Break At the Brook programs are prefect way to spend school breaks, having fun in the Flat Rock Brook Forest! These mini-camp experiences are a fun, hands-on program filled with science, nature, crafts, and games for students aged 5-9. $125.00 per day, or $500.00 for five days. See below for our dates and topics. Contact Carol directly for the “Englewood Resident Discount” of $50.00 per day, carol@flatrockbrook.org

Break at the Brook Program Dates

October

Monday, October 13, 2025 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Jersey Jones Day

November

Thursday, November 6, 2025 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Pumpkins and Apples

Friday, November 7, 2025 9:00am to 3:30 pm Leaves and Acorns

February

Monday, February 16, 2026 9:00am to 3:30 pm Forests in Spring

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 9:00am to 3:30 pm Meadows in Spring

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 9:00am to 3:30 pm Pond in Spring

March

Friday, March 20, 2026 9:00am to 3:30 pm Pond in Spring

April

Friday, April 3, 2026 9:00am to 3:30 pm STEM Day

Monday, April 6, 2026 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Baby Animals

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 9:00am to 3:30pm Birds in Spring

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 9:00am to 3:30pm Spring Rain

Thursday, April 9, 2026 9:00am to 3:30pm Fantastic Flowers

Friday:, April 10, 2026 9:00am to 3:30pm Wetland Wonders

Family Programs are one hour long unless otherwise noted. These programs are written for the ages listed in the description or may be appropriate for the entire family. Program fees are as marked in the description, prior registration is appreciated. Payment at the door must be exact change cash or check. Siblings over the age of 18 months may not attend but feel free to utilize the other public areas of FRB while you wait.

Nature and Me!

(formerly Forest Fables)

Fall Session I: Thursdays, September 11, 2025 to October 22, 2025

from 10:30 am to 11:30 am (no class on 10/2)

Bring your favorite adult for a fun story, songs, crafts, movement, and a hike in our fabulous forest. Themes for this series are: Turtles, Frogs, Snakes, Owls, Autumn Leaves, & Squirrels and Acorns.

For children aged 18 months to four years with an adult. $60.00 per child for 6 classes.

Fall Session II: Thursdays, October 30, 2025 to December 18, 2025

from 10:30 am to 11:30 am (no class 11/13 or 11/27)

Bring your favorite adult for a fun story, songs, crafts, movement, and a hike in our fabulous forest. Themes for this series are: Apples and Pumpkins, Migration, Hibernation, Pinecones, Tree Homes, Winter Solstice.

For children aged 18 months to four years with an adult. $60.00 per child for 6 classes.

Winter Session: Thursdays, January 8, 2026 to February 12, 2026

from 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Bring your favorite adult for a fun story, songs, crafts, movement, and a hike in our fabulous forest. Themes for this series are: Bears, Ice and Snow, Animal Tracks, Ground Hogs, Birds in Winter, and Deer in Winter.

For children aged 18 months to four years with an adult. $60.00 per child for 6 classes.

Spring Session I: Thursdays, February 19, 2026 to March 26, 2026

from 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Bring your favorite adult for a fun story, songs, crafts, movement, and a hike in our fabulous forest. Themes for this series are: Chipmunks, Foxes, Wind, Rain and Clouds, Rainbows, Flowers.

For children aged 18 months to four years with an adult. $60.00 per child for 6 classes.

Spring Session II: Thursdays, April 16, 2026 to May 21, 2026

from 10:30 am to 11:30 am (no class 14/2 or 4/9)

Bring your favorite adult for a fun story, songs, crafts, movement, and a hike in our fabulous forest. Themes for this series are: Apples and Pumpkins, Migration, Hibernation, Pinecones, Tree Homes, Winter Solstice.

For children aged 18 months to four years with an adult. $60.00 per child for 6 classes.

Flat Rock Brook Family Programs are fun and entertaining ways to spend family time in nature. Each program description includes suggested ages however, you know your child and their interests, if you feel your child will be interested feel free to attend any of these family programs.

9/28/2025 Raving About Rivers

Starting Point at Jones Road Playground ramp

Suggested for families with older children due to the activities. Hike on the Orange Trail with us as we discuss the conservation of our stream, the watershed area, and test the Flat Rock Brook water quality with simple chemical tests. $13.00 per person or $40.00 per family of up to 4 people.

11:00 am to 12:30 pm AT JONES ROAD RAMP

10/25/2025 Boo At The Brook

Starting point at Jones Road Playground Ramp

11:00 am start time

12:00 pm start time

1:00 pm start time

Come in your costume for family fun. We will walk on the Orange Trail in small groups as our Naturalist tells a spooky story, stopping to “trick-or-treat” at several decorated stations. While you wait for your turn on the trail you can have fun with crafts and activities. Space is Limited so sign up soon! $13.00 per child (covers spooky hike, and three games) no family discount due to cost of materials, Some of the additional activities will cost $1.00 each. You must choose a specific entry time, timed tickets will only be accepted for one hour.

