August is National Wellness Month

National Wellness Month is about taking the time to introduce self-care into your routine in order to reduce stress and increase happiness. It's known that stress can cause or escalate conditions such as high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, heart attacks and much more. By taking time out for self-care, you can improve your health as well as your mental well-being, something we could all use during these trying times.

The parks can be a fantastic addition to your self-care routine. Here are FIVE ways to head to your local Monmouth County parks for some you-time:

• Lace up your sneakers and hit the trails for a walk. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature relieves anxiety and improves memory. Take time on your walk to concentrate on the sights and sounds of nature. 
• Set your blanket out on the grass and practice some relaxing meditation. Harvard studies have shown meditation can assist in lowering depression and anxiety. Never tried it? There are a variety of YouTube videos that can guide you through this practice, just pop in some earbuds, close your eyes, and relax.
• Find a bench to sit and practice mindfulness, which helps to focus your awareness on the present moment. Put your attention on your breathing by inhaling through your nose for a count of 4, hold that breath in for a count of 7, and completely exhale for 8 seconds through your mouth as though you're blowing out candles. Mindfulness helps to clear your head by making you focus on the relaxation of your breathing and your senses. Doing this for 5-15 minutes offers a terrific sense of calm. 
• Poetry, romance, mystery ... no matter what your favorite genre, relaxing with a good book is a simple way to unplug and unwind. Sit on a bench or bring a folding chair and find a place in the grass fields to indulge in your favorite book. 
• 
  Have a picnic! Self-care doesn't always have to mean being alone, it is also about taking time out from daily stressors. By having a picnic with your loved ones you can step away from the normal routine while feeling a sense of togetherness and sharing stories that will bring joy and laughter. Need help planning your picnic menu? Check out our Park Eats Pinterest board.

We hope you'll make the parks a part of your self-care routine. Need help finding the closest park to you? Visit us at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com for a complete list of your Monmouth County parks.

Experience the Outdoors with Family & Friends

There's something about relaxing around a campfire telling stories with family and friends that makes daily stresses and troubles melt away, if at least for a while. Camping with family increases a sense of togetherness and allows for a time without modern distractions. So leave the television and video games behind (and even the handheld devices) and go camping!

Get out in the woods while staying close to home at the Turkey Swamp Park Family Campgrounds in Freehold, New Jersey. The campgrounds, open from April 1 through November 15, offer facilities for both tent camping and travel trailers. Of the 64 sites, 52 are available by reservation and 12 are available on a first come, first serve basis. Looking for great campground amenities to make your trip rustic yet still comfortable one? We've got 'em:

• Wooded campsites
• Electrical service
• Water service
• Drinking water
• Modern restroom with hot showers and laundry machines
• Dump station
• Fire rings for charcoal cooking and campfires
• Picnic tables
• Children's playground
• Pay phones
• Vending machines
• Quiet hours from 10pm-7am

But Turkey Swamp Park offers more than just campsites. While there, make sure to enjoy all the park has to offer:

• A lake where you can fish for bass, catfish, and bluegills. (Visitors must have a NJ fishing license - not required for those under 16.)
• Rentals of canoes, rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboats.
• Nine miles of multiple use trails great for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians.
• Plenty of open space to fly a kite or toss a ball around.

For those who don't have a tent or trailer, the campground also two comfortable cabins (one ADA accessible). The cabins feature a double bed, two sets of bunk beds, lights and electrical outlets. Outside each cabin is a water spigot and picnic area with a fire pit.

There's nothing stopping you but yourself! Reserve your site today by calling (732) 462-7286 (after 11am daily) or by filling out the Reservation Request Form.

July is Park and Recreation Month!

Since 1985, July has been celebrated as the nation's official Park and Recreation Month to encourage communities to go out and visit their local parks. This year, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is encouraging communities to get out and GET WILD about parks and recreation: "You just can’t help but have fun this July, all while expressing the many valuable benefits of parks and recreation!"
Celebrate Park and Recreation Month by visiting and having fun with us! Here are some ways to enjoy our parks this July (click the event/location link for additional information, dates and times):

