For information on volunteer opportunities at the EEC for individuals, groups, or companies, please contact Jane Bodnar, at 908-766-2489, ext 323 or NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. For volunteer opportunities outside of the EEC contact Dave Dendler at 908-231-0802 ext 22.