Children's Programs

Children's Activities

The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum have regular educational programs for children from toddlers through junior high school.

"Branching Out!" is 40 Years Old!

Join us for our 40th gardening season! "Branching Out!" the gardening program for children ages 5-13 will begin taking reservations at the end of January. Beginning on Saturdays in April through June, gardeners will begin working in their own gardens, planting, tending and harvesting, as well as taking part in many other gardening, plant and nature related activities. Those who continue on into the summer session (July and August) will garden twice weekly throughout the summer while learning about plants from garden to table through cooking, crafts and other activities. For more information or to request a registration brochure be mailed to you, call Gwen Montgomery at 973-631-5004 or email gmontgomery@morrisparks.net. Click on the image at right to see the new registration flyer.

Garden Sprouts - Winter 2012

It's time to celebrate winter. Bring your favorite preschooler to the arboretum for this series of programs designed for the budding nature explorer. Each week young people, ages 3-5, along with a favorite grownup will explore different gardens around The Frelinghuysen Arboretum and learn just how important plants are and how they do what they do. Each walk will include an activity and a story. Garden Sprouts is led by Master Gardeners Lily Mehl and Ingrid Witty. All classes will take place at 11:00 am (please be prompt) on the following Mondays. Participants may sign up for as many or as few as they choose.

Cost: $5 per child for members / $7 for non-members

Register below using Paypal. Please note that an adult must accompany the child.

Create and make discoveries in the gardens with one of our Family Backpacks, developed for use by families with children in preschool through 5th grade. Each pack contains materials, activities, games and suggestions to help adults and their young people find new ways of looking at all the plants and other living and non-living things that can be found in the gardens all year round.

Family Discovery Backpacks are available on a first-come, first serve basis. Advance reservations are not accepted. The fee is $5 per family but Family Members of The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum may use the backpacks at no cost. You must show your membership card. Backpacks can be checked out from 9 am daily for up to 21⁄2 hours at the Haggerty Education Center Reception Desk. The last rental time is 2:30 pm daily and all backpacks must be returned by 4:00 pm.

Junior Master Gardeners - The World in the Garden

Junior Master Gardeners - I Can Eat That?

The Junior Master Gardener program returns for its 6th year at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. This program for students in grade three through five is a school-year long, intensive gardening and horticulture science program that includes inside and outside time (all year long!) as well as hands-on planting, propagation, and experiments. This year's JMG program will focus on all kinds of plants, especially vegetables -- year-round planting, seed collecting, growing and possibly even eating a few new ones along the way.

The 2011-2012 JMG Class will begin Wednesday, October 5 and will meet every other Wednesday, weather permitting, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The cost for this program is $150 for family members or $175 for non-family members.

For more information or to request a registration brochure contact Gwen Montgomery at gmontgomery@morrisparks.net or call 973-631-5004.

For information about booking field trips for schools and scout troops at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, please contact the Horticultural Program Specialist at 973-631-5004.

ATTENTION SCOUT LEADERS

Girl Scouts

Schedule a workshop to earn a Daisy Journey or Petal, Brownie Try-it, Junior Badge or work on an older girls’ IP at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Some of the workshops offered are Plants and Eco-Explorer Try-Its, Plants and Animals, Earth Connections and Your Outdoor Surrounding Badges. Or, the staff will work with leaders to design a workshop that meets the needs of a troop. Explore the gardens, take a tour and spend some time outside. All workshop participants will plant something to take home.

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts

Many Cub Scout Achievements and Awards can be earned in a workshop lead by staff at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Learn what’s a native plant and what’s not. Search for habitat, exotic plants, or big trees. All workshop participants will take home a plant to care for.

For information on any scout programs at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum call (973) 631-5004.

All Children's Programs:

Sat Feb 4 1:30p Snow Date: Sat Feb 11	Matilda's Tea Party - Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice What better way to spend a cold winter afternoon than sipping tea with your favorite young person at the 9th Annual Matilda's Tea? What other kinds of beverages might Matilda have imbibed when she lived here at Whippany Farm as a child? Learn how to fold fancy napkins, make a variety of tea sachets and other 19th century beverages. Then your youngster can host a tea of her own! Everyone will enjoy sampling teas, pastries and tea sandwiches both savory and sweet. Dress up and put on your best manners as well! Recommended for age 6 and up. Register by January 28 Use the $25 button below for Adults and the $30 one for Children.
Mon Feb 6 11:00a	Garden Sprouts: Winter Wonderland Now that everything is bare in the garden, it's a great time to look at bark, berries, thorns and other crazy parts of the plants outdoors. Cost: . Register with PayPal Member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $5.00 Non-member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $7.00 Remember to bring your confirmation email with you to the event -- it serves as your ticket!
Mon Feb 27 11:00a	Garden Sprouts: Yum! Yum! Yum! Weather permitting, the maple sap will be running. Learn how tree sap becomes delicious syrup and have a taste, too. Cost: . Register with PayPal Member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $5.00 Non-member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $7.00 Remember to bring your confirmation email with you to the event -- it serves as your ticket!
Mon Mar 5 11:00a	Garden Sprouts: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral Plants are alive and people are, too. Learn how people are more like plants than you think and how to tell what's alive and what's not. Cost: Register with PayPal Member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $5.00 Non-member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $7.00 Remember to bring your confirmation email with you to the event -- it serves as your ticket!
Mon Mar 12 11:00a	Garden Sprouts: Seedy Living Monday, March 12 How do seeds work and what do they do? Take apart a seed and plant some others to grow at home. Register with PayPal Member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $5.00 Non-member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $7.00 Remember to bring your confirmation email with you to the event -- it serves as your ticket!
Mon Mar 19 11:00a	Garden Sprouts: Wake Up! Spring is here, at least the calendar says so. Look around to see what's up and what's already in bloom. Register with PayPal Member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $5.00 Non-member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $7.00 Remember to bring your confirmation email with you to the event -- it serves as your ticket!
Mon Mar 26 11:00a	Garden Sprouts: Helping Mrs. Robin The birds are busy making new nests or fixing up old ones. Learn what they use, how they do it, what materials they use and how you can help. Register with PayPal Member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $5.00 Non-member's Price (not a member? Click Here to join) $7.00 Remember to bring your confirmation email with you to the event -- it serves as your ticket!