Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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2025 Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend

New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites celebrates Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend with guided programs and countless opportunities for self-guided hikes and activities.

The guided interpretive programs and events have capacity limits and require pre-registration. Some programs have fees. Information is in the left column below.

Opportunities for Girl Scouts – with families or their Troops - to explore on their own, can be found in the right column below.

If Troops or individual Girl Scouts are interested in partnering with a nearby park, forest or historic site to assist with projects throughout the year, please email parks@dep.nj.gov with “GIRL SCOUTS PARTNERSHIP POTENTIAL” in the subject line.

Events & Programs

13

Sept.

Scavenger & S'mores
  • Saturday
  • 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Bass River State Forest

Description Come enjoy a scavenger hunt at Bass River! We will search and learn about local flora & fauna. Afterwards, we will enjoy s'mores and stories with a bonfire at Lake Absegami. Feel free to bring your own s'mores and stories! Please remember to wear bug spray, dress prepared, and bring water.
Location Ocean County - 762 Stage Road, Bass River Twp 08224 (Park Office)
Registration Pre-registration is required - please email here to register! Call 609-296-1114 for more information.

13
&
14

Sept.

Hidden Histories of Batsto Village and Mansion
  • Saturday & Sunday
  • 10 a.m. or 2 p.m.
  • Batsto Village, Wharton State Forest

Description Join Wharton State Forest staff to explore the hidden histories of Batsto! Tours meet in the Batsto Visitor Center before moving outside into thevillage. Village stops include the Sawmill, Gristmill, Workers' Cottages, and Post Office where participants will have the chance to mail postcards from the historic building (postage will be provided!). Once inside the mansion, tours will feature both the historic house museum and the rarely seen "behind-the-scenes" areas. Tours also include hands-on activities and time with historic artifacts.
Location Burlington County - 31 Batsto Road Hammonton, NJ 08037 (Meet at Batsto Mansion Porch)
Registration Pre-registration is required, $5 a person - spaces are limited. Please email John Hebble here or call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

13
&
14

Sept.

FILLED TO CAPACITY
Pine Barrens Basics - Guided Hike
  • Saturday & Sunday
  • 11 a.m.
  • Wharton State Forest

Description What do you know about our nation’s first national reserve? Join Wharton State Forest’s naturalist on a guided hike and learn the basics about Pine Barrens ecology including how some species survive in such a harsh nutrient poor environment. We’ll also briefly touch on wilderness ethics and what to expect when exploring Wharton State Forest.
Location Burlington County - 31 Batsto Road Hammonton, NJ 08037 (Meet at Batsto Visitor Center)
Registration Pre-registration is required, please email here .

13

Sept.

BSF Loves Girl Scouts!
  • Saturday
  • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Belleplain State Forest

Description Join Belleplain Nature Center staff for an educational nature talk followed by a fun activity. Bring water, snacks, bug spray, good shoes and your learning cap!
Location Cape May County - 1 Henkinsifkin road, Woodbine, NJ 08270 (Belleplain Nature Center)
Registration Pre-registration is required - click here to register!

13

Sept.

FILLED TO CAPACITY
Let's Make a Bug Hotel!
  • Saturday
  • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Cheesequake State Park

Description Join us and make a bug hotel to support our native insects! We will go on a half mile journey to collect materials and head over the Nature Center to make the bug hotel with everything we collected. All materials will be provided. Please dress for the weather and bring water and bug spray.
Location Middlesex County - Hooks Creek Lake Day Use Area : Click here!
Registration Pre-registration is required - click here! Please call the park office at (732) 566-3208 for further information.

14

Sept.

Autumn Artistry Outdoors
  • Sunday
  • 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
  • Double Trouble State Park

Description Join us for a scenic hike through the fall landscape to gather natural materials for an artwork project. This is a public program that will introduce Scouts to the environment of Double Trouble State Park.
Location Ocean County - Double Trouble State Park, 581 Pinewald Keswick Road (at intersection with Double Trouble Road), Bayville, NJ 08721 at Village Information Building & Restrooms.
Registration Pre-registration is not required - email here for more information.

14

Sept.

Nature and History of New Jersey's Highest Point
  • Sunday
  • 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • High Point State Park

Description Girl Scouts love the highest point in New Jersey! Join High Point’s Naturalist at the top of Kittatinny (High Point) Mountain to learn about the history and ecology of this unique landmark. Complete a scavenger hunt and then make a simple kite that will let you get a feel for the wind. For Girls Scouts age six and up, accompanied by adults.
Location Sussex County - 41.322030, -74.660477 (Meet by the concession stand between the Monument parking area and the Monument)
Registration Pre-registration is required - click here.

