Event - Arbor Day Celebration

Saturday, April 28, 2-4 PM

This event is on as planned.

William Flemer, IV (a member of the Flemer family who founded the legendary Princeton Nurseries) will lead a recollection session with past Princeton Nurseries workers. Anyone who worked there is encouraged to participate, to share memories and/or photos. This event will be held in the Education Building at the new Headquarters of the D&R Canal State Park on Mapleton Road in Kingston.
In addition to the public, we hope that many people who contributed to the success of the Princeton Nurseries Kingston site will join us for this session. The history of Princeton Nurseries is intimately related to the history of those who worked there, and we would like to honor these stories.

A tree planting will follow. Princeton Nurseries, now located in Allentown, New Jersey, has provided a specimen tree to be planted for the 2007 Arbor Day Celebration at Mapleton Preserve. This continues its tradition of donating specimens for the nascent Flemer Arboretum, named for celebrated plantsman William Flemer, III, and his brother, the late Dr. John Flemer. Some of the most prized plants in American horticulture were developed in Kingston by William Flemer, III: Princeton Sentry® Gingko, Snow Queen Hydrangea, and October Glory® Maple.

After the planting, guests are invited to take a leisurely walk on the property, which will highlight the Nurseries' renowned specimen trees. All guests will receive a seedling tree to bring home and plant.

In 2005, Mapleton Preserve (the historic heart of Princeton Nurseries) was jointly purchased as open space, by the New Jersey Green Acres program and South Brunswick Township. The restored main office for the Princeton Nurseries Kingston site has now become the D & R Canal State Park Headquarters. Several other historic buildings dot the grounds, including eight greenhouses. If suitable funding can be obtained, they will be restored and put to nature-related use within the next ten years.

The Arbor Day celebration will be held at the Headquarters of the D&R Canal State Park, located at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston, and is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact us via the link above or through the Friends' web site (fpnl.org), or call Karen Linder at 609-683-0483.

Event - Showing of "An Inconvenient Truth"

Saturday April 21 (Earth Day), 2:00 p.m.

On Earth Day, the D and R Canal State Park will be screening "An Inconvenient Truth" - the Oscar winning movie created by Al Gore. The showing will take place at the D & R Canal State Park’s Education Building located at 145 Mapleton Road (.2 miles from Route 27/Main Street in Kingston). Take some time on Earth Day to learn about the dangers of global warming and the scientific data that supports this theory. If you don’t think global warming has affected the planet, this film might make you rethink your position. Don’t miss it! Show time is 2:00 pm. The film is rated PG. The event is free and pre-registration IS NOT REQUIRED, however space is limited. MAP

Event - Woodcock Watch:

Saturday March 10, 5:30 pm

Join NJ Audubon volunteer (and Kingston resident) Arlene Oley and the park naturalist, Stephanie Fox, as they lead a dusk walk into the Mapleton Preserve in Kingston to search out the sites and sounds of the Woodcock. This unique looking bird provides a fanciful flight and sound display that will delight all that attend. Depending on the weather, the group should also hear the chirps and peeps of frogs and toads from the surrounding area. The program will begin at 5:30 pm. Participants are asked to meet at the D & R Canal Kingston Office located at 145 Mapleton Road (.2 miles from Rt. 27/Main Street). Pre-registration IS REQUIRED. Weather permitting. Register for this program at http://www.dandrcanal.com/programs.html
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Event - Story of the D & R Canal:

Saturday March 10th at 1:30

Come join the D & R Canal State Park's historian for a PowerPoint presentation focusing on the history of the canal. Both historic and modern photographs will be included to illuminate the waterway's past and present life.

This hour-long adult afternoon program will begin at 1:30 pm and be held in the park’s new education building located at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. Come join us and learn about the old canal’s past through photographs. Here’s your chance to ask all those questions you may have about the waterway’s history. Registration is NOT required and admission is FREE!
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Two Events - "How to 'Lost-Proof' your Family" and "Tracking and Animal Signs"

Saturday March 17 th
10-12 am (How to "Lost-Proof) Your Family) and 1-3 am (Tracking and Animal Signs)

Join Rick Berry and volunteers from Children of the Earth Foundation (COTEF) for these two programs, sponsored by Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands. COTEF, founded by world-renowned animal tracker Tom Brown, teaches wilderness survival, nature awareness, tracking, and outdoor environmental education to children ages 7-17 (and their families). The first program [How to "Lost-Proof" your family] strives to instill potentially life-saving knowledge of how to keep from getting lost, and what you can do if you are ever lost in the woods.

The second program [Tracking and animal signs] builds awareness of the natural world, by focusing on animal tracks and signs in the landscape. The basics of tracking will be presented and we will look for signs of the critters that inhabit the Mapleton Preserve - their tracks, trails and scat.

Pre-registration for these programs is necessary as the instructor to student ratio will be high. Call 609-683-0483 for more information and a registration form (or download below). Cost is $5/program ($3/program for FPNL members). The programs, suitable for both adults and families (kids age 7 and up) will be held rain or shine, and are still in the planning stage - check our website http://www.fpnl.org/for up to the minute details.
Download the registration form here.

Meet at the D&R Canal State Park Headquarters, 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. MAP

OVERSIZED TRUCK ALERT

RESIDENTS OF KINGSTON (BOTH SOUTH BRUNSWICK AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIPS) ARE URGED TO SEND A LETTER OPPOSING THE DESIGNATION OF ROUTE 27 AS A LARGE TRUCK ROUTE THROUGH KINGSTON.

This designation will result in MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC, MORE DANGER, MORE NOISE/SOUND POLLUTION, MORE AIR POLLUTION, MORE ROAD VIBRATIONS, and FEWER VISITORS TO KINGSTON.

Please visit http://www.kingstongreenways.org/ for more information and ways to help.

Event - The Great Backyard Bird Count

February 17th, 10:00 am

Come and take part in a continental effort in better understanding our avian friends. The D & R Canal State Park staff will show you how to identify some of the more common winter birds in our area and you can make a bird feeder to take home. And, after participating in our program you will be ready to take part in the 2007 Great Backyard Bird Count! This program is appropriate for all ages and is a fun activity that the whole family can join in on. Participants are asked to meet at the D & R Canal State Park Headquarters located at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. Start time is at 10:00 am. Pre-registration is requested (609-924-5707). MAP