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Adults
Guided Birding Walks Sundays in September 8 AM – 9:30 AM Join longtime birders for a guided walk through the Arboretum on a…
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Families
Guided Birding Walks Sundays in September 8 AM – 9:30 AM Join longtime birders for a guided walk through the Arboretum on a…
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Toddler and Pre-School
Early Childhood Classes Arboretum Sprouts: 18 months to 3 year old children with a caregiverTurtle Tots: 4 year old – Kindergarten (drop off)Our early childhood education programs are weekly classes where your youngest learners can explore the natural world through stories, songs, hikes, and hands-on learning. Join us at the Arboretum and allow your child’s sense of wonder to grow. Topics for our fall classes included Leaves, Squirrels and Acorns, and Preparing for Winter. Pre-registration and an Arboretum Family membership are required to participate in these classes. Arboretum Sprouts After School Turtle Tots Arboretum Sprouts: 18 months to 3 year old children with a caregiverSprouts is a weekly class where your child and a parent/caregiver explore the natural world together through songs, stories, crafts and a hike (weather permitting). Children must be 18 months old by the start of classes and accompanied by a caregiver. Classes take place weekly on either Wednesday or Thursday mornings. Class size is limited. Pre-registration and membership are required for this activity. Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 AMOctober 14th – November 18th$120 for 6 classes Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 AMOctober 1st – November 19th (no class on 10/8 & 11/5)$120 for 6 classes Register Here After School Turtle Tots: 4 years old – kindergarten (drop off)Turtle Tots is a weekly class where children will discover nature through guided hikes, games, and crafts, all with guidance from a seasoned environmental educator. Children must be 4 years old by the start of classes and able to use the bathroom alone. Please bring a snack to class. Every class begins with snack and a small craft, so it is ok if you are unable to arrive right at the start time. Pre-registration, membership, and health forms required. Mondays, 3:15-4:30 PMOctober 12th – November 16th$150 for 6 classes Register Here Contact [email protected] or call (973) 376-3587 if you would like to sign up after the start date or try out a single class before committing to the entire winter session.Health FormsIf your child is participating in any of our drop off classes (Turtle Tots or camps), please be sure to have a health form completed and given to us by the first class. This ensures the health and safety of all of our participants! Health forms are all included in our online registration system here.Parent/Guardian HandbookPlease read through our Parent/Guardian handbook for useful information about Arboretum program rules and procedures. All program participants need to sign the agreement. This can also be found through the online registration system.Cancellation PolicyRegistrations are accepted in the order they are received. All cancellation requests must be made in writing at least 30 days prior to the start of your program. Cancellations made after this time may only receive a refund if we are able to fill the spot with someone from our waitlist. All refunds exclude processing fees. All returned checks received will be charged an additional $50 fee deduction for bank charges. CHA has the right to cancel any program and will refund the full amount that was paid.Please contact us at 973-376-3587 or [email protected] for more information.
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Community Science
Here at the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum we believe in leading the way to a more sustainable future, but…
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Birthday Parties
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum Birthday Parties are offered on each Saturday and Sunday: 11:30AM-1:00PM or 2:00PM-3:30PM from September through the first week…
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Camps
We have 10 weeks of summer camp plus multiple mini camps throughout the year! CHA Family Membership is required for all camp activities. Memberships are valid for one year and can be purchased here or at the same time as your camp registration. Campers must be at least 4 years old and able to use the bathroom alone at the start of a camp session, no exceptions. Squirrel Scouts4 year olds and Kindergarteners Explorers1st and 2nd graders Naturalists3rd and 4th graders Mini Camp Summer Camp 2026-2027 Mini Camps Mini Camps at CHA run in line with local school breaks and most are available for children in the Squirrel Scouts and Explorers age group. Registration begins approximately 2 months before the start of the mini camp session and can be accessed from this page at that time. September 21stNovember 5th-6thDecember 28th-31st (Squirrel Scouts only)February 15th-16thApril 12th-16thJune 7th-11th (Squirrel Scouts only) June 14th-18th Register for Mini Camp Here! September Mini Camp September 21st Squirrel Scouts: 9 AM-Noon$80Kindergarten Extension: +$30Explorers: 9 AM-3 PM$110While school is out for the day, take a break outside at the Arboretum. Find out what is happening in the forest at the beginning of the fall season. All campers should bring a snack and an extra set of clothes. Please ensure campers are dressed for the outdoors. Explorers and rising kindergartners in extension should also bring a lunch. Pre-registration, health forms, and membership are required for this activity.Login/Register November Mini Camp November 5th-6th Squirrel Scouts: 9 AM-Noon$80/daykindergarten extension is unavailable for this camp session$110/dayDon’t miss out on one or two days of November Mini Camp. While teachers are learning at their convention, CHA is open to children 4 years old – 2nd grade to explore the wonders of fall in the forest. With guidance from seasoned environmental educators, campers will learn about the changing seasons and how animals and plants prepare for the coming winter. All campers should bring a snack and an extra set of clothes. Please ensure campers are dressed for the outdoors. Explorers and rising kindergartners in extension should also bring a lunch. Pre-registration, health