Environmental Education Center Offers Virtual Outreach Programs

NJ – The Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC) Environmental Education Center (EEC) Naturalists are offering Virtual Group Outreach Programs, consisting of lectures and discussion-based presentations appropriate to a variety of audiences.

The virtual programs are offered through the SCPC platform or a platform preferred by the group leadership. Options are either a pre-recorded video link or a PowerPoint lecture offered virtually with a ‘live’ presenter.

Among programs currently offered are:

Amazing Adaptations will explore how wildlife survives in its environment.

Armchair Birding featuring first-hand birding stories.

Backyard Bears will educate participants in bear ‘etiquette’ and create a better

understanding of bears.

Backyard Birds will help get acquainted with many of New Jersey’s common

backyard birds and when and where to place feeders in the yard.

Basically Bats will explore the life of the only true flying mammal.

Birds of the World will explore some of the more than 10,000 species of birds

including those that are poisonous, those that fly when asleep, and those

that migrate 50,000 miles each year.

Butterfly Basics will explore the interesting physical and behavioral adaptations

of these complex insects.

Coyote Cries will help sort out the myths from facts on the coyotes living in New

Jersey.

Fantastic Plant Stories will examine how plants are used in celebrations locally

and around the world.

New Jersey Owls will explore the nocturnal world of these fascinating local birds

of prey.

Off the Coast will examine the life of the sea turtle and why they need help from

humans.

Oh Deer! Will explore the world of deer biology, the interactions deer have with

predators, habitat, and humans.

Passports to Penguins will review the lives of the many types of penguins, where

they live, what they eat, and more.

Planning a Native Butterfly Garden will illustrate which native plants attract

which native butterflies and moths

Sharks 101 will explore the facts and myths about sharks and the important role

they play in our ecosystem.

Virtual Rainforest will take a trip to the tropics of the Costa Rican rainforest to

find out what makes a two-toed sloth different from a three-toed sloth,

what a three-wattled bell bird mustache looks like and many other

fascinating facts.

Virtual Safari will travel to Tanzania to go on a virtual safari deep into the wilds

of the African ‘bush’.

Vital Vernals will explore the vernal pools are unique habitats that only exist when water is prevalent.

Groups are invited to choose one of the existing topics or suggest one. Each program can be tailored to the group’s specific needs, interests, and time frame.

For more information, program pricing, or to schedule a program, contact Kurt Bender at 908 722-1200 Ext. 5332 or kbender@scparks.org

Information of Park Commission programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.