J. A. McFaul Environmental Center

“J. A. McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff, NJ, offers an enriching experience for nature lovers of all ages. We participated in their "Survival Class," which was highly informative, teaching us essential skills like identifying poisonous plants and animals, building a fire, and creating emergency shelters. We also learned how to pack appropriately for a day of hiking. These are paid classes but a great price for what you get. The center features well-maintained trails, free and accessible to the public. It's a peaceful escape, and we appreciated that the trails were easy to navigate due to their frequent use by fellow hikers. For those interested in learning more, the center offers a variety of educational programs for different age groups, including wildlife exploration and hands-on activities with local animals. Open daily, the park operates from 8 AM to 6:15 PM on weekdays and weekends, with slightly different hours for the indoor exhibits. It's an excellent spot for a quiet walk, and there’s no admission fee, which is a nice bonus. They also have picnic areas, so it's a great place to bring lunch and spend the day outdoors​”

“This little nature preserve is excellent. The hiking trails are short, very controlled, and partially handicap accessible which makes it a great place for people of all ages. The pond in the back has ducks, swans, fish, turtles and more that can all be seen from a nice little porch area set up off of one of the trails. The pens have a wide range of hawks, doves, and other birds and I like that the fences have openings so that robins, cardinals and other birds also join them. Inside is a nice little exhibit area with beautiful fish tanks and an information center. Overall it's a beautiful place with a nice range of different trees, flowers, trails, and animals. The perfect place to spend a nice afternoon.”

“Beautiful grounds, interesting museum, and lovely trees and plants. You can see deer and Canadian Geese, and captive animals such as peacocks and bobcats. The pond is nice to sit by and observe from the elevated platform. Very peaceful.”

“Visiting the Environmental Center is always a wonderful, relaxing, & nostalgic experience. I grew up coming here with my Dad, & now I take my kids. The grounds are kept so beautifully & we love to visit the animals who live there.”