As part of a long-term citizen science project, Cedar Run aims to observe the quality and life of one of its most prominent features, Cedar Run Lake. What is Citizen Science? During this project, we will collect physical and chemical samples to determine the biological health and sustainability. This sampling will be done by means of collecting water in specimen cups and performing field tests, and will later entail a macroinvertebrate collection!
On May 20th our session will be combining Citizen Science and our Nature Journaling and Field Sketching classes! Registering for one experience gets you the other! The morning session, 10am, is geared toward ages 8-12. The afternoon session, 1pm, is for ages 13 and up. $15 ages 8-12 or $20 ages 13 and up. Pricing includes Refuge admission. Advanced registration required.
Registration for this event has ended.
Give your child a break from screen time and encourage a connectedness to nature by providing the skill of nature journaling! This journal is not only a record of observations in their natural surroundings, but one that has value in the process as well. It encourages your child to increase their mindfulness of their natural habitat and pay attention to detail. The goal is to increase an appreciation of nature’s beauty, improve recognition of different species, and have an understanding of their local flora and fauna. Classes will run once monthly, and participants are encouraged to come as often as they can. Nature is always changing! 10:00-11:30 am. Suitable for ages 8-12*. $15/child. Fee includes daily Refuge admission for the participant only. Add on a Cedar Run journal for an additional $10 (retails for $15). Advanced registration required. Please register each participant separately.
*Note: This is an optional drop-off program for children – parents will be emailed a contact form and waiver prior to class.
Please no birthday parties or scout programs for these events. If you are interested in hosting a birthday party or scout program at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, please check out our website links for Birthday Parties & Scout Programs.
This program offers participants the opportunity to hone their photography skills while capturing stunning images of our magnificent birds of prey. From soaring hawks to stealthy owls, Cedar Run’s resident raptors provide the perfect subjects for aspiring photographers to practice their craft.
In addition to capturing stunning images, participants will learn about the natural history, behavior, and conservation of Cedar Run’s resident raptors. Gain a deeper appreciation for these majestic birds as you observe them and learn about the important role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
The Raptor Photography Session offers a unique blend of education, adventure, and hands-on experience, making it ideal for photographers of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking to expand your portfolio, connect with nature, or simply enjoy a day of outdoor photography, this program promises an enriching and rewarding experience.
Join us and let your passion for photography take flight. Don’t miss this opportunity to capture the majesty of raptors in their and create lasting memories that will inspire and delight for years to come.
*Please note: photography will be self-guided. Our educators will bring select birds out of their enclosures for photographing up-close and personal on perches and in a natural setting and provide information about the species. Participants must bring their own cameras and materials.
This program will be limited to 12 participants. 10-11:30am. $60/member, $70/non-member. Advanced registration & pre-payment required.
Raptor Photography Session
As part of a long-term citizen science project, Cedar Run aims to observe the quality and life of one of its most prominent features, Cedar Run Lake. What is Citizen Science? During this project, we will collect physical and chemical samples to determine the biological health and sustainability. This sampling will be done by means of collecting water in specimen cups and performing field tests, and will later entail a macroinvertebrate collection!
On May 20th our session will be combining Citizen Science and our Nature Journaling and Field Sketching classes! Registering for one experience gets you the other! The morning session, 10am, is geared toward ages 8-12. The afternoon session, 1pm, is for ages 13 and up. $15 ages 8-12 or $20 ages 13 and up. Pricing includes Refuge admission. Advanced registration required.
Registration for this event has ended.
Whether you’re looking for a creative spark for your artistic expression, a way to develop your observational skills, or an immersive and mindful journey through nature, this course will guide you with friendly art instruction and engaging practice sessions that will help you make the most out of your journaling. Joining an in-person nature journaling group can be an amazing experience. Sitting in nature with others and exploring the world brings community, connection and mutual support. Classes will run once monthly, and participants are encouraged to come as often as they can. Nature is always changing! 1:00-2:30pm. Ages 13 and up*. $20/person. Fee includes daily Refuge admission for the participant only. Add on a Cedar Run journal for an additional $10 (retails for $15). Advanced registration required. Please register each participant separately.
