CHESTER TWP. – New Jersey Conservation Foundation will hold two free butterfly walks – on Friday, July 10, and Friday, Aug. 7 – as part of its “Coffee & Conservation” series of morning educational events.

Held at the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center at 170 Longview Road, the walks begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee provided by Black River Roasters and brief conversation about species that may be spotted.

The group will then take a leisurely stroll through the meadows of Bamboo Brook with experts from the North American Butterfly Association. The walks will end by about 11:30 a.m.

“This is a great opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee, learn about New Jersey’s incredible diversity of butterflies, and take a walk in a beautiful setting,” said Bill Lynch, organizer of the Coffee & Conservation series, which also includes spring and fall bird walks.

Among the colorful butterfly species that have been spotted on previous walks are monarchs, eastern tiger swallowtails, coral hairstreaks, great spangled fritillaries, summer azures, little wood-satyrs and silver-spotted skippers.

Coffee & Conservation events are free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested for planning purposes. To register online, go to New Jersey Conservation’s events calendar at www.njconservation.org/events/. Walks are generally held rain or shine, but may be cancelled in the event of heavy rain or lightning.

To learn more about the butterfly and bird walks, contact Lynch at blynch@njconservation.org. For more information about butterflies, visit the North American Butterfly Association website at www.naba.org/.

Bamboo Brook, owned by the Morris County Parks System and home to New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s main office, is 100-acre park with a mix of wooded trails and open meadows.

About New Jersey Conservation Foundation

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide organization devoted to preserving land and protecting nature throughout New Jersey’s rural, suburban, and urban landscapes for the benefit of all.

Since 1960, we have preserved more than 140,000 acres of open space, farmland, and parks. We also manage 17 nature preserves, conduct public outreach and education programs, and advocate for sensible land use and climate policies that will protect the health of New Jersey communities for generations to come. For more information, go to www.njconservation.org.