The Tenafly Nature Center is a non-profit member-supported nature preserve. Its mission is the stewardship of nearly 400 wooded acres for the purposes of conservation, education and recreation. It is located at 313 Hudson Avenue,
Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly () is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 census the borough had a population of 15,409,
, in
Bergen County
Bergen County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Palisades, a rock formation in northeastern New Jersey overlooking the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
. Within this natural tract are more than seven miles of trails, several streams, and Pfister's Pond. There is also a visitors' center with live animals, nature exhibits and a library for members. A Butterfly and Pollinator Garden showcases pollinator-attracting flowering plants.
The forest is predominantly upland
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
, with other deciduous trees and shrubs. In the spring, native wildflowers can be seen, such as
trout lily
''Erythronium'', the fawn lily, trout lily, dog's-tooth violet or adder's tongue, is a genus of Eurasian and North American plants in the lily family, most closely related to tulips. The name Erythronium derives from Ancient Greek () "red" in ...
spring beauty
''Claytonia'' (spring beauty) is a genus of flowering plants native to Asia, North America, and Central America. The vitamin-rich leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and the tubers can be prepared like potatoes.
Description
The plants are somew ...
bullfrog
''Bullfrog'' is a common English language term to refer to large, aggressive frogs, regardless of species.
Examples of bullfrogs include:
Frog species America
*Helmeted water toad (''Calyptocephalella gayi''), endemic to Chile
*American bullfro ...
s,
painted turtle
The painted turtle (''Chrysemys picta'') is the most widespread native turtle of North America. It lives in slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They have been shown to prefer l ...
s,
garter snake
Garter snake is a common name for generally harmless, small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus ''Thamnophis'' in the family Colubridae. Native to North and Central America, species in the genus ''Thamnophis'' can be found from the sub ...
s and many species of migratory and native birds can be seen at the pond.
Programs available to the public include guided hikes, making
maple sugar
Maple sugar is a traditional sweetener in Canada and the northeastern United States, prepared from the sap of the maple tree ("maple sap").
Sources
Three species of maple trees in the genus '' Acer'' are predominantly used to produce maple ...
, bird walks, and making
apple cider
Apple cider (also called sweet cider, soft cider, or simply cider) is the name used in the United States and Canada for an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples. Though typically referred to simply as "cider" in the Un ...
. Tenafly Nature Center run's school programs for K-12 as well as summer and vacation camps, scout programs, birthday parties.