Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park

Nature Programs | History Programs | Scout Programs
Calendar of Events | Wish List | Volunteering

Download/Print our Quarterly Newsletter/Event Guide: The Milepost

The Summer 2010 Milepost (PDF File Size: 577KB)

The Spring 2010 Milepost (PDF File Size: 529KB)

The Winter 2010 Milepost (PDF File Size: 424KB)

The Fall 2009 Milepost (PDF File Size: 290KB)

Back issues of our newsletter are available here for downloading. To view/print one, or all, simply choose the item (one at a time) from the drop-down list below.

PAST ISSUES OF THE MILEPOST:

What the D&R Canal State Park Has To Offer
The Delaware and Raritan Canal was built in the 1830s to transport goods to industrial areas. Today it is used as a water supply system and a corridor for people as well as wildlife. As you walk on the towpath you will see 19th century mills and locktender houses, along with hand-built spillways and stone-arched culverts.

The D&R Canal State Park offers a variety of habitats within its 70 mile long corridor. The canal is adjacent to many rivers making it an ideal place to study the diversity and adaptions of organisms found in a freshwater flood plain and riverine habitats. The park also contains areas representing upland forests and fields in varying stages of succession.

No matter what area of the D&R Canal State Park you visit, your students will leave with a better understanding of nature and their place in it.

All the programs listed below are FREE!

Call and speak with our Naturalist for more information or to schedule a program for your class.

D&R Canal State Park Naturalist: Stephanie Fox
Phone: (609) 397-2949
E-Mail: dnrnaturalist@verizon.net

Nature Program Topics Include:
Forestry
Students will learn...

		to identify New Jersey trees using a dichotomous key;
		to infer a tree's life history by looking at tree cookies;
		how different parts of a tree function together to make a tree grow.

Water Quality
Students will learn...

		to identify macroinvertebrates that help determine water quality;
		how point and non-point pollution effects water quality;
		to perform water testing for certain parameters.

Orienteering:
Students will learn...

		to identify topography symbols;
		how to determine distance from a topographical map;
		how to use a magnetic compass and complete a small obstacle course.

Insect Investigation:
Students will learn...

		how to find and identify insects;
		the diverse lifestyles and adaptations insects possess;
		the characteristics that make-up an insect.

NJ Animals:
Students will learn...

		the different classifications of animals found in New Jersey;
		about the four habitat requirements: food, shelter, water and a place to raise their young.

In-Class Presentations
If you can't come to us, we will come to you! Our naturalist can present informative, hands-on programs to our students on a variety of environmental subjects. Topics can include: Water Quality, Forestry, Diversity and Adaptions, Introduction to NJ Animals, and Orienteering. Other programs may be available on request. All programs will be geared for your grade level and are in correlation with the NJ Core Curriculum standards. The presentations last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Please call (609) 924-5705 and speak with our naturalist for more information.

Canal History Programs
Weekend Biking or Walking Tours

Arrangements for historic biking or walking tours at the park can be made by appointment. If you have any questions please call and speak with our Historian for more information.

D&R Canal State Park Historian: Vicki Chirco
Phone: (609) 924-5705
E-Mail: dnrhistorian@verizon.net

Programs for Scouts
The Naturalist and Historian at the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park also offer several programs designed to help scouts work toward a variety of badge requirements. In some cases, one scheduled program is all that is needed to complete a badge and add to your list of scouting achievements. AND IT'S FREE!! Programs include:

GIRL SCOUTS

Brownies Animals Birds Try-It Eco-Explorer/Outdoor Adventurer Creepy Crawlers Trees for Our Future NJ Heritage Patch	Juniors Earth Connections Finding Your Way Wildlife Trees for Our Future NJ Naturalist NJ Heritage Patch	Seniors/Cadettes Wildlife Eco-Action Orienteering Trees for Our Future NJ Naturalist NJ Heritage Patch

BOY SCOUTS
Webelos Naturalist and Forester	Bears Sharing Your World With Wildlife

Other programs such as Orienteering and The Story of the D&R Canal can also be scheduled. If you are a scout leader and interested in scheduling one of these programs for your troop, then contact either Vicki (Historian) at dnrhistorian@verizon.net or Stephanie (Naturalist) at dnrnaturalist@verizon.net to discuss availability. Both can also be reached at (609) 924-5705. REMEMBER ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE!

Calendar of Events
The following scheduled programs are run by the D&R Canal State Park Naturalist, Historian and/or an affliated friends organization. Pre-registration is required to participate in any of the listed events unless otherwise noted. To do so, please call either (609) 924-5705 (main park office at Kingston), (609) 397-2949 (Bulls Island office) or the number indicated in the listing. You'll need to leave a contact name and phone number in the event of cancellation as well as the number of people planning to attend the program (please indicate number of adults and children). Program registration can also be done via the Internet by filling-out our Program Registration Form.

