31 Titus Mill Rd.
Pennington, NJ 08534
(609) 737-3735 • 737-7592 Buttinger N.C. • 737-8899 Farm
Internet: http://www.thewatershed.org
So what is a watershed? The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "The region draining into a river, river system, or body of water." Within a watershed, animals, plants, and people share water and resources.
Drained by Stony Brook and the Millstone River, this 285-square mile watershed encompasses all or part of twenty-six municipalities in five New Jersey counties. For more than four decades, the Watershed Association has helped see that this resource is used wisely, and that the community's environmental awareness is enhanced through a wide variety of educational programs at its Nature Center and Demonstration Organic Farm.
The Buttinger Nature Center is part of the Association's beautiful 585-acre Reserve. Here, many educational programs can be enjoyed by both individuals and groups. The Center's Stony Brook Gallery features a full calendar of changing exhibitions -- all nature-related.
Family programs and activities are wide-ranging and can include workshops, bird watching, hiking the Center's 8 miles of trails, tracking, orienteering, maple sugaring, canoeing, and much, much more. Membership, while not required, brings an informative quarterly newsletter announcing upcoming activities. Educators can take workshops to enhance environmental teaching techniques. Individual students can enjoy wholesome after school-activities. The Association runs a summer camp, too, as well as many summertime family activities, classes, and field trips. And what a place for a Birthday Party! School Groups can choose from a wide selection of interactive programs for all grade levels. Discover (grades Pre-K - 6) explores the magic that the current season brings through a nature walk and creating a mural. Exploring a Pond (K - 12) examines stream life to learn about their relationships between themselves and mankind. Who Lives Here? (K - 2) takes a look at animals' homes in the wild. Tracking (2 - 5) teaches students to identify animal tracks and other signs. Exploring the Night (3 - 12) is an evening in the woods revealing the wonders of night-time ecology. Fun with Trees (K - 6) is an interactive program giving students all the basics of trees. Programs last from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Many others are available, including programs that can be delivered at school.
The Demonstration Honeybrook Organic Farm illustrates farming techniques that work with nature. Researchers, commercial farmers, students, and the general public can come here to learn nature-friendly farming and gardening techniques.
Hours: Reserve is open daily, dawn to dusk.
Buttinger Center: Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm.
Main
Office: Weekdays 9 - 5.
Admission: FREE. Family Programs are FREE or a nominal fee may be charged for most. Extensive programs cost more. Call for info on after-school classes, camp, field trips, etc.
School Programs: Most cost $25.00 ($10 Dec. & Jan.) plus $1 per student per hour.
Reservations: 8 weeks.
Lunch: Picnic areas available.
Handicapped: Center accessible.
Directions: I-95 North to Rt. 31 North (Pennington). Pass Pennington Circle, drive about 2½ miles. At Watershed Reserve sign turn right onto Titus Mill Rd. 1.3 miles to entrance on left.
Time: 30 - 60 minutes north of Philadelphia.
Nearby: Black River & Western Railroad , Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead , New Hope & Ivyland Railroad , Howell Living History Farm , Washington Crossing State Park , NJ State Police Museum , Princeton Historical Society , Drumthwacket , Princeton Art Museum .