Views From the Tower - Spring 2024

Views from theTower

Creating an Ethic of Stewardship Across Generations

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director, & Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team

The Wetlands Institute (TWI) is a gateway to connections that inspire stewardship. Our mission is to promote appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of wetlands and coastal ecosystems, and for the past 55 years, we have fervently believed that the most meaningful way to fulfill our mission is to build a cadre of informed and concerned individuals to be stewards of the marshes for generations to come. It is foundational to our work that the people of Seven Mile Island and the surrounding region take action to protect the marsh and the wildlife that depend on it. We are honored to share stories, spanning generations, of a handful of individuals TWI has influenced to make stewardship a part of their lives.

Forty-two years ago, as a summer intern, John Flynn discovered the world of land preservation and it changed his life. John shared, “The summer of ‘82 exposed me to the extraordinary community of people working in science and education. I had never encountered individuals who were so completely committed to their work. I returned to Stockton with a new focus. I realized I could find a place where knowledge of the sciences could guide decision-making in policy-oriented areas.” John dedicated his career to land preservation, retiring as the State Trails Coordinator, NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Green Acres Program. He also serves on our Board of Trustees.

Three decades later, Jessica Klein was impacted by TWI’s internship program as well. She shared, “[My time as an intern] instilled in me a lifelong love of coastal wetlands. It made me a more confident person. Having the support of my fellow interns and supervisors, getting to work with the public, learning new skills, and presenting my summer research really made me believe that I could make it in the environmental field. It helped me get my current job at NJDEP.”

As a former camp participant, seasonal staff member, and staff scientist at TWI, Katie Sellers Reynolds shared, “TWI taught me valuable lessons on teamwork and how a small team can be mighty. TWI taught me to be versatile as I practiced public speaking and pure science and blended the two with community science programming.” Katie is a regulatory affairs manager at Ocean Renewable Power Company working to advance sustainable energy practices.

Chandler Clay grew up coming here as a child and remembers seeing hatching terrapins and migrating birds. “One thing I still love is the feeling I get when I’m driving onto Seven Mile Island for the first time in early summer, rolling the windows down and taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. I’ve dedicated my career to protecting the environment - for nearly 10 years at the Environmental Defense Fund working to protect ecosystems like wetlands, grasslands, and forests, and now in a corporate sustainability role at Comcast. My childhood experiences have profoundly impacted how I choose to spend my time, both professionally and personally.”

These stories represent only a fraction of this community that cares deeply for one another and for our marshes – a critical resource. As TWI members and supporters, each of you are part of this multi-generational community of wetland stewards. We are grateful that you found your connection to the healing power of nature and count on your support as we continue to solve the complex challenges that face these marshes and our coastal communities. Together, we are a powerful force for change and for the restoration and preservation of these valuable habitats and the coastal way of life.

If you have a connection forged through a TWI program or experience, please share it.

John Flynn, right, with 2024 interns (l to r) Julia Dahms, Oliver Puckett, and Carly Shaw

Jessica Klein

Katie Sellers Reynolds

Chandler Clay, right, with her family

Deborah A. Hays, Chair

James Donohue, Vice-Chair

Hank Schellenger, Treasurer

Annie Ulichney, Secretary

Jeffrey Alderton

Timothy Jon Clay

John Flynn

William Hankowsky

Margaret McAllister

John Millar

Leadership

Jeannie Morris

Jon Tullis

Amy Welsh

William Wermuth Francis J. White III

Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director

Anne Brickley, Director of Administration

Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research and Conservation

Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development

Carol Wyland, Director of Finance

Research & Conservation

Julie Blum, Research Scientist

Samantha Collins, Research Scientist

Meghan Kolk, Conservation Scientist

Amanda Lyons, Research & Conservation Coordinator

Brian Williamson, Research Scientist

Education

Danielle Meeker, Aquarist/ Environmental Educator

Kelianne O'Shea, Environmental Educator

Erin Rawls, Outreach Coordinator

Development & Communications

Devin Griffiths, Marketing and Communications Specialist

Rae Griffiths, Office Assistant

Finance

Terrie Campbell, Finance Administrator

Christine Whaley, Finance Analyst

Administration

Kirsten Chervenak, Visitor Services Coordinator

Kimberly Dmytro, Tidepool Shop Manager

Michael Fridmann, Facilities Manager

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director

As spring arrives in the marsh, I reflect on the passing of another year and how things have evolved. I take stock in the external forces that drive our work, the accomplishments we have achieved so far, and all we have planned for the new year.

