Welcome, my little saplings, to the wonderfully weird and woodsy world of New Jersey, affectionately known as the "Garden State." Now, I can hear some of you whisper, "Garden? But I thought gardens were for flowers?" Well, you're spot-on! But here in NJ, we have a unique type of garden, a tree garden, vast forests blooming with trees of every kind, from the mighty oaks to the elegant dogwoods. Now let me introduce you to our cool imaginary character, Jovial Jersey Jay, a fun-loving blue jay with a knack for telling jokes. He's your guide on this tree-planting adventure. With a twinkle in his eye, he’d swoop down with a hearty, "Hey there, kiddos! Ready to get your wings dirty?". He'd ruffle his feathers, and in the next moment, he would be showing you how to plant your very first tree. This group of NJ kids, or as we call them, "The Tree Troopers," are the most enthusiastic batch of seed-sowing superheroes. They donned their capes, or rather, their gardening gloves and filled their utility belts, I mean, their buckets, with acorns, pine cones, and seeds of all sorts. With their spades in hand, they set off on their mission, digging holes and dropping seeds, all under the watchful eye of Jovial Jersey Jay. Laughter echoed through the woods as Jay cracked his nutty jokes, "Why did the tree go to the barber? Because it was a 'pine' time for a trim!" So, buckle up, young explorers, and join the Tree Troopers on their quest to replenish the New Jersey woodlands. It's a journey filled with laughter, learning, and a whole lot of love for our leafy friends. After all, as Jovial Jersey Jay always says, "In the Garden State, every day is Arbor Day!"
Read morebest tree-planting programs in Saddle Brook, NJ
DEBUT Creative Center & Theater-Studio is a dual-language (English–Russian) program where kids explore creativity, confidence, and self-expression. From theater and dance to fencing and stage performance, children can try new activities and discover their unique talents. Small class sizes let instructors give each child personalized attention, helping them feel comfortable, supported, and confident as they learn. Kids build artistic skills while also developing social confidence, teamwork, and poise on stage and in everyday life. Our programs celebrate each child’s individuality, combining fun, hands-on experiences with a focus on personal growth—all while keeping Russian language and culture an important part of the curriculum.
Antinanco is committed to preserving traditional and indigenous knowledge, and providing access to education through wellness, mindfulness and nature experiences, as well as hands-on projects and environmental conservation projects. We involve children, families and youth groups in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in environmental stewardship, educating about the impact of our actions on the environment, and providing resources and solutions to maintain the integrity of the Northeastern ecosystems. In doing so, we lean extensively on indigenous traditions. We also work together with the Hopi, Navajo and Oceti Sakowin Oyate (Lakota, Dakota and Nakota) Indian reservations to provide COVID-19 relief, health and wellness, food sovereignty, clean water and solar energy solutions. We support learning of practical earth-based skills, wellness, mindfulness and peaceful dialogue.