Reservations are required for all groups of 10+ people.
Looking for the perfect spot for a community meeting, family gathering or business retreat? Affordable and attractive rentals are available at the Tenafly Nature Center. TNC members may rent the Oak Pavilion/Fireplace or Sapling Pavilion/Campfire Ring for meetings, workshops, or parties. The facilities are suited to small low-key events: adult groups and children’s parties with a maximum of 25-50 people (including children under 2).
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Rentals may be scheduled between the hours of 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, seven days a week.
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A wheel-chair-accessible, eco-friendly, water-less composting toilet is next to the parking lot and just 90 feet from the pavilion spaces.
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Two flush restrooms are available, for scheduled rentals, on the ground floor of the Visitors Center.
Individuals and Family Use
Visitors are welcome to use the white picnic tables (located along the Yellow Trail). A facility rental is required for reserved use of the Pavilions, Campfire Ring & Fireplace.
Oak Pavilion & Fireplace
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A 30-foot by 40-foot open-air structure.
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Contains four 6-foot picnic tables and four 8-foot picnic tables which have wheelchair extensions.
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Has accessible concrete floor and walkway.
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Five lights line the walkway and there are nine pendent lights inside the structure.
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Additional outlets are available for approved equipment.
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Roll-down Sunbrella® cloths are available on three sides to keep out inclement weather.
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A large covered fireplace is available for use (with staff supervision)!
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For forest protection, safety, and insurance reasons, fires are permitted only with staff supervision.
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Can accommodate a maximum of 50 people.
Sapling Pavilion & Campfire Ring
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A rustic spot in the woods 150 feet southeast of the parking lot and Pavilion.
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A 20-foot by 30-foot open-air structure.
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Contains three 6-foot picnic tables and one 8-foot pcnic table which has a wheelchair extension.
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Has accessible concrete floor however the walkway is covered with woodchips.
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No additional covers, lights, or electricity are available at this site.
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A stone fire circle, ringed by nine benches is available for use (with staff supervision)!
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For forest protection, safety, and insurance reasons, fires are permitted only with staff supervision.
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Can accommodate a maximum of 25 people.
John A. Redfield Building
(Visitors’ Center)
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A temperature controlled building containing access to one large main room, one small side room, and a restroom.
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Wireless Internet access
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Use of tables and chairs as needed
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Can accommodate a maximum of 40 people.
Facility Rental Add-Ons
Enhance Your Facility Rental with an Environmental Program!
Groups of all ages can schedule a hands-on, educator-led program to explore and learn about the natural world. Available year-round, our programs are designed for a variety of group sizes.
Explore our current program offerings to find the perfect experience:
[View program options for onsite groups]
Fees:
- 60-minute program: $10 per student (minimum 10 students)
- 90-minute program: $15 per student (minimum 10 students)
Help support the animal ambassadors that live at TNC, in conjunction with a scheduled facility rental. Enjoy a 30 minute up close visit and Q&A session with your sponsored animal. All group sponsorship’s receive a thank you package which includes: a group photo with the animal, certificate, photograph of sponsored animal, recognition in our newsletter, species information and animal’s biography.
Fee: $60
Come visit our beloved seasonal exhibit filled with native butterflies. This add-on showcases beautifully colored butterflies sipping nectar and taking flight, offering students the opportunity to better understand and appreciate their life cycle and importance to the ecosystem. Inside you will be welcome to chat with staff or volunteers, ask questions, and enjoy the space while butterflies flit and fly about. Observe butterfly chrysalis in the chrysalis box. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see a butterfly emerge!
Fee: $2 per person (15 minutes per 10 people)
*The Butterfly House availability may change due to funding and weather. Butterflies are less active when temperatures are below 70 F or if it is overcast and/or raining.
Before or after your scheduled programs, enjoy a guided trail walk along one of our trails, led by a TNC staff member.
Fee: $50-$75 (30-60 minutes)
Add a Cozy Fire to Your Visit!
For an additional fee, groups can enjoy a fire at the Campfire Ring or Education Pavilion fireplace—perfect for roasting marshmallows or gathering around for stories.
- Fires are allowed only with staff supervision and in select locations.
- Fee includes firewood, setup, and cleanup.
