The Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center is located on Rt. 46 nine miles west of Hackettstown in scenic Warren County. On-line directions are available. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) and for scheduled programs. Admission is free.

All programs require registration unless noted; programs not requiring registration are marked with an asterisk ( * ). Registration opens two weeks prior to the scheduled date. For registration or information call 908-637-4125.

Group programs are also available.

FEBRUARY

Nature Nurtures
Thursdays, February 9, 16 and 23 at 10:00 a.m.
Nature Nurtures is a conservation education program for early learners ages 3 to 7. Each session incorporates a mix of story time through shared reading, a field investigation, games, and a craft and/or snack activity related to the topic. All sessions take place on Thursdays and meet from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Participation is limited and a parent or guardian must attend. Participants should dress for the weather as some sessions go outside. Separate registration required for each of the three dates.

15th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
Friday, February 17 anytime from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. Participants can pick up a tally sheet at Pequest of bird species potentially seen here this time of year.

Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. Count birds in as many places at Pequest as you choose, and keep a separate checklist for each location. When finished, submit your results to our staff member at the front desk. We’ll enter your data into the online bird count.

For more information about the GBBC visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html.

MARCH

Nature Nurtures
Thursdays, March 8 and 22 at 10:00 a.m.
Nature Nurtures is a conservation education program for early learners ages 3 to 7. Each session incorporates a mix of story time through shared reading, a field investigation, games, and a craft and/or snack activity related to the topic. All sessions take place on Thursdays and meet from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Participation is limited and a parent or guardian must attend. Participants should dress for the weather as some sessions go outside. Separate registration required for each of the three dates.

Turkey Hunting Seminar
Saturday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Learn about the life history, division restoration program and how to hunt this prized game bird. The NJ Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host a Turkey Call Clinic immediately after the seminar. Registration is not required for the seminar or clinic.

Pequest Open House
Saturday and Sunday, March 31 & April 1, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
See the Pequest Open House page for details.

Weather fans take note: The Pequest Trout Hatchery has become the newest link in Rutgers University's weather station network. The hatchery is now the site of one of 13 stations throughout the state that feed data to the state's weather and climate monitoring system. To view current weather conditions visit: http://climate.rutgers.edu/njwxnet/station.php?s=1029.