Events

Winners Announced at the Wild Earth Fest
Sunday, April 22, 2026

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Grab Your Camera & Get Outside

Photography is a fun hobby and wildlife makes a challenging subject. Learn more about nature by observing animals in their natural habitat as you strive to compose the perfect photograph. Photographs will be judged in the following age groups:

• Teens ages 13 – 17
• Adults 18 & up
• Seniors 55 & older

Photographs will be judged by local professional photographers. The judging will be based on originality, composition, technical excellence and artistic merit. The winning photographs will be made into a 2027 calendar. Winner’s will be notified.

Rules

• The contest is open to amateur photographers residing in Union County only. Individuals earning money from photography are ineligible.
• Only images of wildlife species native to the United States will be judged. Images of exotic wildlife, pets or domestic animals will not be accepted.
• Zoo, game, farm and otherwise controlled animals must be described as “captive” in the entry from.
• Digital manipulation of images is prohibited. 5. Entries must be unmounted prints measuring 8×10.
• Individuals may enter a maximum of two images. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form.
• Entries must be received at Trailside or postmarked by April 10.
• Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22. Winning photos will be displayed in the art gallery at Trailside through August. All other entries must be picked up by May 30, 2026.
• By entering this contest, participants hold harmless Trailside Nature & Science Center, the County of Union & their respective employees, agents & representatives from any & all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from participation in this contest.

Here is the text from the flyer in a clean website-ready format:

Astronomy Day: Our Strange Universe!
Saturday, May 16, 2026

In association with the Union County Board of County Commissioners. Free admission and free parking.

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Children’s activities
• Scavenger hunt
• Matching Galaxies Game
• Raider Robotics
• Fun science demos on light, gravity, cosmic rays, geology, and meteorites
• Fantastic Photons
• Solar observing
• Solar System Walk
• Presentations on black holes, strange exoplanets, and weird science

William Miller Sperry Observatory
Union College of Union County, NJ
1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ

7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

• Observing on two of the largest public telescopes in the Northeast
• 8:00 p.m. presentation by AAI member Melinda Callis: Dark and Weird Space Things

Presented By

• AAI – Amateur Astronomers Inc.
• NJAG – North Jersey Astronomical Group
• Members of UACNJ – United Astronomy Clubs of NJ
• David Brearley High School
• Trailside Nature and Science Center
• Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
• William Miller Sperry Observatory