Education Programs - The Montclair Foundation

Our 2025 cancellation policy is at the bottom of this page

Children and Family Programming

Outdoor Adventures:

Join us in the gardens as you and your family explore and learn about the outdoor world. Each program focuses on a nature-related themes and includes crafts, scavenger hunts, activity sheets and displays.

Upcoming Classes

Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

April 5 – Friend to the Earth

May 17 – Garden Critters

June 21 – Sunflowers & Summer Blooms

Tales on the Trails Pre-K:

Discover the wonders of the outdoor world with your little one. This program begins in the gardens of Van Vleck with a story, then continues with a walk and concludes with a simple craft or activity.

Upcoming Classes

Wednesdays 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

April 2 – Signs of Spring

*(No Classes in January & May)

June 18 – Busy Bees

Family Programs:

Various programs are offered throughout all four seasons for families who enjoy learning together about nature and gardening. Guest presenters and Van Vleck staff introduce topics such as maple sugaring, birds of prey, arboreal animals, bats, pollinators and more.

Maple Sugaring Program

Saturday, March 1st (rain date March 2nd)

See you next year!

Family Animal Programs

Upcoming programs will be listed here.

Garden Programs:

We offer a variety of gardening classes and programs for children and families. Our Storybook Gardening class is designed for children in grades K-2 and is a literature-based gardening class which includes gardening, journaling and exploring. Our Garden to Table class includes both gardening and cooking, using our Edible Garden as inspiration.

Garden to Table

Garden To Table Family Class:

4:00PM – 5:00PM

May 8 – Rainbow Salad

June 12 – Fruit Pizza

Small Group / Scout Programs:

The educational staff at Van Vleck offers an array of programs designed to educate children about the natural world in an engaging and interactive way. Please contact our education staff to learn more about booking a program for scouts, schools, homeschool groups, or other small groups. Schedule, timing and pricing varies depending on the group and selected program.

Small Group Programs

School Groups including Public, Private and Homeschool

For details about the program click HERE

Contact MichelleW@montclairfoundation.org or by Phone: 973-744-4752

Scout Troops

Check back for upcoming programs

For details about the programs, VVHG – Scout Troop Programs.

Contact Kelsey kelsey@montclairfoundation.org

Partner Programs:

Van Vleck partners with the Montclair Art Museum to offer a fun-filled summer camp.

MAM Camp

Please check back soon for upcoming programs.

Adult Programming

Yoga Classes:

Weekly yoga classes are held from September through June in the living room of the Van Vleck house (hybrid-virtual option available). In addition, seasonal Garden Yoga classes are offered outdoors in the early evenings or on weekends. All levels from beginner to experienced yogis are welcome.

Monday Morning Yoga Hybrid

(in-person and virtual options)

Mondays, 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Early Spring Session: March 3 – April 28 (no class 3/10)

Late Spring Session: May 5 – June 23 (no class 5/26)

Yoga in the Gardens

Tuesday Evenings

May 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24

Meditation:

Join contemporary spiritual teacher and author Ramananda John E. Welshons for a series of evening meditation classes in the comfort of your own home via Zoom. Classes focus on practices working with fear and anxiety, and offer reflections on our current environment. Open to beginners and experienced practitioners.

Virtual Meditation

Wednesdays

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Winter Session:

January 8, 15, 22, 29

February 5, 26

March 5, 12, 19, 26

Spring Session:

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

May 14, 21, 28

June 4, 11, 18, 25

Awakening From Grief

Tuesdays, April 1 & 8

7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

“Awakening From Grief: Finding the Way back to Joy” is a two-class series

Horticulture Classes:

Throughout the seasons our knowledgeable horticulture staff offers horticulture classes that educate and encourage beginner or experienced gardeners. In addition, small groups can arrange a private tour or program with our Director of Horticulture, Laura Roberts.

Upcoming Classes

Please check back soon for upcoming programs.

See Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning Spring Classes at Van Vleck below

Partner Programs:

Van Vleck partners with Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning (MILL) and Montclair Art Museum (MAM) to offer a variety of classes throughout the year.

MILL Classes

Van Vleck/Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning

Thursdays, 1:30 PM – 2:30PM

Winter session:

March 6 – Hydrangea Pruning

March 13 – Tool Sharpening Workshop: Bring Your Pruning Tools!

March 20 – Tree Id: Needled Evergreens

March 27 – Seasonal Interest Walk

April 3 – Dividing and Transplanting Outdoor Plants

Spring Series:

May 29 – Rhododendrons and Their Friends

June 5 – Seasonal Interest Walk

June 12 – Solar Prints

June 19 – Building Resiliency into Your Landscape

June 26 – Sustainable Garden Practices Tour

Creative Arts Classes:

Van Vleck offers a variety of creative arts classes throughout the year from painting to natural decorating.

Plein Air Classes

“Garden Inspirations” Plein Air Watercolor Class with Sharon Pitts

Tuesdays, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

“Wonders of Winter” February 4, 11, 18 & 25

“Blossoming of Spring” April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27

Private Adult Group Programs

Small groups can arrange a private tour or program with our Director of Horticulture, Laura Roberts at laura@montclairfoundation.org

Private Group Horticulture Topics

Walking Tours Topics

What’s in Bloom (1 hour)

See the garden from a horticulturist’s point of view. Join Laura Roberts, Director of Horticulture at Van Vleck, for a refreshing stroll through the grounds to discover the beauty of the season. Tour will feature all that is exciting right now from enchanting details to majestic specimens.

