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Views from theTower
NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN 2020 | VOLUME 48 | NO. 3
Behind the Virtual Scenes
by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director, and Devin Griffiths, Marketing & Communications Specialist This has been quite a year. Coming out of 2019 with all the pomp and celebration of our 50th Anniversary, we were poised to seize the opportunity to create excellence for the next 50 years. Driven by the outpouring of support and passion for the Institute and our work, we were ready to take on the emerging challenges of today with renewed energy and an expanded base of support. And then everything changed. The global health crisis put an end to “business as usual” in all aspects of our lives. It required us to rethink how we could conduct research, offer programs, hold events, and connect people to nature safely and effectively in this new reality. Fortunately, we have an extraordinary team. With equal parts sweat and creativity, Education staff adapted or designed programs that were safe yet allowed for meaningful discovery, while Research and Conservation staff modified schedules and protocols to continue their critical research and conservation work.
Big events were another story, though – in particular our annual Summer Celebration. Part auction, part gala, Summer Celebration is our most important fundraising event of the year, and for those who’ve attended in the past, one of our most eagerly anticipated. We didn’t want to cancel, but under the current conditions, holding an indoor
gathering of this scope was impossible. The answer? Go virtual. This presented its own challenges. We had never attempted a virtual event before, and moving one of this scale online was daunting. We needed help.
Step one: Assemble an incredible planning committee. Arguably the most critical piece of the puzzle, this talented group helped us build a strategy for success and provided valuable perspective to help us shape the message for the evening. The planning committee told us what they wanted to know about the Institute and shared their connections. They helped us focus on who we are at our core and then encouraged us to simply tell our story and invite others to tell theirs. This meant developing a lot of content – which was incredibly important and challenging. We searched through thousands of images and videos, and shot new ones to fill in gaps or capture new projects and programs. We reached out to colleagues, former interns, board members, and friends, and asked them to tell their stories of what the Institute means to them or about their relationships with us. Though difficult, this process was exceptionally rewarding, reminding us of all we do and how our programs have transformed lives. We compiled everything into vignettes that displayed the essence of the Institute, pulling it all
together into a live, hour-long event. The day of the event, we converted our lecture hall into a video production studio and ran a full dress rehearsal, working out any last-minute details, ironing out kinks, and trying to calm our nerves. Over the weeks leading up to the broadcast, we spread the word: Summer Celebration was on, and all were invited to join in. And join they did. People tuned in from around the corner and across the country, celebrating with us, sharing their stories, and pledging their support of the Institute and the work we do on behalf of the world we share and the coastal ecosystems upon which we depend. It was exhilarating.
Thanks to our incredible team, extraordinary planning committee, and the generosity, love, and support of all our donors – whether they’d tuned in for the first time that night or had been watching us for years – we found the path that transformed our virtual event into a real success. We were able reach more people with our story and help people rediscover the Institute, learn about us for the first time, or gain a better understanding of the depth and breadth or our work and its importance for our well-being. If you missed the broadcast, you can still check it out. A recording is available at: wetlandsinstitute.org/events/summercelebration.
wetlandsinstitute.org | 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 | 609.368.1211
A non-profit organization studying, preserving, and protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems. Founded in 1969 by Herbert Mills, Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund.
Marsh Musings by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director
Deborah A. Hays, Chair Jane Rakestraw, Vice-Chair Robert Rich, Treasurer John Flynn, Secretary Jeffrey Alderton Raymond Burke, III Timothy Jon Clay, D.M.D Michael Craig John Cuthbert Roberta DeVries James Donohue Lois Hamilton
Trish Luing Mary Millar Wayne Renneisen Donna Rothman Hank Schellenger Amy Welsh William Wermuth
Staff Leadership
Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research and Conservation Bonnie Girard, Director of Finance and Administration Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development
It’s hard to believe the “summer that wasn’t” has come to a close. It has certainly been an unusual year thus far, and one I would like to put behind us. The quiet building is certainly something we are not used to during the summer. We finally were able to open to the public on July 1 and welcome you back with a focus on outdoor experiences. We were so happy to see everyone, and seeing families and children discovering the marsh and all her secrets has been wonderful and has helped lift the spirits of all of us. Just as you all continue to navigate this strange new world and the uncertainties of the fall, we do as well. We are working very hard to find the silver linings in all of this, as difficult as that may be.
