Essex County Environmental Center

The Center, a facility of the Essex County Park System, is located in Essex County West Essex Park, a wooded wetland habitat with access to the Passaic River which makes for an interesting and affordable site to book a naturalist led field trip for school groups, scouts, adult and community groups. This state-of-the-art facility was constructed as an environmentally sensitive building using natural and recycled materials, innovative energy saving technologies, and topped by a “green roof” for the purpose of storm-water management, among other things.

To fulfill its mission, the Center has established partnerships with the following environmental organizations: *NJ Audubon *Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County— including the Rutgers Master Gardener and 4 H Youth Development programs *Essex County Environmental Commission *Essex County Beekeepers *NJ Woodturners.

The following services are offered by the Center year-round:

Public Programs for All Ages— Toddler through Senior
Field trip and/or Outreach Programs for School, Scout, Adult and/or Community Groups
Professional Development Workshops for Educators
Special Seasonal Events— Butterfly Tent Safari, Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Octoberfest Fall Family Celebration
Youth Camps—Spring, Summer, Winter and Holiday Camps
Contests—Nature Photography and Sustainable Homes and Habitats Gingerbread Contest
Adult Yoga and Meditation Programs
Tot and Pre-K Little Explorer Nature Programs
Interactive Energy and Conservation Exhibits
Nature-themed After-School Clubs
Nature-themed Birthday Parties