If you love the outdoors, plan to attend the 2nd Annual New Jersey Wild Outdoor Expo on September 17 and 18 at the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township, Ocean County. The WILD Outdoor Expo is a terrific way for anyone, including families, to learn about New Jersey's great outdoors and all the fabulous things you can do in the outdoors in the Garden State
The Expo is your one-stop information and demonstration event for a host of New Jersey outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, backpacking, kayaking, wildlife watching and more.
The Expo features plenty of hands-on activities and demonstrations for both young and old and novice as well as experienced outdoor adventurers. Some of those activities that can be learned and tried include archery, kayaking, animal tracking, fishing, rifle or shotgun shooting and bird watching. And this year, visitors can "rise to new heights" by giving the climbing wall a try.
Families looking for a great way to get outdoors together will love the camping demonstrations as well as the "Orienteering Treasure Hunt'' that teaches compass skills for fun-filled hikes. And there's more fun for the kids including WILD crafts, birds of prey flight demonstrations, a Kiddie Fishing Tank and a giant mobile aquarium filled with huge New Jersey game fish.
The Expo also features an Outdoor Supply Flea Market for getting or resupplying the gear needed for outside fun. Food will be available from vendors or visitors can bring their own food if they choose.
The WILD Outdoor Expo is sponsored by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife, and Division of Parks and Forestry, the Green Acres Program, and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and is partially funded through a grant from the Weatherby Foundation International.
The Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine. Admission and parking are free and so are most activities at the Expo, except for a few that are offered for a modest fee. Some activities and events require pre-registration.
For more information including a complete listing of programs and directions to the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, visit
http://www.wildoutdoorexpo.com .