14

Sept.

FILLED TO CAPACITY
Natural Area Shoreline Cleanup
  • Sunday
  • 9:30 a.m - 11:30 a.m.
  • Liberty State Park

Description Come to Liberty State Park to lend a hand picking up trash that has washed up on the shoreline and explore what other natural wonders have come with the tides! Please dress to be outdoors, wear old shoes, and bring sunscreen, water, and insect repellent.
Location Hudson County - 275 Freedom Way, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Registration Pre-registration is required - Please call 201-915-3400 x503 or email here.

14

Sept.

Litter Clean Up & Kayak Tour!
  • Sunday
  • 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
  • Swartswood State Park

Description Come spend the morning with our park naturalists and learn more about biodiveristy in wetlands! We will spend some time picking up litter around Swartswood Lake, and then reward our stewardship with a kayak tour around the lake.
Location Sussex County - 1091 County Road 619, Newton NJ, 07860 - Swartswood Lake parking area
Registration Pre-registration is required - email here! Call the park office at 973-948-3820 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. for more information.

13

Sept.

Twin Lights Lighthouse Welcomes You
  • Saturday
  • 10 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
  • Twin Lights Historic Site

Description Attention all Brownie and Junior Lighthouse keepers! Come learn about New Jersey's lighthouses and the keepers that keep lights on. Scouts and parents will be given a tour of the ligthhouse and have a chance to cover most of the badge requiremnts during the visit.
Location Monmouth County - 2 Light House Rd Highlands, NJ 07732
Registration Pre-registration is required - email here.

13

Sept.

Historic Preservation & Veterans Appreciation
  • Saturday
  • 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
  • Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites

Description Learn about the historic preservation underway at Wallace House State Historic Site and the story of the American Revolution in New Jersey. Then, make cards of appreciation for delivery to New Jersey State Veterans Homes for this year's 250th birthdays of the New Jersey National Guard & U.S. Armed Forces.
Location Somerset County - 71 Somerset Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
Registration Pre-registration is not required - email here for more information.

13

Sept.

Pollinators of Washington Crossing State Park
  • Saturday
  • 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Washington Crossing State Park

Description Come celebrate the pollinators of Washington Crossing State Park and get informed on how you can help on Saturday, September 13. There will be a Pollinator Walk at 12:15 p.m. at the nature center. This is an open event for folks of all ages, social groups, and scout troops!
Location Mercer County - 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Rd, Titusville, NJ 08560
Registration Pre-registration is not required - email here for more information.

Picnicking

From High Point to Cape May Point, 33 parks across the state have designated first come first served picnic areas awaiting your arrival. Click here for a full list of picnic areas.

Help Keep Your Park Clean and Green! Protect plants and animals and care for your park by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the park, plan on carrying it out too. It’s like crowdsourcing trash management! Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles provided in state parks. Thank you!

Find a State Park Near You!
Click here for Trail Tracker- the Interactive Trails Map of NJ State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites.

Planning a Hike?
Click here to see detailed trail guides for many of New Jersey's state parks and forests or click on the trail tracker link above.

Camping

To view availability and to book your campsite, please visit camping.nj.gov.

Discover on Your Own

New Jersey's state parks and forests offer a variety of public programs throughout the state, but we do understand some prefer to discover on their own.

Click here for self-guided activities, videos, crafts and recipes which will allow you to explore and learn about the historic and natural treasures found within your state parks at your own pace.

Plan Ahead for "Filled To Capacity" Park Closures

To ensure the safety of our visitors and protection of the park’s natural resources and facilities, our park areas have a limited capacity.

During periods of high visitation, when a park's capacity is reached, the park will be closed and traffic will be turned away from the park entrance. When that occurs, no additional vehicles / visitors will be allowed to enter the park, including those with members of their party who may already be in the park. If you are not traveling in the same vehicle with others in your party, we suggest that you all arrive at the same time.

Based on recent experience and visitation trends, and depending on good weather, most of our state park swimming and day use areas will likely fill to capacity on Fourth of July weekend. Please take this into consideration when planning your trip.

Sign up for text alerts for filled to capacity closures of Atsion Recreation Area and Island Beach State Park.

Filled to capacity updates are also posted on our Facebook page.