• Newsletter — January, 2021

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — December, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — November, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — October, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — September, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — June, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — May, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — March, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.


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  • Newsletter — February, 2020

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.

    Newsletter


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  • Newsletter — January, 2020

    Newsletter

    All the latest news and events happening at the Closter Nature Center.

    Log Cabin by the Pond

    Newsletter


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  • Newsletter — December, 2019

    >> DECEMBER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES –>

    Christmas Bird Count 

    Get to Know Your Winter Neighbors: The Birds in Your Yard

    On Saturday, December 14th, from 10 AM to 1 PM,

    The Nature Center will host an "Open Porch" for backyard birders –

    an opportunity to drop by the porch of the cabin by the pond and join others in observing and identifying the birds that are common to Closter throughout the winter. 

    These birds are bright bits of outdoor color, energy, and activity, while we stay snug in our homes. Bring binoculars if you have them.  We have some to loan, as well as a chance to look through a powerful telescope as if the bird is sitting on your hand!   Hot beverages will be available to keep you warm.  Stop by and get to know these perky wonders of winter survival.

    END OF YEAR GIVING

    The Closter Nature Center would like to thank the many families and individuals who support our environmental education program through their generous donations.

     Nature Center educational programs, held in Northern Valley classrooms, after school at the Nature Center, and during the summer session, reach over 6,000 children each year. Our goal is to disconnect children from digital devices and reconnect them with Nature!

    The Closter Nature Center needs your support to extend our curriculum to as many Northern Valley schools as possible, and to expand our program offerings at the Nature Center. Please consider a donation to the Closter Nature Center in your year-end giving plans.

    You can give either by going online to closternaturecenter.org, or by sending a check to P.O. Box 80, Closter NJ, 07624.

    We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your tax –deductible donation will help support our programming, our facility and stewardship of our 136-acre tract of forested woodlands.

    Thank-You for your support!

     

    ...And Speaking of Giving Thanks:

    The Closter Nature Center will be giving thanks this year to John Moran, of the NY-NJ Trail Conference, for updating and maintaining trail markers on all 3-miles of our marked trails. 

    Get out on the trails and check them out!! 

    Welcome Winter Hike

    Sunday, December 22nd at 3pm

     Come one, come all! Layer up your winter clothes, meet at the cabin, and join us for an afternoon forest adventure. With no leaves on the trees, finding wildlife becomes much easier! You never know what you may see around the next bend in the trail...

    After-School Program:  Rocks + Minerals

    This month’s after school program will be about the amazing world of geology.
    We will get to see the Nature Center’s incredible collection of rocks and minerals and get to make our very own crystals to take home and eat!
    This program will be inside and out so please dress for the weather!

    Only 2 weeks this month:

    PreK and K - Tuesdays - 10th and 17th

    1st and 2nd Gr. - Wednesdays - 11th and 18th

    3rd - 6th Gr. - Thursdays - 12th and 19th

    Time: 3:45pm - 5:00pm

    Cost: $30 members, $40 non-members

    To register online please go to:

    https://register.communitypass.net/Closter and you will be taken to Community Pass, our online registration and payment system. If you would prefer to register in person, please call Marc Gussen at (201) 750-2778

     

    HOLIDAY BREAK CLASSES

    Need something fun and educational for the kids to do during the holiday break? We have the answer:

    Four days of Nature exploration and animal fun here at the Closter Nature Center. Our Break programs have been so successful, we will be doing it again! Depending on your schedule you can sign up for one, two, or all the days.

    We will try to spend time outside each day, so please dress for the weather.

    December 23rd, 24th, 26th and 27th

    1st and 2nd grades 9:00 - 11:30am
    3rd thru 6th grades 1:00 - 3:30pm 

    Cost: Members $80 for full session; Non-members $100 for full session

    For SINGLE days: Members $25; Non-members $30

    To register online please go to:

    https://register.communitypass.net/Closter , and you will be taken to Community Pass, our online registration and payment system. If you would prefer to register in person, please call Marc Gussen at (201) 750-2778

    Deer Exclosure Fence Project - Off and Walking

    The 8-foot vinyl fencing which excludes deer from 3 separate habitats in our Nature Center forest is holding up very well, despite wind storms and a few deer who have been reluctant to accept these detours from their accustomed paths. 

