Jim Faczak, Park Naturalist at the Cheesequake State Park in Old Bridge gives a guided tour to school children at the Park.
Photo Credit: Mark R. Sullivan / MyCentralJersey

Perched on a bridge overlooking the salt marshes, Jack Osterweil, 6, peered into the murky water below. "I see a crab," shouted the first-grader at Village School in Holmdel. "Look! It's moving." Jack was among the group of youngsters who spent a recent morning at Cheesequake State Park. The children took a guided tour, led by resource interpretative specialist Jim Faczak. They visited three of the park's habitats - the upland forest, the salt marsh and the freshwater wetlands. They learned about the different creatures that inhabit the park. They also stopped at the Interpretative Center, where they saw live exhibits of fish and turtles and learned about the different ecosystems in the park.

 For past WNJ Exclusives about Cheesequake State Park follow these links:

• The Eels of Cheesequake
• Osprey banding at Cheesequake State Park
• Banding ospreys in Cheesequake State Park