Things To Do With Kids In Middletown Area In Next 2 Weeks

HIGHLANDS, NJ — From guided bird hikes through Sandy Hook to a solstice walk to officially mark the end of summer, there is a lot to do in the next two weeks at Sandy Hook:

Sept. 13: Forked River Oyster planting and Beach Shell-a-bration Lacey Township 3 p.m. Join the American Littoral Society on Forked River Beach for a volunteer opportunity and a volunteer appreciation event all wrapped into one! The American Littoral Society is building oyster reefs in Barnegat Bay to reduce erosion, create wildlife habitat/enhance biodiversity, and improve water quality. We know it's a bit of a drive, but all are invited to help them add live oysters to Barnegat Bay. Dress to get dirty and wear closed-toe shoes. Gloves and tools will be provided. Come to volunteer, stay to shell-a-brate! Oyster planting: 3-5 p.m. Shell-a-bration, grilled oysters and live music 5-7 p.m. Next to 1818 Beach Boulevard, Forked River Beach

Sept. 14: Sunset Seining in Sandy Hook Bay Sandy Hook, Highlands Explore with us! 6 - 8:00 p.m. Meet at the American Littoral Society headquarters Sandy Hook Unit at 18 Hartshorne Drive Highlands Discover the diverse wildlife inhabiting our coast. After a short talk on the Littoral Society’s front porch, we will drive over to Horseshoe Cove on Sandy Hook Bay for a seining adventure. Participants are invited to help pull our 40-foot seine net through the bay, and experience the excitement of learning about the fish and other critters caught.Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Contact: nicole.haines@littoralsociety.org for more information.

Sept. 16: Littorally Local Sunset Cruise (adult event) Atlantic Highlands, NJ Friday, September 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Learn more and buy tickets here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/...

Sept. 17: Wind & Sea Festival on the Port Monmouth Beach Sept. 17: From kite flying to seining, the Monmouth County Park System’s upcoming Wind & Sea Festival is brimming with coastal activities for the whole family to enjoy. Held on Saturday, September 17 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., this event will take place at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth. Visitors are invited to try kayaking, fishing, kite flying, seining, shell painting and much more! Most activities are free but some may have a fee. Admission and parking are free. Parking is available at the Belford Ferry Terminal located at 10 Harbor Way, Belford. A shuttle bus will transport visitors to and from the ferry terminal to Bayshore Waterfront Park.

Sept. 22: Fall Equinox Walk through Sandy Hook Meet at 6 p.m. at the American Littoral Society headquarters Sandy Hook Unit at 18 Hartshorne Drive Highlands, NJ Occurring twice a year, the Equinox signals the beginning of Spring and the end of Summer. Many cultures around the world celebrate the date because it is the only time when day and night are of equal length. Participants will stroll through the local maritime forest and pause to watch a beautiful sunset. We may even try to balance that darn egg! Learn more and register here: https://www.littoralsociety.or... 6-8 p.m. Free or make a donation.

Sept. 23-25: AsburyFest Asbury Park Friday through Sunday, September 23 - 25

Sept. 28: Wingin' It: Fall Migration Bird Walk A guided bird walk through Sandy Hook Meets at 4 p.m. Learn more and register here: https://www.littoralsociety.or...

Oct. 6: Moth Night Sandy Hook, Highlands, NJ Free lecture for kids, teens and adults. 8-10 p.m. Moths are strange, beautiful and environmentally important. Discover more with us at Moth Night on Sandy Hook! Meet at the Fishing Beach (End of Area F Road) Gateway National Recreation Area Sandy Hook Unit Highlands, NJ Join moth expert Blaine Rothauser, Senior Ecologist, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., for a hands-on, interactive session to observe the process of identifying moths, while also learning so much more about them like why they are important to our environment and what you can do to support our moths found in New Jersey.This group session will provide many opportunities to ask questions and to be guided through your own discoveries. Whether you are brand new to the world of moths or have an already established love for them, this session is for you. There are approximately 160,000 species of moths in the world, this is your chance to meet more than a few! This is a drop-in session - stop by anytime between 8 and 10 p.m. Feel free to leave when you need to or stay until the end of the program. Dress for the weather and bring a headlamp or flashlight. Bring a camera to take some awesome close-up shots! You will be surprised by their individual and breathtaking features. Directions: Enter the park and go north on Hartshorne Drive until you pass E Lot. Shortly after you will make a right turn when you see a sign that says “Fishing Beach." Drive to the end and find us there!