Enjoy Full Moon Hikes, 'Music In The Woods' At Schiff Nature Preserve This Month

MENDHAM BOROUGH, NJ — Summer is a great time to explore the outdoors, and Schiff Nature Preserve in Mendham has plenty of events scheduled for area nature-lovers of all ages.

Some hikes require registration at least 24 hours in advance, and all events require pre-registration and payment (if not free for members).

Full moon hikes, live music, fitness hikes, and singing bowl meditations are among events on the calendar this summer at Schiff. There are also some weekly programs for kids aged 6-12 through Schiff's Summer Nature Program, which runs through July.

Here are some highlights this month, with info from the nature preserve's website:

Nature Exploration Hike: Tuesday, July 16, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

• Fee: $12 members, $18 non-members. Appropriate for ages 12 and up, (12-16 year olds accompanied by an adult). Advance registration is required.
• Hike the trails of Schiff with a Naturalist to learn the plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, habitats plus any topics that the group wants to explore. Hike will be approximately 3 miles at a moderate pace, with stops for nature observations. Wear sturdy shoes for rocky terrain. Water bottle, bug spray and a hat are recommended. Meet the hike leader at the Nature Center. Not appropriate for dogs.

Singing Bowl Meditation: Friday, July 19, 7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

• Member fee is $40. Non- member fee is $45. Advance registration and payment is required.
• Please join us for a sound healing meditation with exquisite Himalayan Singing bowls, with galactic chimes, Koshi chimes, gentle gong, drum and more. Nourish your Body, Mind and Soul! Several protocols will be played to promote peace, relaxation, stress reduction, improved intuition and clarity of thought. Improving quality of sleep, raising our vibration, improving our relationships, aligning our energetic bodies and bringing more joy into our lives. Surrender into a bath of divine healing sound! Experience the vibration of the Himalayan Bowls on the body! Allow the sound to transport you into a tranquil and heavenly state of mind, body and soul! Bring all the props you need to either lay down or sit comfortably. We have chairs for those of you who prefer to sit. Wear comfortable clothes avoiding exposed buttons or zippers. The allowable number of attendees is 10 to ensure everyone is comfortable.

Full Moon Hike: Saturday, July 20, 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Register online by July 20.

• Member fee is $12 per person. Non-member fee is $18 per person.
• Night hikes provide us with an all together magical experience. Schiff's Full Moon Hikes are an excellent opportunity to see our beautiful landscape by the light of the moon. Discover the magic of hiking at night while the moon is at its fullest, when even the most familiar trails reveal sights and sounds, they only share with the cool, quiet night. This 2 mile, 1 ½ hour hike is perfect for all experience levels, but best for guests ages 8 and above (parent/guardian supervision required throughout the programs entirety). Guests should expect to walk on uneven terrain. Guests are advised to wear hiking boots, weather appropriate attire, and bring headlamps to have on hand. Please, no pets are permitted.

Music in the Woods -The Outcrops: Sunday, July 28, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m

• Advance ticket purchases are required. Current Member fee is $20; Non- member fee is $25.
• From the woods of Northern New Jersey, The Outcrops play music with heart. They have dug their roots into rock'n'roll, blues, funk, R&B, old country, and jazz. Their original music stems from the same soulful soil. Cassidy Rain (vocals/guitar) and Bryan Schroeder (lead guitar) started the band in 2016 with a passion for rock'n'roll and blues music from their love of bands such as the Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead, and blues artists such as B.B King and Buddy Guy. The rhythm section of the band includes Jason Casanovas on bass and Max Adler on drums. Both Max and Jason bring a funk and soul feel that melds beautifully with Cassidy and Bryan creating the perfect band tag: Rock & Roll, Blues & Soul. They hope to enliven every audience and shed a little sunlight on such timeless music.These concerts are held in a large outdoor Amphitheatre setting that requires guests to arrive by 3:30 pm to allow for the 30-minute (gravel and grass trail with incline) walk up to the venue. Guests may BYOB, snacks, and pillows for your comfort. Seating capacity and parking are limited, so carpooling is suggested.

Schiff Nature Preserve's main parking lot, the Nature Center, and the Native Plant and Butterfly Garden are all located at 339 Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham, NJ. If you are using GPS, use the address 339 Schiff Drive, Mendham as your destination.

There are other trailheads with limited parking in the area.