Updated: 1/20/2016 
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum
Short Hills, New Jersey
Description

The Arboretum trails pass kettle moraines, hilly slopes and a natural amphitheater created by glaciers. Our grounds host a variety of native New Jersey wildflower species and are home to over 40 species of trees, many species of birds and an array of ferns.

Visit the Stone House to view animal exhibits, including mounted specimens of birds and mammals, and a small collection of live animals.

Sustainability and Stewardship

As a local resource and environmental education provider, Cora Hartshorn Arboretum (CHA) believes in leading the way to a more sustainable future. We strive to influence students, program attendees, and everyday visitors to shape and modify behaviors and attitudes that promote environmental stewardship and conservation.

Live Animals and Wildlife

As an educational center with live animals CHA provides the upmost care for live specimens and follows NJ DEP and Federal regulations.

Land Management

CHA land and gardens are to reflect the natural habitat of the area.

Mission
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum

The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum is a historic woodlands garden and educational institution located in Short Hills, New Jersey. We promote an understanding of the relationship between people and the environment through programs that integrate arts, sciences and the humanities. The Arboretum provides services to local schools, community institutions and citizens of all ages.

History

The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary (CHA) is a non-profit organization located in Short Hills, New Jersey. The origin of the CHA goes back to a gift of land that Stewart Hartshorn made to his daughter, Cora L. Hartshorn, in 1923. Cora developed the area as a place where wild things could grow without harm and where people could come to enjoy them. The “Stone House” was designed by Architect Bernhardt E. Muller, built using trap rock from Stewart Hartshorn’s quarry in Springfield, NJ and completed in 1933.

Cora Hartshorn died in 1958 and willed the CHA to Millburn Township. Through the efforts of the Short Hills Garden Club, in 1961 an Arboretum Association was formed to work with the Township in order to protect the area. Building renovations were completed in 2007, which included kitchen and lab facility, bird observatory, and office space. Today, the CHA includes 16.45 acres of woodlands, 3 miles of trails, and a diversity of floral and faunal species. Our woodland volunteers take great care to ensure that plant species indigenous to New Jersey are predominant.

Programs
After School Clubs

Raccoon Club (1st and 2nd grade) During this after school club children explore our woodlands with a teacher-naturalist while gaining scientific knowledge through investigations of a nature related topic.

Kids, Teens and Young Adults

Our programming for kids, teens and young adults teach valuable life lessons, while teaching kids to care for the world around them. Environmental Eagles (3rd-6th Grade) Participants meet on Saturday mornings at the Arboretum to learn about the woodlands, local habitats, and environmental issues and how we can help solve

Toddler and Pre-School

Winter Turtle Tots This is a weekly class. Please see our website for schedules.

Arboretum Birthday Parties

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum Birthday Parties are offered on each Saturday and Sunday: 11:30AM-1:00Pm or 2:00PM-3:30PM. Ninety minute minute birthday parties are available for children ages 3-12. Your child and 15-20 of their friends will enjoy a 45 minute guided nature-themed party.* Birthday parties are offered exclusively to individuals with a CHA.

Camps

Mid-Winter Camp: One week session from February. Stay warm during winter break as we explore the Arboretum with our snow boots and gloves on! Children will learn all about animals in winter, conduct ice experiments.

School Programs

The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum (CHA) offers field trips and classroom programs for grades K-5. Each lesson has been designed to correlate to NJCCC and supplement science curriculum. Students learn about a nature-themed topic through observation, discussion, teamwork, and hands-on activities.

Scout Programs

Scout Programs The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum provides many opportunities to observe artifacts, meet a naturalist, and learn to share your world with wildlife. Our educators have a variety of programs specifically designed to meet the requirements of many Boy Scout and Girl Scout Badges. Most programs are typically 60-90 minutes long.

Services
Outside User Groups

CHA encourages the groups that use our facilities to follow our lead in conservation methods and standards.

Arboretum Birthday Parties

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum Birthday Parties are offered on each Saturday and Sunday: 11:30AM-1:00Pm or 2:00PM-3:30PM. Ninety minute minute birthday parties are available for children ages 3-12. Your child and 15-20 of their friends will enjoy a 45 minute guided nature-themed party.* Birthday parties are offered exclusively to individuals with a CHA.

Event Rental
Group Tours
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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