Jump To Calendar of Events

Click here to access the on-line Program Registration Form

Programs begin at varied times which are noted below and are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. Call the park office if in doubt about a program's cancellation. ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE! If you would like further information about a specific program, please call.

Nature's Small Wonders:

Introduce your small wonder to the wonders of nature as the park naturalist leads your children in adventures through books, crafts and activities. Each class will begin at 1:00 pm and last approximately one hour. These programs are designed for children ages 3 to 5, but older siblings are welcome to attend. All classes will be held outside in the Bulls Island Day Use Area located behind the park office (weather permitting).

The program be held every Friday at 1:00 PM beginning on July 16 through August 27.

Family Adventure Camp:

Join the naturalist and guest program leaders at Bulls Island Recreational Area for this week long family adventure camp. Parents (or adult guardians) are encouraged to sign up with their children, ages 6 to 10, to create treasured moments of time spent together outdoors. Some of the planned activities are biking along the historic rail line, boating on the canal, creating a personalized family tree and an introduction to camping. The camp will be held from August 16 to August 20 from 10:00 to 12:00. There is no registration fee to participate in the program however rental fees would apply for those in need of boats or bikes. You can register your child for one or all of the programs but, do so early because space will be limited!

Please call the Bull's Island office to register (609.397.2949) or do so online (see link below). A parent or an adult/guardian ARE REQUIRED to stay. As with all of the D&R Canal State Park programs, there is NO FEE. For further details please contact Stephanie Fox at 609.924.5705 or email her at dnrnaturalist@verizon.net

