Th e S y c a m o r e
LEAH SWOPE
N E W S F R O M W I L L I S TO W N C O N S E R VAT I O N T R U S T
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SPRING 2020
WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST Jeanne B. Van Alen President/Executive Director
FROM THE CHAIR
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s a Trustee and leader of the Board, being part of the Trust’s evolution as it finds innovative ways to advance conservation beyond Willistown has been an honor. I continue to be humbled by the passion, intellect and dedication of our staff. Day in and day out they throw themselves into their work and achieve amazing results. We continue to make advances in scientific research and community building through our farm, bird, habitat, and watershed programs and the new Rushton Conservation Center. These advances have brought significant monetary support to our efforts through grants and new donors. I joined the board in 2007 just as the farm program was starting. It was our first initiative that actively utilized our conserved land for a purpose besides beauty and habitat. Similarly, I have seen the development of the bird and watershed programs which use our conserved lands for scientific study and community outreach. Conserved land is what makes these programs possible, so for me, land protection remains the Trust’s top priority. With protected land, we can build on programs that are critical to not only the Trust’s future but our future: healthy food systems, wildlife conservation, habitat and watershed protection and explore how these play a role in climate change challenges. The ability to use our conserved lands for our programs and as models for others has the potential for immeasurable impact on our local community and far beyond the borders of Willistown. So I implore each and every one of you reading The Sycamore to embrace the possibilities and help us achieve this broader impact. Invite a friend for a walk at one of our preserves, witness the wonder of migrating birds at our bird banding station, help at an upcoming tree planting, attend an education event at Rushton Conservation Center or make a donation of any size. Your participation and support will advance conservation and our natural world will be the better for it. Beth Hucker Chair, Board of Trustees
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Elizabeth C. Hucker Chair Bryan D. Colket Vice Chair Alice E. Hausmann Vice Chair Mark T. Ledger Treasurer Matthew E. Taylor Assistant Treasurer John F. Stoviak Secretary Leanne McMenamin Assistant Secretary Timothy B. Barnard, Esq. L. Clarke Blynn Anthony J. DiValerio, Jr. V. Richard Eales Catherine W. Etherington Meg Tegler Hardesty William T. Howard
George F. Krall, Jr. Peter S. Strawbridge** James L. Van Alen II Susanna M. Wall** Richard A. Warden Jason Weckstein Alejandro Zozaya
*Honorary Trustee **Trustee Emeritus
STAFF Todd Alleger New England Motus Project Manager Mary H. Armstrong Executive Assistant Sue R. Costello GIS Coordinator Mike Cranney Preserve Manager Fred de Long Director of Community Farm Program Alison Fetterman Bird Conservation Associate Eloise Gayer Rushton Farm Assistant Field Manager Blake Goll Nature Education Coordinator Kathryn Kinkade Gord Director of Rushton Conservation Center Eliza Gowen Outreach Coordinator Noah Gress Rushton Farm Field Manager Andrew Kirkpatrick Director of Stewardship
Chelsea Heck Associate Director of Development Erik Hetzel Director of Land Protection and Public Grants Sarah Hutchin Garden and Landscape Coordinator Lisa Kiziuk Director of Bird Conservation Program Kelsey Lingle Communications Specialist Susie MacDonnell Events Coordinator Lindsay Martin Carlson Event Support Manager Lauren McGrath Director of Watershed Program Steve Ryan Director of Communications and Marketing Jodi Spragins Communications and Technology Manager Molly Clark Tracy Rushton Farm Production Manager Tripp Way Director of Development
WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST 925 Providence Rd. | Newtown Square, PA 19073 610.353.2562. | LAND@WCTRUST.ORG Willistown Conservation Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)3 of the I.R.S. Code. Donations are tax-deductible. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
CONTENTS THE FUTURE OF MOTUS 6 DESIGNING Global Strategic Planning Conference is coming to the Rushton Conservation Center.
FARMING AT RUSHTON 8 REGENERATIVE Growing food while enhancing nature. THE SARGASSO SEA TO 10 FROM WILLISTOWN AND BACK A remarkable fish that tells the story of our streams
FACES, SAME COMMITMENT 12 NEW The Trust welcomes new Stewardship staff members Andrew Kirkpatrick and Mike Cranney.
AND SHAKERS 17 MOVERS Trustee and staff news. UPDATES 20 INTERN Learning at Rushton Woods Preserve. ART 22 ALAND year-long plein air series will include
agricultural and conserved properties throughout Willistown and benefit the Trust.
HAPPENINGS 25 SPRING Lots going on at the Trust this spring!
26 REPORT OF GIFTS COVER: Woodland phlox and foamflower put on a spectacular show IN
May at a hillside meadow on a private property in Willistown.
SPRING 2020 | 3
Welcome spring!
Rushton Woods Preserve Highlights Our Interrelated Programs FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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s I write, the awakening of spring reverberates throughout the Willistown countryside. We are heartened by the return of the redwing blackbird, the blush of maples budding in the wetland areas, and the greening of our rolling fields and mature woodlands. Nowhere is this thrill of emerging spring more evident than at the Trust’s beautiful and vibrant 86-acre Rushton Woods Preserve. The bustle of spring activities at Rushton Woods Preserve is exhilarating! The Trust’s special approach to conservation is being demonstrated by showing how our Land, Farm, Habitat, Birds and Watershed programs are interrelated. Seedlings are being moved from the greenhouses to be planted in the fields by Rushton Farm staff, interns and volunteers. The Watershed team and co-op students are researching and monitoring stream samples in the lab at the Rushton Conservation Center and recruiting volunteers for riparian tree plantings. The Bird Conservation team is banding spring migrants at the Rushton Banding Station and preparing for the Motus Strategic Planning conference in June (see article p. 6). The Stewardship department is documenting the Preserve’s rich habitat, recreational resources, and the symbiotic relationships at the preserve as part of a comprehensive restoration and management plan. And the Rushton Conservation Center is entering its second year as a warm and wonderful gathering place for the community and a venue to highlight our work and to engage our community of conservationists in discussions of environmental importance—locally and beyond our borders. Above all, Rushton Woods Preserve provides a model where school students, scientists, researchers, volunteers, and visitors come to engage and leave inspired with renewed commitment and passion for protecting our natural world. I believe there is no more important role that a place can play than to serve this purpose. Rushton Woods is such a place, and the recently launched Campaign for Rushton Woods Preserve (see inset below) will assure its future as a unique treasure for many generations to come. Please check our website, enjoy our events, stay connected, and be sure to visit us often.
T H E C A M PA I G N F O R RU S H T O N W O O D S P R E S E RV E We are pleased that the quiet announcement of the Campaign for Rushton Woods Preserve in January has already generated an enthusiastic and generous response from loyal supporters. To date more than $590,000 has been committed or pledged toward the $2,000,000 goal, leaving $1,410,000 to be raised. For this we are immensely grateful! For more information please contact Tripp Way, Director of Development at tw@wctrust.org.
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BLAKE GOLL/WCT
Guided by Villanova University poetry professor Catherine Staples, Rushton Nature Keepers create memorable works of poetry following their exploration of Rushton Woods Preserve looking for birds, wildflowers and other wonders of spring.
SPRING 2020
FRESHstart kitchen participants meet the farmers and receive an overview of Rushton Farm’s unique approach to agriculture that builds soil health while benefitting and enhancing the surrounding ecosystem.
