Photo Scavenger Hunt: Leaf Me Alone!
All ages.
Leaves are falling and waiting to be found. Look for the sizes, shapes, and colors. What can you find throughout the gardens?
- Date:Wednesday, November 1—Thursday, November 30
- Time:8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per family or group of 6.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Hands on Holiday Gifts
Adults.
Thursday, November 30: Soapmaking - Create your own unique soap in this workshop! Using essential oils, participants will create 3 soap balls or 3 Bars of soap and 1 Bar of soap in a holiday mold. Holiday gift bag will be supplied.
Thursday, December 7: Silk Scarf Dyeing - Make a beautifully dyed silk scarf with bleeding art tissue in seasonal colors or your favorite colors! Create a very unique gift for the holidays for your loved one! A gift box will be supplied.
- Date:Thursday, November 2—Thursday, December 7
- Time:6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
- Location:
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$30-$35 per person per session.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.326.7645
Falling Waters Hike for Adults
Adults
What better way to spend a Tuesday afternoon than a hike on beautiful local trails? On this hike, we'll head out on the yellow trail to the waterfall on Turkey Mountain.
- Date:Tuesday, November 28
- Time:1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
- Location:
Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, 472 Boonton Avenue, Montville Township, NJ 07045 (intersection of Mars Court and Boonton Avenue)
- Cost:$10 per person.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.635.6629.
Fossil Finders!
Ages 6 - 10.
Say hello to some creatures from the past as you examine the fossil collection at the Great Swamp with a real geologist! Learn how fossils are made, and what they can tell us. Take part in a fossil dig and take home the real fossils you find!
- Date:Wednesday, November 29
- Time:4:00 pm-5:00 pm
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07928
- Cost:$10 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.635.6629.
Continuing Crochet – Bobble Stitch
Ages 12 and up
Have the basics of crochet down already? Come out to Fosterfields and learn a new stitch! Hook and yarn provided.
- Date:Wednesday, November 29
- Time:6:30 pm-8:00 pm
- Location:
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$15 per person
- Contact:For more information, call 973.326.7645
Animal Antics: Cows
All ages.
Meet the cows up close! Grab a brush and help tame their winter coats of hair.
- Date:Thursday, November 30
- Time:3:30pm-4:30 pm
- Location:
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$5 per person
- Contact:For more information, call 973.326.7645
Little Farm Friends
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Friday, December 1: Sheep! - Visit our wooliest animals on the farm! Learn how their wool can keep us warm and make a cozy craft to take home.
- Date:Friday, December 1
- Time:1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Location:
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per child.
- Contact:For more information, call 973.326.7645
Photo Scavenger Hunt: The Magic of Trees
All ages.
Let the magic of trees draw you into the gardens. There's a lot to discover about winter trees -- use the clues and find our winter favorites. A great way to get the family outdoors this December.
- Date:Friday, December 1—Sunday, December 31
- Time:8:00 am-4:00 pm
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per family or group of 6.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Willows Wonderland
All ages.
Celebrate the holiday season at Fosterfields! Tour The Willows mansion decorated for different decades of Christmas, talk to costumed interpreters and watch live cooking demos at both the mansion and the 1915 farm house. Create a holiday craft and take a wagon ride and meet the animals in the barnyard. Even take your picture with Santa!
- Date:Saturday, December 2—Sunday, December 3
- Time:10:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Location:
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per person, children 2 & under are FREE.
- Contact:For more information, call 973.326.7645
Kissing Balls!
Adults.
Just in time for the holidays, create a Kissing Ball out of seasonal greens to hang outside all season long. All materials supplied.
- Date:Saturday, December 2
- Time:10:00 am-11:30 am
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$30 per person.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Making Ornaments from Nature
Adults.
Join us to use natural materials, like pinecones, pods, seeds, moss, and more, to craft amazing ornaments! Add a little metallic spray paint if you like! Create one for the Great Swamps's holiday tree at Juniper Senior Community and one or more to keep for yourself!
- Date:Monday, December 4
- Time:4:00 pm-5:30 pm
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07928
- Cost:$5 per person.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.635.6629
Plant of the Month: Greens of the Seasons
Ages 6-12
With a variety of greens from the gardens and trees of the arboretum, discover the difference between broadleaf and needle, what's a conifer and what's not, and create an evergreen snowflake for your front door.
- Date:Tuesday, December 5
- Time:4:00pm-5:00 pm
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per child
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Homeschool Days: Horticulture Programs
Ages 6 - 12.
Thursday, December 7: Cool Conifers - Students will visit grounds of the Frelinghusyen Arboretum not often seen. This month's trek will go down to the Pinetum, our prized collection of conifers and other evergreens. Students should dress for the weather and wear sneakers. This is a drop off program.
