On April 29, join thousands of moms, dads, and kids at Vernon Earthfest at Heaven Hill Farm in Sussex County for all things Earth Day. (Earth Day is actually April 22.) Here’s what you can expect:
- Snakes-N-Scales will present live reptiles up close; you may get to see an alligator or a large snake from only several feet away. In the past, Snakes-N-Scales has delighted audiences with stingrays and sharks.
- Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery will have lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles, and insects on display. And at the farm’s bee exhibit, you can safely watch the bees and learn about honey-making. For an insect you can hold, don’t miss the butterfly release!
- Delaware Valley Raptor Center will bring their “Close Encounters with Birds of Prey” program, showcasing hawks, eagles, and owls.
For younger kids, the activities abound! They’ll include:
- a place to mine for gems,
- a corn box (think sandbox, but filled with dried corn kernels instead of sand),
- toy duck races, with ducks propelled by pumping recycled water,
- an inflatable slide,
- a hay maze,
- scenic hayrides, and more.
It will be a fun day, but don’t let all the excitement overshadow the true meaning of Earth Day. Many civic organizations will be there to educate kids and grown-ups alike on the critical three Rs— Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
The festivities will take place at Heaven Hill Farm on Route 94 in Vernon, NJ from 11 am–4 pm. Call 973-764-0764 or check out the website for more information.
Lauren Pollack is the Calendar Editor at New Jersey Family Magazine.