Designing the Future of Motus
Global Strategic Planning Session is Scheduled for June 2020 at the Rushton Conservation Center
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POWDERMILL AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER
irds are on the ropes in our rapidly changing world. and collaborators. If Motus is to continue to expand to its One recent report suggests that North America’s full global potential, strategic planning is urgently needed bird populations have declined by more than a at multiple levels—to ensure sustainability of funding billion birds—more than a third—in the past 50 years. for both infrastructure and maintenance; to provide more Among the biggest threats are habitat loss and climate seamless data integration and processing as data upload rates change, but there are many other reasons for these declines. increase dramatically; and to create systems to adopt and Willistown Conservation Trust is addressing some of these adapt to changing technology. issues through our strong partnership program called the The Northeast Motus Collaboration, which has grown Northeast Motus Collaboration (www.northeastmotus. into the second-largest operator of Motus receiver stations com), which includes the Ned Smith Center for Art and in the world, has received support from the Richard King Nature, Project Owlnet, Mellon Foundation and the Powdermill Avian to help underwrite Research Center. this critical strategic The Collaboration planning process. As has achieved incredible the collaboration’s success with support lead organization, from the Pennsylvania Willistown Game Commission and Conservation Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildife together with Birds Service, among many Canada, is hosting other donors and partners. a strategic planning Since 2017, we have been session this June building a network of that will include more than 70 automated Motus partners and telemetry receiving experts from the stations throughout Western Hemisphere. A young ovenbird is fitted with a Motus nanotag, a tiny lightweight radiothe northeastern U.S., The meeting will transmitter. Its signal is detected by Motus receiving stations located within 15 allowing researchers to be facilitated by kilometers of its path. Data from these receivers is filtered, analyzed, archived, track the migrations the Institute for and disseminated to all organizations in the network and made available to the public through motus.org. of small birds, bats Conservation and even insects like Leadership and plans to monarch butterflies and dragonflies. We are now the largest create a framework to support diverse research, conservation collaborator with global coordinator Birds Canada in the action, education, and continued sustainable growth and Motus Wildlife Tracking System (www.motus.org). For the management of the Motus network for the future. first time, Motus is allowing us to follow the full, annual Through this remarkable collaboration, we are helping life-cycle movements of animals once too small to track the scientific community translate research into specific across great distances. conservation action that will protect and conserve small The Motus Wildlife Tracking System has grown migratory animals, especially birds. Through the innovative explosively in its first five years, expanding from a largely use of technology and research methods, we’re improving regional Northeast telemetry network to one with an our understanding of what populations of birds and other international scope—more than 850 receiver stations on wildlife need to survive. five continents, involving more than 600 research partners
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Detailed Map Below
MOTUS COLLABORATION TUS 2019
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JODI SPRAGINS/WCT
Regenerative Farming at Rushton Growing Food While Enhancing Nature
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ince the first day we broke ground at Rushton Farm in 2007, we have been farming with particular sensitivity to the surrounding ecosystem of the entire 86-acre Rushton Woods Preserve where the farm is located. The practices we employ contrast with conventional farming, which is detrimental to the environment with its dependence on synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms, heavy irrigation, intensive tillage, and monoculture production. At Rushton Farm we grow healthy food without artificial fertilizers and pesticides using a method we describe as regenerative farming. While we use organic farming methods at Rushton Farm, we have avoided using the term. This is because that official designation requires costly USDA certification. Also, organic farming is not always chemical-free. For many years, we used sustainable agriculture to describe Rushton’s practices because the term applies to farming that does not degrade
the land. But what we do at Rushton is more than that—we grow food in a way that is beneficial to the land; it improves the land. Recently regenerative agriculture has been gaining momentum as a more definitive way to describe farming practices that enrich soils, increase biodiversity, enhance the ecosystem, improve water soil retention and support biosequestration—all of which applies to Rushton Farm. Scientists agree that conventional agriculture is negatively affecting the environment and contributes significantly to climate change. As human population and demand for food grows, many countries are turning to deforestation as a way to expand agricultural lands. Because trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, deforestation exacerbates climate change. And combined with the fact that conventional farming uses petroleum-based chemicals and employs heavy use of machinery, the negative impact on the climate is twofold.
Regenerative Farming Practices at Rushton Farm A model of regenerative farming, the careful planning and management of Rushton Farm ensures the preservation of its natural beauty and builds upon the ecological integrity of the land. Our practices include: • • • • • • •
Chemical-free cultivation A diversity of both food and cover crops Rotational planting Use of compost Smaller planting fields Minimal tilling Borders planted for pollinator habitat and other beneficial insects
Even without deforestation, conventional agriculture contributes to climate change through practices that produce carbon and destroy soil quality. In contrast, regenerative agriculture seeks to minimize pollution and institute practices that promote both healthy land and healthy food. A central focus of regenerative farming is increasing and rebuilding the health of the soil, and by proxy, increasing the health of the crop plants. Healthy plants naturally sequester atmospheric carbon in their roots and leaves, which eventually ends up in the soil. Healthy soils can contain up to five per cent carbon by weight making it an ideal substrate for removing carbon from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate effects of climate change. While the use of the term is newer, Rushton Farm has been following regenerative practices throughout its entire 13-year history. Each season begins and ends with a diverse assortment of planting cover crops like red clover, oats,
vetch, rye, field peas and buckwheat. Cover crops prevent soil erosion and are eventually tilled into the soil as “green manure,” which is rich with nutrients beneficial to the soil and the plants that grow from it. Crops are rotated seasonally so the nutrients in the soil will not be depleted. All plants start in a rich compost mix and, when planted in the field, organic fertilizer and mineral amendments are applied to increase soil vitality. In addition to maintaining chemical-free cultivated areas, we nurture unmown borders, hedgerow, and meadows as habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. These same areas also provide bird and wildlife habitat. Our cultivated fields are separated into smaller planting lots, each further separated by open meadow to prevent soil erosion and water runoff and to allow wildlife to move through the farm unobstructed.
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From the Sargasso Sea to Willistown and Back A Remarkable Fish That Tells the Story of our Streams FAR LEFT: Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection, admires an American eel she found in Ridley Creek at Ashbridge Preserve.
WILLISTOWN
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NEAR LEFT: The American eel hatches in the Sargasso Sea and uses currents to move from its hatching grounds to fresh water in streams, lakes, and ponds along the east coasts of North, Central and South America, from Greenland south to Brazil. After 3 to 40 or more years, they return to the Sargasso Sea where females release their eggs and the cycle repeats. Map courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
GARY TYSON, TIADAGHTON AUDUBON SOCIETY. PUBLIC DOMAIN
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merican eels are an important member of our freshwater community, but these unique fish start their lives in the ocean. The American Eel is the only catadromous fish in North America, which means that it spawns in the ocean and then matures and spends the majority of its life in freshwater streams, including those in the Willistown area! With breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea, the young larvae, called leptocephali, spend their first year at sea. They then transform into glass eels and travel upwards of a thousand miles to freshwater inlets along the East Coast. The elvers (young eels) travel upstream until they find suitable habitat - while males tend to stop early and stay in brackish habitat, the industrious females travel all the way to headwaters streams. During their freshwater stay, they mature into yellow eels and feed on aquatic insects, worms, mollusks, other fish and crustaceans, especially crayfish. In fact, eels are being studied as a potential native control for invasive crayfish species in the Delaware River Basin. Crum Creek, in the Trust’s Kirkwood Preserve, is part of this ongoing study which is being conducted by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Delaware River Keeper, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Once eels have reached maturity which can take upwards of 20 years, they assume their final form as a silver eel and return to
their historic breeding ground in the Sargasso Sea to resume the cycle anew. Aside from being important predators (or prey) in the ecosystems they pass through, migratory eels also provide a source of transportation for the larvae of a number of freshwater mussel species. Mussels play a critical role in keeping our waterways clean. These bivalves are filter feeders that live in the stream bed and pass water through their system to find food. In one of the most unique partnerships in nature, the mussel larvae attach to the gills of migrating eels to hitch a ride to find a new location to settle upstream. They need to have this host fish to complete their life cycle, and without the eels, the larvae do not survive. Water connects us all, and the endurance of this species highlights how changes in our landscape can have wide ranging impacts. Historically, eels existed in almost every waterway in the Delaware Basin and played an important role as a food source for the peoples who lived along the water. As waterways have been developed and dammed, the fish have been excluded from portions of their historic range and populations have declined. Thankfully, the combined efforts of many parties (including installing fish ladders, reintroduction and dam removals among other projects) have led to eels finding their way back into parts of their native range. SPRING 2020
RIGHT: New Stewardship team members Andrew Kirkpatrick (far right) and Mike Cranney lead “The Hunt for Skunk Cabbage” in late February in Ashbridge Preserve.
New Faces, Same Commitment The Trust welcomes new Stewardship staff members Andrew Kirkpatrick and Mike Cranney.
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ndrew Kirkpatrick, who joined the Trust in October, is leading the department as Director of Stewardship, and Mike Cranney, hired in February, is our new Preserve Manager. Andrew and Mike, with their impressive backgrounds, bring energy and vision to the department, building on our legacy of stewardship. Andrew’s prior position was Land Stewardship Manager at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, where he managed a 340-acre preserve, led trail projects, coordinated volunteer activities, and managed a retail native plant nursery. His passion for the natural world intensified while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and it was his own awareness of nature, being immersed in it dayafter-day, that led Andrew from the trail to an MSLA degree in Landscape Architecture and Ecological Restoration from Temple University, and a career in conservation.
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Mike Cranney earned his MS in Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he gravitated toward work in the field. He interned at Morris Arboretum and worked there for a short time as a gardener. He loves to roll up his sleeves, lead volunteers and get his hands dirty. As Preserve Manager, Mike will be responsible for managing the Trust’s 400 acres of nature preserves, managing and working with volunteers, and conducting easement monitoring. ELEVATING OUR PRESERVES Andrew and Mike have laid out an ambitious vision for the Trust’s stewardship initiatives. “My first goal is to increase the visibility and connectivity of our preserves for the benefit of our community, both local and regional, as well as improve the health of the ecosystems for wildlife, with birds as a top priority, through habitat restoration”, shares Andrew.
