More than 1000 groups of area school children and scouts come to the Tenafly Nature Center each year. With their boundless curiosity, they touch, observe and listen to the natural world.
This year your home schooled child can join our professional environmental educators as we introduce them to ecological and biological principals while gaining an appreciation and understanding of the natural world. Your child will become more familiar with the plants and animals throughout New Jersey and discover how human activities affect the environment.
Each two-hour program will consist of indoor and outdoor hands-on learning and close observations in our 380-acre living museum. Depending on the topic, students may observe live animals, collect aquatic creatures, take measurements of water quality, or play games illustrating cycles and relationships between living things. Parents can also take home activities and suggestions for further study from many of our classes.
We have three program options available to home school parents:
- Individual families with children 5-12 years old may register for Tenafly Nature Center monthly home ecologist group. Parents can sign up for the series or just a single session. If older students would like to attend these classes please contact the Education Director and accommodations can be made to create a more advanced class.
- Get a group together and schedule a private class.
- Parent Workshops: Tenafly Nature Center, a registered New Jersey Professional Development Provider, offers many workshops designed to train educators of all grades in a curriculum of wildlife appreciation and fun, hands-on activities. The activities assist students of any age in developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment to result in informed decisions, responsible behavior and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment upon which life depends. These programs are conducted in cooperation with the National Project WILD and Project Learning Tree offices and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Click here for upcoming opportunities.
Coming Soon- Pre & Post Trip Information and Activities
Space is limited. Register early!
For families with children 5-12 years old.
Parents can sign up for the series or just a single session.
Parents may stay with the group or drop off; there is no charge for
parents.
Siblings older or
younger, may not attend without prior permission from the education director.
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Schedule and Topics |
Register Now, Online |
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Select Wednesdays from 1-3 pm
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Home School Group
Private classes for organized groups of home school students.
Call 201-568-6093 to schedule a trip.
Schedule Early!
Spring and Fall time slots fill
months in advance, but we're open all year.
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Parents come for free. |
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Home School Group Fee (Maximum 25) |
$12 per child (minimum $120) |
To Register:
Contact the Education Director at (201) 568-6093 or email her a program request form by clicking here she will contact you as soon as possible.
Your message should include:
Your name
The mailing address
Phone number
Age of students
Number of students per group
Name of the program (To view program topics click here)
Requested date (for faster scheduling have several date options)
Requested time for program's (for faster scheduling have several time options)
Sign the confirmation form you receive that you receive from the education director that will include all your group information.
Mail payment and signed confirmation back to the education director.
You may bring a group of less than 10, but you will be charged for a minimum of 10 students in the amount of $120.
In order to obtain adequate number of staff, advance notice of additional parents and younger siblings is required.
We reserve the right to limit the number of non- registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the confirmation form.
Parents may stay with the group or drop off; there is no charge for parents.
Siblings older or younger, may not attend with prior permission from the education director.
Pre-payment is required for all programs.
Programs scheduled with less than two weeks notice will require pre payment three days prior to the program.
Payment can be made by your group representative by check, cash, or money order (credit cards not accepted).
It is the duty of the group representative to collect the fee from the participants and we will not accept individual payments from the participants.
If additional siblings would like to participate in the class, then a fee of $12.00 per person will need to be paid for with the registration.
Reschedule, Cancel & Refund Information
If your group must cancel, refunds are based on how far in advance cancellation is from schedule date.
| Cancellation Timeline | Refund Amount |
| More than 30 days’ notice | 100% returned |
| 11 to 30 days’ notice | 50% returned |
| Less than 11 days’ notice | no refund |
Preparation for your visit
Programs run drizzle or shine. If outdoor conditions are unsuitable or dangerous, a suitable indoor program relating to the scheduled topic or any topic can be substituted.
Most programs are held outdoors. Participants should dress appropriately for weather!
Participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots and rain gear when applicable.
Programs require one parent per home school group who may attend for free.
The same per person fee applies to additional siblings who wish to attend the program.
Maximum group size is 15 children, including siblings.
Student discipline is the responsibility of the parents, not the staff of TNC.
For each class, home school students should show up dressed and prepared to be outside for the majority of the class. A naturalist will lead the group through the activity and parents are expected to stay as well as assist the group when necessary. It is important for parents to come along and be ready to participate and learn with their children.
Arrival and Departure
It is unsafe to unload or park in the cul-de-sac. You may pull into the nature center parking lot and load and unload in the Parking Area.
If parking lot is full parents may park on Hudson Avenue and walk their children into the center.
You are welcome to walk on the trails, explore the museum room or browse our library before and after class with your children.
Group program rules
The staff at TNC loves questions and we encourage discussions and active
participation. In order for all students to have an optimal learning
environment and positive experience we must enforce a few simple rules.
No bikes or strollers beyond the parking area.
Food and use of Picnic Area at TNC Under our covered pavilion TNC has several picnic tables available. If you would like to have lunch here discuss it with the Education Director.
Tenafly Nature Center is a “carry-in, carry-out” center. Lunch/snack trash removal is your responsibility. Bring a trash bag for your garbage and take it with you when you leave.
Do not place any food, plates, cups etc. in the trash cans outside.
No drink boxes (the straw wrappers tend to escape from students).
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TNC’s Library is filled with professional
development resources, |
