Upcoming Public Programs and Events:
The following scheduled programs are run by the D&R Canal State Park Naturalist, Historian and/or an Affiliated Friends Organization. Pre-registration is required to participate in any of the listed events unless otherwise noted. To do so, please call either (609) 924-5705 (main park office at Kingston), (609) 397-2949 (Bulls Island office) or the number indicated in the listing. You'll need to leave a contact name and phone number in the event of cancellation as well as the number of people planning to attend the program (please indicate number of adults and children).
Please note that programs begin at varied times and locations which are included in the descriptions below and are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. Call the park office, or the contact person noted, if in doubt about a program's cancellation.
Class and Scout Program Opportunities
What the D&R Canal State Park Has To Offer
The Delaware and Raritan Canal was built in the 1830s to transport goods to industrial areas. Today it is used as a water supply system and a corridor for people as well as wildlife. As you walk on the towpath you will see 19th century mills and lock/bridge tender houses, along with hand-built spillways and stone-arched culverts.
The D&R Canal State Park offers a variety of habitats within its 70-mile long corridor. The canal is adjacent to many rivers making it an ideal place to study the diversity and adaptions of organisms found in a freshwater flood plain and riverine habitats. The park also contains areas representing upland forests and fields in varying stages of succession.
No matter what area of the D&R Canal State Park you visit, your students will leave with a better understanding of nature and their place in it.
Nature Programs
Registration fees apply to the programs listed below. Please contact our park office at (609) 924-5705 if interested in any of these listed programs AND download, print, complete and return our registration form available here as a PDF file.
D & R Canal State Park Program Registration Form
Call and speak with our Naturalist at (609) 924-5705 for more information or to schedule a program for your class.
Nature Program Topics Include:
Forestry
Students will learn...
Water Quality
Students will learn...
Orienteering:
Students will learn...
Insect Investigation:
Students will learn...
NJ Animals:
Students will learn...
about the four habitat requirements: food, shelter, water and a place to raise their young.
In-Class Presentations
If you can't come to us, it is possible that we can come to you! Our naturalist can present informative, hands-on programs to our students on a variety of environmental subjects. Topics can include: Water Quality, Forestry, Diversity and Adaptions, Introduction to NJ Animals, and Orienteering. Other programs may be available on request. All programs will be geared for your grade level and are in correlation with the NJ Core Curriculum standards. The presentations last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Please call or email our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Canal History Programs
Registration fees apply to the programs listed below. Please contact our park office at (609) 924-5705 if interested in any of these listed programs AND download, print, complete and return our registration form available here as a PDF file.
D & R Canal State Park Program Registration Form
Weekend Biking or Walking Tours
Arrangements for historic biking or walking tours at the park can be made by appointment. If you have any questions please call or email our Historian for more information:
Phone: 609.924.5705
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Programs for Scouts
Registration fees apply to the programs listed below. Please contact our park office at (609) 924-5705 if interested in any of these listed programs AND download, print, complete and return our registration form available here as a PDF file.
D & R Canal State Park Program Registration Form
The Naturalist and Historian at the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park also offer several programs designed to help scouts work toward a variety of badge requirements. In some cases, one scheduled program is all that is needed to complete a badge and add to your list of scouting achievements.
Programs include:
Girl Scouts
Brownies
Animals
Birds Try-It
Eco-Explorer/Outdoor Adventurer
Creepy Crawlers
Trees for Our Future
NJ Heritage Patch
Juniors
Earth Connections
Finding Your Way
Wildlife
Trees for Our Future
NJ Naturalist
NJ Heritage Patch
Seniors/Cadettes
Wildlife
Eco-Action
Orienteering
Trees for Our Future
NJ Naturalist
NJ Heritage Patch
Boy Scouts
Webelos
Naturalist and Forester
Bears
Sharing Your World With Wildlife
Other programs such as Orienteering and The Story of the D&R Canal can also be scheduled. If you are a scout leader and interested in scheduling one of these programs for your troop, then contact either Vicki (Historian) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Naturalist) at to discuss availability.
