Autumn At The Arboretum: Goat Petting, Hikes, Garden Activities + More

SUMMIT, NJ — For those looking for some fun activities this fall, Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit is offering several events to get you in the autumnal spirit.

From educational events like "Fall in Love with Trees" to a goat petting event and a full moon hike, the arboretum has no enough events to keep you busy until December.

"Fall in Live with Trees," a series in collaboration with the Summit NJ Shade Tree Advisory Committee, is hosting a viewing parking of the movie "Treeline" at the arboretum on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

"This cinematic view of the gentle giants of our world is presented by Patagonia Films," the description reads. "Trees are the oldest living beings we come to know during our time on earth. This 40- minute, inspirational film from documentary filmmaker Jordan Manley, follows a group of snow-seekers, scientists, and healers to the birch groves of Japan, the red cedars of British Columbia, and the bristlecones of Nevada, as they explore the ancient story of trees."

Free popcorn will also be included at the event.

Then on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 pm, the arboretum will be featuring a lecture in this series on "Restoring the American Chestnut in the Eastern U.S." Sara Fern Fitzsimmons, Director of Restoration at The American Chestnut Foundation, will share the work that is being done to restore this species to forests over the next 50 to 100 years, despite challenges like invasive vegetation, diseases, pests, climate change and overdevelopment.

These "Fall in the Love with Trees" events are free and are being offered both virtually and in person.

A goat meet-and-greet will also take place on Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The goats are from Green Goats Farm in Rhinebeck, New York and will be helping clear away a year's worth of invasives and wildflowers from the arboretum's glacial daffodil bowl.

Here is a list of fall events that will be held at the arboretum this October:

10/01 Let’s Get Growing, Kids: Animals in Winter

10/01 Free Saturday Tour
10/01 & 10/02 Discovery Weekends!
10/05 Cream Tea on Wednesdays
10/05 Oaks and Acorns: Animal Babies
10/06 Arboretum Afternoons: Leaf Lab
10/06 Fall in Love with Trees – Viewing Party: “Treeline” from Patagonia films
10/07 BOLD Arts: Nature Dance
10/07 Full Moon Hike (adults)
10/08 Free Saturday Tour
10/08 & 10/09 Discovery Weekends!
10/09 Forest Bathing
10/11 Homeschool Happenings: Weather & Erosion
10/12 Cream Tea on Wednesdays
10/12 Oaks and Acorns: Autumn Leaves
10/12 Now That the Bloom has Faded...Late Summer Garden Maintenance
10/13 Goat Meet & Greet! (members only)
10/13 Arboretum Afternoons: Great Goats
10/15 Burn + Flow in the Garden
10/15 & 10/16 Discovery Weekends!
10/15 Four Centuries in a Weekend
10/16 Celebrate Fall Festival
10/18 Burn + Flow in the Garden
10/19 Cream Tea on Wednesdays
10/19 Oaks and Acorns: Animals that Hibernate
10/20 Arboretum Afternoons: Fall Migration
10/20 Fall in Love with Trees: Restoring the American Chestnut
10/21 BOLD Arts: Nature Dance
10/22 Let's Get Growing, kids: Decorate a Pumpkin
10/22 Oktoberfest (21+ over)
10/23 Sunday Afternoon Tea
10/25 Homeschool Happenings: Animal Homes
10/26 Oaks & Acorns: Pumpkin Planting
10/26 Kids Can Cook: Spooky Treats (sold out)
10/27 Halloween Tea (adults)
10/27 Arboretum Afternoons: Pumpkin Power
10/27 Dr. Randi Eckel Presents - If You Plant It, They Will Come: The Importance of Native Plants in the Landscape
10/29 & 10/30 Discovery Weekends!
10/30 Final Day of The Shoaling Art Exhibit

Volunteer opportunities are also available for special events this fall, as well as weekly in the garden on Thursdays from 10 am - 12 pm and Saturdays 9:30 am - 11:30 am.

For details and to register for programs, visit the arboretum's website: https://www.reeves-reedarboretum.org/

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