SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025
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Events and tours took place throughout the day from 8AM to mid-afternoon.
Including:
pack a picnic!
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FULL SCHEDULE
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8:00 AM BIRDING WALK -registration needed, max 20 ppl-
------- 9:00 AM PHOTOGRAPHY WALK -registration needed, max 20 ppl- 9:00 AM FOREST BATHING -registration needed, max 20 ppl- 9:30 AM FAMILY NATURE WALK -registration needed, max 20 families- ------- 10:00 AM NATIVE PLANTS TOUR -registration needed, max 20 families- ------- 11:00 AM YOGA -registration needed, max 20 ppl- 11:00 AM FAMILY NATURE WALK -registration needed- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- 10:00 AM to NOON NATIVE PLANT SALE PICK UP -------------------------------- -------------------------------- 2:00 PM NATURE WALK - ADULTS -registration needed- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM FAIRY HOUSE SCAVENGER HUNT -registration needed, max 75 children- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------SUNDAY MAY 4TH ---------- 1:00 PM HISTORY TOUR -registration needed-
VOLUNTEER?We are looking for volunteers to help with this event. If you could contribute a part of your day to help with activities, please sign up below.
BRIGHTWOOD GEAR
Look Great and Support the Park! Download the Poster!
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Activities and Informative Booths
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Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar provides the children with a beautiful and fun introduction to the life cycle of the butterfly. Using the story and pictures of butterflies, the children will learn about the life of a butterfly, the importance of supporting our pollinators with plants and how to plant a feeding source for butterflies. We will walk through the park and find places where we are working hard to nourish the plants that nourish the pollinators.
LESLIE LEWIS/FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
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FOREST BATHING & MEDITATION
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What is forest bathing? This Japanese practice is a process of relaxation; know in Japan as Shinrin Yoko. The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. Suzanne invites you to join her as she guides you through the forest, providing more insight into how trees communicate and more. This is mostly a silent walk where we embrace the stillness of the trees, the beauty of the flowers, along with the sounds of resident animals. This walk will culminate with a brief meditation.
SUZANNE PINTO/FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
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FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
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In almost 5 years, the newly formed Friends of Brightwood Park have worked to transform the park from an invasive-choked distressed forest to a natural area that is becoming much more healthy. Learn about our trails project, the classes and programs that we have worked on and meet the naturalists, botanists, birders and photographers that have help document and inspire the transformation. We'd love to meet you!
FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
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PICK UP A FREE TREE!
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The Town of Westfield is providing 250 tree saplings to be distributed to people interested in planting new trees to help our towns become more beautiful and more shaded.
Please stop by! WESTFIELD TREE PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING PRACTICES
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Learn how to incorporate sustainable landscaping practices into your yard! Members from the Westfield Green Team will share tips on proper lawn, shrub and tree care, incorporation of sound stormwater management strategies and why gas leaf blowing and mosquito blowing are dangerous for your health and the environment.
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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MOSQUITO CONTROL!
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We will be making 'Buckets of Doom" for you to take home.
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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MAKING ART WITH THINGS YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE TOSS
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Visit our local artist Kiyanna Lawrence who will be assembling a sustainable art piece at Brightwood Day. Bring your collected trash such as water bottles and wrappers and other plastic waste to be incorporated into the creation.
Agapes Art, LLC &WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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GARDEN TO ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES
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Westfield Garden Club is one of two gardening clubs that support the town. Members will share how to Garden with the goal of attracting native NJ butterflies. Information, seeds, games and other give-aways will be on hand for people of all ages.
WESTFIELD GARDEN CLUB
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RAHWAY RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
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Brightwood Park is part of the Rahway River Watershed. Director Clea Carchia will be on site to provide educational materials and share programming that goes on throughout the year. Learn about water quality monitoring, their extensive native plant gardens and upcoming programs including one on mushrooms and another to the Summit 'Tiny Forest"
RAHWAY RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION AND WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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The LIBRARY SEED PROJECT
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Westfield Memorial Library representatives will share seeds from our native seed library and sign up Westfield residents for our Pollinator Pathway project.
WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY & WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF UNION COUNTY
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The Native Plant Society of Union County kicked off in 2024 and has already offered many fantastic programs. Volunteers will be on hand to engage with people, share brochures and other promotional materials.
WESTFIELD GREEN TEAM
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WATERSHED AMBASSADOR (AMERICORP)
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Can you identify a gadfly vs. damselfly? What exactly is a scud? Kaitlyn Pinto, The Watershed Ambassador for our Region will offer an engaging display for people of all ages to learn about the macroinvertebrates living in Westfield ponds and streams.
WATERSHED AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
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... ALSO ...
MEET THE FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK
DOG WALKING
HIKING
FISHING
DOG WALKING
HIKING
FISHING