Some Great Upcoming Programs!

Beat the winter doldrums at Scherman Hoffman this February!

Winter Animal Signs and Tracks

Digital Photography Workshops

New Jersey Audubon has always been an organization that has helped people learn about and experience nature. However, for a long time we have also been a place where people can come to learn about art. We have our natural crafts for the home series, the Isobel Wayrick Wildlife Art Gallery, and we also offer our own digital photography workshop series. 

If you are looking for a way to beat the winter doldrums and learn more about nature photography, the digital photography workshops at Scherman Hoffman will do just that. Although they are a series, you are not required to attend every one, and you can start attending at any time. 

Here are the 2013 workshops. Pre-registration is required and you can call 908-766-5787 to sign up. You can also sign up for multiple workshops at one time. You can learn more about them at co-instructor Dave DesRochers' website.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP VI - Night Photography

Saturday January 12, 2013

10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with Roman Kurywczak

Workshop 6 will focus on techniques of photographing the night sky.  Roman Kurywczak is nationally known for his striking night photography, and will share his methods for this work, many of which he has covered in his instructional ebook, available at http://www.roaminwithroman.com/ebook.html.

Pre-register by January 5. 

Cost: $12 members, $25 nonmembers.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP VII - Landscapes

Saturday February 23, 2013

10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with Dave DesRochers

Workshop 7 will focus on techniques used to photograph landscapes, from the majestic scenery of the American West to the hidden treasures in your own back yard.  In addition to reviewing equipment selection and use, the topics of time of day, weather, composition and light will be covered.  Students will also be introduced to the methods used to create panoramas.

Pre-register by February 16.

Cost: $12 members, $25 nonmembers.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP VIII - Taking your photography to the next level

Saturday, March 16, 2013

10:00A.M. to 12:30 p.m. with Nick Palmieri

Workshop 8 will focus on in camera composition and digital editing techniques to help beginning and intermediate photographers take their photography up a level.  Nick Palmieri will discuss visualization, composition, and editing methods that will lead to more images that participants can enlarge, print, or enter in photography club competitions.

Pre-Register by March 9. 

Cost: $12 members, $25 nonmembers

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP IX - Bird photography
Saturday, April 27, 2013
10:00A.M. to 12:30 p.m. with Jim Gilbert

Workshop 9 will focus on bird photography. Birds present special photographic challenges. Most are small, distant, and rapidly moving much of the time. This workshop will deal with both the field craft needed to approach birds closely enough to photograph, as well as the technical aspects of lens and camera setting selection. The workshop will emphasize knowing the habits of your subject. .

Pre-register by April 20.
Cost: $12 members $25 nonmembers

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP X - Creative nature photography
Saturday, May 4, 2013
10:00A.M. to 12:30 p.m. with Jacki Dickert

Workshop 10 will focus on creative nature photography. Jacki will delve into “the art of seeing,” incorporating elements of design into our images, awakening the imagination, and using the camera to its fullest to create special effects. In addition, we will cover some Photoshop effects and techniques that will allow us to create unique works of art from our photos.

Pre-Register by April 27.
Cost: $12 members, $25 nonmembers.

Nature Crafts and More!

Check out our exciting upcoming programs! 

Scherman Hoffman--Up and Running!

We hope that you all successfully weathered Sandy. At the Sanctuary, we did see a tremendous amount of downed trees, but our expert staff worked tireless to restore the trails. Thanks to them, we are open and back in business! The only trails that remain closed are the ones connecting to the national park.

With two major weather events occurring in such a short amount of time and with the dropping temperatures we are seeing heading into December, be sure to stock up on birdseed for your feathered friends, who will need their strength. Our store remains open and our birdseed is available for purchase.

Best of luck to everyone, and be sure to check our website for more details and upcoming programs!





Note- The Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary will be closed for Thanksgiving.

HIKE & SEEK™ October 13!

This weekend be sure not to miss one of the biggest events on the Sanctuary all year: Hike and Seek™ We've been getting a lot of press about this event, on nj.com, patch, and the Bernardsville News, 

HIKE & SEEK™
Saturday, October 13
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Hike & Seek™, a National Wildlife Federation fundraising event, is a cross between a nature hike and scavenger hunt, aimed at bringing family and friends together in the great outdoors – for fresh air and fun! Held at the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, the 1.5-mile hiking adventure will allow for kids to connect with nature and interact with five adventurous Stop & Study locations on our trails. By trading screen time for green time, this go-at-your-own-pace event will surely create a lasting impression and promote a healthy lifestyle for kids of all ages! Please preregister at: http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hikeandseek_home. 

