Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University hosts its first South Jersey GreenFest this Weekend

Get ready for a weekend of bugs, biodiversity, and big and fun ideas for a sustainable future. This September, Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University hosts its first South Jersey GreenFest, where visitors can try edible insects, meet the tiny creatures that keep ecosystems thriving, and explore the electric vehicles and innovations reshaping the world around us.

On September 19 and 20, guests can get up close with live insects and arachnids, cheer on racing roaches, become citizen scientists through the museum’s BioBlitz, explore electric vehicles and local sustainability initiatives, and even taste crispy Cajun crickets prepared live by New Orleans’ “Bug Chef,” Zack Lemann. From the tiny creatures shaping our ecosystems to the technologies shaping our future, South Jersey GreenFest offers a surprising look at the many ways science, nature, and sustainability connect.

WORLD OF BUGS:

• Date: Saturday, September 19 – Sunday, September 20
• Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Step into the fascinating world of invertebrates at World of Bugs, where guests can discover the important role these often-overlooked creatures have played in life on Earth for hundreds of millions of years. Across the museum and quarry, visitors can encounter living insects and arachnids, uncover invertebrate fossils and prehistoric specimens, and learn how the creatures found around us today connect to the ancient animals that once inhabited New Jersey’s seas.

Cooking with Bugs will take center stage with live insect-cooking demonstrations from New Orleans’ “Bug Chef,” Zack Lemann, an entomologist, educator and TV personality known for introducing audiences around the world to the surprising world of edible insects. Guests can watch Zack prepare and sample creations like Crispy Cajun Crickets while learning how insects could contribute to biodiversity, food security and a more sustainable future.

Programming highlights include:

• Cooking with Bugs: Guests can watch New Orleans’ “Bug Chef” Zack Lemann prepare live insect dishes, unexpected recipes and the benefits of including them in your diet.
• Live bug encounters: Meet living insects and arachnids up close and discover more about the fascinating invertebrates that surround us.
• Roach races: Cheer on the museum’s speediest six-legged competitors as they race toward the finish.
• Prehistoric fossils: Explore fossils of ancient invertebrates and discover the prehistoric creatures that once lived in New Jersey’s ancient seas.
• Hands-on crafts: Families can get creative with bug-themed activities designed to make learning about invertebrates fun and engaging.

EFM BIOBLITS:

• Date: Saturday, September 19 – Sunday, September 20
• Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Price: Free, outdoor event

How many species can be found at the Fossil Park? During EFM’s BioBlitz, guests can become citizen scientists for the weekend, exploring the museum’s grounds, gardens and Nature Trail while searching for and documenting the plants, insects, animals and other organisms that call EFM home. Whether a seasoned nature enthusiast or simply curious about what lives in their own backyard, visitors can discover local biodiversity firsthand while learning how scientists observe and document the natural world.

Birds BioBlitz, presented by the Flight Club at Rowan University on September 19 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Guests can learn how to identify birds they encounter in their everyday lives while discovering how birding and biodiversity monitoring can become an accessible entry point into environmental and sustainability careers and how those observations can become part of citizen science. Study participants will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win birding and other nature-based activity gear.

EV Car Show & Sustainability Saturday

• Date: Saturday, September 19
• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Price: Free, including for EFM members

Ready to go electric? Celebrate National Drive Electric Month at EFM’s EV Car Show & Sustainability Saturday, presented by Cloud10 Smartwash in partnership with the South Jersey Electric Vehicle Club. Guests can get an up-close look at unique electric vehicles from local owners, explore the latest models from area EV dealerships, and connect with members of the local electric vehicle community who can share what it’s really like to make the switch. The event will also feature a Community Sustainability Showcase with local organizations, interactive displays and family-friendly activities focused on making sustainability more accessible and engaging.

EV owners can bring their own vehicles and join the show, giving visitors a chance to see a range of electric vehicles and hear directly from the people who drive them. Thanks to presenting sponsor Cloud10 Smartwash, every attendee will also receive a free Fusion Graphene Smartwash coupon, adding an extra perk to a morning dedicated to exploring what’s next in sustainable transportation.

Additional program details are available at: https://www.efm.org/events/SJ-greenfest

ABOUT EDELMAN FOSSIL PARK & MUSEUM: 

Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University is an immersive museum experience that brings awe and wonder to young explorers and lifelong learners. The one-of-a-kind fossil park and museum features full-scale dinosaurs, live animal encounters, an interactive fossil scavenger hunt, free-roaming virtual reality, a unique fossil-digging experience in an active research quarry, and much more. At EFM, guests are transported 66 million years back in time to discover a world once lost, now found: the world of the dinosaurs.

Discover the Past. Protect the Future. For more information, visit www.efm.org.