On-line Program Registration Form

2010 Calendar of Events

JUNE | JULY | AUGUST

JUNE EVENTS
June 11 (Friday)	Canoe/Kayak the D&R Canal and the Delaware River Join the Sierra Club for a 10-mile shuttleless paddle that begins on the D & R's feeder canal at Washington Crossing State Park at 9:00 am and progresses north to Firemens Eddy. Participants will then portage to the Delaware River and float downriver to our start point at Washington Crossing State Park. Bring your own boat, equipment, lunch and beverages. Rentals are not available. Please contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. This ride will be lead by George & Leona Fluck and sponsored by the Sierra Club. For further information please call 609-259-3734 or email Leona@pineypaddlers.com.
June 12 (Saturday)	Day on the Land Join the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm to explore the Frenchtown Greenbelt. Two guided tours of the Frenchtown Preserve will be offered including a 9:00 am bird walk and an 11:00 am informational tour focusing on future plans for the property. The Frenchtown Preserve includes 150 acres of open farm fields and a mixture of cedar and hard wood forest, with frontage on State Route 29, the state's first designated Scenic Byway. The area, now part of the nearby State D & R Canal State Park, is managed by the state park system for passive recreation, such as hiking and cross country skiing. For more information about this program contact Alison at either alison@hlta.org or 908-237-4582.
June 12 (Saturday)	Photography Show and Sale at the Blackwells Mills Canal House: Photographs for exhibit and sale by local photographers will be on display from 12:00 - 4:00 pm at the historic The Blackwells Mills Canal House located at the intersection of Canal and Blackwells Mills Roads in Franklin Township. The themes will be varied but predominately visitors can expect to see familiar scenes of the locale including the D & R Canal. Registration is NOT required and admission is FREE!
June 13 (Sunday)	Garden Party at the Port Mercer Canal House & Canoe the Canal Day: This joint Lawrence Historical Society and Lawrence Township annual event offers an afternoon of boating on the canal followed by ice-cream, music and tours at the historic Port Mercer Canal House. Bring your own canoe or contact the Lawrence Township Recreation Department if you don't have your own. Call 609-844-7067 to reserve a canoe through the Township ($30 for the afternoon) and join other paddlers between 1:00 - 4:00 pm for an afternoon of fun. Boating will start at Cherry Tree Lane in Lawrence Township and end at the Port Mercer Canal House where tours, music and ice-cream from the Stone Cold Creamery await. The Garden Party at the Port Mercer Canal House begins at 2:00 pm. For further details please call The Lawrence Historical Society at (609) 896-0782 or visit www.thelhs.org
June 14 (Monday)	Canoe/Kayak the Delaware River Here’s another opportunity to join Sierra Club members for a weekday paddle. It’s a “Grand Old Flag” so wear your red, white and blue on Flag Day! This monday morning Delaware River trip will be 15 miles from Kingwood to Lambertville. Kayaks must be 12 ft or over. Helmets, spray skirts and experience are recommended. Bring your own boat, equipment, lunch and beverages. Rentals are NOT available. Please contact leaders to confirm trip and participation. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. This ride will be lead by George & Leona Fluck and sponsored by the Sierra Club. For further information please call 609-259-3734 or email Leona@pineypaddlers.com.
June 19 (Saturday)	Lock 1 Hike: Join the naturalist and historian of Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park in a walk along the trail in the area previously referred to as "the abandoned section of the canal". This area of the park is the previously inaccessible section of path running from Lock 1 along the Crosswicks Creek in Bordentown northward on Duck Island past Lock 2 (now buried) and ending at Lamberton Road in Trenton. We will walk a portion of this section of the path. The program will start at 10:00 am. Participants will meet at the scenic overlook on Route 295 North (parking access to the overlook is located on both the north and southbound lanes of the highway). All ages are welcome. Pre-registration IS REQUIRED. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. Register for this program
June 26: (Saturday)	The Great American Backyard Campout: Join us with your families and friends for a fun-filled camping adventure on the Island. This program will encourage the whole family to trade their website for a campsite and to experience night under the stars with Mother Nature! So pack your gear and head to Bulls Island (located 7 miles north of Lambertville directly off Route 29 in Hunterdon County). The fun will start at 3:00 pm with Eastern Mountain Sports as they host a camping clinic to help teach families the basic of camping. A variety of tents, cooking supplies, sleeping bags and other outdoor items will be on display. *At 4:00 pm Jackie Kashmer, Director of Bat Rehabilitation New Jersey,* will give an outdoor presentation on the bats of New Jersey, dispelling the many myths surrounding these night time flyers. Live bats will be on hand for you to get a close up look at these fascinating creatures. One of the main purposes of the *Bat Rehabilitation* centers is to continue to develop and expand a national (and international) network of rescue centers dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of all bat species. Other important goals are to protect wild bats and colonies from abuse and destruction, as well as increasing public awareness about the benefits bats provide to our environment. At 5:00 pm join the park historian as she churns a batch of hand-made ice-cream the old-fashioned way (see below for details). Afterwards, the park invites you and your family to bring a picnic dinner and then have a tour of the campgrounds. At dusk the park will be showing an outdoor movie in in the day use area. All of these events FREE and registration IS NOT required. If your family is interested in spending an enjoyable night under the stars then please call the Bulls Island office to register for a campsite at 609-397-2949 (*a two night minimum stay is required but there are plenty of activities in the area for a two day/night family adventure!)*. This event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some quality time with your family and reconnect with nature! So mark those calendars and join us!
June 26 (Saturday)	We All Scream for Hand Churned Ice-Cream!: Camping is fun but it is even better with some hand churned, homemade ice-cream! So let’s get busy and welcome summer by whipping-up a batch “the old-fashioned way!” Kids, bring your parents and come prepared to help the D & R's historian make (and eat) this traditional summer treat. We'll churn ice-cream and learn how this delicious dessert is made. So Mom and Dad, get those dinner picnics started while the kids help "churn-up" dessert. The program begins at 5:00 pm (after the bat program concludes) and will be held at the Bulls Island Recreation Area. All ages welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult.
JULY EVENTS
July 3 (Saturday)	Walk the Path in Lawrence Township: Enjoy a morning walk along the canal with the D & R's Historian and visit two historic homes along the way - The Port Mercer Canal House and the 18th Century Brearley House. The group will meet at the Port Mercer Canal House in Lawrence Township (4278 Quaker Road ~ Behind the Mercer Mall) at 9:30 a.m. for a brief talk about the history of the D&R Canal. The group will then walk along the historic towpath to the Lawrence Historical Society's Brearley House where the we will be treated to a tour of this restored 18th century home by the Society's docents. Come join us for this 2.5 mile round trip walk back in time. Pre-registration IS required. Weather permitting. Register for this program
July 10-11: (Sat.-Sun.)	The Dragonfly Art Collective at the Blackwells Mills Canal House: The Blackwells Mills Canal House Association is proud to welcome back *The Dragonfly Art Collective* who will be displaying (and selling) their art at the historic canal house on the corner of Blackwells Mills and Canal Road in Franklin Township. The Collective will exhibit and sell fine arts and crafts by local women artists. On display will be hand crafted jewelry, watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings, fiber arts, film and digital photography, ceramics and more. This weekend event will be held on Saturday, July 10th from 10 - 5 pm and Sunday, July 11th from 11 - 4 pm. Registration is not required and admission is FREE!
July 17 (Saturday)	Stream Stomp: Join the park naturalist in search of all the little critters living in the Millstone River at Kington. Be prepared to get your feet wet as you explore the river with nets and magnifying glasses for crayfish, salamanders, freshwater clams, young dragonflies and many more interesting creatures. Participants will learn how to interpret a streams health by the animals found living there. The program will begin at 10:00 am and is appropriate for ages 5 and up. Please make sure you bring along water shoes or even an old pair of sneakers you don't mind getting wet. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. Pre-registration IS required. Weather permitting. Register for this program
July 24: (Saturday)	Full Moon Hike: Enjoy a late evening walk at Bulls Island as the full moon lights the way. The park naturalist, Stephanie Fox, will introduce a few night sounds and talk about some of the nocturnal life found in New Jersey. Then the group will go for a short 1 mile walk in Bulls Island Natural Area. This evening walk will begin at 8:00 pm and participants are asked to meet at the Bulls Island Visitor Center (located 7 miles north of Lambertville directly off Route 29 in Hunterdon County). Please bring a flashlight. For further information call the Bulls Island office at (609) 397-2949. Pre-registration IS required. Weather permitting. Register for this program
July 31: (Saturday)	Kayak the Canal: The park naturalist will be leading a 2 hour morning kayak trip along the quiet waters of the feeder canal. Participants will meet at the historic Prallsville Mill Complex located in Stockton (approx. 3 miles north of Lambertville directly off Route 29 in Hunterdon County) at 10:00 am. The group will paddle 3 miles north towards Bulls Island then turn around for the leisurely return float back to the Mill Complex. We will be on the look out for summer wildflowers, historic structures, aquatic turtles and signs of wildlife along the canal. Participants are required to wear PFD's and some kayaking experience is required. For further information call the Bulls Island office at (609) 397-2949. Pre-registration IS required. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. NOTE: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICT.
AUGUST EVENTS
August 7 (Saturday)	Beginner Butterflies and Blooms Walk: The park naturalist invites people of all ages and experience to walk the trails of the Six-Mile Run Reservoir Site in Franklin Township, Somerset County in search of butterflies and flowers. This time of summer offers speculator views of fields with wildflowers and butterflies. The fields at the Six Mile Run site provide great habitat for many butterfly species and a variety of beautiful flowers and “host” plants that these winged creatures rely on for food. The walk will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the NJ Community Forestry/Six Mile Run Parking Area located at 625 Canal Road in Somerset (Blackwells Mills section of Franklin Township). The program is appropriate for all ages. Pre-registration IS REQUIRED. Weather permitting. Register for this program
August 21: (Saturday)	Kayak the Canal: Here’s the last summer opportunity to enjoy a leisurely paddle along the waters of the D & R Canal. The park naturalist will be leading a kayak trip starting at 10:00 am on the main canal of the Delaware and Raritan Canal from Griggstown north towards Blackwells Mills in Franklin Township, Somerset County. The park has a limited number of boat to lend to participants however, there is a boat concession stand located at the Griggstown Causeway for those who do not own their own and need to rent one for the paddle. We will be on the look out for summer wildflowers, historic structures, aquatic turtles and signs of wildlife along the canal. Participants are required to wear PFD's and some kayaking experience is required. For further information call the park office at (609) 924-5705. Pre-registration IS required. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. Register for this program
August 22 (Sunday)	Bluegrass Music & Ice Cream at the Blackwells Mills Canal House: Bring your children and plan to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon at the historic canal house on the corner of Blackwells Mills and Canal Road in Franklin Township for a summer ice cream social. Watch canoes and kayaks sail by on the D & R Canal as you relax with friends, listen to the lively sounds of the *Six Mile Run Bluegrass Band* and enjoy a frosty homemade treat from *Confectionately Yours. This event will be held at the Blackwells Mills Canal House between 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Registration is NOT required and admission is FREE!*

