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"One Touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Troilus and Cressida.

The Association has developed an Education Program that aims to inspire children, provide continuing education for teachers, inform area residents and officials, and foster a sense of environmental stewardship in order to protect and preserve the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed.

Muriel Gardiner Buttinger was the first educator on the now 860-acre reserve.  She invited countless children to play, experience, and be inspired by nature on her 500-acre farm, which she ultimately deeded to this Association. For more than 20 years, the Association has nurtured and expanded its education programs in keeping with Muriel Buttinger’s tradition.

The Association’s Education Team conducts extensive environmental education programs for people of all ages.  The course curriculum was developed by our staff of professional educators for use on the nature reserve. The year-round, multifaceted programs focus on ecology and the personal connection and reflection of nature.

The Association invites you to discover and experience the touch of nature on our reserve. Here you will encounter some of the oldest trees in central New Jersey and rendezvous with the diverse wildlife that call our reserve home - including threatened and endangered species such as osprey, bobolinks, and red-shouldered hawks. Our classroom also includes hiking trails, a wildflower area, a four-acre research pond, and an arboretum.

In addition to the many outdoor activities, the Association also maintains the Kate Gorrie Memorial Butterfly House and Buttinger Nature Center where we encourage people’s inherent curiosity and wonder about the natural world.