Tree Identification (1 hour)

Join Laura Roberts, ISA certified arborist and NJ licensed tree expert, for an exploration of trees on the Van Vleck grounds. Sharpen your observation skills as you gain a deeper understanding of characteristics that distinguish one species from another

Fragrance Beyond Flowers (1 hour)

Let’s experience the garden in a new way. Laura Roberts invites you to engage your senses and explore the numerous fragrant plants throughout the Van Vleck Gardens. Let your nose lead the way to roots, stems, leaves and flowers with distinct scents.

Lecture Topics

Tree Planting and Maintenance – Avoiding Common Mistakes (2 hours)

Let’s explore the cause of many tree problems: ourselves! Learning to recognize common errors made by those of us who purchase, install and care for trees in the landscape is a first step toward enhanced beauty and better survival. Here’s your chance to get it right from the very beginning. Participants will learn from examples of “tree care gone wrong” and awaken to a greater awareness of what they should be doing instead.

Garden Invaders (1 ½ hours)

You can be a garden hero. Learn to spot insects and diseases that have escaped their native habitats and now pose a threat to our gardens, forests, and farms. Let’s equip ourselves with the knowledge to fight for the safety of our plants.

In Good Taste (2 hours)

Whether incorporating edible elements into an existing landscape or creating a space dedicated to food production, these plants offer an exciting palette for the adventurous gardener. Explore some delicious options for achieving beautiful design.

Demos & Hands-On Topics

Shadow Drawing in Nature (1 hour)

Creative fun for all levels of artistic talent… explore the garden to find your favorite shadow and transform it into a watercolor masterpiece. Inspiration and supplies provided for your use. *This program is weather-dependent. We will need a sunny day.

Garden How-To (2 hours)

Join Van Vleck’s Director of Horticulture for a behind the scenes look at how we keep the garden beautiful. Discussion, demonstration, and some hands-on participation…Details vary by season.

Natural Decorating Demo – Assorted Ornaments and More (2 hours)

Bring nature indoors for the holidays. Plants provide us with a wide variety of beautiful pods, seeds, leaves, branches and berries. Laura Roberts will demonstrate a wide variety of decorations that can be created from natural materials. Learn how you can turn some unlikely materials into ornaments, centerpieces, swags and wreaths. You will never look at your garden the same way again! Demonstration only.

Natural Decorating Demo – Pinecone Wreath (1 hour)

Add a touch of nature to any home. Laura Roberts will demonstrate the process of creating a pinecone wreath from frame to fabulous. Decorating ideas will focus on the wide assortment of natural items collected from the Van Vleck grounds. Demo only.

Natural Decorating – Ornament Making (1 hour)

Learn how to turn ordinary items from your garden into a collection of ornaments that will add beauty to your holiday decor. Laura Roberts, Director of Horticulture, will guide your group in the creation of unique nature-inspired items. Choose two from our list of available ornament designs.

Natural Decorating – Pinecone Wreath Making (2 hours)

Add a touch of nature to any home. Create and decorate your own wreath made from pinecones. Laura Roberts will guide your group through the process. Choose decorations from a wide assortment of natural items collected from the gardens of Van Vleck. Includes one wreath per person.

Browse our Calendar

Cancellation Policy

TMF cancellation – A refund or credit will be offered if a program is cancelled or rescheduled by The Montclair Foundation – Van Vleck House & Gardens (ex: insufficient enrollment or inclement weather).

Participant cancellation – If a participant cancels their registration refunds depend on when the cancellation is received:

Notice of 48 hrs. or more of the class or series start date – full refund
Notice within 48 hrs. of the class or series start date – no refund, but a credit is offered.
Notice during or after the class – no refunds or credits are offered
Cancellation of 1 class within a series – no refund or credit provided.
Credits are valid for 1 year of the date issued.

Visit

Explore

About The Montclair Foundation/Van Vleck House & Gardens

Sign up for our classes and events

Our 2025 cancellation policy is at the bottom of this page

Children and Family Programming

Outdoor Adventures:

Upcoming Classes

Tales on the Trails Pre-K:

Upcoming Classes

Family Programs:

Maple Sugaring Program

Family Animal Programs

Garden Programs:

Garden to Table

Small Group / Scout Programs:

Small Group Programs

Scout Troops

Partner Programs:

MAM Camp

Adult Programming

Yoga Classes:

Monday Morning Yoga Hybrid

Yoga in the Gardens

Meditation:

Virtual Meditation

Awakening From Grief

Horticulture Classes:

Upcoming Classes

Partner Programs:

MILL Classes

Creative Arts Classes:

Plein Air Classes

Private Adult Group Programs

Private Group Horticulture Topics

Walking Tours Topics

Lecture Topics

Demos & Hands-On Topics

Cancellation Policy

Footer

Join our Mailing List

Socialize with us