Research & Conservation Samantha Collins, Research Scientist Brittany Morey, Research Associate Brian Williamson, Research Scientist
Education
Danielle Meeker, Aquarist/ Environmental Educator Erin Rawls, Outreach Coordinator Sue Slotterback, Environmental Educator
Administration
Terrie Campbell, Financial Admin. Assistant Jeff Dix, Maintenance Technician Kimberly Dmytro, Tidepool Shop Christina Faulk, Administrative Assistant Devin Griffiths, Marketing and Communications Specialist Stephanie Stroble, Front Desk Receptionist/ Admissions Coordinator Jamie Warner, Manager of Advancement Dale Watson, Gardener
Visit Us Hours: Starting September 12, open
Saturday and Sunday 9:30 to 4:30. Check our website for Holiday Hours. General Admission: Members: Free. Non-members: $8 Adults, $6 Children 3-12. Views From the Tower is the quarterly newsletter of The Wetlands Institute and can also be found on our website.
wetlandsinstitute.org
Pivot. One of the new words in our vocabulary has taken on incredible importance. As much as I don’t like the concept, it aptly describes all that we have been doing. Our Research and Conservation teams have been operating under modified schedules and protocols to continue their work and to steward the wildlife we work with. The Education team has been working to reimagine programs and offerings to create impactful and meaningful exploration and learning tools to help keep people connected to nature. Connections are so important,
yet it is connections that are the most difficult to safely provide.
The silver linings for me have been the new ways that we are learning to communicate and share with all of you. The virtual platforms that we have been creating have helped us to reach a broader audience and to share our work with people across a much larger geographic space. Our work has always been about much more than our local marshes, and the new tools and technologies that are now commonplace have given us an opportunity to take advantage of this added reach. We know that one of the best things about The Wetlands Institute is being at The Wetlands Institute. In these most unusual times, we are pleased that we can welcome you here, but also welcome you to the world of discovery all year round – and regardless of where you are. I miss seeing all of you and am humbled by your encouraging words and messages. We need each other through these times. If you would like to stop in for a visit or chat about how we are doing, remember my door is always open – let me know if you would like to find a way to catch up.
Finding Our Voices - It's in Our Nature by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director The strangest things happen when you least expect it. As we transitioned our largest fund-raiser, the Summer Celebration, from an in-person to a virtual event, we focused on how best to tell our story. Our story is that “It’s In Our Nature” – to preserve, protect and steward marshes and coastal ecosystems. It’s in our nature to use cutting edge research to inform conservation of sensitive species. It’s in our nature to train tomorrow’s environmental stewards. It’s in our nature to teach people of all ages about the wonders of the watery world of wetlands. It’s in our nature to connect people with nature so that they act for conservation – so that they will care.
that we need to hear more stories. In the coming weeks, we are launching an oral history project for The Wetlands Institute and we want to hear from you. We will create a space for you to tell your stories so your words can inspire the next generation of stewards.
We thought that it might be really great to have people tell us in their own words about their relationship to The Wetlands Institute. And they did! We received so many wonderful videos from friends near and far, spanning the ages from junior volunteers to retired career scientists. Their message was clear – this place matters and has had profound and life-changing impact on so many. The messages were so clear and the voices so loud, it quickly became apparent
Extreme Makeover: Salt Marsh Trail Edition by Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development content, with existing educational signage in Marion’s Gardens, on the elevated walkway and on the dock overlooking the tidal channel. In total, this suite of signage, creates a holistic self-guided learning experience that covers native plants, functions and values of the salt marsh, and commonly seen salt marsh plants and animals. The Wetlands Institute is a place of education, research and conservation, where people from all walks of life come to learn about the surrounding salt marshes. Over the past few months, The Wetlands Institute has been working to update and enhance weathered signage that was originally part of the National Park Service’s New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail. Realized from an Environmental Education Intern project, this summer, nine new plant identification signs were installed to replace the original aging and/ or missing signage. These new signs blend in seamlessly, in both appearance and
Visitors to the trail will also notice a restoration of The Bev Henry Marsh Trail Rubbing, a legacy trail offering children the opportunity to answer questions, while creating a crayon rubbing of a Northern Diamondback Terrapin. It was created in
memory of Bev Henry, who for over 30 years led hundreds of preschoolers on their first adventure on the salt marsh trail. In the final stages for this project, the Salt Marsh Trail Guide markers are receiving a much needed aesthetic revitalization, along with our guided phone tour signage.