BLAKE GOLL
STEVE RYAN/WCT
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Imagine if landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead had come to Willistown and designed our preserves; they would be a beacon for the community of the beauty and importance of preserving nature for its own sake. That is my target: to create space in nature that people find irresistible and nourishing. - Andrew Kirkpatrick Director of Stewardship
LEAH SWOPE JODI SPRAGINS
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NEW FACES (cont’d) While our nature preserves are beautiful oases of conserved space, defining the distinct personality and characteristics of each will be our guiding principle to incorporate into individual master plans. Developing master plans for each preserve will afford us the opportunity to add simple design elements that will resonate with the public and keep them coming back to enjoy our preserves every season. Realigning trails to create views, providing seating for respite, and adding aesthetic flourishes that recall the history of the area are all ways this can be accomplished. Kirkwood Preserve can shine as an example of both upland and riparian meadow habitats. Ashbridge Preserve can become a living classroom where we can educate students and the public on the importance of restoring and protecting wetlands and riparian corridors. Rushton Woods Preserve and Rushton Farm can be the ecological interface between the community and the shrub/scrub forest matrix. Our newest preserve (stay tuned for a future announcement), can be a destination to find repose and solace with nature while exploring the complex web of woods, edges, fields, and streams that is typical of the region, yet rapidly disappearing in the face of continuing development. And the Okehocking Barn may someday be a space where the community can gather to celebrate art, music and literature surrounded by nature. Working with the trails team, we plan to create a trails master plan that can facilitate increased use of the trail system and improve the physical conditions of the trails for the benefit of equestrians and pedestrians alike. If we use the preserves to showcase the beauty and value of our natural ecosystem, we can do the same with our conserved trails. An important part of the preserve enhancement initiative will be a detailed invasive species management plan to target invasive species of greatest concern for each preserve. We will then use these plans to encourage landowners to address these species on their own properties, particularly Chinese Silvergrass which threatens all of our meadows.
NATURE PRESERVES MASTER PLANNING PROCESS This highly collaborative process will take a holistic look at each of the Trust’s nature preserves, its resources and how they are used by the community. Steps in the master plan include: 1. Examine how various stakeholder groups use the preserve, including visitors, volunteers, and our various programs (e.g. Farm, Watershed, Birds, Habitat). 2. Identify and inventory the preserve’s resources, including trails, habitat, and wetlands. 3. Begin to lay out a vision for future interaction and the interface between the community and nature at the preserve. Benefits of the Master Planning Process • More efficient use of time, labor and money • A better experience for all preserve stakeholders • More effective long-term stewardship of Preserve resources We look forward to engaging with our many stakeholders as we prepare our first master plan for Rushton Woods Preserve this spring.
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS We plan to enhance and further develop our diverse array of stewardship programming that engages audiences of all ages and for professionals and the public. Collaborating with allied institutions will result in partnerships that help increase our capacity and reach beyond what may otherwise be possible. Furthering our relationships with local universities will enhance our programs and research. We envision a stewardship training program for volunteers and professionals to assist us in the care and maintenance of our preserves. SPRING 2020 | 15
High Tech Stewardship
NEW FACES (cont’d) GROWING OUR VOLUNTEER BASE Providing connections to our preserves physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually will be critical to maintaining them sustainably. A thriving volunteer base that recognizes the individual strengths and abilities of volunteers and acknowledges their contributions to the organization will be essential. Incorporating an educational component into all of our volunteer initiatives will multiply our efforts beyond local conservation. And developing volunteers from corporations and local businesses will further solidify our financial sustainability. While we restore, enhance, and connect our preserves, we will have the opportunity to connect with diverse constituents in new and meaningful ways. Facilitating grassroots conservation and empowering underserved communities to be stakeholders in our efforts can be the key to achieving our goal of increasing our diversity, equity and inclusiveness. To first introduce, then educate, and finally engage students from these communities as volunteers we can open a broad new plane of programmatic opportunity. At the same time we will strengthen our connections to the greater Chester County community while setting an example for others to follow. 16| | WWI LI LLLI SI STO TOWWNNCCOONNSSEERRVAT VATI O I ONNTTRRUUSSTT 16
Every fall, the Stewardship staff at the Trust begins its annual duty of monitoring our 100+ conservation easement properties, trail easements, and nature preserves. We make sure that the terms of the easements are being followed by landowners, look for encroachments from neighbors, and build upon our relationships with the people we serve. A new software solution has greatly streamlined the process, and gone are the days of juggling paper maps, handwritten notes and cameras in the field, all of which are susceptible to rain and foul weather. The Stewardship team began using the new LANDSCAPE software in 2018 and it has truly delivered us into the digital age. Freed from the constraints and limitations of paper, we can be much more efficient. Developed by a land trust professional from Dendroyka, LLC of Madison, Wisconsin, LANDSCAPE provides an all-in-one data gathering clearinghouse for collecting information to support all of the Trust’s monitoring activity. The best part is that with this software we can generate the reports while we are in the field monitoring the property. We can use a tablet or smart phone to fill out data fields which the software then incorporates into a report that can be printed with just a click. The functionality does not end there. The software is integrated with our database of digital maps that includes parcel boundaries; so as we walk the properties we can track our route and see our location. We are able to take photos which are automatically geotagged and located in the map to document the location of buildings and natural features, for example. We can add captions in the field as we take photos or wait to do so back at the office. This new process has exponentially increased our operational efficiency and accuracy. Spending less time on the reports means we can spend more time using our human touch to build relationships with our community, steward our nature preserves and educate the public on land stewardship topics. If you are one of our easement landowners and would like to see this process in action, be sure to join us next fall when we walk your property. Contact Andrew Kirkpatrick at ajk@wctrust.org for more information.
TRUSTEE NEWS
Movers and Shakers Anthony DiValerio is new to the Board of Trustees, joining the board in October 2019. He has an extensive background in wealth management, and is currently a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor with Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. He also brings great experience in non-profit leadership, serving as a trustee at the Paoli Hospital Foundation and previously at Malvern Preparatory School. Anthony serves on the Development Committee. He and his wife Linda are passionate about the natural world and have been dedicated supporters of the Trust. They have three grown sons and live in Malvern.
Meg Hardesty joined the Board of Trustees in October 2019. Meg is Associate Vice President at Nehrbas Wealth Management, and has worked in the financial service industry for 35 years. She has significant non-profit leadership experience, having served as President of the Friends of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Meg has deep roots at Rushton Farm, and has been a farm volunteer and supporter of our outreach events for many years. She brings great energy and ideas to her role as a member of the Farm Committee. She loves gardening and enjoys many outdoor activities with her husband Chris. They and their two dogs reside in Newtown Square.
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STAFF NEWS
Movers and Shakers
TOP ROW: Sue Costello, Fred de Long, Blake Goll, and Bill Hartman. MIDDLE ROW: Erik Hetzel, Lisa Kiziuk, Lauren McGrath, and Steve Ryan.
ABOVE: Mike Cranney and Andrew Kirkpatrick recently joined the
Trust’s Stewardship department. See page 12 for the full story.
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Staff Presentations, Awards and Professional Advancement
Outstanding in Their Fields Blake Goll, Lauren McGrath, and Regan Dohm Bird Banding at Welkinweir Camp for Green Valleys Watershed Association in Pottstown, PA (June 2019)
Blake Goll Intro to Ornithology presented for the Pennsylvania Master Naturalists program at Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA (May 2019)
Blake Goll Bird Banding: Reading Feathers and Advancing Bird Conservation presented at Jenkins Arboretum in Devon, PA (March 2019)
Blake Goll A Land Trust’s Multi-faceted Approach to Conservation Education presented at Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Educators Conference in Philadelphia, PA (March 2019)
Steve Ryan Black & White & A Whole Lotta Grey: The Law and Ethics in Data Analytics presented at the Public Relations Student Society of America District Conference at Temple University, Philadelphia (March 2019) Lisa Kiziuk and Fred de Long Conservation Gone Wild, presented to The Weeders Garden Club at the Rushton Conservation Center (January 2019) Lisa Kiziuk (Instructor) and Fred de Long (Guest Lecturer) Creating Gateways to the Land With Smarter Conservation, University of Pennsylvania, College of Liberal & Professional Studies Master of Environmental Studies Program (Fall 2019) Lauren McGrath, co-presenter The Day-To-Day Of Monitoring With EnviroDIY Sensor Stations: A Case Study on Ridley Creek in Chester County, PA presented at the National Water Quality Monitoring Conference (March 2018)
Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference, Skytop, Pennsylvania (May 2019) Sue Costello (Roundtable Facilitator) GIS Technology - A Moderated Discussion Lauren McGrath, Bill Hartman How to Address Global Changes on a Local Scale Fred de Long, Bill Hartman, Erik Hetzel, Lisa Kiziuk and Lauren McGrath Views from Rushton Woods Preserve presented at the Rushton Conservation Center (November 2019) Lauren McGrath, Co-presenter Using Continuous Sensors to Reach Goals in Science, Education, and Community Engagement: Case Studies from across the Delaware River Basin (February 2018)
SPRING 2020
Intern Updates
Learning at Rushton Woods Preserve TODD ALLEGER
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rom bird banding intern to agroecologist and Motus expert, Todd Alleger’s seven year progression of experience at the Trust embodies our integrative approach to conservation. It’s a bold illustration of the power of programming centered at Rushton Woods Preserve, which equips conservationists to take what they’ve learned and apply it to larger conservation issues. Todd began working at Rushton Woods Preserve as a seasonal intern at our federally licensed Bird Banding Station in 2012, where he honed his skills banding migratory songbirds and Northern Saw-whet owls for two seasons. Following his internships he worked as a bird banding field biologist in Yosemite National Park and Indiana before returning to Rushton Woods Preserve to begin work on the Rushton Agroecology Project. Todd served as the Agroecology Project Manager for five years beginning in 2014, a blended role that combined biology at Rushton Farm and bird conservation activities at Rushton Woods Preserve. The focus of the Rushton Agroecology Project is to document how Rushton Farm interacts with the surrounding ecosystem, cataloging all observed living organisms—from insects to birds, mammals and reptiles. Todd plans to formalize this five-year survey of the farm’s ecology during the winter of 2020. He believes the report, when aligned with the farm’s cultivation and crop journals, will provide a compelling narrative and starting point for additional research projects for other scholars and scientists. As a component of his bird conservation work, Todd’s mechanical skills were tapped to install the Trust’s very first Motus receiving station at Rushton Woods Preserve in 2016, part of the Motus global wildlife tracking “Not many organizations are network. The Motus system has emerged as an essential tool in the race to save rapidly declining bird populations. Todd has become the looking at sustainable farming Trust’s expert on the deployment of Motus receiving stations and has and wildlife together the way been instrumental in the expansion of the network throughout North that the Trust is—it has been an America. As one of the country’s foremost Motus technical experts, he extraordinary opportunity.” has conducted Motus installation workshops throughout the country, including at the American Ornithological Society conference in Todd Alleger Anchorage, Alaska. He has also personally managed the installation of New England over 60 receiving stations. Over the next three years, Todd will manage Motus Project Manager the installation of 50 Motus receiver stations in New England funded Willistown Conservation Trust by a Competitive State Wildlife Grant from U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Todd credits the Trust with giving him the unique opportunity to combine sustainable farming with wildlife research. “Not many organizations are looking at these two things together the way that the Trust is—it has been an extraordinary opportunity,” shared Todd.