• Take a short nature walk with our Roving Park System Naturalist on July 1, July 13 & July 21. Free!
• Discover what lives in the waters of Sandy Hook Bay with your family during one of our Summer Seining Drop-In programs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11am-12pm at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth. Free!
• Get out on the water with an Eco-Kayak Drop-In Tour on the Navesink, July 3, 10 & 12, where a Park System Naturalist will guide you down the river for a leisurely paddle. Fee: $20.00 per person (cash or check only).
• Move past your fears during our Drop-In Zip Line on July 7 at the Old Orchard Parking Lot, Thompson Park, Lincroft. Ages 12 and up. Fee: $10.00 per person (cash or check only).
• Enjoy a leisurely paddle on Marlu Lake in Thompson Park, Lincroft, by renting a canoe on July 7, 8, 14 & 15. Fee: $15.00 per boat for 1-3 people for 2 hours (cash or check only).
• Learn about Bald eagles, local animals, and insects with free weekend drop-in programs all month long at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell.
• Take a step back in history! Head to one of our historic sites for some terrific free drop-in activities this July. For more information, click on Historic Longstreet Farm or Historic Walnford.
• Try your hands at archery during Open Shoot Archery at the Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft on July 8 & 17. Fee: $5.00 per person (cash or check only).
• Tee off with us! Enjoy one of our many golf courses! Even compete in one of our tournaments!
• Take the kids to any of our wonderful playgrounds to release some energy and have some fun!
• Really get wild during this year's Monmouth County Fair with rides, games, food, and SO MUCH MORE from Wednesday-Sunday, July 25-29.
• Kids love the Park System's fun and exciting summer camps. Give your children a summer they'll never forget!

These are just some of the things that the Monmouth County Park System parks have to offer this July! Visit our website to view all of the wonderful facilities the Park System has to offer...from trails to fishing to boating and more. So get wild in the parks with us and celebrate National Park and Recreation month.

National Get Outdoors Day!

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan

Did you know that the average American child can recognize approximately 1,000 brand logos but cannot recognize 10 plants or animals native to their area? Or that children in the US average about 30 minutes a week of outdoor activity but average almost 45 hours a week of electronic media exposure? There is no better time to make a step toward change by heading out to the parks this Saturday, June 9 during National Get Outdoors Day.

There's always something to do in the Monmouth County Park System parks, whether it's a structured program, special event, drop-in program, or just a visit. Here's a list of some things to get you outdoors on June 9th for National Get Outdoors Day (and hopefully will bring you back for more too!):

• Thompson Park Canoe Rentals - Canoes will be available for a relaxing weekend paddle at Thompson Park Marlu Lake, Lincroft. All equipment provided; limited number of canoes available. Fee: $15.00 per canoe for 1-3 people for 2 hours (cash or check only).
• Explore Tatum Park, Middletown, with a Park System Naturalist as your guide during our Roving Naturalist drop-in program. Free!
• Bring your children to one of our many playgrounds! Playgrounds are located at the following parks: Dorbrook Recreation Area, Colts Neck; Holmdel Park, Holmdel; Manasquan Reservoir, Howell; Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, Atlantic Highlands; Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch; Shark River Park, Neptune; Tatum Park, Middletown; Thompson Park, Lincroft; Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold. Free!
• Cool off at the Dorbrook Recreation Area Sprayground in Colts Neck. Free!
• Walk, run or bike some of over 124 miles of trails. Free!
• Get in a round of golf at one of our scenic golf courses. (See website for golf fees and charges.)
• Hit the beach at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch for some fun in the sun. (See website for cost of daily passes and badges.)
• Take a step back in time at one of our wonderful historic locations: Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel or Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold. Free!
• View over 200 species of animals by taking a trip with us to the Cape May Zoo! (Pre-registration and fee required.)
• Play with your pup off the leash at one of our off-leash dog areas at Thompson Park, Lincroft or Wolf Hill Recreation Area, Oceanport. Free!
• Drop a line and see what you get! Fishing is available at 13 park locations. Just remember, a NJ Fishing License is required for those ages 16-69 when doing any freshwater fishing. Free!
• Learn about the wildlife of the Manasquan Reservoir with a boat tour. Weekend boat tours of the reservoir are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm from May 5 through October 8. (Adults: $5.75; Children 12 and under: $3.75)
• Camp out under the stars! Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold has 64 family campsites available from April 1 through November 15 and have all the amenities your family will need to have an enjoyable retreat. (Call 732-462-7286 for reservation and pricing information.)
• Stop and smell the roses. A visit to Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown is sure to please the entire family with 54 beautiful acres of gardens and greenhouses to explore. Free!
• Explore various parks while completing our annual Rockin' the Trails challenge. Free!

Exploring the outdoors is not only a wonderful way to get some exercise, it also promotes relaxation and a greater sense of the world around us. Come, visit and enjoy your Monmouth County Park System parks. We're waiting for you!