- In case of inclement weather, Campfire Ring rentals may use the covered pavilion fireplace.
Fee: $60/hour
Facility Rental Pricing
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Hourly Rate: $85 (minimum 2 hours)
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1/2 Day Rate: $325 (4 hours)
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Full Day Rate: $640 (8 hours)
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Multiple dates: Call 201-568-6093 for rates
Tenafly municipal groups (e.g. senior center), and other officially sponsored borough groups may use the facility without charge. However, reservations are still required to avoid conflicts.
How to Reserve a Rental?
1. Choose Your Package
- Review the Rental options above.
- Complete the corresponding interest form.
- Review the Rental Policies on this page: Familiarize yourself with our policies, your responsibilities, and what TNC provides for your celebration.
- Wait for a TNC Staff member to reach out to you to verify availability.
2. Complete Date Reservation & Payment
- A $50 non-refundable deposit is due at booking to hold your date & time and applies toward your total fee.
- Once you receive the confirmation & invoice form, review and sign it.
- Submit remaining balance* by the due date listed on your confirmation & invoice form.
3. Additional Details
- Current annual Family Membership or higher is required for all Facility Rentals. Not a member? Join Today!
- Select Premium Memberships receive a 10%-20% discount on Facility Rentals.
- Rentals for professional photography or filming subject to additional fees and requirements. Learn More
- Set up & clean up time included in rental time.
- Tenafly Public School groups and Non-profit groups may qualify for a discount!
- Connect with Your Educator: Your rental educator will reach out 24–48 hours before your event to introduce themselves and confirm final details.
Facility Rental Policies
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Max. group size is 50 people for outdoor spaces. Max. group size is 40 people for indoor space.
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Rental Location: Only the reserved facility may be used.
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Campfires: Permitted with staff supervision and prior reservation.
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Decorations: Allowed, but leave spaces as found. No noisemakers, balloons, piñatas, or explosive items.
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Sound: Small speakers allowed; DJs and large speakers prohibited.
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Alcohol: Not permitted. Violation may result in eviction, fines, and no refund.
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Trash & Recycling: Follow Leave No Trace. Bring trash bags; use TNC recycling for glass, metals, plastics #1, 2, and 5. Do not use outside trash cans for food or party items.
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Property Access: Open dawn to dusk; events must occur in reserved spaces unless otherwise arranged.
Reschedule, Cancellation & Refund Policies for Facility Rentals
We encourage participants to consider converting refunds into a donation to help support TNC’s mission of nature education and conservation.
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Rescheduling
Deposits may be transferred to the next available date, which may fall in a later season or school year depending on availability.
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Payment Options*
- Payments may be made by cash, check (payable to Tenafly Nature Center), purchase order, or securely online by credit card.
- A 2.3% processing fee applies to credit card transactions; cash or check payments are fee-free.
- Help maximize the impact of your purchase by covering transaction and credit card fees, simply select the checkbox during registration to add the fee and ensure 100% supports TNC.
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Cancellations & Fees
- All cancellations are subject to a $50 processing fee.
- Deposits are non-refundable.
- Remaining balances (excluding deposit and fee) are refunded as follows:
- 30+ days’ notice: 100% refund
- 15–30 days’ notice: 50% refund
- Less than 14 days’ notice: No refund
- Business days are Monday–Friday; weekends and holidays are not included.
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Program & Reservations Changes by TNC
TNC may cancel programs & reservations due to weather or emergencies. When possible, programs will be rescheduled; otherwise, a refund (excluding deposit) will be issued.
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Facility Use
A minimum $50 fee may be charged for damages or trash left behind. You will be notified by phone if an invoice is created.
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Registration Accuracy
Refund and cancellation policies apply if group size or participant age differs significantly from the original registration without prior notice.
Other Policies
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Memberships are non-refundable, as they are considered tax-deductible donations with year-round benefits.
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TNC reserves the right to terminate or deny programs and reservations without refund for non-compliance with policies, safety concerns, interference with operations, and inappropriate behavior.
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Refund policies vary for Camps, Field Trips, Gifted & Talented, Homeschool, Professional Development, Scouts, TNC To Go Programs, Seasonal Programs, Birthday Parties, and Special Events. Please refer to those program pages for specific details.