Essex County is inviting the public to experience the “Butterfly Tent Safari” at the Essex County Environmental Center from July 16-30 in Roseland.
The Butterfly Tent Safari is an interactive display where visitors can observe hundreds of butterflies while walking through a tent. It will be held as follows:
Dates: Saturday, July 16 to Saturday, July 30, 2016
Hours: Mondays to Fridays from 12 Noon to 3 p.m.; Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Closed on Sundays
Place: Essex County Environmental Center, 621B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ
A $2 per person admission is suggested. Proceeds will go to the Essex County Parks Foundation and be used to support future educational programs.
“The Butterfly Tent Safari at the Essex County Environmental Center is an interactive display of live native butterflies for families to observe and enjoy. Spend your time in the tent feeding the butterflies or simply marveling at their beauty and delicate nature. Listen to a story, make butterfly crafts, or just take some time to witness the magnificence of nature at our Environmental Center,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo in a release.
In addition to the public viewing times, the Environmental Center is offering butterfly-themed family programs that include access to the butterfly tent on Saturdays July 16, 23 and 30. Cost of the family programs is $8 per child and $10 per adult. Pre-registration is required. Participation in these programs also includes time in the butterfly tent. The schedule is as follows:
- Saturday, July 16 at 11 a.m.: Appropriate for children ages 3 to 7 years. Musician Lauren Hooker will use songs, percussion and movement to engage children in this original program about Monarch butterflies.
- Saturday, July 16 at 12:30 p.m.: Appropriate for children ages 3½ to 5 years. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” will be read and students will participate in an arts and crafts session.
- Saturday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.: Appropriate for children ages 5 years and older. “Buzz into Action with Insect Education” is a family-fun and hands-on presentation about bugs and butterflies.
- Saturday, July 30 at 12 Noon: Appropriate for adults and children ages 8 years and older. “Butterfly Gardening Workshop” will be led by Essex County Rutgers Master Gardener Jean Greeley, who will talk about the basics of creating a butterfly garden.
For information about the Butterfly Tent Safari, call the Essex County Environmental Center at 973-228-8776.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 22 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.