Whatever your preference for self-guided learning about the salt marsh ecosystem, we have an opportunity for you, so come check us out. You can even take a virtual Salt Marsh Safari Tour as part of our Virtual Wetlands Experience by visiting: wetlandsinstitute.org/visit-us/institutemap/salt-marsh-trail/
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An Autumn to Remember: School Reimagined by Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development
As a return to the 2020-2021 academic school year commences, an all, or nearly all, virtual learning environment becomes reality for both formal and non-formal educators alike. At The Wetlands Institute, our early endeavors into remote and virtual learning, including our Summer Nature Program Adventure Chests, and their associated virtual Bitmoji Adventure Spaces, were a definite success with over 115 children experiencing the best of summer camp from the safety and protection of their own homes. Similarly, since June 2020, the Virtual Wetlands Experience – filled with educational resources for parents, students, and educators; virtual Institute tours and animal encounter videos; community connections; and much more – has been a welcomed and embraced initiative with nearly 1,690 visits to the webpage with 689 people returning to the site more than once. Along with these successes, however, came inevitable learning experiences,
and we are now leveraging both the successes and lessons learned to adapt our formal education programs, including our Environmental Education Field Trip Program, Traveling Environmental Education Program, Science Education at Sea Program, Scout Program, and Nature Education for Homeschool Educators and Students (NEHST) to meet the needs of the new virtual education landscape.
As studies reemerge highlighting the numerous benefits, both mentally and physically, of teaching outdoors, educators reimagine their academic year and look to realign their focus more acutely with this outdoor teaching style as one way for promoting equity, as well as health and safety, for their students. For over 50 years, The Wetlands Institute has offered one of the best outdoor classroom environments in South Jersey,
and as this current health crisis affects the formal learning environment, we stand ready to offer an enriching and unique learning opportunity to our students and our local community. Whether it be offering our grounds as a safe outdoor learning space, partnering with local schools to provide outdoor, place-based education programs on their school grounds, or by continuing to offer our traditional in-person programs, alongside our new Naturalist guided virtual program options, we are welcoming participants of all ages to choose from a number of hands-on activities and/or virtual experiences to customize a wetlands experience in the best format for each classroom, youth group, campground, or organization.
We know there are many steps remaining to addressing the new education frontier, and this is only our next step, but we invite you to rediscover and engage in what we have to offer.
Extra, Extra, Read All About It! A rare glimpse inside our virtual Bitmoji Adventure Spaces, part of our Summer Nature Program Adventure Chests. These Bitmoji Adventure Spaces provide online access to videos, activities, and other fun, educational content related to each week's theme. Are you looking for a unique birthday or surprise gift for that special child in your life? Or want to supplement your at home science learning and fun? Good news! We made extra chests in all your favorite themes. Call (609) 368-1211 to order yours today!
Welcome to the Boat House for a
Forces of Nature Summer Nature Program Adventure!
Around the Marsh: Research & Conservation by Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research & Conservation In our sphere, changing plans is a common practice due to weather, tides, behavior of the animals we work with, and new information learned. It’s the nature of the work we do. This year, our powers of adaption were put to a new test. Lucky for us, we are a group passionate about the work we do and the value of it. So, amongst the unknowns, disappointments, and pure strangeness of this spring, we paused to adjust and reconfigure the season, and set our focus to keeping projects running safely and smoothly as best we could. One of the hardest outcomes to contend with was the cancelation of our Coastal Conservation Research Program Internship. Without space to safely accommodate the six selected interns, we instead had to defer their positions until summer 2021 and reinvent our protocols and work areas for a significantly reduced summer staff. But we adapted, worked hard, and are pleased to report on some accomplishments from the summer.