*Note: This is an optional drop-off program for children – parents will be emailed a contact form and waiver prior to class.
Please no birthday parties or scout programs for these events. If you are interested in hosting a birthday party or scout program at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, please check out our website links for Birthday Parties & Scout Programs.
Join us for a morning of photography for KIDS ONLY! Our trained staff will help children ages 6-13 learn tricks and techniques for photographing wildlife. $10/member, $15/non-member. 10:00-11:30am. Space is limited to 10 children. Must bring your own camera. Advanced registration required.
Kid’s Photography Session
We wanted to celebrate our founders, Betty & Jim Woodford and all that they created here at Cedar Run. Come spend an afternoon tea hearing some words from Co-founder Jeanne Woodford as she shares memories of growing up at the refuge, her work in conservation and preserving the 171 acres we know as Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge today! After tea we will take you on a guided hike around Cedar Run and our wildlife housing area to see how it all got started.
Celebrate our founders with us and share your memories of Betty & Jim and your adventures at Cedar Run over the years. We will have tea, light snacks and some prizes for everyone to win!
Space is limited, advanced registration required.
Our History
In 1951, Jim and Betty Woodford bought a 185-acre parcel of land, in what were then the wilds of Medford Township, to use as a summer getaway.
They quickly fell in love with the beauty of the Pinelands and decided to live here full time. By 1957 they built their first home with a view of the lake, and founded Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. Betty became a local authority on the flora and fauna of the NJ Pinelands, and quickly began teaching others what she knew.
Over the next 40 years, Betty and Jim devoted their lives to Pinelands preservation, environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation. Betty became an expert botanist, naturalist, nature photographer and wildlife rehabilitator. She was renowned for her Pinelands education programs. In 1997 the Woodford’s ultimate dream was realized when a Green Acres grant preserved Cedar Run’s land and buildings for future generations.
Enjoy a special day at the refuge in celebration of World Turtle Day! Kids can make a special craft inside the Nature Center and check out our turtle-y cool artifacts. And don’t forget to say “hi” to our resident turtles while you’re in! All ages welcome. Program included with the price of admission. No pre-registration needed.
Thank you for supporting Cedar Run’s mission of the preservation and protection of New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation and rehabilitation. You make a direct impact in our community!
Join us for some time around the campfire for some delicious s’mores and stargazing! Ages 8 and up preferred. Advanced registration required. Non-members – $15/adult, $10/child; members free.
Not a member, but want to be? Check out our membership page.
Please no birthday parties or scout programs for these events. If you are interested in hosting a birthday party or scout program at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, please check out our website links for Birthday Parties & Scout Programs.
Come learn about “One Health”; how the health of our wildlife affects the health of us all
Exhibit is free with admission
Exhibit runs June 2nd – June 29th
In celebration of “National Trails Day,” pick up a scavenger hunt checklist inside the Nature Center before embarking on the trails, complete it and return to the Nature Center for a prize. 10-4pm. Fun for all ages! FREE with admission. No advanced registration required.
Do you love being outdoors and searching for interesting critters and plants in nature? Or maybe you love taking photos when you are out hiking or gardening? Or maybe you just love scavenger hunts?! Our EcoQuest surveys allow you to become a part of the action and help us document invasive species in our region while having fun in the process! What is Citizen Science?
This event is geared for adults and teens. $15/person. Pricing includes Refuge admission. Advanced registration required.
Our You and Me program is held once a month year-round, with Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday sessions available to choose from. Classes run 10:00-11:00 am or 11:15 am -12:15 pm. Ages 3-5. Cost is $10/child with one adult free. Registration includes refuge admission for child and parent. Extra adults must pay regular admission.
We will read, do a craft and head out and about on an adventure about the month’s theme. Space is limited to 12 children. Advanced registration required. *Please note: classes are held outdoors. Please dress for the weather.