I have the benefit of seeing the marshes almost every day and have developed an intricate understanding of them and how they are changing. I am lucky to see them through the seasons and to witness the abundance of wildlife that relies on them for their well-being – and I am reminded that we too rely on these marshes for our well-being. I also see change at alarming rates, which seem to be accelerating every year.

Our work has shown that our marshes are beginning to drown under the specter of rapidly rising seas – seas that are rising at rates that exceed the marsh’s ability to keep pace. The symptoms are evident in the many sunny days when the marsh is underwater and in the ever-increasing number of open-water pools in the marshes. You are all familiar with the work of the Seven Mile Island Innovation Lab and the more than 30 scientists working right here to advance the practice of marsh restoration and creation. We are pleased to report that, together with our partners at the US Army Corps of Engineers and NJDEP, this fall we will undertake another critical restoration project that will elevate the marsh adjacent to TWI. Our goal is to reverse marsh loss and stabilize the marsh by

lifting the marsh using clean dredged sediment from a USACE NJ Intracoastal Waterway navigation dredging project. We have already conducted extensive research that has identified the need for action and informed the project design. We will have our eyes on the marsh to ensure success and continue to learn more about the benefits of these projects. You can read more about the project at wetlandsinstitute.org/smiil-fact.

This work is not only restoring marshes here but is a catalyst driving marsh restoration work throughout the state and helping to get more projects on the ground quickly. The expertise we have developed and the knowledge we have generated is being shared with federal, state, and local governments, other scientists, and natural resource managers. We are helping to provide answers and alleviate concerns from regulatory agencies and providing tool kits to others to ensure marsh restoration projects are well-conceived, addressing the most important marsh areas with the hope that we can have measurable impact on scales that matter – for the marshes, the wildlife that depend on them, and for the resilience they provide to our local communities. Though this work is focused locally, it has impact on a global scale.

Stay tuned for many more opportunities to learn about this work and see firsthand how we continue to Make No Small Plans and why it means so much.

Three Generations of Connection

by Chip Roach, Institute Supporter and Loyalty Society Member

We have been visitors to The Wetlands Institute (TWI) building and donors for decades. It is TWI’s stewardship of the tidal marsh and the architectural beauty of the headquarters building that were the main motivators of our giving.

Then, onto the scene came twin boys, named Justin and Garrett Roach – our grandsons – who were intrigued with learning more about the bay. They began to spend summers near us in Stone Harbor and were amazingly curious. As their involvement deepened and they attended the evening children’s programs, our grandsons got to touch some critters brought by visiting teachers, and we became hooked.

the evening program since the existing long-term sponsor had canceled without much notice.

board member, not my wife and me, but our daughter-in-law, Cindy Roach, and the mother of our twin grandsons.

Enter one of the board members, Lois Hamilton, who occasionally introduced the speakers for the evening family night events and was always a champion of TWI. She called and asked us to sponsor

Bless board members who are not afraid to ask for help… it is a rare attribute and Lois is always there. Next, Lois called to ask for help with nominating a future

Supporting the Future of Research

by Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team

The Wetlands Institute is pleased to announce it has awarded the first fellowship in the Jeannie Morris Graduate Fellowship Program for Coastal Conservation and Research. Our first fellowship recipient is Garret Maggio, a Ph.D. student in the Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry Program at East Carolina University.

“The launch of the Jeannie Morris Fellowship Program stands out as a significant milestone in our capacity to advance core research and conservation objectives and support students and early career professionals entering the field. We are excited to work with Garrett and future Fellows through the program,” says Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research and Conservation at The Wetlands Institute.

The Fellowship supports academic

training and development and diversifies and expands research endeavors focused on wetlands and coastal ecosystems. It was made possible by a generous donation from Jim and Jeannie Morris. “We are pleased to support the research aspect of TWI’s mission by endowing a yearly research fellowship for graduate students,” says Jeannie.

Garret will use this $10,000 fellowship to investigate the population structure of the diamondback terrapin, a species central to the work of TWI. Terrapins live exclusively in tidal wetlands and can be quite difficult to find, capture, and survey. Through this work Garrett, hopes to provide a new tool to help researchers learn more about terrapin movements and dispersal, and inform future research and conservation efforts for the species.

Cindy’s involvement drew us ever deeper, especially as one of her efforts had been the search committee who had discovered a new leader for the Institute, Lenore Tedesco… a strong leader. We were drawn into Lenore’s strategy of making “no small plans” for TWI’s future. We have been intrigued by watching a sleepy nonprofit start to thrive in the community, plus set and accomplish many new goals.

