Butterfly Day Is July 26 At DeKorte Park

LYNDHURST, NJ — Looking for something unique and different? Something kids of all ages, adults and yes, even teenagers may enjoy?

Butterfly Day is Sunday, July 26 at Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. Held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center inside the park.

Butterfly Day is free of charge. This event is generously put on by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society.

DeKorte Park is located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Butterfly Day features guided butterfly walks, educational talks by naturalists, interactive displays from local environmental organizations and hands-on activities for children. Young visitors can enjoy games, crafts and a butterfly costume contest (ages 12 and under).

The event celebrates the beauty and importance of butterflies, including how the remarkable insects help sustain healthy ecosystems throughout the Meadowlands. Butterfly Day offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to learn about butterfly life cycles, migration, pollination and the vital role native habitats play in supporting wildlife.

“We are pleased to offer a fun and educational program highlighting the essential role butterflies play in a healthy ecosystem,” said Jill Hirsch, President and CEO of the NJSEA. “Butterfly Day encourages children to develop an early appreciation for environmental stewardship.”

DeKorte Park is somewhat of an urban sanctuary for butterflies. Inside the park, visitors may spot colorful butterflies such as the Monarch, Red Admiral, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the Black Swallowtail, New Jersey's official state butterfly.

On July 26, participants will learn how to identify these species and understand their unique life histories. Visitors will also learn how native plants provide food and shelter for butterflies as well as bees, birds, and other wildlife. Native flowering plants including milkweed, coneflower and bee balm show how home landscapes can be designed to support pollinators.

For more information, visit njsea.com or call 201-460-1700.