    Frequent monitoring and walking of the fence line is being done by teams of volunteers, (high school through senior adults), who get out as they are able, report back their findings, and make minor repairs.  Another core group of volunteers is prepared to repair any reported major damage. 

    Want some useful exercise in all seasons?  Join our sturdy band of Fence Maintenance volunteers. Register at closternaturecenter.org, under the "Get Involved" tab.

     

    CNC Month By Month:

    December 22nd @ 3pm Welcome Winter Hike 

    December 14th Bergen Audubon Christmas Bird Count 

    January 16th @ 7pm Primitive Tech

    February 9th @ 3pm Winter Hike

    March 15th @ 3pm Meet the Animals of the Nature Center

    April 15th @ 7pm Invasive/Native Plants 

    April 19th Soup Supper

    May Forest Stewardship/Deer Exclosure community update

    May Bird Count

    June Summer Hike

    June 7th Pond Celebration

     

     

     

     


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  • Newsletter — November, 2019

    >> NOVEMBER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES –>

    COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

    SPECIAL PROGRAM: BATS, BATS, BATS!

    With Joe D’Angeli

    Sunday, November 17th at 2 PM

    Throughout the world, bats have been misunderstood and persecuted, causing a serious decline in the bat population. The program "BATS, BATS, BATS!" was established to bring this matter to the public's attention. Find out why bats are now being protected because of their vital role in virtually every environment on earth, and learn, for example, about their importance in insect maintenance and rainforest regeneration. 

    Suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members and $3 per person for members. Light refreshments will be served.

     

    Spend Some Time in the Woods - Join Our Happy Band of Deer Fence Monitors

    Our challenge now is to monitor the deer exclosure fencing to make sure there are no breaks where deer can come in. We are building a solid team of volunteers to support this effort - please consider joining us. Training provided. Any time you could give would be very welcome!  If you have a friend or neighbor you'd like to team with (CNC member or not), sign both up on our volunteer website.  If you would like to be involved in this project please click here https://closternaturecenter.org/volunteer-positions-available/ and fill out our volunteer form at the bottom. Please mention this article.

     

    After-School Program:

    Native Americans - How They Used Nature to Survive

    This month we will try our hand at some primitive technology, learning about how Native Americans used nature to survive and thrive.

    Dress for all conditions, as did the people who lived here not so long ago!

    Pk-K Tuesdays 12th, 19th and 26th

    1st and 2nd  Wednesdays 13th, 20th and 27th

    3rd through 6th Thursdays 14th, 21st and Dec 5th

    Time: 3:45pm - 5:00pm

    Cost - $40 for members, and $50 for non-members.

    To register online please go to:

    https://register.communitypass.net/Closter , and you will be taken to Community Pass, our online registration and payment system. If you would prefer to register in person, please call Marc Gussen at (201) 750-2778

     

     “Vacation” Nature Program 

    Looking for something for the kids to do during the teacher’s convention? 

    Bring them to the Nature Center!

    Thursday, November 7th and Friday, November 8th

    1st and 2nd grades: 9:00am - 11:30am
    3rd thru 6th grades: 1:00pm - 3:30pm

    Cost: $40 for the full two day session for CNC members      

      $50 for the full two day session for non-members.

    $25 per day for CNC members; $30 per day for non-members.

     

    CNC Month By Month:

    November 17th @ 2pm Bats 

    December 22nd @ 3pm Welcome Winter Hike 

    December 14th Bergen Audubon Christmas Bird Count 

    January 16th @ 7pm Primitive Tech

    February 9th @ 3pm Winter Hike

    March 15th @ 3pm Meet the animals of the nature center

    April 15th @ 7pm Invasive/native plants 

    April 19th Soup Supper

    May Forest Stewardship/deer exclosure community update

    May Bird Count

    June  Summer Hike

    June 7th Pond Celebration

     

     


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