Summer Camps
Summer Camp 2025
Registration starts 9:00 AM on March 1 for residents of Union County
Registration starts 9:00 AM on March 3 for Out-of-County residents
The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites you to take part in outdoor, educational summer programs offered in the scenic Watchung Reservation. Children ages 6-12 can enroll in a morning session, afternoon session or a full day. Programs are designed to foster an awareness & appreciation of the natural world.
Session Times
- A: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- B: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- A & B Full Day: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- *Full Day Rates A & B include a ½ hour lunch time & ½ hour free time.*
4-Day Program: Tuesdays – Fridays
- Half Day Rate:
- Union County Resident $132/ A or B
- Out of County Resident $168/ A or B
- *Full Day Rate:
- Union County Resident $264/ A & B
- Out of County Resident $336/ A & B
- *Full Day Rates A & B include a ½ hour lunch time & ½ hour free time.*
3-Day Program: July 1-3 only (Tues – Thurs)
- Half Day Rate:
- Union County Resident $100 / A or B
- Out of County Resident $125 / A or B
- *Full Day Rate:
- Union County Resident $200 / A & B
- Out of County Resident $250 / A & B
- *Full Day Rates A & B include a ½ hour lunch time & ½ hour free time.*
Family Evening Programs:
- Union County Resident $8/person
- Out of County Resident $10/person
Please read all general and cancellation policies before registering.
- Children must be age appropriate by the first day of their program.
- Children will not be permitted to repeat camps.
- In order to accommodate everyone, please let us know in advance if you or a member of your family has special needs.
General Policies for Summer Programs
- Program spaces are non-exchangeable and non-transferable.
- You may register your family members in your household only.
- In developing programs, Trailside keeps in mind the abilities of different aged children. Please pay attention to age guidelines when registering. If an inappropriately aged child attends a program, the child will be removed and no credit or refund will be issued.
- Children must be age appropriate by the first day of the program.
- Children will not be permitted to repeat camps.
Cancellation Policies for Summer Programs
- Credits will not be given at any time for summer programs.
- Refunds will be given from March 3rd to June 13th with a non-refundable registration fee of $35 charged for each half-day session. No refunds will be given after June 13th.
- Trailside is unable to process refunds for summer programs directly to your credit cards. Call Trailside at 908-789-3670 for refund procedures
Cancellation Policies for Evening Family Programs
- Refunds will not be given at any time for Evening Family Programs.
- Credits will only be issued for Evening Family Programs cancelled by Trailside due to inclement weather.
Program Chart for Children Ages 6-12
2025 Trailside Summer Camp Programs for Children Ages 6-7
Arctic, Ocean & Desert – Take an imaginary journey to some of the world’s most extreme habitats. Find out how animals, such as arctic fox and polar bears, survive the sub-zero temperatures of the arctic, while camels and armadillos thrive in the heat of the desert. Learn about the magnificent ocean and its inhabitants, including whales and sharks.
Around the World – Become a world explorer and use your imagination to travel to different continents each day. Explore oceans and wetlands, trek through savannahs, creep through tropical rainforests and learn about many unique creatures that live all around the world. Have fun hiking a different color coded trail each day as we find out fun facts about the continents and their animal inhabitants.
Feather, Fur & Scales – Have fun learning about birds, mammals, reptiles & amphibians as we explore the fascinating world of the animal kingdom. Investigate the different habitats of the Watchung Reservation in search of our animal neighbors, their homes & hideouts. Meet live snakes and turtles from Trailside’s reptile collection.
Have to Have a Habitat – Food, water, shelter and space are necessary for all animals to survive. Have fun investigating the forest, meadows and wetland habitats in search of the many animals that live in the Watchung Reservation.
Mythical Creatures of Field & Forest – Use your imagination to explore nearby forests, meadows, lakes and streams in search of mythical creatures, such as fairies, elves and gnomes. Through art projects, stories and hikes, participants will enjoy a world of make-believe set within the natural world.
Nature Discovery Club – Take an in-depth look at the world of 6-legged creatures (insects). Visit a different habitat each day and use collecting equipment to discover a variety of critters, from ants to whirlygig beetles.
Seasonally Artistic – There are many ways nature can influence art. Find out which season inspires you the most! Use your creativity to make tools from natural objects. Have fun turning pine needles into a paintbrush to paint a winter scene, let flowers be your inspiration for a springtime watercolor painting and harness the sun’s rays for a summertime solar printing.
Wanishi, Wigwams & Wampum – Use your imagination to see what it was like to live as a Native American child. Touch real tools and animal skins, visit a wigwam and play games like corn darts. Listen to stories, work with clay and learn how the Lenape Native Americans survived in the wilderness.