Location and habitat data for our study area are acquired through regular tracking using a handheld device (lots of mud time!) and passive data collection from our node array. Many of the juveniles we tracked this year were headstarted by the wonderful teachers in our Terrapins in the Classroom program and the dedicated staff at Stockton University.
Road patrols and mark-recapture surveys for nesting diamondback terrapins kept us busy, with 558 terrapins saved from local roads and 431 eggs recovered for headstarting from the 592 terrapins suffering lethal injuries. We were so grateful to have experienced volunteers cover segments of our road patrol route so we could maintain our daily patrols.
The work of our Shorebird and Beach Stewards at Stone Harbor Point and USFWS Two Mile Beach Unit helped keep beach-nesting birds safe this summer and made more people aware of them and their conservation needs. It was a challenging season but we had a fantastic group of stewards and partners.
We initiated a Terrapin Stewardship program with our neighbors along Stone Harbor Boulevard so we can all become better turtle neighbors. Stewards attended virtual information sessions to learn and share ideas about keeping terrapins along this road safer during the nesting season. We were pleased with the enthusiastic response and the new turtle crossing signs in yards along the road. We see this as just the start to building a stronger community network to protect terrapins. Three years into our telemetry project, we are learning so much about juvenile and adult terrapins in the local marsh.
Black Skimmer
Birds nesting in the marshes were again subject to weekly monitoring surveys, with modified protocols and increased use of passive monitoring tools. Chick survival was followed to estimate reproductive success, and early records indicate this season was a better year than 2019 at our study sites, though numbers of nesting pairs were down. We also continued to band birds – Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, and Great Egrets – a first for The Wetlands Institute! Be sure to look for and report bands (see pictures).
We launched the reTURN the Favor program May 15, a twoweek delay that had volunteers anxious but eager to start. We restricted the program to experienced volunteers and held virtual trainings. Over 100 volunteers signed up and were out nearly every day to rescue crabs on 18 beaches. What they accomplished was inspiring! It was a busy spawning season, and we were so glad to be able to do the good work of the program, with over 100,000 crabs rescued this year. Thank you to all who supported our work this season with helping hands, patience through the difficult changes, partnership, and financial support. We couldn’t have done this without you!
American Oystercatcher
Great Egrets
If you see a color-banded bird, please report the code, species and location information to the USGS Bird Banding Lab at www.reportband.gov, or contact us at scollins@wetlandsinstitute.org for more information.
Go Paperless
Paperless newsletters are more sustainable and they help reduce our cost so a larger portion of your gifts directly support our research, conservation, and education programs. Sign up for our e-newsletter at wetlandsinstitute.org/about-us/newsletter.
Thank you to all our Sponsors who helped make this virtual event a success!
Our 6th annual - and first-ever virtual - Summer Celebration on the evening of August 6 was a huge success! We want to thank all who tuned in to celebrate summer and pledge their support for our mission and programs. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors and our 2020 Event Planning Committee!
- 2020 Gold Sponsors -
- 2020 Silver Sponsors -
- 2020 Bronze Sponsors Jeffrey H. & Lee Alderton
Hafetz & Associates
Avalon Honda
Halliday Financial
The Boland Investment Group of RBC Wealth Management
Harbor Outfitters Michael & Deborah Hays
Brown & Brown Insurance
OceanFirst Foundation
Bryn Mawr Trust
Jane Rakestraw
Concentus Wealth Advisors
RCTV Productions
Cross Country Mortgage
Stone Harbor Marina
Fiduciary Trust International
Philip & Amy Welsh
- 2020 Premier Friend Sponsors Chemglass Life Sciences Leslie & Dale Florio Painting By Pearce
- 2020 Planning Committee Jeffrey H. and Lee Alderton Chandler Clay
Trish Luing Mary Millar
Tim Clay
Bob and Josee Rich
Michael Craig
Cindy Roach
Victoria Deever
Donna Rothman
Bert DeVries
Hank Schellenger
Rosemary Hankowsky
Will Wermuth
Debbie Hays
Laura Wilson
Autumn Happenings As conditions allow, starting September 12, 2020, join us for activities on the marsh every Saturday and Sunday. Unless otherwise stated, all activities are free with admission and occur onsite at The Wetlands Institute. For the most up-to-date information, visit wetlandsinstitute.org/events.