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IAN DOMBROSKI
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rom the day he started as an intern at Rushton Woods Preserve in the summer of 2011, Ian was able to help with all aspects of programming ranging from scientific research to the growing of over 150 varieties of fruits and vegetables. He was one of the first students to serve as a Rushton Woods agroecology intern, which gave him the opportunity to work with sustainable agriculture, bird conservation, and land stewardship. Ian’s first interaction with the Trust was through a Shipley School threeweek senior service project. Ian says, “Two things still stick out in particular about the service project: planting and tagging trees along a few streams in the area and working at Rushton Farm. The service project allowed me to take the basic biological information I knew and start thinking about it in a holistic way, including how humans and agriculture fit into the ecosystem.” Most Rushton interns gravitate towards either the physical labor or the environmental studies, but Ian was an intern who excelled at both aspects. His ability to understand the interconnection between the land, wildlife and agriculture allowed him to “Working on the Trust’s Rushton work in all facets of the farm ranging from bird Farm really gave me a sense of and stream studies to soil and crop work. our place in the natural world and “I learned quite a bit about ecology, land stewardship, and how humans fit into the how we can work with, rather landscape,” he says. “Working on the Trust’s Rushton Farm really gave me a sense of our place than against, nature.” in the natural world and how we can work with, Ian Dombroski rather than against, nature.” Life Scientist After graduation from the Shipley School, Dombroski went on to study biology and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency environmental studies at Colgate University, where he was inducted into Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society and presented original research at the New York State Green Building Conference. He earned a master’s degree in environmental studies, with a concentration in environmental biology, from the University of Pennsylvania. Dombroski, who resides in Malden, Massachusetts, is now a Life Scientist with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he monitors excess nutrients entering estuaries from diffuse sources. On any given day, he says, he may be collecting water samples and measuring various aspects of water quality, providing technical assistance to stakeholders on diffuse pollution, or reviewing grant and contract proposals from groups looking to monitor, study, or decrease nutrient pollution. “The most rewarding aspect of my job,” Dombroski says, “is knowing that I’m working to clean up our nation’s waterways for current and future generations as well as our important wildlife. My experience at the Trust really played a part in guiding me towards my career in environmental science and my passion for environmental protection.”
SPRING 2020 | 21
Land Art
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D
uring the warmer months, the verdant fields and woodlands of Willistown and Chester County are often visited by a curious and particular migratory species: the plein air painter. Working outside in weather of all sorts, plein air painters draw their inspiration directly from nature, rendering paintings of a landscape as it appears at a particular moment in time, often characterized by natural lighting and a deep sense of place. The tradition of plein air painting, though French in origin, has long been aligned with American land conservation. American artists, most famously those of the Hudson River School, spread visions of the American wilderness throughout the world and helped galvanize public support for the establishment of the National Parks system. And in 2020, Willistown Conservation Trust will be the direct beneficiary of the plein air movement, through a partnership with Land Art Events and their 2020 yearlong plein air series, culminating in a juried art show and culinary event, Palette to Palate in October. Land Art Events has generously pledged to donate 15% percent of sales of paintings from the show to the Trust. Be on the lookout for plein air painters on agricultural and conserved properties throughout Willistown through October. Several painters will be on site painting at all of the barns at our upcoming Barns & BBQ fundraiser in May, with their paintings on display during the event’s cocktail hour. Artists will also be painting at other Trust events during the season, including Tomato Tasting in July and Run-a-Muck in October, details of which can be found on our calendar of events at wctrust.org/calendar. For more information about Land Art, contact landartevents.com. LEFT: Oil painting of the White Farmhouse at
Rushton Woods Preserve by Valerie Craig, one of the Land Art 2019 plein air artists.
SPRING 2020 | 23
MARY HUNT DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Donor Support
The Sycamore Society P L AT I N U M S YC A M O R E S ($25,000 or more)
Anonymous (2) Ms. Elizabeth G. Atterbury Beverly S. Hattersley Kent Van Alen Foundation
George F. Krall LL Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Collin F. McNeil Quaker City Foundation
Dr. Amanda A. Ryan and Mr. Kevin T. Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Sella Tally Foundation Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II
G O L D S YC A M O R E S ($10,000 to $24,999)
Anonymous Joanne M. Berwind Bryn Mawr Trust Frank and Terry Buzan Mr. and Mrs. Warren I. Claytor Dr. and Mrs. Robert R. Corrato Anthony and Linda DiValerio
The Giving Tree Foundation Tucker C. Gresh Alice and Peter Hausmann Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Beth and David Hucker Francis Jennings & Terri Cappelli The Merz Family Foundation
Caroline Moran Mr. and Mrs. Peter Morse Mr. and Mrs. Seymour S. Preston III Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Stolper Mr. and Mrs. Ralph H. Thurman Veritable, LP Mr. and Mrs. Bayard Walker, Jr. Don and Nancy Weaver
S I LV E R S YC A M O R E S ($5,000 to $9,999)
Anonymous Franny and Franny Abbott B&W Family Foundation Mr. Timothy B. Barnard and Ms. Meredyth Patterson Clarke and Barb Blynn Crumdale Partners E. Murdoch Family Foundation
Dick and Nancy Eales Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Etherington Kelly Farnan Kimberley & Russell Galligher Jim and Cherie Gerry Ms. Linda M. Gordon Les Green and Ethie Ziselman The Hamilton Family Foundation
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Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel P. Hamilton Jr. Ms. Susan A. Kokat Ms. Lisa Krall Mr. and Mrs. Rob McMenamin Chris & Jennifer Moller Britt and Janice Murdoch Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nolen IV Conrad and Amanda Radcliffe
Donald E. Red MD Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Shanahan Mr. Matt E. Taylor and Ms. Francie Ingersoll Mr. and Mrs. Richard Warden Mr. Gilbert B. Weisman and Ms. Alane A. Becket Ethel B. Wister
We are grateful for these donors who have generously supported the Trust’s conservation efforts. Those listed on the following pages provided support between January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
The Sycamore Society honors individuals and organizations who annually contribute $1,500 or more to the Trust. Gifts listed below include contributions to the Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, and other special gifts. Bryn Mawr Trust was the underwriter of the Sycamore Society party held at Rock Hill Farm, home of Ruth and Tris Colket, in October. Many Sycamore Society members sponsored the seventh annual Barns & BBQ tour, our largest fundraising event of the year.