If you can't make Hike and Seek™ but still want to learn about nature this weekend, be sure to check out our Mountains Majesty program or go on a nature walk in Kittatinny Valley: 

MOUNTAINS MAJESTY
Sunday, October 14
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Pete Bacinski will treat you to a spectacular nature and scenic tour of America’s western mountains, featuring national parks such as Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, North Cascades, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Glacier; as well as Mt. Evans, southeast Arizona, and Montana/Wyoming’s Beartooth Range, America’s little-known scenic treasure. This PowerPoint program features landscapes, glorious wildflowers, and the birds and mammals of these remarkable locales. Please preregister by calling 908.766.5787.
Cost:$15 members, 
 $20 nonmembers.

NATURE WALK AT KITTATINNY VALLEY STATE PARK, ANDOVER, SUSSEX COUNTY
October 20,
8:30 to about 11:30 a.m.
Repeating on November 10 and 17, 
8:30 to about 11:30 a.m.
Led by Tom Halliwell, Joe Burgiel, or other NJ Audubon naturalists. Cosponsored by NJ Audubon and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee. Meet in the parking lot on the left, at the south end of Twin Lakes on Goodale Road, Andover. This is about 0.5 miles east of Route 206 (DeLorme 24, G-2; Boyle p. 44.) Bring binoculars.
Directions: Take route 206 N to Andover. About 1.6 miles N of the traffic light in Andover, turn right onto Goodale Road (just past the lake on the right).  Drive about 0.6 mile on Goodale Road to the parking lot on the left overlooking Twin Lakes

Celebrate Autumn at the Sanctuary this Week!

The leaves are changing at Scherman-Hoffman, and we are super excited to ring in the new season with our Tree ID Fall Foliage and Fall Family Fun at Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary programs this weekend! Come up to the Sanctuary to see all of the rich foliage and enjoy our programs. 

We are also having a Bird Seed Sale this weekend! Support NJ Audubon by purchasing our high-quality locally grown bird seed, mixes, and suet at our Nature Store here at Scherman-Hoffman. Members receive 20% discount on their bird seed purchases.

Saturday, October 6

Digital Photography Workshop 2: Composition 
10am-12:30pm

Led by Phil Witt and Dave DesRochers. Workshop 2 will focus on composition – that is, capturing the best image. The workshop will also begin covering the basics of digital editing. Although the workshop will demonstrate digital editing using PhotoShop, the majority of the editing techniques can be implemented in other digital editing programs. The workshop will be organized around three nature photography principles: light, composition, and moment. You can attend this workshop without having attended Workshop I. 

$12 members, $20 non-members

FREE Saturday Family Fun Program: River 
2pm-3pm

Bring your family to Scherman -Hoffman for a fun-filled hour exploring with our naturalists our habitats and the animals and plants that live here. We’ll head down the trail to the Passaic River with nets and buckets to look for crayfish and aquatic insects.

Sunday, October 7

Glenhurst Meadows Field Trip

8am-12pm

Extensive wildflower meadows among old oak groves and other hardwoods along the Passaic River. Sparrows are the highlight. Trails will be wet if there is any recent rain, so wear rubberwaterproof boots. Meet at the Glenhurst Open Space parking lot on Mountain Ave. (Take the driveway to the end.) Led by Mike Newlon.

$15 members, $20 non-members

Fall Family Fun at Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary

8:30am-12pm

Led by John Parke. Come bring the family and enjoy a great half-day of wildlife -watching with a NJ Audubon naturalist and staff of the Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary, a 120-acre preserved farm located in rural Warren County. Licensed by the state of New Jersey to care for native mammals, the Sanctuary is dedicated to rehabilitating these animals back to health so they can be returned to the wild where they belong. We will explore the property’s trail system through meadows, forest, and wetlands to look for native wildlife, and then witness the release of rehabilitated animals back to the wild. Antler Ridge is located at 52 County Road 661, Newton, NJ 07860. Parking is limited (20 cars), so you must preregister with NJ Audubon Scherman -Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary by calling 908.766.5787.

FREE

Fall Foliage Tree ID 

2pm-3pm

Why do tree leaves turn color? How do you identify trees both in summer and winter? Learn some basic tree vocabulary in order to identify trees in an indoor and outdoor presentation. Check out the variety of trees on the trails at Scherman -Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary. Led by Dorothy Smullen. Preregistration required. Limit 15.

$7 members, $10 non-members