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Trailside Prepares for Fun Summer Camps & Family Programs: Lottery Drawing for Registration Begins February 9th

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to announce a new and exciting season of summer camps and family programs at Trailside Nature & Science Center in the Watchung Reservation.

Due to the popularity of Trailside’s summer programs, a lottery system will be used beginning Saturday, February 9, and continuing through Friday, February 22, or until all the numbers have been drawn. Union County residents may visit Trailside to draw a lottery number from noon until 5 p.m. daily. There are more than 500 numbers. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, will be required to draw a number. Only one number may be drawn per family/address.

Registrants must pick their own lottery ticket for their family. Each registrant’s name, address, lottery number and arrival time will be recorded when the lottery number is chosen. The number drawn will indicate the registrant’s position on line and time of arrival for registration day, scheduled for Saturday, March 2.

Summer Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on March 2, for Union County residents who have drawn a lottery ticket. Registrants must bring their ticket with them to register and must be present when their number is called or their position in line will be forfeited. Each ticket holder may only register their child/family. If a registrant arrives after their number is called, but within their designated registration hour indicated on their lottery ticket, they may register at the end of the one-hour time block. If the registrant misses their one-hour time block entirely, they may return at 3:30 p.m. to register. No exceptions will be made.

 

Registration for out-of-county participants will begin Monday, March 4, from noon to 4:45 p.m. Lottery tickets will not be required and registration will continue until all programs are filled.

“Trailside summer programs offer adults and children a great opportunity to explore the outdoors while learning about nature,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Each Trailside camp and family program is filled with hands-on, educational activities that encourage a child’s natural curiosity. Theme hikes, games and crafts are all part of the Trailside experience.”

For information about Trailside’s 2013 Summer Camps, including registration procedures, please call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit us on the web at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Summer brochures and registration cards will be distributed during the February lottery. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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Caption: Mountainside, NJ – Trailside park naturalist Becky Novorro explains how a bald eagle preens its feathers to children in last summer’s “Wild and Rare” camp program for children entering 3rd and 4th grades. Campers enjoyed visiting the Raptor Trust in Millington where they learned about eagles, hawks, owls and other birds in the care of the Raptor Trust Facility. Wild and Rare is one of many summer camps and programs offered by Trailside Nature & Science Center, including half-day camps for children in the pre-first grade; half and full-day camps for children from first through ninth grade; evening theme hikes; over-night camp-outs; campfires with sing-alongs, and engaging weekly Friday Family classes. Registration for residents of Union County for summer camps and family programs will be held on Saturday, March 2. In order to register, a lottery ticket must be drawn between Feb. 9 and Feb. 22; proof of residency required. Please call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/trailside for more information.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.