If you're looking for additional activities that may not be listed here, check out our website or call us at 732-842-4000, ext. 4312, Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm, and Saturday-Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm.

Family Fun While Discovering the Parks

If you’re a fan of Monmouth County Park System parks you and your family probably stick to a few favorite locations. But the Park System has over 30 locations for visitors to enjoy all year round. If you’re ready to discover some new locations in a family-friendly way, we have fun approach to get you started!  

Rockin’ the Trails is back for the third year in a row and will have you discovering park locations you may have never seen or new details about parks you already love. You and your family will be sent on a mission to visit eight specific Monmouth County parks and discover answers to our questions. Each answer will supply you with letters that will combine to reveal a special nature quote from John Burroughs. Participants may either mail their completed brochure in or bring it to the Huber Woods Environmental Center or Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center. You will then be entered in the Grand Prize Drawing that will take place at the year's end (last year's winners enjoyed a free family boat tour at the Manasquan Reservoir).

Don't miss out on this terrific family experience! You can find a PDF of the Rockin' the Trails brochure on our website or call (732) 842-4000, ext. 4312, to have one delivered by mail.

Get Outdoors with the Outdoor Adventure Expo!

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Canoes, kayaks & paddle boats!

Kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and climbing are just some of the magnificent outdoor adventures available throughout Monmouth County. Are you ready to greet the outdoors with open arms? Or are you already an outdoor adventurer looking to learn more about these great activities? There’s no better place to learn about the vast variety of outdoor opportunities available than by visiting the Park System’s Outdoor Adventure Expo on Sunday, May 20 from 11:00am-5:00pm at Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold.

The Outdoor Adventure Expo is an annual family-friendly event that allows our visitors to explore and sample all there is to offer in the area. The following are some of the wonderful happenings you’ll experience at the Expo:

• Test a variety of equipment such as touring kayaks, white water kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, our 25 foot rock climbing wall, and more!
• Children’s fishing derby.
• Take a shot with hands-on golf demonstrations.
• Attend free lectures, demonstrations, mini-clinics, and nature hikes.
• Meet vendors for various outdoor activities who will offer advice and be available to answer all of your questions.
• Discover local and regional outdoor adventures and sportsmen’s clubs.

Be sure not to miss the following scheduled events (schedule subject to change):

Kids' Fishing Derby

• 11:30am – White Water Kayaking Demo (presented by MCPS Staff)
• 12:00pm – Long Bow Demonstration (presented by Warpath Archery)
• 12:00-2:00pm – Fishing Derby (presented by Jersey Shore Chapter – Trout Unlimited)
• 12:30pm – Reptile Show (presented by MCPS Staff)
• 1:00pm – Picking the Right Kayak (presented by Eastern Mountain Sports)
• 2:00pm – Geocache Hike (presented by MCPS Staff & Central Jersey Geocaching)
• 3:00pm – Long Bow Demonstration (presented by Warpath Archery) 
• 3:30pm – Reptile Show (presented by MCPS Staff)

Archery

Ongoing demonstrations will also be available:

• Archery (MCPS Staff)
• Golf (MCPS Staff)
• Lost in a Monmouth County park? There's an App for that! (MCPS Staff)
• Rigging Sailboats & Sailors Knots (SEAS)
• Small Animal Care (14 Carrot Rabbit Club)
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Aloha Guides)

 

Here is a full list of the exhibitors who will be available during the Outdoor Adventure Expo:

• 14 Carrot Rabbit
• Aloha Guides
• American Littoral Society
• Central Jersey Geocaching
• D&D Concessions
• East Coast Diving Center
• Eastern Mountain Sports
• Hunters Helping the Hungry
• Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association
• Jersey Shore Chapter – Trout Unlimited
• John Drulle, M.D., Memorial Lyme Fund
• The Kids Fishing Shop
• Monmouth County Park System
• Acquisition & Design
• Golf Division
• Historic Walnford
• Naturalist Division
• Outdoor Adventures
• Turkey Swamp Park
• Visitor Services
• Monmouth Ski Club
• Scott Motor Coach RV Sales
• Shoot NJ LLC
• Sierra Club – Jersey Shore Group
• Society for the Education of American Sailors
• Warpath Archery
• YMCA Camp Topanemus

The Outdoor Adventure Expo is free and will run rain or shine. Don’t miss out on this amazing event that is sure to get you and your family ready to venture outdoors and try something new.

Camping is available within the park for a fee (see our Turkey Swamp Park page for information campsite reservations).

For additional information on this event, please call (732) 842-4000, ext. 4312. We'll see you there!