B RO N Z E S YC A M O R E S ($2,500 to $4,999)
Anonymous Mr. Frederick L. Bissinger Jr. Mr. Adrian A. Castelli and Ms. Molly G. Love Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Colket Jon and Tracey Costello Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Cox Mr. Mitchell R. Davis and Ms. Carolyn Lindheim Ronald E. DiSimone and Patricia A. Torna Ray Dombroski and Colleen DeMorat
Michael E. and Elizabeth S. Drummond Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Duprey Charles A. and Patricia Genuardi Mr. and Mrs. J. Wesley Hardin Ryan and Lori Heenan Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hofmann Mr. and Mrs. Dave Hopkins Mr. and Mrs. Bill T. Howard Barbara M. Jordan Margot and Bob Keith Mr. David W. Kirby Kraut Family Mr. and Mrs. Joel S. Lawson
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Layden, Jr. Mrs. Anne G. Moran Moran Family Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Newbold Mr. and Mrs. Steve M. Oblack Donna and Bill Oliver Mr. and Mrs. James Pacera Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Roskamp Ms. Sarah Sanz Alice M. Sharp The Simkiss Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. John A. Simkiss, Jr. Lang and Marilyn Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Spinner Mr. Brook Gardner and Ms. Jodi Spragins Mr. and Mrs. Randal Steinhoff Mr. and Mrs. Brandon C. Stewart Art and Doris Strawbridge Mr. George Strawbridge Jr. Jeanne & Doug Swope Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. David B. Thayer Bob and Carolyn Turner Thomas and Penelope Watkins Alex and Janine Zozaya
S YC A M O R E S
($1,500 to $2,499) Anonymous Mr. Jonathan C. Alderson and Ms. Ann Hausmann Caroline and Olin Belsinger Mr. Charles J. Bernard and Ms. Lisa Ann Hatcher Mr. and Mrs. Douglas S. Briggs Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cozzi Mr. and Mrs. Anthony D’Alessandro Jim and Jan D’Arcy Mr. and Mrs. James M. Davidson Mr. and Mrs. Neil H. Davis Emery and Bonnie Davis Dr. and Mrs. Sanford H. Davne Carol and J.R. Delich Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Duprey Ann Ercolani and Drew Conboy Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky GBH Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Good
Dale and Kris Goodman Mr. and Mrs. John R. Grady Dr. George T. Graham and Ms. Suzanne M. Roth Dr. Janet F. Haas and Mr. John Otto Haas Mr. and Mrs. S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr. Meg and Chris Hardesty Philip J. and Elizabeth A. Harvey Mr. Scott T. Hattersley Karen K. and Thomas B. Helm Tom Hogan & Victoria Silbey Marybeth Hurley Stock and Eleanor Illoway Mr. and Mrs. James P. Kennedy III Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kenworthy III Nancy & Dick Klavans Catherine LaFarge Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Ledger Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Leisenring Dr. and Mrs. Blair LeRoy
John and Melissa McGlinn Linda and Chris McIsaac Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. McKenna Jr. Wendy W. McLean Dr. F. Arthur McMorris and Dr. Joanna Balcarek McMorris Jennifer and Bob McNeil Mr. and Mrs. James O. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Russell R. Naylor Mr. and Mrs. John J. Nesbitt III Sandra and Warren Ormerod Keith M. Pension Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Perrin Mr. and Mrs. Mark Piro Mr. Hobson C. Pusey Claudia & Marc Rash The Rorer Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rorer Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Rorer Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Schoettle Jr.
Mayer Family Bob & Julie Spahr Mr. and Mrs. Tim C. Stapf Elizabeth Stone John F. and Holly H. Stoviak Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Dr. and Mrs. Robert B. Taggart Mr. and Mrs. Lance W. H. Taylor III Frank Tobin and Ilene Chester Mr. Gary M. Tocci Mr. and Mrs. Lance Turner Mr. and Mrs. Rob B. Van Alen Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen, Jr. Ted and Susan Wentz Margaret and Tom Whitford Ms. Josephine Lippincott Winsor Mr. and Mrs. Jerold T. Wright Lida A. Wright Ms. Carolyn J. Wukitch and Mr. Anthony McCarley
SPRING 2020 | 27
Donor Support cont’d Donor Support CONSERVATIONISTS ($1,000 to $1,499) Anonymous AXA XL Sandra K. Baldino Mr. and Mrs. Stephen H. Barnes Broadacres Trouting Association Mr. and Mrs. W. Thacher Brown Beth and Robert Buccini Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup Mr. and Mrs. Tristram C. Colket Jr. Daley Family Foundation, a fund of the Chester County Community Foundation Claire and Gary Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Luke Etherington Mr. and Mrs. Samuel T. Freeman III Jeff and Diane Groff Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hanssens Jeffrey and Karen Heft Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. Gary and Patricia Holloway Dr. Martha Nolte Kennedy and Mr. Raoul D. Kennedy Paul Kirsch Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kurd Vicki and Chris Le Vine Helen and Dick Leaman Mr. and Mrs. Marc Lederman Pam and Greg Levinson Mrs. Jane E. MacElree Mr. Stephen Madjar and Ms. Meredith Haab Ms. Victoria B. Mars and Mr. David R. Spina John and Nima Marsh Mary and Jay McElroy Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. McNeely Mr. and Mrs. John J. Mullen
Pam and Pete Nagy PECO Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Perticari Precise Buildings, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Joe L. Przybylowski Nicole and Ed Riegl Mr. and Mrs. Matthew J. Rosenberg Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Semmer Ms. Samantha Settembre Fritz and Christine Seving Dr. Sharon Taylor and Mr. Joe Cannon Ms. Paige K. Turner and Mr. James C. Sargent, Jr. The Vanguard Group Foundation Mary G. Warden Mr. and Mrs. V. Scott Zelov Eliza and Peter Zimmerman NATURALISTS ($500 to $999) Mrs. Maripeg Bruder Dr. and Mrs. Ernest E. Charlesworth Mr. S. Brooke Cheston Mr. and Mrs. W. Morgan Churchman III Mr. and Mrs. Paolo P. Costa Robin and Alan Crawford III Vince and Kali Curran Dr. Edward B. Daeschler Mr. and Mrs. William O. Daggett Jr. Ms. Laura De Ramel Bob and Kim DiGiacomo Deb and John Donaldson Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. Ebmeyer Dennis & Charlotte Elko Betty Fahey Mr. and Mrs. John J. Fahey, Jr. John and Dolly Fisher
Mr. and Mrs. Warren M. Fisher Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fox Edward D. Frank II and Susan G. Lea Dr. Stephanie M. Fuller Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Gibson Mr. John T. Goodman and Ms. Virginia Funk Gil and Tracey Hanse John Harkins Beth Hixson Mr. Torben P.K. Jenk and Ms. Donna M. Walker Dr. and Mrs. Steven Ladenheim Mr. and Mrs. Rudi L. Laveran Mr. and Mrs. Sean R. Legnini Karen P. Lenker Mr. John Marshall and Ms. Dara Gans Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Milden Jim and Judy Milne Jay and Nancy Mossman Mr. and Mrs. Tim Murphy Ms. Kelly Myers Mr. and Mrs. Matthew S. Naylor Jim and Kayo Nolan Ned and Rachel Owen Bob and Susan Peck Mr. and Mrs. R. Anderson Pew Heidi S. Phelan Meghan Pizzica Ms. Elizabeth Reilly Nancy & Donald Resnick Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Smith Eric and Genevieve Snyder Morris and Boo Stroud Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Taylor The Catherwood Family Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation
T H E C A M PA I G N F O R R U S H T O N W O O D S P R E S E RV E
A $2.0M campaign to strengthen the Rushton Woods Preserve, to inspire in all who visit a commitment to save land and serve as stewards of the natural world for future generations.
$590K raised to date, $1.41M to go!
Contact Tripp Way at tw@wctrust.org for more information.
