Entertaining & Educational Programs Year Around

The Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center (EEC) is located at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. The unique facility serves as the portal to Lord Stirling Park with over 450 serene acres in the western portion of the Great Swamp Basin of the Passaic River.

The EEC provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the environment through numerous free to the public art and wildlife exhibits and shows presented throughout the year in the Exhibit Hall. Permanent attractions within the EEC include the swamp vivarium that provides a concise view of the life in the swamp; the Environmental Library offering a unique research resource; and the Environmental Gift Shop that offers a wealth of unique opportunities for giving for all occasions.

Branta Pond, located outside of the back door of the EEC, serves as the entry to Lord Stirling Park, home to a variety of habitats including floodplains, swamps, rivers, intermittent streams, marshes, meadows, fields, forests, and natural and man-made ponds. The 8.5 miles of trails and boardwalks allow visitors an up close experience to the habitats that provide homes for diverse plant and animal populations in this environmentally sensitive park.

The Great Swamp area was once home to Paleo-Indian groups, the Lenapes, and Lord Stirling, a Major General of the Continental Army, In the 1960’s a grassroots citizens group and conservation groups rallied to protect the precious wetlands from becoming an international airport, subsequently presenting 2,600 acres of land to the Department of the Interior to create the core of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Major programs held annually include Maple Sugaring on weekends from February 20 through March 13, 2016; the Eco-Rally on April 1, 2016; the County Caper on August 20 and 21, 2016; the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival on October 2, 2016; Halloween Happenings on October 14 and 16, 2016; and the Festival of Trees on December 2 through 28, 2016.

The EEC provides programs for all ages and is open year round from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily, except holidays.

Information on activities and programs at the EEC may be found online at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-766-2489.