May 2011 D&R Programs

AY EVENTS
May 7 (Saturday)	Spirit of the Jerseys ~ Annual History Fair: This full afternoon of events highlighting all the state historic sites and more will be held at Allaire State Park located in Farmingdale, Monmouth County beginning at 11:00 am (schedule TBA). A variety of activities will be offered including foodways, music, living history & reenactment demonstrations as well as historic games, crafts, puppet shows, vintage baseball and more. Come discover and celebrate NJ’s diverse and rich history! Join the family fun at Allaire State Park from 11 am - 5 pm. For information call (609) 737-9303 or visit www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/ historic. NO ADMISSION FEE. REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. EVENT WILL BE HELD RAIN OR SHINE. This annual event is sponsored by the NJ Division of Environmental Protection ~ Division of Parks and Forestry ~ Office of Historic Sites and Allaire Village, Inc.
May 7 (Saturday)	Blackwells Mills Canal House Association’s Market Day: Come find perennial and annual plants for your garden or spring flowers for Mother's Day. Featuring freshly dug perennial and annual plants for sale. Attend the The Blackwells Mills Canal House Association's sale on the lawn besides the historic canal house located at the intersection of Canal and Blackwells Mills Roads in Franklin Township. Professional consultants will be on hand to answer your questions on care and planting. DONATIONS FROM YOUR GARDEN ARE WELCOME! To donate please call Barbara at (908) 369-0357 two weeks in advance. The sale will begin at 10 am and continue until 4 pm. Registration is NOT required and admission is FREE!
May 14 (Saturday)	Birding the Canal in Zarephath: Join the D & R Canal Watch and birders Barbara and George Dawson as they lead an early morning walk along the towpath in the Zarephath area. The woods and water along the towpath provide a home to countless bird species. Listen, too, for the chirps and peeps of frogs and toads from the surrounding area. The program will begin at 8:00 am. Participants are asked to meet at the parking area at the intersection of Weston Canal Road and the Weston Causeway (parking available at the abandoned section of roadway accessible from Weston Canal Road). Make sure to bring binoculars and water. For more info, please call 732-249-2670. Weather permitting.
May 21 (Saturday)	A Walk in the Woods: Join the park naturalist along the trails at Six Mile Run Reservoir Site for a guided walk through the woods. The trails will wind through young cedar forests and transition into mature forests populated by hickory and oak trees; colorful blooms of spring flowers will brighten the forest floor. This 2.5 mile hike will begin at 10:00 am. The group will meet at the D&R parking lot located on Jacques Lane in Somerset. Please make sure to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring some water to drink. Registration IS required. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. Register for this program
May 21 (Saturday)	Canoe/Kayak Cleanup the Canal: Millions of tons of trash end up in our nation’s rivers and streams every year. Join the Sierra Club in a cleanup to protect the Delaware River Watershed and you’ll receive a Sierra Club Water Sentinels Program T-shirt! We’ll tow a “canoe barge” to collect trash as we focus on the Whitehead Road area of the D&R Canal. Trash bags provided. Meghan Keffer, Watershed Ambassador, will participate in the cleanup and do a water assessment to identify the macroinvertebrates! Bring your own boat, equipment, snack and/or lunch and beverages. Rentals are not available. Please contact leaders to register and receive further details. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. This clean-up will be led by George & Leona Fluck and sponsored by the Sierra Club. For further information please call 609-259-3734 or email Leona@pineypaddlers.com.
May 28 (Saturday)	Walk the Canal ~ Landing Lane to South Bound Brook: Join the D&R Canal Watch as they begin an end-to-end hiking challenge along the length of the canal path. This 5.3 mile walk marks the first leg of this challenge that will continue throughout the year. Plan to join just one or all of the walks in the series. Each program will provide information about both canal and local history. For this leg, participants are asked to meet at Lock 11 in South Bound Brook on Canal Road across from the post office at 10 am. For further details contact Bob and Linda Barth at 908-722-7428 (or email: barths@att.net).
May 29 (Sunday)	History Biking Tour: Enjoy a leisurely morning bike ride along the historic towpath with canal enthusiast Bob Barth. The group will stop at historic villages and canal structures, such as locks and bridges, and talk about why the D&R was one of the most successful canals in the United States. Interested participants are required to bring their own bicycle, helmet, snack and water. Please meet at the Griggstown Causeway parking area (in Franklin Township) at 10:00 am. Come enjoy the park, get some exercise and learn about the D & R Canal! This 3 hour ride is sponsored by the D&R Canal Watch. For further information please contact Bob Barth at 201-401-3121 (or email: barths@att.net)