The Monmouth County Park System is honoring Earth Day with free nature walks, pond studies and more at select parks throughout the county on Saturday, April 22.  

Here’s what is planned:      

Explore a Freshwater Pond at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.  
Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet at the Visitor Center.

Stroll along the park’s ponds and waterways with a Park System Naturalist searching for fish, frogs and other freshwater life, perhaps even a turtle or two. Please wear appropriate footwear as trails might be muddy. Program is approximately one hour.  

Invasive Plant Removal from 9-11 a.m. & 1-3 p.m.  

Huber Woods Environmental Center, Middletown   

Help us remove invasive plant species and pesky pests while learning about which invasive plants are affecting Monmouth County. During this program you will go on a walk to identify and learn about invasive plants. Please make sure to bring gloves and wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Plus, the reptile house will be open for tours to see snakes and turtles.  

Nature Walks at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.  

Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell  - Meet at the entrance to the Environmental Center. 

Explore the woods and wetlands around the Manasquan Reservoir with a Park System Naturalist on a short walk. Observe local flora and fauna during this outdoor exploration. Walks last about an hour.   

Beachcombing & Cleanup at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.  

Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch  - Meet at the Activity Center.  

Accompany a Park System Naturalist as we comb the beach and discover what we can find along our local shorelines. During our walk we will also participate in a small beach cleanup. Walks are approximately one hour.   

Nature on the Move from 1-4 p.m.  

Shark River Park, Wall 

See the Park System’s eye-catching new nature van that comes filled with hands-on tabletop activities and displays sure to educate and engage everyone. Join one of our Park System Naturalists for a hands-on interactive program.  

Bird Walks at 7 a.m. & 9 a.m.   

Manasquan River Greenway, Howell - Meet at the Activity Center located at 270 Southard Avenue.

Join us on this casual walk as we look for birds and other unique wildlife. Walks last about an hour. 

For more information about any of these Park System’s Earth Day activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. 

The Park System is also hosting several Earth Day volunteer opportunities on Saturday, April 22 including Beach Clean Ups at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, and Popamora Point, Highlands, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and an Invasive Plant Strike Force Training Workshop from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Thompson Park Visitor Center, Lincroft.  Registration is required for these volunteer opportunities and available online at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. For additional information about these volunteer opportunities, please contact the Park System’s Coordinator of Volunteers at [email protected] or 732-842-4000, ext. 4283. 

For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks and Recreation agency.