Nature at Night: Exploring Reptiles and Amphibians with Senior Wildlife Biologist Mike McGraw

Gloucester County’s Scotland Run Nature Preserve is a place where education, recreation, and ecological diversity come together. As the largest park in the county system, spanning more than 1,300 acres, Scotland Run offers visitors a chance to explore a wide range of habitats including woodlands, open fields, streams, and lakeside environments. Situated along the boundary of New Jersey’s Inner and Outer Coastal Plains, the park reflects features of both Piedmont and Pine Barrens landscapes, supporting a remarkable variety of wildlife.

At the center of the park is Wilson Lake, an 80-acre man-made lake created by a historic dam built for Fries Mill on Scotland Run. Today, the lake provides passive recreation opportunities such as fishing, canoeing, and nature observation. An ADA-accessible fishing pier near the boat launch ensures that these experiences are available to everyone. The park is also highly family friendly, with maintained walking trails, picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, and a Nature Center that serves as a hub for learning and discovery.

This winter, the Nature Center hosted Nature at Night, a popular exploration series that invites community members to engage with the natural world through hands-on presentations led by environmental professionals. Held on the 3rd Thursday of the month from January to April, topics throughout the series included mammals, fossils, insects, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, offering something for nature lovers of all interests.

Princeton Hydro Senior Wildlife Biologist Mike McGraw, CSE, QAWB, ACE led an engaging and energetic program focused on reptile and amphibian evolution, morphological adaptations, and the incredible diversity found right here in New Jersey. To bring these concepts to life, he introduced a mix of his personal pets and rescue animals, creating meaningful, up-close learning experiences with the audience members.

The turnout was outstanding, with a packed room of participants ranging in age from 4 to 74. Guests were curious and enthusiastic, asking thoughtful questions and sharing their own stories, which helped create an inclusive and lively learning environment. It was clear that hands-on outreach like this sparks curiosity and builds lasting connections to local ecosystems.

This year marked Mike’s fifth consecutive year leading a Nature at Night session at Scotland Run, a milestone that only begins to reflect his commitment to environmental education. Mike is deeply involved in a wide range of educational and outreach programs, sharing his passion and expertise with audiences of all ages. His enthusiasm is contagious, his knowledge runs deep, and his ability to connect people to the natural world makes every program memorable. Educators like Mike play a vital role in inspiring curiosity, fostering stewardship, and strengthening human connection to the natural world. Click here to learn more about Mike.

Experiences like these are especially important for young people, helping them build curiosity, confidence, and a lasting appreciation for the landscapes around them. That same approach carries through other interactive, place-based learning efforts at Princeton Hydro, including recent work with local students that explores how science, community, and the built and natural environment intersect.

Scotland Run Nature Preserve provides a welcoming space for learning and discovery, where thoughtful programs help spark interest in the natural world for visitors of all ages. To learn more about their Nature at Night series and other outdoor education opportunities, click here.

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