Thursday, December 14: Decked Out! - Do you wonder what the garden has to give in the winter months? Wonder no more. Students will make a seasonal centerpiece, perfect for decorating your dinner table, with greens from the gardens. This is a drop off program.
- Date:Thursday, December 7—Thursday, December 14
- Time:1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$15 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Festival of Trees
Age: All ages.
Fridays and Saturdays, December 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 and Tuesday, December 26 -December30.
Tour the Frelinghuysen Arboretum's Mansion decorated for the holidays in the Festival of Trees. Enjoy trees decorated by scouts, families, floral designers and garden clubs in this outing for the family.
- Date:Friday, December 8—Saturday, December 30
- Time:10:00 am-4:00 pm
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per person
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Kids in the Wild
Ages 8 - 13.
Join us to get into the woods, learning different outdoor skills, meeting other like-minded kids and building confidence.
Saturday, December 9: Matchless Fire - In this session, practice igniting campfires using various non-match techniques.
- Date:Saturday, December 9
- Time:10:00 am -11:00 am
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07927
- Cost:$10 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.635.6629.
Garden Sprouts
Ages 3 - 5 with an adult.
Saturday, December 9: Snowy Story Time at the Festival of Trees - Perfect for our families with early risers, wake up and enjoy a peaceful early morning story time with your child. Introduce your child to a lifetime love of reading surrounded by the warmth of the Festival of Trees. This program is located in the Mansion. (9 am - 9:30 am)
Wednesday, December 13: Snowy Story Time at the Festival of Trees - Introduce your child to a lifetime love of reading with our story time sessions! Enjoy story time with your child, surrounded by the warmth of the Festival of Trees. This program is located in the Mansion.
- Date:Saturday, December 9—Wednesday, December 13
- Time:10:00 am - 11:00 am or 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
- Location:
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per child with an adult.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.326.7601.
Hands on History
Ages 12 & up.
Wednesday, December 13: Ornament Felting - ‘Tis the season for crafting! Learn the basics of felting, and make a felted ornament to take home!
- Date:Wednesday, December 13—Wednesday, December 13
- Time:6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
- Location:
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10-15 per person.
- Contact:For more information, call 973.326.7645
Sunshine Yoga for Kids
Ages 4 - 7.
An awesome class for kids who want to play games, use their imaginations and have FUN! Each class is taught by a licensed yoga instructor and centers around a nature theme. Kids learn 5 yoga poses to use in our games. At the end of every class, we will talk about a “big feeling”, such as being mad, and learn a new tool to help us cope with that feeling.
Saturday, December 16: Winter Wonderland
- Date:Saturday, December 16
- Time:10:00 am-10:45 am
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07928
- Cost:$12 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.635.6629
Jolly Old Christmas at Historic Speedwell
All ages.
Tis the Season at Historic Speedwell! Join us for an afternoon of holiday sprit and good cheer the old fashioned way. We have carols, dancing, and crafts, and the Historic Vail House is decorated for the season.
- Date:Saturday, December 16—Sunday, December 17
- Time:12:00 pm-4:00 pm
- Location:
Historic Speedwell, 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Cost:$10 per person, children 2 & under are FREE.
- Contact:For more information, call 973.285.6537
Puddle Jumpers
Ages 5 - 7.
Monday, December 18: Collecting Rocks! - A real geologist will be our special guest as we learn where rocks come from with a book, activities, and a trail walk. Take home some real rocks to keep too! Parents can stay or drop off.
- Date:Monday, December 18
- Time:4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07927
- Cost:$7 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.635.6629
Adventures in STEM
Ages 6 - 10.
In this series, young scientists will explore different parts of the natural world through experiments and activities, making surprising discoveries along the way!
Tuesday, December 19: Surviving the Winter - In this session, investigate the clever & crazy ways that wildlife in NJ adapt to the winter cold.
- Date:Tuesday, December 19
- Time:4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07927
- Cost:$10 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.635.6629
Winter Solstice Celebration
Ages 6 & up with an adult.
Join a woodland gathering around a campfire under the glowing moon to experience the historical and ceremonial aspects of the winter solstice. Bundle up to listen to storytellers and enjoy hot cider and roasted marshmallows. Register today as space is limited!
- Date:Friday, December 22
- Time:6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07928
- Cost:$12 per person.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.635.6629.
Wild Animal Experts
Ages 6 - 10.
Saturday mornings are a great time to take a nature walk and discover new facts about New Jersey's wildlife! Join a naturalist for this popular series to learn about a new animal every month.
Saturday, December 30: Tracks - In this session, we'll head out looking for tracks and learn how to identify which animal made them.
- Date:Saturday, December 30—Saturday, December 30
- Time:10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Location:
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township, NJ 07927
- Cost:$10 per child.
- Contact:Preregistration is required. For more information, call 973.635.6629