2025 Trailside Summer Camp Programs for Children Ages 8-9
Art of Nature – Nature has inspired artists for many years. Investigate different habitats in the Watchung Reservation in search of nature’s beauty. Discover art in nature through sketches, painting and storytelling. Using natural items, create rock cairns, clay pots and water color paintings. Let nature be your inspiration.
Birds of a Feather – Explore the diverse world of birds and discover what makes them unique in the animal kingdom. Find out about different bird groups and the characteristics that make them different from one another. Explore some of the finer points of bird identification and start your own life list of bird sightings.
Bugs & Beyond – Did you know that insects represent over 90% of all living things on the Earth or that a honeybee can travel up to 60 miles in one day to collect food? Build a spider web, play the monarch migration game and discover why bugs are important to people and the environment. Use sweep nets and magnifiers to investigate the diversity of insect life found in the gardens and meadows around Trailside. Visit stream, pond, meadow and forest habitats to learn about the adaptations and lifecycles of these amazing creatures.
Call of the Wild – Discover the variety of mammals that inhabit the Watchung Reservation, from flying squirrels to white-tailed deer. Listen to bird songs and find out how to identify our feathered friends by sight and sound, and have fun investigating local wetlands in search of amphibians, aquatic insects and fish. Meet live snakes and turtles from Trailside’s reptile collection.
Junior Naturalist – Learn about the plants and animals living in and around water, and develop a heightened awareness about the importance of conserving and preventing the pollution of this natural resource. Using dip nets, capture and release aquatic insects, fish, frogs, toads and salamanders. Keep a journal of the number and types of plants and animals found in these areas.
Life in Cold Blood – Take an in-depth look into the world of reptiles and amphibians. Find out important facts about these fascinating creatures. Search each day at different sites in the reservation to find out where they live. Discover what adaptations help these cold blooded animals survive. Meet live snakes and turtles from Trailside’s reptile collection.
Solar System Surfers – Join the Space Team and discover Trailside’s new Solar System Walk. Learn about the planets in our solar system, the sun, stars, comets and asteroids. Each day will be a fun-filled adventure in the Milky Way. Activities include playing the weightlessness race and navigating the astronaut obstacle course.
Trailside Treks – Join a Trailside Naturalist for a series of challenging excursions to various sites in the Watchung Reservation. Each day, we will hike a different trail with a new destination. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a backpack with a water bottle and snack.
2025 Trailside Summer Camp Programs for Children Ages 10-12
All About Animals – Take an in-depth look into the animal kingdom. Find out interesting facts about mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and insects. Meet live snakes and turtles from Trailside’s reptile collection. Hike to different habitats to learn about the variety of wildlife inhabiting the Watchung Reservation.
Nature Watch – Calling all future scientists! Citizen science provides the opportunities for people of all ages to make important contributions that help scientists understand how the natural world works around us. Using free downloadable apps such as Seek and iNaturalist, we will visit different habitats and work together to observe and identify plants, trees, insects, mammals, birds and all things nature. Bring: your mobile device if you have one.
Backwoods Lore – Learn how to identify plants that are safe to eat, build an emergency shelter that can keep you warm and dry and follow a course using only a map and compass. Find out how to identify and track local wildlife and see what it takes to get a fire going without matches. Are you ready for the challenge?
Nature Treks – There’s a lot happening in nature during these hot summer months. Take a hike on a different trail each day and investigate the natural world around you. Look under rocks and logs for nature’s recyclers. Try to catch a frog, fish or tadpole at Lake Surprise. Explore the stream for salamanders and find out how all living things are connected.
Extreme Earth – Through hands-on experiments, explore the reasons for Earth’s natural disasters. Understand the science behind avalanches and earthquakes, and investigate the causes and effects of tsunamis, tornadoes and volcanoes. Learn about the three lava flows in the history of the Watchung Reservation and collect rocks that help tell the story. Learn to use Mohs scale of hardness, find out why minerals fluoresce and excavate for “fossils.”
2025 Family Evening Programs
Evening Pond Search – Join us at Seeley’s Pond as we search for aquatic life as the sun goes down. Use dip nets and strainers to catch, identify and release frogs, fish, insect larvae and tadpoles.
Wild Earth Fest
Children
Fall Toddler Time – 2025
- Sensory hikes, stories and activities to acquaint adults and children with the natural world.
- Dress for the outdoors.
- Bring a baby carrier or sling; strollers are not recommended.
- Program is for adult with child/children three years of age and younger.
- Maximum 4/family per class. Please register for this class using the adult’s name.
- Meets: Thursdays 9:30 – 10:30 AM
- Saturdays 9:30 – 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
October 2
Stars & Planets – Blast off for Space Week as we use our imagination to visit the planets in our solar system. Take a walk along the Solar System Trail to learn interesting facts about the stars, comets and everyone’s favorite red planet, Mars!