The FS Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Justin N. Thompson Kathryn Thomson Mr. and Mrs. Cary W. Toner Mr. and Mrs. David M. Turner Mr. and Mrs. Alexander S. Van Alen Mr. and Mrs. Jeff S. Vincent Lee and Bill Warden Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Warzecha Whole Foods Market Mr. James G. Willson Ellyn Spragins and John Witty STEWARDS ($250 to $499) Abington Friends School Anonymous (4) Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson Norman and Sidne Baglini Greg and Suzanne Barton Emily Blackburn Evelyn and Thomas Blagden Mrs. Jennifer S. Braxton Ms. Stephen and Kim Bruhns Mr. and Mrs. John O. Buckley Dr. and Mrs. Barry H. Burkhardt Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Clancy Mrs. James J. Cleary, Jr. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Corkhill III Pamela Costanzi Mark and Michele Cruise Ron D’Angeli Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Dougherty Mrs. Elisabeth Gula Duffy Mr. and Mrs. John A. Eichman IV Four Counties Garden Club Ginger Fries Mr. and Mrs. Edmund F. Garno III Steve & Debra Gautier Ms. Jan Taylor Gordon Mrs. Rebecca Ashton Goss Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gowen II Mr. and Mrs. John Griffin Dr. Stephen Gross and Karen Gross Michael Haines Marshall Hamilton Mrs. Lawrie A. Harris IV Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey S. Hedrick Jamie and Hollie Holt Patricia A. Irish Mr. and Mrs. Terry Jarman Rick and Sharon Jones Mr. and Mrs. Anthony C. Keane Mr. and Mrs. Adam R. Loew Mary E. MacLachlan Ralph W. Marsh Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mason Mr. and Mrs. Wade L. McDevitt Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. McGovern Mr. and Mrs. John D. Milner Ms. Akiko Mitsui and Mr. James Heath William E. Munley, DMD Laura Sauer Palmer and David Palmer The Pew Charitable Trusts Kate & Travis Peyton Avery Rome & Jeff Price Mr. and Mrs. David Rahr Ms. Krystal Reinhard Rita E. Reves Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Rugen
Mary and Rob Ruggiero Michael G. Starecky Eric and Susan Swanson Richard H. Thompson, Jr. Mr. James K. Thompson Pete and Christina Townsend Voya Foundation David E. Watt The Weeders Lisa M. Whitcomb and John H. Krick, Jr. Bradford F. Whitman Mr. David R. Wilmerding Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson Christopher and Jean Wright PROTECTORS ($100 to $249) Anonymous (11) Page and Betsy Allinson AmazonSmile Foundation Ardrossan Beagles, Inc. Ms. Laurie M. Bachman The Baldwin School Elizabeth N. Barnett Dr. William G. Baxt and Dr. Judy L. Meinkoth Barbara Bird Drs. Thomas and Melanie Boerner Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Borgh, Jr. Boyance Family Ms. Elaine Brody Dr. A. Michael Broennle Michael and Linda Burg
Laura A. Burgess Mr. Leonard A. Busby Polly and Steve Carpender Denise A. Carpenter Deborah Cascarino Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Caspar Mr. and Mrs. George Cauffman, III Ms. Debra L. Charlesworth Chester County Fox Hunters Assoc. Ms. Mindy Clearfield Tom Cobb Hank and Rika Conlan Mr. and Mrs. David Cook Mr. and Mrs. William C. Corcoran Doug Corrigan Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Coulston Mr. Peter Cozzi Bill and Colleen Cranney Kristin Culp Trautman Mr. and Mrs. John S. Custer Jr. Paul and Caroline Davis Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davis Fred and Paula de Long Mr. and Mrs. William M. Diehl Gerry and Laura Dolan Walter Dowling Mr. and Mrs. Ford B. Draper, Jr. Ms. Lisa M. Dudash and Mr. John P. Forde Mr. Thomas J. Farrell III and Ms. Alison D. Ogelsby Wendell & Jenny Fenton Sharon and Tony Fernandes Debra and Theodore Fetterman Jody and Alan Fitts
Jeff and Karen Fleming Surrey & Malcolm Flint Dona and Thomas Foerster John and Suzanne Gaadt The Gardeners Brent and Karen Gartner Barbara and Jack Geltosky Mr. and Mrs. Eric D. Gerst Rob and Kristi Gilfillan Mr. and Mrs. Gareth E. Glaser Julie S. and K. David Graham Green Valleys Association of Southeastern PA, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Perry C. Gresh Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Groome III Ben Gross Christina Hack Kathleen and Rick Hagan Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hahn Andrea Hanaway, MD Paul Nigel Harris Mr. and Mrs. James W. B. Hole Ms. Madeline Iacobucci and Mr. Joe Farrant Ms. Cynthia K. Iacocca Mr. Francis B. Jacobs II Uphill Farm, Inc. Mrs. Louise L. Johnston JPMorgan Chase Foundation Dr. Keith and Kim Kennedy Mr. William M. Keyser George Knoell Mr. and Mrs. Robert Latyak Mr. and Mrs. David P. Lavins Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Lee
Mr. and Mrs. Kurt V. Leininger Susan Levin Ms. Pamela E. Lewis Ms. Denise Liszewski Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. MacDonnell Joan W. Mackie Dr. and Mrs. W. Steven Mark Mr. Harv W. Martens and Ms. Janet Querner Joan and David Martin Jeanne May Mr. and Mrs. Anthony McCague Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. McCoy Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McDermott Robbi and Jim McErlane McEvoy Family Mr. and Mrs. James Meehan Arthur P. and Marjorie L. Miller Mr. and Mrs. John D. Mohr Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Morris Mr. and Mrs. Todd Morrissey Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mostardi Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey M. Mullen Anne and Gary Murphy John Odell and Maryanne Buschini Gulia and Akpo Omene Open Connections Elizabeth Evert and Andy Orr Judy and Rick Owens Mr. and Mrs. Martin R. Page Margo and Mac Patterson Frank A. Pension Jane G. Pepper Mariana and Andrew Pesthy Mrs. Eleanor R. Peterson
W I L L I S T OW N C O N S E RVAT I O N T RU S T
Legacy Society
Please consider joining the Legacy Society by adding some simple bequest language to your will, or by making Willistown Conservation Trust a beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement plan. For more information contact cmh@wctrust.org.
MARY HUNT DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Run-a-Muck co-chairs (left to right) Carolyn Thompson, Justin Thompson, Tim Stapf, Jamie Stapf, Rick Warden and Susan Kokat take a breather during last year’s event that raised $52,000 for the Trust’s programs. The 2020 Run-a-Muck will take place at Donegal Farm overlooking the beautiful Kirkwood Preserve on October 24, 2020.
Barbara Pettinos Mr. and Mrs. Gabe Pilar Judy & Joseph J. Radano Mr. and Mrs. Topper Ray Mrs. Annis Lee Reeves David and Faye Rogers Jennifer Root Mark and Emily Saks Anne Satterthwaite Bonnie Schaefer Rosen Dr. and Mrs. Timothy D. Schaeffer Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Schellenger Nancy and Richard Schwab Mr. and Mrs. David R. Shaman Mr. and Mrs. Keven Shanahan John R. Silverthorne Ken and Wendy Silverwood Mr. and Mrs. Theodore K. Smith Cathy and Jim Staples R. John and Susan Stedman David and Jo-Ann Stephens Mr. Tyler Stoviak Ms. Carmella Tallarida Liz and Ken Tankel Joan G. Thayer Bob Thye Mr. and Mrs. James J. Tornetta Scott Tuttle
Twin Valleys Garden Club Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Tyler Mr. and Mrs. Dale Vandegrift Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. A. Ward Deborah Warden Washburn Family Foundation Joe and Jolly Waterman William Y. Webb Rachel Weeden Alexandra West Mr. H. Drake Williams Sarah A. Willig and Family Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wilmerding Colonel and Mrs. Robert B. Wiltshire II Skip & Kathy Withrow Minturn J. Wright III FRIENDS (Up to $99) Anonymous (4) Alexis and Geoffrey Anderson Mary and Allen Armstrong Mr. Timothy M. Beadle Ms. Julia Bergson-Shilcock and Mr. Michael Hilbert Mrs. Deirdre G. Blain Suzanne Boland McCarthy Mr. Rodger A. Bovenkerk
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Mr. and Mrs. Angelo A. Brutico Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Caniglia Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Cantlin Ms. Patricia Carson Ms. Carole Clarke and Walter Englander Jonna D. Coachman Michael and Linda Coffino Susan Cooker Mr. and Mrs. Peter H. Craig Mr. Christopher B. Cryer William J. Curry Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Davis Rachel Dehaven Mr. Eric Charles Delss Mr. John deProphetis Ms. Laura A. Dormans The Episcopal Academy Mr. and Mrs. Jason Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Fenstermacher, Jr. Joan P. Fetrow Mark and Jen Fifer Mr. and Mrs. John Finkbiner The Frankenheimer Family Rodney Frederick Ms. Glenna F. Geiger Dr. and Mrs. Edward F. Gilardi
William Gordon Mr. and Mrs. James A. Grant, Sr. Lee and Wick Hannan Ms. Adrienne Hart Carol H. Henn John and Linda Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Howard Hugh Lofting Timber Framing Ms. Mary Hundt McLoughlin Mr. Peter S. Illoway Mr. Gary Jenkins Ms. Isabel Johnson and Ms. Lupin Hipp Ms. Elizabeth Johnson Dennis Kane Bruce Killen Marjorie P. Kinkead Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey W. Lang Anna Lee Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Lee Katharine Maffia Mr. and Mrs. Karl A. Malessa Dorothy Mallon Mr. and Mrs. Collin F. McNeil Ms. Susan Miller Ms. Kristin Morsman Jacoby Mr. and Mrs. Britton Murdoch Diane Murray Network for Good
Ms. Nindy Pike John Plonski and Carol Meinhardt Ms. Tracy M. Pulos Purenergy Studio Mrs. Gale A. Rawson Tom and Helen Reeves Mr. John Henry Rice JR Rick and Nancy Richards Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Rippel Mr. and Mrs. Jake Schultz Dr. and Mrs. Keith L. Sharkan Ms. Nancy Sheldrake Mr. and Mrs. John M. Skrocki Ms. Debra W. Small Dr. and Mrs. W. John Smith Ms. Pamela Smyth Ms. Sara Smyth Mr. and Mrs. James W. Snively Jr. Elaine L. Strause Ms. Eileen Sullivan Ms. Meredith Swift Craig and Judy Thomas Bobbi Tower Bruce and Caron Ulmer Sukie and David Velinsky Patricia A. Vito Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Warner Stuart and Jane W. Weisman Mrs. Nancy H. Wessells Jean G. Zeien
Mourning a Hero of the Countryside IN MEMORIAM: MRS. J. MAXWELL (BETTY) MORAN August 7, 1930 – January 23, 2020
The Willistown countryside lost one of its greatest heroes on January 23, 2020, when Betty Moran passed away. She left a legacy of generosity, support for many worthy causes, close friendships, love of good times, a competitive spirit, and a passionate dedication to protecting the open spaces that she loved.
EVENTS Barns & BBQ 2019 Barns & BBQ Co-Chairs Donna & Rob Corrato Tracey & Jon Costello Kate & Ben Etherington Barns & BBQ Hosts Ms. Joanne Berwind Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence A. Granger Mr. & Mrs. Richard Klavans The Honorable Thomas D. Watkins & Penelope P. Watkins The Delchester Group, Inc. Barns & BBQ Committee Rachel Coxe Shoemaker & Erich Barchi Joanne Berwind Maripeg Bruder Alice & Christian Bullitt Sonia & Morgan Churchman Molly Love & Adrian Castelli Linda & Anthony DiValerio Kate & Luke Etherington Tracey & Sam Freeman Stephanie Fuller Kimberly & Russ Galligher Jodi Spragins & Brook Gardner Kat & Steve Gord Joy & John Grady Christina & Steve Graham Renée & Larry Granger Shaina & Nat Hamilton Erika & Azeez Hayne Lori & Ryan Heenan Nancy & Dick Klavans Sally & Joe Layden Leanne & Rob McMenamin Janice & Britt Murdoch Margaret Anne & Jim Nolen Leigh & Steve Oblack Tracy & Joe Przybylowski Amanda & Kevin Ryan Tara & Jeff Shanahan Holly & John Stoviak Jackie & Jerry Sweeney
Betty Moran greets guests to her beloved barn at Bryn Clovis during Barns & BBQ in 2013.
