This Week in the New Jersey Skylands

April 1-7

Spring surrounds a barn in Kingwood. Photo by Mick Castagna.

It is still an underground movement, but don't be fooled! Spring will be mainstream someday soon.

If you can't feel it every day, you can smell it. The "fresh" liberating smell on a walk through the forest in early spring is, for a biologist, the odor of gases emitted by billions of tiny organisms in the newly thawed earth, releasing nutrients vital to the approaching bloom of wildflowers. And you can hear it up in the trees where things are getting noisy. So be sure you don't miss it. Start your spring now!

1. Spring Swing
2. Reel Love
3. Victory Veggies
4. Eye Spy
5. Seasonal Camping

Spring Swing

This Saturday, April 4, the Theater at Raritan Valley Community College, in cooperation with the New Jersey Jazz Society, presents an evening-long survey of great music from Mark O'Connor & His Hot Swing Trio, Five Play, Rio Clemente, Laura Hull & Frank Noviello. Five Play features players from the world renowned Diva Jazz Orchestra. Violinist and composer Mark O'Connor is widely recognized as one of the brightest talents of his generation. Rounding out the evening will be some great regional talent, led by vocalist Laura Hull.
The theater is located at Rt. 28 and Lamington Road in North Branch. Click or call 908/725-3420.

Reel Love

Spring in the Skylands means falling in love… Reel Love; the enchantment of fishing, that is. Check our general fishing guide and see how to find ‘em, catch ‘em and cook ‘em. Get ready for trout season opening on April 11.

You can visit Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Oxford this weekend (April 4-5) for the annual Open House and Fishing Flea Market. Activities include kids trout fishing, shotgun and archery ranges, crafts and other kids activities, wildlife artists and conservation groups, a fishing flea market and more! 10am - 4pm. 605 Pequest Rd.. 908/637-4125

Victory Veggies

In the World War II effort of the 1940s, the government asked Americans to plant their own gardens. Twenty million Victory Gardens were planted in backyards, front yards, empty lots and rooftops. This spring it wouldn't be a bad idea to grow a Survival Garden! With the right planning and effort, a 20 x 20 plot--400 square feet--can yield 600 pounds of produce in six months, enough to feed a family of five for a year. That's over $1500 worth of food! Plus you get some great family time. More...

Night shift. Photo by Bob Koppenhaver.

Eye Spy

Ever wonder what critters do when you're not around? What are they up to when they're not running away from you? Do they have a night life? You may have a good idea, but how often do you get to watch? This spring, have some fun spying on your neighbors in the wild by getting hold of something called a trail camera. More...

Seasonal Camping

Campgrounds in the Skylands account for a huge amount of fun. And while over 500,000 campers relax and enjoy the rural character of Northwest New Jersey each year, most of these visits come in summer; short overnight or weekend camping trips.

But many families make a Skylands campground their own vacation home, renting seasonal sites or bringing their own RV to rest at a lovely- and well-serviced- spot somewhere up in the New Jersey countryside. These facilities are a long way from generic trailer hookups and tent sites. Take a drive and check one out this weekend!

Photo: Dan Bacon

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This spring, think Skylands! Northwest New Jersey and destinations just beyond those borders, in Pennsylvania and New York, are equally intriguing and convenient offer colorful ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season. Keep an eye on our calendar for great things to do all the time! And we've got a crop of new stories to help you on your way.

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