January 2018 Events In Monmouth County Parks

MANALAPAN, NJ — Don't let the cold keep you cooped up all winter long! Here's the full schedule of January 2018 events in the Monmouth County park system, many of which are indoors:

Here’s the full schedule:

• Co-Ed Open Basketball - Ages 20 & Up Thursdays, January 4, 11, 18 & 25 from 8-10 p.m.

Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. This basketball program is open ages 20 and over. Emphasis of this program is exercise and fun. The cost is $5 per person per session; cash or check only.

• Roving Naturalist Saturday, January 6 at 9 a.m. at Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan and Saturday, January 27 at 9 a.m. at Crosswicks Creek Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in the Province Line Road parking lot.

Join our Roving Naturalist for a walk and discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife, and identify a bird or two. This is a 1.5-2 hour program, but feel free to join in or drop out at any point. Dress for the weather as light rain and snow are not deterrents. FREE!

• Open Ceramics Sunday, January 7 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft

Choose from a large selection of bisque-fired pottery pieces to glaze and make your own. Children age 12 and under are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 per hour plus price of bisque ware; cash or check only. Pieces will be fired in about a week.

• Nature Story Time Wednesdays, January 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 11 a.m. at Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell

Expand your child's imagination while listening to one of our favorite nature stories. Open to ages 6 months-5 years, with adult. FREE!

• Lunch with a Master Gardener - Oh Deer! Thursday, January 11 from 12-1:30 p.m. at Big Brook Park Elsa’s Lodge, Marlboro

Bring a brown bag lunch and join members of the Monmouth County Master Gardeners for a discussion on the deer population in New Jersey and its effects on the landscape. Get to know your gardening enemy and learn methods of control and plants that are deer resistant. FREE!

• Wondrous Winter Walks Friday, January 12 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen

And Friday, January 26 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Big Brook Park, Marlboro

Tag along with a Park System Naturalist as you explore the serenity that is nature in the wintertime. FREE!

• Cookstove Demonstration Saturdays, January 13 & 27 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Visit the out kitchen and see what's cooking on the woodstove. FREE!

• Cabin Fever? Wallpaper in Early America Saturday & Sunday, January 13 & 14 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold

See samples of early American wallpaper designs. FREE!

• Blacksmith Demonstration Sunday, January 14 from 1-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Come see what the Blacksmith is making in his workshop. FREE!

• School’s Out Drop-In Days at the Fort Monday, January 15 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls

Enjoy Science Exploration Stations, Take-Home Kids Creations and Building Time during this self-guided program open to ages 5-10 with adult. The cost is $5 per child per day; cash or check only.

• The Casual Birder Thursday, January 18 at 9 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen

Join a Park System Naturalist for this laid-back morning bird walk and meander for about an hour and see what birds we can find. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy this walk. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. Open to ages 8 and up. FREE!

• Seashore Open House Sunday, January 21 from 1-4 p.m. at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Activity Center, Long Branch

Enjoy seashore fun, hands-on activities, and light refreshments while learning about the shore and the sea. Speak with a Park System Naturalist about your own shell collection or the aquatic animals on display. You can even create a beach keepsake to take with you. FREE!

• Lunch with a Master Gardener - Vegetable Gardening Thursday, January 25 from 12-1:30 p.m. at Big Brook Park Elsa’s Lodge, Marlboro

Bring a brown bag lunch and join members of the Monmouth County Master Gardeners for a discussion on vegetable gardening. Get help deciding what vegetables to plant, how to develop a planting time line, the best planting locations for certain crops, and how to make your vegetable garden productive throughout the entire growing season. You’ll also learn about cool weather and warm weather crops. FREE!

• Nature Lecture Series: Captain Kidd - the Pirate of New York & New Jersey Thursday, January 25 from 7-8 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth

Join a Park System Naturalist for this talk about Captain William Kidd and the lore of his buried treasure while learning about the lives of pirates and their dealings in local waters. FREE!

• WinterFest Saturday, January 27 from 12-4 p.m. at Thompson Park, Lincroft

Celebrates the fun that winter brings with wagon rides, cross-country skiing and so much more. Some activities may have a fee. Admission and parking are free.

• Clouds Saturday & Sunday, January 27 & 28 at 11 a.m. at Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell

Learn how to identify clouds by their shape, density and distance from the earth. FREE!

• Paper Dolls: Historic Fashions, Hands-on Fun Sunday, January 28 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold

Color, cut and assemble paper dolls. Open to ages 12 and up, under 18 with adult. FREE!

To learn more about these Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the Park System TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks, and Recreation agency.

PICTURED – Celebrate all the fun winter brings during WinterFest on Saturday, January 27 from 12-4 p.m. at Thompson Park, Lincroft. Photo provided to Patch by Monmouth County.