Willistown was blessed to have Betty as a champion and lover of its equestrian tradition and the conserved land that makes those activities possible to this day.
Over the past 40 years, she played a significant role in helping maintain its rural character, participating in numerous land protection partnerships that saved beautiful parcels of land from development. In 1980, Betty supported our first community partnership to acquire the “Hundred Acre Field”. She went on to become a lead investor in 14 additional partnerships to purchase, preserve and resell properties that would otherwise have succumbed to development, resulting in over 2,000 acres in the Willistown area conserved with Betty’s direct support. She also donated conservation easements permanently protecting her beloved Brushwood Stables and Bryn Clovis on both the west and east sides of Sugartown Road in Willistown, totaling 210 acres of land. The Willistown countryside simply would not look the way it does today without Betty. Executive Director Bonnie Van Alen attributes this to Betty’s dedication, saying, “In my 40 years of knowing Betty, she never said ‘no’ when asked to participate in an effort to save a beautiful property from development.” The staff and Trustees of Willistown Conservation Trust are grateful for Betty’s insights, leadership and generosity during the time she served as a board member. We take comfort knowing that the more than 7,500 conserved acres of rolling fields, mature woodlands and stream valleys of the Willistown countryside will be a lasting part of her legacy forever. SPRING 2020 | 31
KAT GORD/WCT
Farm-to-table dinners at the Rushton Conservation Center showcase locally grown foods, like those grown at Rushton Farm. See our featured events listing on page 25 and wctrust.org for our most current offerings.
Bonnie & Jim Van Alen Kathy & Rick Warden Penny & Tom Watkins Effie Wister Presenting Sponsors John Milner Architects Pinemar, Inc. Barns & BBQ Patrons Anonymous Clarke and Barb Blynn Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Colket Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Cox Mr. Mitchell R. Davis and Ms. Carolyn Lindheim Anthony and Linda DiValerio Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Duprey Mr. and Mrs. Luke Etherington Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Etherington Kimberley & Russell Galligher Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky Renee & Larry Granger Alice and Peter Hausmann Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Beth and David Hucker Francis Jennings & Terri Cappelli Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kurd Mr. and Mrs. D. Christopher Le Vine Caroline Moran Britt and Janice Murdoch Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nolen IV Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Perticari Mr. and Mrs. Joe L. Przybylowski Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Shanahan Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Art and Doris Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Lance Turner Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Barns & BBQ Forget-Me-Not Anonymous KingsHaven Design & Development, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Wade L. McDevitt Dr. Amanda A. Ryan and Mr. Kevin T. Ryan Eric and Genevieve Snyder Penelope Wilson
The Quaker City Foundation Barns & BBQ Sponsors Co-Presenting Sponsors John Milner Architects, Inc. Pinemar, Inc Bird Conservation Sponsors Glenmede Habitat Restoration Sponsors Brandywine Realty Trust Bryn Mawr Trust Company Cherokee Construction Crumdale Partners Cullen Construction Inc. E.C. Trethewey Building Contractors, Inc. Jackson Lewis P.C. James Brown Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning . King Construction Company, LLC Mill Creek Capital Advisors, LLC Pancoast & Clifford Inc. Peter Zimmerman Architects, Inc. Ranieri & Kerns Associates LLC Refugia LTD Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr Shreiner Tree Care Stoltzfus Construction of LanChester LLC Sycamore Racing Tague Lumber Inc. The Mundy Wealth Management Group / Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Warren Claytor Architects Woodlands Sponsors Armond Aquatech Pools Barbara Gisel Design, Ltd Country Properties F.L. Bissinger, Architect Griffiths Construction, Inc. KingsHaven US Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management Program Book Sponsors Arader Tree Service Fifth Park Stoneworks Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc.
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Spring 2020 SycamoreVer2.indd 32
Kreischer Miller LS Stone Masonry, Inc. Period Architecture Ltd Precise Buildings, LLC Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc. Wilmington Trust (M&T Bank) Auction Supporters Archer & Buchanan Architecture. Broadacres Trouting Association Catskill Casts & Coverts Doe Run Creamery Dick & Meg Hayne Heritage Metalworks Hetzel Brothers McComsey Builders, Inc. Radnor Hunt Peachtree Catering and Events Supporter of the Trust Terrain Cafe at Devon Walter & Jackson, Inc. Janine & Alex Zozaya Run-a-Muck 2019 Land Hosts Janine & Alex Zozaya Janice & Britt Murdoch Carolyn & Bob Turner Whitehorse Advisors Heather & Matt Naylor Lindsay & Ted Leisenring Barb & Clarke Blynn Run-a-Muck Co-Chairs Susan Kokat Jamie & Tim Stapf Carolyn & Justin Thompson Kathy & Rick Warden Run-a-Muck Committee Lindsay Barrow Barb & Clarke Blynn Katie & Jonnie Charlson Warren Claytor Jayme & Bryan Colket Bethann Coradino Catharine & Gary Cox Shannon & Chase Davis
Laura Dolan Christine & Tom Foga Shaina & Nat Hamilton Erika & Azeez Hayne Erin & Frank Herz Olga & Fred Jackson Brad Johnson Kari & Tony Keane Denise & Andy Kerns Sally & Joe Layden Gina & Chris McHugh Pam & Peter Nagy Karen & Skip Petrauskas Christine & Fritz Seving Genevieve & Eric Snyder Jodi Spragins & Brook Gardner Ellyn Spragins & John Witty Doris & Art Strawbridge Liz & Peter Strawbridge Jeanne & Doug Swope Debi & Lance Taylor Rick Thompson Lindsey & David Turner Colby & Rob Van Alen Jody & Dale Vandegrift Barbara & Jeff Vincent Effie Wister Vicki & Chuck Wooters Run-A-Muck Patrons Clarke and Barb Blynn Mrs. Maripeg Bruder Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Colket Ray Dombroski and Colleen DeMorat Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Beth and David Hucker Marybeth Hurley Francis Jennings & Terri Cappelli Margot and Bob Keith Ms. Susan A. Kokat Caroline Moran Mr. and Mrs. Peter Morse Mr. and Mrs. James A. Nolen IV Mr. and Mrs. James Pacera Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Strawbridge Art and Doris Strawbridge Mr. and Mrs. Justin N. Thompson Richard H. Thompson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David M. Turner Mr. and Mrs. James L. Van Alen II Alex and Janine Zozaya Run-A-Muck Sponsors Preserve Sponsor Spire Builders Meadow Sponsor Almanack Investment Partners Audi Devon Bernard, Mezzanotte, Pinnie and Seelaus, LLP Cover & Rossiter Liz Walton Home Quadratec Wells Fargo Advisors
3/9/20 8:07 PM
BLAKE GOLL/WCT
Countryside Sponsor Altus Partners Aqua America Armond Aquatech Pools Barbara Gisel Design, Ltd Bartlett Tree Experts Benner & Sons Brandywine Realty Trust Bryn Mawr Landscaping Bryn Mawr Trust Company Cherokee Construction Conlin’s Digital Print & Copy Center Country Properties Countryside Consulting Crumdale Partners Cullen Construction Inc. E.C. Trethewey Building Contractors, Inc. Energy Management Systems F.L. Bissinger, Architect Gardner/Fox Glenmede GreenWeaver Landscapes Griffiths Construction, Inc. Jackson Lewis P.C. James Brown Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning John Milner Architects King Construction Company, LLC KingsHaven Kreischer Miller Mill Creek Capital Advisors, LLC Oliver Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical Pancoast & Clifford Inc. Penn Systems Group, Inc. Peter Zimmerman Architects, Inc. PINEMAR, Inc. Pohlig Homes Ranieri & Kerns Associates LLC Refugia LTD Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr Shreiner Tree Care Stoltzfus Construction of LanChester LLC Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc. Sycamore Racing Tague Lumber Inc.
