Draw it, describe it with a Nature Journaling Tutorial
Here’s a great Scavenger Hunt for plants and animals…in your own backyard!
Fairy Garden Class with Laura Rutkowski
Video
Story Time in the Shade
Videos of stories read by Maureen Garcia, Director of Mountain Top Library
LET’S EXPLORE THE ARBORETUM!
Easily accessible from the parking area is the West Meadow with a spiral labyrinth, pond and plenty of birds and butterflies to enchant. Also close to the parking area is the Woodland Walk with easy trails, a fairy garden, and boulder amphitheater to explore. A half-mile walk down Maude Adams Road leads to the East Meadow’s boardwalk, historic pump house and more open meadows in which to run. Only a bit further and you’ve arrived at the trailhead for forest hiking in Spruce Glen.
Each season, Mountain Top Arboretum hosts programs for children and families. From creating fairy terrariums to bird of prey presentations, we offer activities that combine learning and fun. Check out this season’s event listing for kid-friendly programs.
Fairy Garden
In the Fairy Garden, children use birch bark, moss, stones and other materials to build fairy houses, forts and miniature gardens. Forage the Woodland Walk for ideas or bring your own material to help the Fairy Garden grow.
West Meadow Pond
The West Meadow’s Pond is an easily accessible family favorite place for relaxed reading, dragonfly and butterfly spotting, and of course, tadpole and frog catching. Ask us if you would like to borrow a net. Please release what you catch. A resident snapping turtle patrols the pond, too, so no swimming!
SPIRAL LABYRINTH
The Spiral Labyrinth is designed to be savored by all five senses through all four seasons. Adults peacefully stroll inward to the circular stone bench, while children race round and round to the center and back. People and pollinators together enjoy the dizzying mix of blooms and fragrances.
Animals at the Arboretum
You can see all types of animals at the Arboretum. Be sure not to feed or approach the animals.
Mammals
Black Bear
Eastern Chipmunk
Eastern Cottontail
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Fisher Cat
Least Shrew
Little Brown Myotis (Bat)
Longtail Weasel
Meadow Vole
North American Beaver
Porcupine
Possum
Raccoon
Red Fox
Red Squirrel
Snowshoe Hare
Starnose Mole
Striped Skunk
White-footed Mouse
White-tailed Deer
Woodchuck
Reptiles & Amphibians
American Toad
Blue-spotted Salamander
Eastern Garter Snake
Eastern Milk Snake
Gray Tree Frog
Green Frog
Northern Brown Snake
Northern Red-bellied Snake
Painted Turtle
Red-backed Salamander
Red-spotted Newt
Snapping Turtle
Spotted Salamander
Spring Peeper
Wood Frog
More On Animals at the Arboretum