October 9 or 11
Ring-tailed Rascals – Find out about the masked bandits that come out at night and leave tracks by the water. Make a mask to wear and hunt for raccoon tracks on the trail.
October 18
Owls – Learn the secrets of New Jersey’s owls: what they look like, how they hunt, what they eat and how they sound. Practice owl calls and make your own owl to take home.
October 23 or 25
Minibeasts – Who lives in the soil? Look for ants, earthworms, sow bugs and millipedes under rocks, logs and leaves. Use a special magnifier for a close-up look before returning them home. Find out why they are important and how they help the environment.
October 30 or Nov. 1
Nocturnal Neighbors – Get ready for Halloween as we discover the animals that are just waking up when we are getting sleepy. Wear your pj’s to class as we discover whooooo our nocturnal neighbors are and why they are active at night. Visit the night theater to learn about raccoons, owls, crickets and other nighttime neighbors. Take a walk to learn where they may be sleeping.
November 6
White-tail Trail – Learn about the Watchung Reservation’s largest year-round residents, the white-tailed deer. Feel deer fur and look at antlers up close. Discover how deer communicate using snorts, stomps and their flashy, white tail. Search outside for tracks, buck rubs, preferred paths, favorite foods and hideouts.
November 13 or 15
Fall Frolic – The woods are a colorful place in the fall. Walk outside in search of nuts, berries, leaves and fungi. Discover which animals are eating these fall foods, and find out how the local wildlife is preparing for the cold winter months ahead. Collect some beautiful autumn leaves on our walk and practice sorting them by color, size and shape.
November 20 or 22
Turkey Time – In the fall, wild turkeys scratch the forest floor in search of acorns, beech nuts, wild black cherries, white ash seeds and more. Hike a trail where wild turkeys may be seen, and look for areas where turkeys have scratched for food or roosted on a branch. Compare your footprints to a turkey foot print and see if our feet match their tracks.
December 4 or 6
Snakes & Turtles – Discover what snakes and turtles have in common and find out where they sleep for the winter. Meet live reptiles from Trailside’s collection.
Adults
Space is Limited
Teachers
Teacher Training – Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree “PLT” is a nationally recognized activity guide that provides educators with tools for increasing student environmental awareness. Whether you are a formal or informal educator, PLT activities will engage your students in inter-disciplinary, hands-on experiences that develop skills in problem solving, evaluation and research.
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Participants receive six (6) NJDOE professional development credits.
- Fee: $25 which includes activity guide with over 100 lessons.
- Bring: Lunch
- Morning refreshments will be provided.
- Dress for outdoors.
Seniors
Senior Walks – Fall 2025
For adults, 55 & older
September 26 – Milkweed & Monarchs
Monarch butterflies depend exclusively on the milkweed plant for their survival. Find out what efforts are being made to protect monarch butterflies and the plants and habitats they need for survival. Take a walk in search of monarch butterflies and the milkweed plants on which they depend.
October 3 – Solar System Walk
Get ready to celebrate World Space Week, an international celebration of science and technology. This year the theme is “Living in Space.” Take a guided walk along Trailside’s 1/2 mile Solar System Trail, where each step you take represents one million miles in space. Learn how to use the audio guides to discover fun facts about our solar system.
October 10 – Migratory Bird Walk at Oak Ridge
Explore Union County’s beautiful Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Take a walk in search of warblers, hawks, eagles and other birds migrating during the fall. Discover why birds migrate and learn simple techniques to help you identify them. Bring binoculars if you have them, or borrow a pair from Trailside. **Meet at Oak Ridge Park Athletic Field in Clark. **
October 24 – Fall Foliage Walk
Take an autumn walk through the forest to explore the rainbow of fall foliage. Find out how nature is preparing for the upcoming winter and why the leaves change color.
November 7 – Autumn Tree I.D.
Join us on a walk through the beautiful trails of the Watchung Reservation and learn to identify some of the common tree species in their fall foliage. Take a close look at the forest around us, focusing on basic tree identification using leaves, bark and twigs.
November 14 – History of the Deserted Village
Over the course of three centuries, this area has been a farming community, a mill town, a deserted village and a summer resort. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the Deserted Village of Feltville and discover the rich history of this popular attraction. Meet in the upper parking lot in the Deserted Village – 2 Cataract Hollow Road Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
November 21 – Lenape Native Americans
Learn all about the “original people.” Go back in time on a walk where the Lenape Native Americans once called home. Search for plants and trees used by the Lenape people for tools, medicine, food, dyes and cordage.
December 5 – Owls of New Jersey
Find out about the different species of owls that live in the Watchung Reservation. Listen to the calls of the screech, great horned and barred owls. Learn about the special adaptations that make these birds successful hunters and take a walk in search of amazing raptors. We will look for their daytime hideouts and nighttime hunting grounds.