Seasonal Science Activities 10AM - 4PM
Saturday & Sunday
Each month we will offer a new self-guided science activity related to seasonal changes in nature. We provide the supplies and you create the learning! Activities available at the Admissions desk.
Aquarium Feeding 11AM
Creature Feature & Craft 2PM
Saturday & Sunday
Watch our Virtual Creature Feature online and then pop in for a visit to get up close and personal with a host of live animals including turtles, crabs, mollusks, horseshoe crabs, or the popular animals of Finding Nemo. After the presentation, grab your very own take-and-make craft for home!
Saturday
Watch our Virtual Aquarium Feeding and then head on over to see the animals eat live in person. We will open up feeding time so you can see the box turtles munching veggies, the terrapins chasing fiddler crabs and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp.
Aquarium Teaching & Touch Tank Sunday 11AM Before you come, learn all you can from our Aquarist at our Virtual Bitmoji Aquarium Teaching and Watch Tank, and then view all the animals live including whelk, sea urchins, sea stars, mud snails, and more! You’ll even get to hold some from our touch tank.
All virtual presentations are available for viewing on the Aquarium Bytes section of our Virtual Wetlands Experience portal on our website. wetlandsinstitute.org/ aquarium-bytes/
The Wetlands Institute is closely monitoring COVID-19 developments and guidance issued by state and local agencies, specifically as they relate to our Autumn Happenings. As needed, we are planning for and adjusting our programs and operations accordingly to promote community and staff safety, both on our grounds and during our programs. When visiting us, please join us in creating a safe, enriching, and fun experience for all of our visitors by understanding our programs may be modified in accordance with this guidance. We will see you soon!
Tidepool Shop If you've missed the physical book and gift store here at The Wetlands Institute, we have great news: the Tidepool Shop has reopened! On Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30-4:30, you can browse the shop again for your favorite items, and check out what's new as well – like the new color of our popular Terrapin Conservation Project T-shirt. It's the perfect way to show your support of our local terrapins in comfort and style. Or pick up one of our guides to New Jersey's birding and wildlife trails of the Delaware Bayshore. It's the ideal gift for the bird lover in your family – and just in time for fall migration! For your convenience, you can still shop online 24/7 and either pick your items up here at the Institute or have them shipped right to your door. Browse our online Tidepool Shop at tidepool-shop.myshopify.com
or visit us at the Institute today and see what we have in store!
wetlandsinstitute.org
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Presort Non-Profit US Postage PAID Permit 1940 Bellmawr, NJ
1075 Stone Harbor Blvd. Stone Harbor, NJ 08247-1424
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A non-profit organization studying, preserving, and protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems
As a conservation organization, we have a special responsibility to address the global challenges of climate change and sustainability. We are committed to minimizing environmental impacts in all aspects of our operations. Visit our website at wetlandsinstitute.org/about-us/ sustainability/ for more on our sustainability initiatives.
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Views from theTower
The Wetlands Institute’s Annual
Call 609.368.1211 to buy tickets. Drawing: December 16, 2020, 1:00pm at The Wetlands Institute
Only 240 tickets being sold... Get yours today! *$12,000 if all 240 tickets are sold. No substitution of the offered prize may be made. Winner does not need to be present to win. Must be 18 years of age or older to participate. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call tollfree 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Net proceeds will be used to further environmental education and conservation programs at The Wetlands Institute. RA# 09-20 481-5-25895 Middle Township.
Lend a helping hand ... ... become a member or renew today! Membership does more than give you access to the Institute and our programs – it allows us to continue our impactful research, conservation, and education work on behalf of our coastal ecosystem and all who depend on it. Your support makes a world of difference, so become a member or renew today! Visit wetlandsinstitute.org/membership to join.
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