Our Wish List
Please check the list below to see if you could donate any of the following items to the Park to enhance our interpretive programs! Donations would be greatly appreciated and are tax deductible! Contact the office if you are able to help out.

E-mail: dnrhistorian@verizon.net
Phone: 609-924-5705

		A color printer that is compatible with Windows 2000, XP or Apple iMac
		Field Guides
		New Jersey History Books
		Books on Canal History or Technology
		Binoculars
		Insect Nets
		Mounted Animals for use in displays and/or in programs

We're Looking for a Few Good Volunteers...
Do you have time on your hands? Are you interested in history or nature? Do you have hands-on skills such as sewing, wood working or engineering? If so, we would love to hear from you! Our interpreters are interested in finding a few good volunteers who have an interest in the D&R Canal and want to help others learn more about it. A few projects you might consider "taking on" include:

		Creating and sewing both a boy's and girl's typical 19th century outfit that can be used in hands-on programs;
		Developing your own canal or 19th century related project;
		Compiling an on-going bird list for all areas along the canal;
		Creating a nature or history program for the public using your area of expertise.

If one of these projects interests you, please contact the park office and ask to speak with either the Historic Preservation Specialist or the Naturalist.

E-mail: dnrhistorian@verizon.net
Phone: 609-924-5705

REMEMBER: All programs are FREE!