The Mundy Wealth Management Group / Morgan Stanley Wealth Management US Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management Warren Claytor Architects Weeds, Inc. Wells Fargo Clearing SVCS, LLC White Horse Village Race Sponsor KPW Productions Sycamore Society Party 2019 Sycamore Society Party Hosts Mr. and Mrs. Tristram C. Colket Jr. Sycamore Society Chairs Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Sycamore Society Party Sponsor Bryn Mawr Trust TRIBUTES In honor of Dick Eales Mr. and Mrs. James W. Snively Jr. In honor of James Higgens’ 20 years at ESRI Co-workers at ESRI In honor of Jodi D. Spragins Ms. Laurie M. Bachman In Honor of Linda and Blair LeRoy Jennifer Root MEMORIAL GIFTS In Memory of Bernard Cooker Susan Cooker In Memory of Karen Elko Dennis & Charlotte Elko In Memory of Clara McGinnis Mrs. Deirdre G. Blain Michael and Linda Coffino
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Corcoran Mr. and Mrs. Neil H. Davis Joan P. Fetrow Ms. Nancy Sheldrake Patricia A. Vito In Memory of Charles Pusey William Gordon Mr. Hobson C. Pusey SPECIAL GIFTS Bird Conservation Program Anonymous The Baldwin School The Episcopal Academy Green Valleys Association of Southeastern PA, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Snively Jr. Cathy and Jim Staples Twin Valleys Garden Club Community Farm Program Jon and Tracey Costello GBH Foundation Mr. Scott T. Hattersley Cathy and Jim Staples Mr. and Mrs. Bayard Walker Jr. Land Acquisition The Merz Family Foundation MOTUS Fund AXA XL Norman and Sidne Baglini Clarke and Barb Blynn Dr. and Mrs. Ernest E. Charlesworth DCNR, Bureau of Recreation & Conservation Mr. and Mrs. John J. Fahey, Jr. John and Dolly Fisher Mr. and Mrs. W. Anthony Hitschler Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Ledger Richard King Mellon Foundation Mr. and Mrs. James O. Moore The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Trail Fund Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gansky Mr. and Mrs. A. Dunham Hollister, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Steven Ladenheim Watershed TreePennsylvania, the PA Urban & Community Forestry Council The William Penn Foundation In-Kind Donations A Friend of the Trust Alane Becket Amerasport, Inc Carla & Frank Andrews Arader Tree Service Archer & Buchanan Architecture Bartlett Tree Experts Benner & Sons Braxton’s Animal Qorks Maripeg Bruder Bryn Mawr Landscaping Catskill Casts & Coverts Chester County Astronomical Society Warren Claytor Concord Pet Foods & Supplies / Frazer Crumdale Partners Volunteers The Farm at Doe Run Gallo Wines Girl Scout Troop 4996 Jean Good Renée and Larry Granger GreenWeaver Landscapes Alice & Peter Hausmann Meg & Dick Hayne Heritage Metalworks Hetzel Brothers Karen’s K9 Care Kari & Tony Keane Susan A. Kokat Ryan Lendt Matlack Florist McComsey Builders, Inc. On Point Farm Out There Outfitters Peachtree Catering and Events Purenergy Studio
Crowns adorned with flowers, feathers, and other natural treasures sit atop the heads of Rushton Nature Keepers during the Rushton Mini Camp held in August.
Brint Van Alen
EDUCATION AT THE TRUST Partnership Schools and Programs
Radnor Hunt Refugia, LTD Roots Landscape, Inc. Christine & Fritz Seving Tara Shanahan Shreiner Tree Care Sly Fox Brewing Company Jodi Spragins & Brook Gardner Taylor Rental, Malvern Rick Torpey Trail Life USA Jack Vandegrift Walter & Jackson Lumber Builders Willistown Troop 78 Wooter’s Dog Training
The Trust’s education programs serve more than 1,000 individuals, including 500 schoolchildren, each year. From pre-school children through graduate level university students, the Trust uses the protected Willistown countryside as an outdoor classroom for students of all ages and backgrounds.
BELOW Volunteers helped the Trust plant over 500 trees in 2019. Dr. Marie Kurz and
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BLAKE GOLL/WCT
students from Drexel University’s Environmental Club, shown below, were among the many volunteers who helped at an Ashbridge Preserve planting. STEVE RYAN/WCT
Abington Friends School Abington, Pennsylvania The Academy of Natural Sciences, Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Cheyney University, Hotel Restaurant Management School Cheyney, Pennsylvania Conestoga High School Berwyn, Pennsylvania Drexel University, Ornithology Program; Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science Program Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Episcopal Academy Newtown Square, Pennsylvania Germantown Academy Fort Washington, Pennsylvania Great Valley High School Malvern, Pennsylvania Haverford School, Crew Team Haverford, Pennsylvania Mighty Writers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania, Master of Environmental Studies Program; Department of Landscape Architecture Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania The Shipley School Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Strath Haven High School, A.P. Environmental Science Wallingford, Pennsylvania Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania Westtown School West Chester, Pennsylvania Westtown- Thornbury Elementary School West Chester, Pennsylvania
volunteers Eunice Alexander James Arbuckle Mary Armstrong Cearra Barker Tim Barnard Kathryn Bartling Amanda Bebel Terry Beck Jennifer Berlinger Mark Berlinger David Bickel John Black Emily Blackburn Tom Blagden Barb Blynn Clark Blynn Sarah Boucas Neto Bracken Brown Teresa Brown Heather Buleje Laura Burgess Brian Byrnes Kelsey Capobianco Andrew Carlson Adrian Castille Susan Charkes Ilene Chester Shannon Choate Meta Christaldi Daniel Christaldi Siana Christaldi Jayme Colket Bryan Colket Beth Coppola Bethann Coradino Judy Corr Gary Cox Alan Crawford Crumdale Partners Laura de Ramel Emily Dech Deer Creek Malthouse Abagail DelGrosso Mitali Desai Eva Dillon Rutledge Linda DiValerio Regan Dohm Walt Dowling Ryan Downey Amanda Dunbar Dick Eales Bryan Erhen Kate Etherington Tony Fernandes Sharon Fernandes Jessica Figliolini Lucy Finnegan Kevin Fitzpatrick Adrian Flores Carol Forte
Emilie Frechie Sam Freeman Skye Gailing Spencer Galen Brook Gardner Sandy Gargus Rebecca Garlinger Bill Gerhardt Robert Gianfiddo William Gibbs Ben Girten Steve Gord Charlie Gord Margaret Gord James Gowen Archer Grandley Nate Granger Renee Granger Meg Hagerty Louis Hahn Meg hardesty Chris Hardesty Susanne Harrigan Gene Harris Meg Hauler Peter and Alice Hausmann Alice Hausmann Peter Hausmann Lori Heenan Kristen Henwood Barlow Herbst Mark Hetzel Erik Hetzel Conor Higgins Lynn Hitschler William Hix Meagan Hopkins-Doerr Jennifer Horan Bill Howard Lyn Howard Beth Hucker Dave Hucker Evan Hunt Rachel Hunter Sarah Hutchin Elizabeth Ianelli Annelisa Ianelli Marina Jackson Kelly Johnson Kristen Johnson Sheryl Johnson Marilee Jones Denis Kane Andrea Kaufmann-Berry Julia Keleher Kim Kennedy Denise Kerns Micaela Kersey Rupika Ketu Alyssa Killian Girten
Our sincere thanks to the following individuals who offered their time and talents to help the Trust. List reflects volunteer activities between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Stijn Koshari Joanne Kostick Stephanie Kuniholm Marie Kurz Donna Laveran Susan Lea Aidan Leavy Ann Ledger Mark Ledger Ryan Lendt Gabrielle Lent Linda Leroy Becky Lewis Pam Lewis Molly Love Tristram MacDonnell Bob MacDonnell Nancy Maffia Dan Mallach Katherine Marshaleck Quincy McCoy Doris McGovern Mike McGraw Michael McGraw Leigh Mclauglin Art McMorris Allyson Mctear Justin Mellor Jim Moffet Katherine Monroe Henry Morgan Marshall Nisselbaum Fred Nocella Leigh OBlack Steven Oblack Jonathan Orme Kristin Page Angie Palumbo Meredy Patterson Jeff Pendergast Sandie Perkowski Bill Petrauskas Karen Petrauskas Eugene Potapov Tracy Przybylowski Haley Randall Suravi Ray Paul Rechenburg Billy Reid Kacy Reitenauer Michael Rodgers Avery Rome Dr. Wendy Romig Thomas Russell Amanda Ryan Maddie Sabo Anne Satterthwaite Clare Schaumann Cindy Scheeler
Elaine Scott Leigh Scranton Edwin Shafer Jessica Shahan Nathan Simasek Sara Simasek Victoria Sindlinger Marilyn Smith Lang Smith Holly Spinner Catherine Staples Brian Storey Holly Stoviak Art Strawbridge Doris Strawbridge Peter Strawbridge Liz Strawbridge Jackie Sweeney Joan Swirsky Doug Swope Jeanne Swope Genevieve Synder Daria Syskine Matt Taylor Laryssa Terleckj Ihor Terleckyj Sarah Thrall Randy Thurgood Randy Thurman Cal Tracy Willistown Troop 78 Carolyn Turner Paige Turner Jim Van Alen Jack Vandegrift Alex Ventura Barb Vincent Jeff Vincent Brenda Vong Griffin Wada Dallas Wade Kathy Warden Zoe Warner Dale Weaver Jason Weckstein Scott Weidensal Andy Weik Caitlin Welsh Michelle Westcoat Jennifer Williams Randy Williams Jim Willson Regan Wilson John Witty Vicki Wooters Ciaran Way
This list may be incomplete. Please forgive any omissions or errors.
The Sycamore
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SOUTHEASTERN, PA PERMIT NO. 96
WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST 925 Providence Road Newtown Square, PA 19073
October 21, 2017*
MARY HUNT DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Save the Date!
Oct. 24, 2020
