May Days At NJ Audubon’s Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Saturday And Sunday, May 1 & 2

THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING, WE MUST ASK GUESTS TO PARK OFF-SITE.

Also, FREE Basket Raffles, and Fantastic Silent Auction Items.


BERNARDSVILLE, April 22, 2010 — Question: Where else in New Jersey can you enjoy a one-of-a-kind outdoor art exhibit based on New Jersey’s endangered species? And watch as your kids track wildlife using actual radio telemetry? And see live animals of all kinds, once wild, and now carefully handled for your education and enjoyment? And enjoy entertaining and educational talks by internationally-known nature authors, while your children are right around the corner learning about the same natural phenomenon, at their level? And learn how to identify birds first-hand, with expert naturalists in the field? And take a break and grab a snack, and sit under a tent to enjoy live outdoor music, and so much more, all in one place? All with free admission!

Answer: Only at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary in Bernardsville at our May Days Celebration on May 1st and 2nd, from 10 am to 4 pm. We’ll even take you there from our off-site parking area(s) nearby. It’s that easy.

Visit http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionCenters/SectionScherman/MayDays.aspx or www.njaudbon.org for the schedule and all the most recent information.

As you enter May Days, you will be greeted by NJ Audubon staff at our Welcome Center. Please then visit our Friends and Neighbors for information on all kinds of local nature activities. They are listed here:

http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionCenters/SectionScherman/MayDays/Exhibitors.aspx

Bring the little ones, so they can experience nature first-hand on the grounds while they explore the Nature Treasure Hunt, and see live animals, and visit the Children’s Tent, where there will be face-painting, craft-making and story-telling.

Older children will also enjoy the Nature Treasure Hunt and especially the Radio Telemetry Wildlife Tracking Demonstrations, which will take place about every hour and a half. Please note, there is a limit of 12 children for each of these sessions.

Inside the new Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education, visit the new Nature Store and “grown-up” presentations, while your children have an educational experience with NJ Audubon’s environmental educators in the Wayrick Gallery around the corner. Meet the artist, Marcia Poling, whose superb, delicate hand-painted ornaments are best-sellers in many NJ Audubon stores. And don’t forget a visit to the observation deck where you will be greeted by experts participating in our May Days Big Stay, where they will tally all the bird species they can see or hear from the deck.

Saturday’s presentations include:
• Don Freiday, Director of Birding Programs, New Jersey Audubon Cape May Bird Observatory, along with Pat Brentano, creator of the outdoor exhibit.
• Gordon Thomas Ward, author of Ghosts of Central Jersey: Historic Haunts of the Somerset Hills, which is his most recent book of many about NJ nature and natural history
• Allen Barlow, co-author of the new Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey
• And, Rick Radis, one of the state’s renowned experts on “ephemeral” plants, and all things natural history in New Jersey.

Sunday’s presentations include:
• Pete Dunne, internationally acclaimed author on birds, birders and natural history will share some of his insights and experiences over nearly 30 years with NJ Audubon.
• And Gordon Thomas Ward (see Saturday)

AND…

Early birders can arrive at the off-site parking as early as 7:00 am to participate in guided walks at the sanctuary that include a visit to a bird-banding station. This opportunity ends at 10 am.

The May Days Basket Raffles offer over 30 items for you to win, just by coming! Three baskets will be raffled each day, with no purchase necessary. And special thanks to Dolce Basking Ridge, our Silent Auction contributor, for their generous donation of a Romance Weekend Package, valued at $300.

See all our Donors here:

http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionCenters/SectionScherman/MayDays/SponsorsandDonors.aspx

Music graciously provided by NJ Folk Project.

OFF-SITE PARKING DIRECTIONS:

May Days participants are asked to utilize off-site parking nearby. Only handicapped parking will be available at the Sanctuary.
Please park at the Bedwell Middle and Elementary Schools, 141 Seney Drive, Bernardsville, NJ 07924, 1.4 miles from the Sanctuary. Free shuttle buses will make the rounds to and from the Sanctuary approximately every 10 minutes. Any questions, call the Sanctuary at 908-766-5787.

FROM 287 NORTH or SOUTH: Take exit 30B toward route 202 – Bernardsville
Turn Left at the light and proceed for 1.8 miles to the second traffic light.
Turn Right onto Anderson Hill Road and proceed approximately 5 tenths of a mile.
Turn Right onto Seney Drive and proceed about 3 tenths of a mile.
Look for the MAY DAYS sign and turn right into the school parking lot.

If needed, overflow parking will be available at Harding Plaza, 1200 Mt. Kemble Ave. Harding Township, NJ 07960, which is 1.7 miles from the sanctuary. Shuttles will arrive every 10 minutes at this location, as well.

Why off-site parking?
There are two great reasons for our off-site parking. First, our main parking area is going to be busy with information and activities from a variety of organizations. Second, we are keeping the habitat around the sanctuary safe and healthy for wildlife, and you. Please think of this minor inconvenience as part of the fun. And, thanks for coming!! Enjoy!

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New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, statewide, not-for-profit membership organization.

Contact Information

Mike Anderson

Director of Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary

NJ Audubon

Contact via E-mail