forms, and membership are required for this activity.Login/Register 2026 Summer Camp SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION Click on your desired age group to learn more about available camp dates and themes for the summer of 2026. Squirrel Scouts 4 year old to rising kindergarteners 9am – NoonKindergarten Extension until 3pm (Available June 22-August 21st for rising kindergarteners only) $375 per week+$125 per week for kindergarten extension June 22nd – 26thHabitatsWhat makes a good habitat? Learn all about different habitats around the world and what makes them the perfect place for various plants and animals to live. June 29th – July 3rdPlant PowerTrees, leaves, and flowers: did you know plants have powers? Take a look into the life cycle of a plant, and explore the forest’s trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and more. July 6th – 10thIncredible InvertebratesDive into the world of insects. Get outside and learn about their homes, body parts, and life cycles. Even more, meet live insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles. July 13th – 17thBirds in Your Backyard“Soar” through the arboretum as you study birds and what makes them unique. Learn about their eggs, nest building, feathers, and specific adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive in the wild. July 20th – 24thAnimal JobsThe animals are hard at work, so come on down to the arboretum to see just what they’re up to. Discover how ecosystems stay balanced with builders and clean up crews, planters and pollinators. July 27th – 31stSo You Want to Work at An ArboretumArboretums don’t run themselves! Learn what it takes to be a botanist, entomologist, forester, or a variety of other jobs that help keep natural lands not only beautiful, but healthy as well. August 3rd – 7thEnchanted Forest Embrace imagination through dramatic play with nature, in nature! Explore nature-based fairytales and create your own stories in the forest through song, scavenger hikes, “magical” crafts, playtime, and more. August 10th – 14thWater WeekWater is all around us, but where does it come from, and where does it go? Interact with water play, the water cycle, and experience a summer snow day during water week! August 17th – 21stArt in NatureExplore lines, patterns, symmetry, colors, and shapes that occur naturally in our world. Create works of art with, in, and inspired by nature. August 24th – 28thNature DetectivesGet your magnifying glass and notepad ready, because it’s sleuthing time! Inspect your surroundings and determine what wildlife has been hanging around. Learn about nature’s most wanted and track them down using your five senses!*Kindergarten Extension Not Available* Explorers rising 1st & 2nd graders9am – 3pm$495 per week June 22nd – 26thPlantsTrees, leaves, and flowers: Did you know plants have powers? Take a look into the life cycle of a plant, and explore the forest’s trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and even the plants that we and other animals eat. June 29th – July 3rdHabitatsWhat’s the best habitat for me? Learn all about different habitats around the world and what makes them the perfect place for various plants and animals to live. July 6th – 10thAnimal AdaptationsAnimals have incredible abilities; each helping them survive and thrive in the wild. Uncover the wonders of wild animals in your own backyard and learn what makes each one unique. July 13th – 17thWater WeekWhat is the health status of our local streams, ponds, and rivers? How can we help protect these bodies of water? How can invertebrates help us understand the overall health of our waterways? July 20th – 24thRocks, Rocks, Rocks!Have you ever wondered how rocks are formed? How do mountains get so tall? Come learn about the different rock types, how those rocks got here, and what kinds of rocks are found in your backyard. July 27th – 31stAnimal JobsThe animals are hard at work, so come on down to the arboretum to see just what they’re up to. Discover how ecosystems stay balanced with animals contributing to the community of producers, consumers, and decomposers. August 3rd – 7thSkin You’re InWhether furry, slimy, scaly, or smooth, skin is important. Learn about different types of animals and how their bodies are adapted to survive and thrive in their environment. August 10th – 14thSurvivalIf you were lost in the woods, how would you survive? Under the guidance of an environmental educator, campers will learn basic skills including shelter building, map and compass orienteering, and first aid. Naturalists rising 3rd & 4th graders9am – 3pm$495 per week August 17th – 21stCitizen ScienceFrom in-the-field data collecting to data processing, Citizen Science programs are for all science and nature-loving individuals. Use scientific instruments and processes to observe the forest ecosystem. Make and test hypotheses in search of answers to your own questions. August 24th – 28thSurvivalIf you were lost in the woods, how would you survive? Under the guidance of an environmental educator, campers will learn basic skills including shelter building, map and compass orienteering, and first aid. Parent/Guardian Handbook Please read through our Parent/Guardian handbook for useful information about Arboretum program rules and procedures. You can download the Parent/Guardian Handbook here: Parent Camp Handbook Cancellation Policy Registrations are accepted in the order in which they are received. All cancellation requests must be made in writing. In order to obtain a refund, cancellations must be made at least 30 days prior to the start of camp. Any cancellations made after the 30 days will only receive a refund if we are able to fill the spot. Refund amounts do not include service fees. CHA reserves the right to cancel any program and CHA will refund the full amount that was paid.
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Schools
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum (CHA) offers field trips and classroom programs for grades Pre-K-5. Each lesson has been designed to correlate to NJCCCS and supplement science curriculum as schools…
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Scout Programs
Scout Programs The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum provides many opportunities to observe biofacts, meet a naturalist, and learn to share your world with wildlife….
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