Saturday, March 7th from 2pm to 4pm
Help us celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America week at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance! This 3rd annual free family event is full of fun activities for you and your children to enjoy. Children will enjoy a live reading of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and then will complete six fun challenges while searching for some secret words. Get back in time for some birthday cake for Dr. Seuss!
Finish the challenge and receive a special gift! Children may need some help so they should bring along someone 18 or older to assist.
Space is limited for this FREE event. REGISTRATION is now closed as the event is full.
We are collecting non-perishable food items for the The Extended Hands Ministry in Mount Holly. They provide much needed meals and shelter to those in need and are in serious need of food items. Bring your donations to this event and we will deliver them to the Ministry.
Schedule of Events
Starting at 2 o’clock sharp, Dr. Jim Bradshaw, Chair of the PPA Board, is back by popular demand to read The Lorax, Dr. Seuss’ only book dedicated to the environment. It is filled with inspiration and powerful reminders that our work to “speak for the trees” is far from done!
After story time, kids and their adult partners will head out to complete six fun challenges plus a “bonus challenge” and return within an hour with their results. Successful efforts will yield a super reward, certificate of service, and bragging rights. Then we will celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with cake and a song.
Challenges (More to be added)
CHALLENGE #1 Wildlife in Your Backyard
Staff and volunteers from Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge will help you make your own pinecone bird feeder. Then meet a live mystery wildlife ambassador and learn at least one new fact about wildlife in your backyard.
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge sits on 171 wooded acres on the edge of the New Jersey Pinelands in Medford. The Refuge includes the Woodford Nature Center, an outdoor housing area with more than 50+ native residents, and a wildlife rehabilitation hospital. Cedar Run operates a federally and state licensed hospital facility that cares for more than 4,700 injured, orphaned or displaced native wild animals each year. They educate over 20,000 students annually and serve as an active resource to the greater New Jersey community on all wildlife and habitat related questions and issues. Learn more on their website here.
Challenge #2 Book BINGO
Burlington County Library will challenge you to BOOK BINGO! Find answers to a list of questions by searching through the books at their table.
Did you know that the Burlington County Library is the first county library system established in New Jersey? The county library system established in Mount Holly in 1921 has the distinction of serving the largest county geographically in the state. Staff from the Burlington County Library will have information on library services and programs for all ages including their newest service – 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Families can also sign up for a library card, find out about local library branches and children can make a craft.
Challenge #3 Fill a backpack for a hike!
Here we are in the middle of the beautiful Pinelands with miles of great hiking trails. What are the 10 things you need to take on a short hike through the woods and what are the things you should not take? Your challenge will be to identify those from objects on display at this station.
Challenge #4 Make Recycled Craft
Recycling is one of the most important ways to speak for the trees. Your challenge at this station will be to “make & take” an art project from an item saved from the Pinelands. All supplies will be provided. This challenge is led by Rebecca Leavens, an Ambassador Scout who has earned her Gold Award, a Shawnee senior, and founder/CEO of non-profit, Princess Empowerment.
Challenge #5 Speak for the Trees
Children can write notes and color pictures to be sent to government officials who are charged with protecting the Pine Barrens.
Challenge #7 How to Build a Campfire
There is a real skill to building a campfire. At this station, kids and their adult partners will be shown a correctly built campfire. The challenge will be to build one like it with logs that are provided. Success will be determined by the leader on site.
Challenge #8 Where in the Pines?
There are so many amazing places to visit in the Pine Barrens. Children will be challenged to discover the location of some great places to hike, bird watch and swim in the Pine Barrens. Led by retired teacher and PPA staff, Tom Dunn.
BONUS CHALLENGE
Once at least six of the challenges have been completed, kids and their adult partners will head outside (Weather permitting) for the LORAX WORD SEARCH! Hidden on the grounds (or in the barn in case of rain) will be six words or phrases from The Lorax story that can be combined into a special message. Complete the sentence and you will have successfully completed the bonus round!
Then it is time for cake!
Thank You to our Volunteers!
PPA remains grateful to our active team of student volunteers from Shawnee High School, Raritan Valley Regional High School, and Rowan College of Burlington County. Other familiar faces who generously support the work of PPA with time and talent include Jeanne Woodford, Donna Eshelman, Marion Godwin, Janet Giardina, Vince Giardina, Rebecca Leavens and Dr. Bernadette Longo.