Home » Education ProgramsEducation ProgramsSign up for our many nature-themed classes, programs for kids and families, or wellness and horticultural programs for adults. Our 2024/25 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 ClassesFall schedule: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM October 12 – Pumpkins and Squash and Gourds, oh my! November 9 – Whooo Wants to Learn About Owls December 14 – Bird Feeder Fun 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 ClassesFall schedule: Wednesdays 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM September 18 – Seeds & Acorns October 2 – Spiders & Their Webs October 23 – Fall Leaf Fun November 13 – Nocturnal Animals December 11 – Winter Homes 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. Fairy Trail FunFairy Trail Fun! check back for the next Fairy event to be scheduled Sensory CelebrationSensory Celebration at Van Vleck Sunday, September 22, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Rain Date: Saturday, October 5th, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Birds of PreyBirds of Prey October 23rd, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Art in NatureArt in Nature November 2, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Rain Date: Sunday, November 3 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 TableGarden To Table Family Class: Fall: 4:00PM – 5:00PM Tuesday, September 24 – Recipe: No Bake Applesauce Cookie Dough Thursday, October 17 – Recipe: Pumpkin Hummus Thursday, November 7 – Recipe: Spinach Kale Bites Thursday, December 12 – Recipe: Peppermint Tea Storybook GardeningStorybook Gardening Class September 17 – Book: How Groundhog’s Garden Grew October 1 – Book: From Seed to Pumpkin November 19 – Book: Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth December 17 – Book: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt 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 ProgramsSchool Groups including Public, Private and Homeschool For details about the program click HERE Contact MichelleW@montclairfoundation.org or by Phone: 973-744-4752 Scout TroopsScouting Saturday Event Saturday November 2 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM For details about the program, view here 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 CampMAM Camp at Van Vleck 3 sessions, weekdays (June 24th – August 16th). For registration please contact MAM here. 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 HybridMonday Morning Yoga (in-person and virtual options) Mondays, 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM Early Fall Session: September 9 – October 28 (no class 10/14) Late Fall Session: November 4 – December 16 (no class 11/11) Yoga in the GardensYoga in the Gardens (in-person) Tuesdays: September 10, 17, 24, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesdays, October 1 5:30 – 6:30 PM (PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE FOR OCTOBER) 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 MeditationVirtual Meditation Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm Summer Session: August 21, 28 Fall Session: September 4, 11, 18, 25 October 2, 23, 30 November 6, 13, 20 (no class 11/27) December 4, 18 In-person MeditationSpecial in-person Summer series: August 22 6:30 – 8:30pm Awakening From GriefSpecial series: Awakening from Grief: Finding the Way Back to Joy September 17th & 24th, 7:00 – 9:30 PM Meditation Mini-RetreatMeditation Mini-Retreat with Ramananda John E. Welshons November 9th 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM 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 ClassesPlease check back soon for upcoming programs. 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 ClassesVan Vleck/Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning Fall session Thursdays, 1:30 PM – 2:30PM NEW TIME! 9/19 – The Milkweed and Monarch Connection 9/26 – Flower Pounding 10/3 – Leaf and Flower Press – Make Your Own 10/10 – Seed on the Move – Seed Dispersal 10/17 – Tree ID – Trees Under Threat 10/24 – Fall Interest Walk 10/31 – Pumpkins – not just for jack-o-lanterns (botany and simple recipes) 12/5 – Pine Cone Wreath Making Demo Creative Arts Classes: Van Vleck offers a variety of creative arts classes throughout the year from painting to natural decorating. Plein Air ClassesGarden Inspirations: Autumn Beauty An outdoor class with our popular Plein Air Watercolor Class instructor Sharon Pitts. Tuesdays, October 22, 29, November 5 & 12, 1:00 – 3:30 PM Wreath Making ClassWednesday, Dec. 4th, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Laura Roberts, Director of Horticulture at Van Vleck House & Gardens, will guide you through creating your own wreath. 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 TopicsWhat’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.
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