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Environmental Education
It isn't hard to be an environmental superhero. The region's nature centers will show you how you can be kind to our planet.



Butterhof's Shady Brook Farm
Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm packs a lot of fun into their 60 acre farm. Stop by for homemade apple cider, fresh-picked berries, corn and pumpkins. You can also do it yourself in their pick-your-own fields. Stick around for hayrides and corn maze or round up your friends for an evening bonfire.
 
Camden County Environmental Education Center
 
Cohanzick Zoo
The Cohanzick Zoo is proof that good things do come in small packages. This little jewel of a zoo sits in the middle of Bridgeton City Park, surrounded by trails and woods and a lake. But despite its relatively small size – there are about 100 animals from Africa, Asia and the U.S. and a walk-through aviary where you can get thisclose to dozens of feathered friends.  Best of all, admission is free.
 
New Jersey Audubon Society Rancocas Nature Center
Nestled within Rancocas State Park, Rancocas Nature Center is a natural gem with easy trails for hikers of all ages,  natural habitats and protected lands where birds and wildlife are in abundance. A charming historic house serves as a nature center where you can get up-close-and-personal with small wildlife, take part in education programs or shop in a well-stocked gift shop.
 
Pinelands Institue for Natural and Environmental Studies
Combine the smart folks at Burlington County College and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest with the vast natural and historic resources of the Pinelands and groups of kids or adults who are curious about the world and you have PINES – Pinelands Institute for Natural and Environmental Studies. Using just about every square inch around Whitesbog Village, PINES programs not only educate, they get you excited about the Pinelands.
 
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Knowing that people protect what they value, PPA offers dozens of activities, educational programs and workshops, lectures, special events and wilderness adventures that will turn even the most dedicated city dweller into a passionate nature-lover.
 
Pinelands Visitor Center
Located in an 18th century farmhouse, the center includes large scale, detailed maps of the Pinelands region; informational literature; an interactive virtual "eco-tour" kiosk and a bookstore featuring an extensive offering of both non-fiction and fiction titles, movies, maps and clothing with Pinelands themes.
 
Russo's Orchard Lane Farm
Traveling through the New Jersey country side on a winding, tree-lined road, you will come to Russo's Orchard Lane Farm, which is a family owned and operated 250-acre fruit, vegetable, and greenhouse tomato farm. All of their farm produce is picked fresh daily and sold in their farm market. Russo’s also offers a fine selection of other fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, cider, fall decorations, Christmas trees, and so much more!
 
The Wetlands Institute
Pssst. Want to know where all the action is on the Jersey shore? The Wetlands Institute. You read right. Spread out over 6,000 acres of pristine salt marsh, TWI is buzzing with activity. For one thing, the place is world-famous for its research with diamond-back terrapins. Then there are all the trails, the observation tower, hands-on exhibits, an aquarium, and land and water-based activities that will get everyone excited about protecting the environment.
 
Tuckerton Seaport Museum
Cruise along the boardwalk that winds through Tuckerton Seaport 40 acres and you’ll not only travel into different centuries, you’ll discover the culture of the men and women whose lives are defined by the Barnegat Bay. Throughout the Seaport’s wetlands, maritime forest, and 17 original and re-created buildings, including boatbuilding centers, museum exhibits, and a real working wooden charter boat.
 
Whitesbog Historic Village

Standing in front of the turn-of-the-century general store, you can almost imagine Historic Whitesbog Village when it was a bustling company town and the center of New Jersey’s cranberry and blueberry industries. Surrounded by pine forests, cranberry bogs and trails winding throughout Whitesbog Village, many of Whitesbog’s historic buildings still stand.
 
Camp Crockett County Park
Nestled along the shores of Avis Mill Pond, Camp Crockett County Park is an oasis of outdoor fun. The former YMCA camp is now a lively park with waters ideal for canoeing or kayaking, picnic groves, and playground areas for the kids.
 
Camp Dark Waters
Camp Dark Waters serves its community of campers and staff by running recreational activities that are fun and nurture the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional life of young Friends and others. Based on the Quaker testimonies of Peace, Education, Simplicity, Stewardship, Equality, and Integrity, Camp Dark Waters' diverse community builds new friendships in a "family" atmosphere.
 
Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center
Just like real estate, when it comes to birding it is all about location, location, location. Right next to Lily Lake, the Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center's location on the migratory flight path makes it one of the best locations in the U.S. for birding. Join in daily walks, special events, workshops and other activities that will have you adding dozens of rare and unusual species to your lifetime bird list.
 
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge-Two Mile Beach Unit
Humans aren’t the only ones who appreciate Two Mile Beach, a 507-acre section of the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. Thousands of birds stop over the Delaware Bay refuge on their way to and from Central and South America during migration. More than 317 bird species drop in or nest here, along with 42 mammal species, 55 reptile and amphibian species, and more fish and shellfish than we can count.
 
Cove Campers Summer Camp
If you are dreading the kids’ traditional summer chant of “I’m bored,” the Cove Campers Summer Camp is for you . . . and them. The half-day environmental education program will have kids clamoring for more. During their sessions at Palmyra Cove Nature Park, kids entering grades 3 – 6 will have the chance to engage in all kinds of hands-on activities that will introduce them to the wonders of nature and the importance of keeping it safe.
 
Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh
Located southeast of Trenton in Hamilton Township, the 1,250 acre Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh is the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh on the Delaware River. The marsh includes both tidal and nontidal marshland, forested swamp and upland and second-growth forest. The diverse habitat also supports an astonishing 550 species of plants, more then 230 species of birds and lots of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, many of which are rare and endangered species.
 
Makepeace Lake Wildlife Management Area
There isn't really much to do at Makepeace Lake WIldlife Management Area. Well, other than fishing.  And hunting.  And birding.  And nature photography. And exploring the untouched 12,000 acres of pure Pinelands landscape. For outdoors fans, Makepeace Lake WMA is a giant natural playland filled with birds, wildlife and quiet places to escape city life.
 
Mill Pond Road
Whether you're hiking or driving slowly along Mill Pond Road, you are bound to be caught off guard by the plethora of upland habitats and unique wildlife.  Tucked away in the southeastern portion of Salem County, this 1.5 mile dirt road is known for excellent bird watching and deciduous forest.
 
Millville (Edward G. Bevans) Wildlife Management Area
The rustic, undeveloped lands at Millville (Bevans) Wildlife Management Area have a variety of different environments – hardwood forests, mixed forests, open fields, fresh water marshes, meadows. There’s even a small pond. And all that different terrain means you’ll find all kinds of birds and wildlife for birding, hunting, fishing or just focusing the binoculars and spotting the region’s wildlife and foliage as you are hiking the trails.