Spring has arrived at Flat Rock Brook! The resident turtles in our ponds can often be found sunning themselves on a rock or fallen branch, the Spring Peeper frogs are calling at night and the vernal pools are brimming with young amphibians.

What is a vernal pool anyhow? They are temporary ponds that fill in with water during the spring when rain is heavy and dry up in the heat of the summer. They are wonderful breeding grounds for amphibians whose young live in the water but leave for land as an adult. Given the temporary nature of a vernal pool, the young amphibians can grow up in the pool without risk of being eaten by a fish. They will then go on to live their adult lives before returning to a vernal pool to lay their eggs.

Visit Flat Rock this spring and take a walk on our boardwalk to enjoy the sights and sounds of vernal pools and spring before heading to the pond in search of the frogs and turtles enjoying a sunny day alongside you.

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The Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund has once again committed to  support Flat Rock Brook's Environmental Education Program through a grant of $5,500. Flat Rock Brook has a long history of producing quality environmental education programming.  We have been teaching children and the public about nature and related topics for nearly 45 years. Last year, we reached over 5,100 participants with the message of the value of the natural world and their power to protect it. 

Our environmental education program offers onsite field trips and outreach that serve approximately 40 area schools from nearly thirty separate municipalities in New Jersey and New York.  Flat Rock Brook also offers a highly popular summer nature day camp. Public programs on a variety of natural history subjects are also available and open to the general public.  Our experienced staff, including an education director and staff naturalist, manages a team of volunteer trail guides that assist in delivering programs to students each year.  

Flat Rock Brook thanks the Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund for its ongoing support that helps make this important program available to the community.

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Field trips are in full swing at Flat Rock Brook. Students from schools across Bergen County and beyond have visited the preserve to study a variety of topics from Wilderness Survival to Life Cycles. Each of our programs is designed to give the opportunity for hands-on studies on nature-related topics to school children.

When students arrive at Flat Rock Brook for a trip, they are greeted by one of our enthusiastic and talented Trail Guides who leads them on an educational adventure through the forest. Throughout their time here, students learn about the intricacies of nature and the many reasons to value the environment. Programs may focus on the forest, pond ecology, insects, animal adaptations or a plethora of other topics. Regardless of the program, however, students always leave with a smile on their face and newfound knowledge of nature.

Having already educated hundreds of students this spring, educators at Flat Rock Brook are prepared and excited to encourage local students to appreciate, enjoy and respect the natural world through experiential environmental education.

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Honorees and executive staff pictured at the event from Left: Christine Ackerson, LG Electronics; Janet Sharma, The Rotary Club of Englewood; Jill Abbott, President FRB Board of Trustees,;Susan Klausner; Stephen Wiessner, FRB Executive Director; Rob and Serena Carson

Flat Rock Brook hosted its annual  Recognition Dinner at on April 11th, 2019 at The Rockleigh to honor outstanding volunteers, community leaders and corporate partners for their generous commitment of time, talent and long-standing contributions to our preserve. Flat Rock Brook's Recognition Dinner is our most prestigious annual event. Conservationists, supporters, community leaders and friends gathered to celebrate this special evening.  The program included a cocktail hour with live music, awards presentations, a silent auction, a live auction and a formal dinner.  Proceeds from the gala will help support Flat Rock Brook's preservation and education intitiatives and assist in caring for our 150-acre preserve.

2019 honorees:
Outstanding Corporate Sponsor: LG Electronics USA, Inc.
Community Leader Award: Rotary Club of Englewood
Volunteer Award: Susan Klausner
Trustee Award:  Serena and Robert Carson

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