SUMMIT, NJ — Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit has upcoming programs meant to inspire wonder, respect and love for the natural world and keep the winter blues away. Topics include groundhogs, feeding the birds, snow people, maple sugaring and leprechaun gardens; children will get a chance to explore the arboretum’s grounds, take nature walks, traverse woodland trails and maybe meet some friendly garden creatures along the way.
Oaks and Acorns, for children ages 3-5 with an adult, is a nature class that meets every other Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. It features outdoor exploration, story time and creative art projects, with a different nature theme each session.
Arboretum Afternoons, a drop-off program for children ages 5-8, takes place every other Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. These after-school nature sessions give students a chance to get some fresh air after a long school day. There’s a different focus each session; stories, games, experiments and art projects are all part of the fun.
Let’s Get Growing offers gardening classes for children ages 5-10, one Saturday a month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Winter topics include growing an indoor “root view” garden in February and how to sow seeds and plant a spring garden in March.
There are also special events for Valentine’s Day, Feb. 8 and 9; Mardi Gras, Feb. 21; and Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, March 15. The sweetest winter celebration is the arboretum’s Maple Sugaring Fest on Sunday, March 3. Families with children of all ages will learn about tapping maple trees and making maple syrup.
For full details and to register for classes and special events, visit reeves-reedarboretum.org. Reeves-Reed Arboretum is a nonprofit public garden located at 165 Hobart Ave., Summit. The grounds are open to the public free of charge, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 908-273-8787, ext. 1010.
Photos Courtesy of Reeves-Reed Arboretum