11/16/2025 Family Scavenger Hunt

Starting point at Nature Center Building

11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Come to Flat Rock Brook Nature Center for a fun day of animals, hikes, and scavenger hunt fun! Our event opens with an animal meet and great, we have acquired several new Ambassador Animal friends we think you will love, you can even help us name a few of our new critters! Then we will take your family on a hike on one of our awesome trails while you look for the hidden treasures of Flat Rock Brook. All families will receive a prize for completing the scavenger hunt when we return to the nature center. This program is intended for families with children of all ages, $13.00 per participant or $40.00 for a family of four. ($13.00 for each additional person over the age of 2).

12/12/2025 OR 12/13/2025 Warm Winter Wonderland

4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Starting point at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center Building

Come in out of the cold and have an amazing time with our Flat Rock Brook Naturalist and volunteers. Meet Animal Ambassadors, Feast on pizza and hot chocolate, play games, crafts, and activities while your adults attend their own party or go shopping for holiday surprises. All activities will take place in the warm and cozy Exhibit Hall. Participants are asked to bring a new, in the package pair of pajamas to be donated to a local children’s organization and to pay $40.00 per child. This cost includes 2 slices of pizza, soft drinks, and all activities. Additional costs for souvenir mug, stuffed animal, and other optional items. This program is for children ages 6 to 12. $40.00 per child/per night.

Conservation Club program series are designed for after-school learning and Homeschool families. These programs align with NGSS requirements in exciting, hands-on lessons. Utilizing STEM principals your child will use binoculars, microscopes, nature apps, water and soil quality testing kits, and of course - their growing brain to learn about and interact with nature.

What’s Eating You?

Tuesdays, September 16, 2025 to October 14, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Topics:

9/16 Oh, What an Omnivore!

9/23 Nocturnal Nibblers

9/30 Crafty Carnivores

10/7 Survival of the Prey

10/14 Staying Alive

All programs are 1.5 hours long and designed for learners aged 7 to 12. $125.00, price includes all class materials

Who Lives Here?

Tuesdays, October 21, 2025 to November 25, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Topics:

10/21 Autumn Trees

10/28 Animals in Winter

11/4 Scavenger Hunt

11/18 Many Marvelous Mammals

11/25 Resilient Raptors

All programs are 1.5 hours long and designed for learners aged 7 to 12. $125.00, price includes all class materials.

It’s All About The Bird

Tuesdays, March 3, 2026 to March 31, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Topics:

3/3/2026 Beautiful Birds

3/10/2026 Beaks & Beady Eyes

3/17/2026 Ravishing Raptors

3/24/2026 Our Space Invaders (Invasive Bird Species)

3/31/2026 Flights of Fancy- Flight is Not Just for Birds!

All programs are 1.5 hours long and designed for learners aged 7 to 12. $125.00, price includes all class materials.

Spring is in the Air

Tuesdays, April 14, 2026 to May 12, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Topics:

4/14/2026 Productive Pollinators

4/21/2026 Pond Study

4/28/2026 Who Lives Here?

5/5/2026 Seeds and Soil

5/12/2026 Wacky Wet Weather

All programs are 1.5 hours long and designed for learners aged 7 to 12. $125.00, price includes all class materials.

That Tracks!

Tuesdays, September 15, 2026 to October 13, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Topics:

9/15/2026 What’s Left Behind

9/22/2026 Animal Tracks

9/29/2026 And Then There Was Scat!

10/6/2026 The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of … Animals!

All programs are 1.5 hours long and designed for learners aged 7 to 12. $125.00, price includes all class materials.

Get cozy at Flat Rock Forest for some Forest Fable story time programs. Each program one of our Naturalist will read a favorite story, share a game, ambassador animal, activity, or craft, and end the program with a short hike for little legs! Programs are approximately 1 hour but we are always free to chat for a while after the program ends! All programs are 11:00 to 12:00 on one Sunday per month. Ages vary based on story and topic. Fees are $13.00 per person or $40.00 for groups up to 5 people.

Dates and Topics:

10/12/2025 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Beautiful Bugs, ages 4 to 6

11/23/2025 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Over the River and Through the Woods (4-6)

12/14/2025 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Animals in Winter Ages 3 to 6

1/11/2026 11:00 am to 12:00 pm The Pond in Winter Ages 4 to 7

2/1/2026 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Ground Hog Day Ages 3 to 6

3/8/2026 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Gorgeous Gardens Ages 5 to 8

4/12/2026 11:00 am to 12:00 pm On the Trail All Ages Invited

5/10/2026 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Forest Animals All Ages Invited

Conserving the Land and Sea

Join Flat Rock Brook in celebrating some of the amazing people and organizations helping to preserve the land and sea of this great nation. During this series we will meet with marine biologists saving local sea turtles at the only rescue center of its kind in New Jersey, The Sea Turtle Recovery Center. Speak with Mr. Matthew B. Dank, Esq. of Matthew Dank Law, as he recounts his efforts to assist creating preserves. Learn about The Conservation of Composting and how best to get started with Mr. Mitchell. Check back frequently for additional lectures. Lectures are $13.00 per person.