Duke Farms

Duke Farms Bike Rentals
2025-04-04 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-03 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-02 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-01 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Learn more about our bike rental program here.

Farm Barn Cafe Open
2025-04-04 09:00 - 14:00
Nourish yourself with seasonal delights from Chef Lauren

Campus Open
2025-04-04 08:30 - 18:00, 2025-04-03 08:30 - 18:00, 2025-04-02 08:30 - 18:00, 2025-04-01 08:30 - 18:00
All Trails and the Orchid Range are open.

Farm Barn Cafe CLOSED
2025-04-03 09:00 - 14:00

Closed for Wildlife & Ecosystem Recovery
2025-03-31, 2025-03-30, 2025-03-24, 2025-03-23, 2025-03-17, 2025-03-16, 2025-03-10, 2025-03-09 and 3 more dates | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Duke Farms is closed for Wildlife & Ecosystem Recovery. All trails and the Farm Barn Orientation Center are closed to the public.

Signs of Spring
2025-03-29 16:00 - 17:30 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Birds, buds, bees, or bless yous—what signs tell you that spring has sprung?

Nothing but the return of spring manages to feel so new and so familiar at the same time. On this outing, we’ll take time to read the land for signs of the changing season: bursting buds, birdsong, buzzing bees, and spring ephemerals—the inconspicuous early bloomers that serve as vital sources of nectar and pollen for native insects. We’ll keep an eye out for these fascinating plants while enjoying all the other highlights of this season of awakening.
This program will take place entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Participants will travel about 2 miles on paved, gravel, and dirt surfaces.
Meet in front of the Farm Barn Orientation Center for check-in. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the start of class. We cannot accommodate late arrivals and the class will depart on time.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email, and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

Accessibility
Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

A "Peep" at Vernal Pools
2025-03-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
With the return of spring comes a nightly chorus of chirps and peeps, but those aren’t birds you’re hearing!

Join us as we seek out the frogs responsible in their unique, ephemeral habitat: the vernal pool. One of spring’s most fascinating—and fleeting—features, vernal pools appear and disappear with the changing of seasons. And this time of year, they come alive at twilight. Discover how to find vernal pools, what other wildlife calls them home, why they play such an important role in their larger ecosystem, and what we can do to protect them. Oh, and waterproof shoes never hurt!
This program will take place entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Participants will travel about 2 miles on paved surfaces.
Meet in front of the Farm Barn Orientation Center for check-in. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the start of class. We cannot accommodate late arrivals and the class will depart on time.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email, and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

Accessibility
Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Wildlife & Ecosystem Recovery
2025-03-24 08:00 - 17:00
Duke Farms is closed for Wildlife & Ecosystem Recovery

Intro to Conifers
2025-03-15 14:00 - 15:30 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Pining to spruce up your evergreen knowledge? This is the class fir yew!

When the bare branches of winter start to get you down, turn to the conifers for a breath of fresh, pine-scented air. More ancient and more steadfast than the deciduous divas of autumn, our native coniferous trees like eastern red cedar and white pine deserve a spotlight too. On this walk, beginners to tree ID and ecology will get acquainted with several common species, learn what to look for to tell a spruce from a cedar or a hemlock from a yew, and discuss the fascinating ecology and evolutionary history that sets these trees apart.
This program will take place entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Participants will travel about 2 miles on paved surfaces.
Meet in front of the Farm Barn Orientation Center for check-in. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the start of class. We cannot accommodate late arrivals and the class will depart on time.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email, and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

Accessibility
Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Early Migrants Walk
2025-03-15 07:00 - 09:00 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Let’s get birdy!

Will we get lucky right around St. Patrick’s Day and see some great birds? Grab your favorite adventure buddy and join us for a bird walk on Saturday, March 15 from 7-9 am to find out. We will look out for warblers, raptors, wading birds, songbirds, and anyone else on the property.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.
We provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

About the Instructor
Lindsay McNamara has over 12 years of experience working in conservation, environmental nonprofit communications and development. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and an M.A. in Public and Organizational Relations. She has been birding since she was nine years old when she saw her first Great Blue Heron along the Raritan River. She’s been leading bird walks since 2018 and is always looking to engage new birders in her lifelong passion. You can join her on her monthly bird walks through her new LLC Beachy Birder Adventures, and her favorite bird is the one she’s looking at.
Photo by Lindsay McNamara.

Orchids Under the Full Moon
2025-03-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Families are complicated—Orchidaceae most of all.

A bracing winter night’s walk, illuminated by March’s full moon, transports us to the Orchid Range, and from there: Panama? Nepal? Ghana? The incredible diversity of color and form in this global flower family is ours to explore, and their hidden evolutionary stories ours to read—if we know how. Are orchids’ unique, co-evolved entanglements with pollinator, fungus, and land what give rise to their reputation as fragile and fickle plants, or is this what simply what happens whenever a species is displaced from its native habitat?
This program will take place entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Participants will travel about 2 miles on paved surfaces.
Meet in front of the Farm Barn Orientation Center for check-in. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the start of class. We cannot accommodate late arrivals and the class will depart on time.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email, and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

Accessibility
Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Looking for Life in the Winter
2025-03-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
An invitation to appreciate nature’s tenacity.

Winter can seem like a time to put things on hold, for both the natural world and those of us who study and enjoy it. But knowing where and how to look will reveal an abundance of life making the most of the season. After all, even during the shortest, darkest days of the year, there’s still photosynthesis to carry on with, food to scrounge up, shelter to seek, and—for us humans—a quiet continuity of wintertime life to get out there and find.
This program will take place entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Participants will travel about 2 miles on paved, gravel, and dirt surfaces.
Meet in front of the Farm Barn Orientation Center for check-in. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the start of class. We cannot accommodate late arrivals and the class will depart on time.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email, and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

Accessibility
Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org

Eagles at Duke Farms: A Restoration Story
2025-03-08 10:00 - 12:00 | 1112 Dukes Pkwy W, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
Join us for a special program that connects the past, present, and future of ecological restoration along the Raritan River. Over the course of this two-hour experience, we will travel to the Raritan River to explore how dam removals and waterway restoration have improved habitat for fish, wildlife, and water quality. We’ll discuss the direct impact these efforts have had on bald eagles, whose recovery is one of the greatest conservation success stories in the state.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.
We provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Identifying Birds of Prey
2025-03-01 09:30 - 10:30 | Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough Township, NJ, 08844, United States
An introduction to eagle-eyed birding!

Our nest cam is back online for the season! But if you want to know what our resident bald eagles—or their fellow raptors like hawks, falcons, and vultures—get up to when they leave the nest, you’ll need a few tips for spotting and recognizing birds of prey in the field. So grab your binoculars, or borrow ours, and join us for this beginner-level class to get acquainted with some of Duke Farms’ common raptors!

This program will take place entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather. Participants will travel about 2 miles on paved surfaces.
Meet in front of the Farm Barn Orientation Center for check-in. We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the start of class. We cannot accommodate late arrivals and the class will depart on time.

Program Guidelines
Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email, and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

Accessibility
Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request the following accommodations:

Paved, flat trails
Instructors with voice amplifiers
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs
American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice
KultureCity sensory bags
We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.