Remaining 2023 Dates and Books:
- 12/9, 12/12 or 12/13 – Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Important Info:
- Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration can be made above. Please register each child separately.
- Parents are required to sign a release form once per school year so we have emergency contact information for all children. The form will be emailed to you after registration or can be completed at your first class.
- Due to the demand for our classes and numerous last minute cancellations. We require that payment be made at the time of registration. We will be unable to provide refunds or credits for changes in schedules/personal conflicts or other personal reasons. However, in the event of a class cancellation due to inclement weather we will offer all registrants a credit towards the next month’s class or a fee refund.
- These classes are “adult and me” so an adult is required to stay with the student. Younger siblings who are not enrolled in our program are welcome, but please make sure that they are not being disruptive to the other children. If we find a younger sibling is being disruptive to the class, we may ask you to excuse yourself from our program.
- Classes will be held outdoors. Only snow closings of the Medford Twp School District will cancel our classes. Please be sure your child is adequately prepared for weather conditions including rain, snow, sun, cold, and heat.
Questions/Concerns? Email our Education Department at education@cedarrun.org
NOTE: Sessions that are FULL will be removed from the sign-up list.
You and Me Payment
Join us for Yoga at Cedar Run! All levels are welcomed. This will be a slow vinyasa/yin class. Some flow movement with some deep juicy yin holds! Intentional movement progressing towards strength and healing to make you feel invigorated and relaxed. Breathe in the healing energy of the natural surroundings, heal yourself as you contribute to healing the animals around you.
We will be enjoying our morning yoga in the nature setting of the Pine Barrens. Surrounded by the sounds of nature, the smells of the forest and the evening air, and under the full moon it is sure to calm your mind, body and spirit. This session we will be stretching out on one of our trails as we will take in the morning. We will have tea at the nature center as well to help get your body and mind calm, replenished and ready for this session!
Please arrive 30 minutes early at our Nature Center if you would like to visit some of our resident wildlife prior to our classes start time, class will start at 5:00pm. We would love to introduce you to our friends!
Meet your instructor: Monica Walsh – High Vibrations Association
Monica was first introduced to yoga when her mom brought her to her first class that a friend was teaching at a Synagogue in the late 90s. They attended the class because Monica’s relationship to her newly developing teenage body was not a healthy one. This beautiful, simple, practice opened her eyes to a new path with
which to approach the human condition both on and off the mat. Ever since, Monica’s desire for yogic knowledge snowballed –seeking out classes at local gyms and yoga studios turned into finding highly qualified mentors resulting in a lifelong regulated practice and a desire for something deeper, a taste for something higher than ourselves. For the last couple of decades Monica has spent thousands of hours on the mat at different vinyasa, hatha and 26/2 focused studios. With a great deal of knowledge under her belt and a thirst to help others, Monica became a Yoga Alliance 200 Hour Certified Teacher in March of 2020 and began teaching yoga at Lavender Koi in Berlin, NJ immediately. Around the same time, Monica was introduced to Bhakti Yoga and began to deepen her knowledge in the ancient Vedic teachings of yoga philosophy. Today, Monica continues to teach at Lavender Koi Yoga as well as Studio 67 in Medford, NJ with the a focus of helping others, not only on a basic physical level in the body, but to also provide students with a tool box for the mind and spirit.
Please bring your own yoga mat as we do not offer rentals. Props are optional. Water will be available for purchase in the Nature Center, we also have a water refill station for any reusable water bottles.
Limited space is available! Grab your spot before we sell out!
- Children between the ages of 16-18 must be accompanied by an adult/parent.
- No children under 16 may be permitted in the yoga session.
All proceeds from this event go directly towards supporting Cedar Run’s mission of the preservation and protection of New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation, and rehabilitation. When you attend a Cedar Run event, you make a direct impact in our community!
Please no birthday parties or scout programs for these events. If you are interested in hosting a birthday party or scout program at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, please check out our website links for Birthday Parties & Scout Programs.
General admission, promotional day passes (free-day passes/groupons) & library passes will not work for Special Events, such as this one.