We have joined with our son, Tim, and Cindy along with their sons to become dedicated supporters. Three generations of our family are committed to this valuable organization and its mission to promote appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of wetlands and coastal ecosystems through their programs in research, conservation, and education.

The Roach Family on a Horseshoe Crab survey

Jeannie and Jim Morris

2023 Donor Honor Roll

$25,000 and up

Ray and Ellen Burke*

Bill and Rosemary Hankowsky

The Leff Family Foundation

Jim and Jeannie Morris*

Jim and Barbara Summers*

Virginia F.C. Batchelder Foundation

Samuel Vrooman and Denise Cifelli*

The Ward Family Foundation

The Wiseman Family Foundation

The Estate of John Wright III

$10,000 to $24,999

Sana and Andy Brooks *

Diller Family and Foundation, Inc.

The Edgebrook Foundation 

Anne Galli *

Susan Handy *

J. Robert Herd† and Sally Herd

High Hopes Farm of West Grove, LLC

John Lazarich Foundation*

Larry L. Luing Family Foundation

Margaret McAllister

William and Sandra Mezzanotte

John Millar and Rault Kehlor 

Mary Millar*

Julian and Betsy Miraglia *

New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership

Quest for the Best

Marc and Kathy Uknis

Drew and Annie Ulichney

Valley Fund Charitable Foundation

Will and Jennie Wermuth*

$5,000 to $9,999

Aon Service Corporation

Avalon Yacht Club

Anne Bazik

Boscia Family Foundation

Hilary Budny and Joseph Taylor

Charlie and Wendi Chase

Michael Craig*

The David Nation/Suzan Willcox Family Fund

Jim Donohue and Carol Mager*

Terry and Lynn Fortino Family*

Joan Galli *

Rosemary Georganna*

Glenmede Trust Co, NA

The Estate of Ann Gundry

Lee and Nicky Harp*

Michael and Deborah Hays*

David Juras

William and Melissa Lafferty

Linda and Abe Littenberg

M&T Bank

Hugh† and Diana McFadden*

Jane Rakestraw*

Wayne and Kay Renneisen*

Chip and Nancy Roach*

Ron and Elaine Sandmeyer*

Hank and Julie Schellenger*

Sturdy Savings Bank*

Jeralyn Svanda*

Sam and JoAnn Thomas*

Jon R. Tullis

Laura Wilson and Mark Menting*

Spike and Gail Yoh

Jennifer (Jacobs) Zeigler*

$2,500 to $4,999

7 Mile Publishing and Creative, LLC

Anonymous

Archer & Greiner, P.C.

Avalon Flooring*

Marie Boylan and Jeffrey Freedman

Tim and Rose Clay 

Jim and Maureen Fendrick

Steve Frame

Glenn Insurance*

Hafetz & Associates

ICONA Avalon

Linda Keil*

Robert and Maryann Kelly

Rick and Lizann Killmeyer*

Helen Kroh

Tom and Candy Kurlak

William and Tracey Labrum

Lang Rogers Family Foundation*

Brad Leisure

Terry and Betty McCabe*

Joan Narrigan*†

Opera Wine Imports, LLC

PSEG Services Corporation*

RJ Soens Group - Compass RE

Tim and Cindy Roach*

John and Amy Swanson

Brian and Mara Taffe

Roy and Susan Tedesco*

Wakefern Food Corporation

Philip and Amy Welsh*

Ann Whitman

$1,000 to $2,499

Harry and Pat Allex

Anonymous

Bob and Joyce Asher*

Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Inc.

Avalon Home and Landowners Association

Lindsey Dickinson Baynard

The Boland Investment Group of RBC Wealth Management

Brandywine Developers

Brown & Brown of New Jersey, Inc.*

Bryn Mawr Trust

Phil, Lisa, and Andrew Buckingham

The Clem Family

Concentus Wealth Advisors

Marge Corson*

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC

Jim Crum

John and Muriel Cuthbert*

Bill and Hilary Dahms*

Russell and Jessica Deighton

Tom and Maggie DeVita

The Estate of Roberta DeVries*

Paul and Anne Disdier and Family*

I.S. and Tita Eberly*

Eden Charitable Foundation

Eldon Builders

Therese Esperdy and Robert Neborak*

Mike and Pat Evans

Loretta Finnegan*

Fitzpatrick, Bongiovanni & Kelly, PC*

John Flynn and Kathe Hocevar*

Foster-Karney Foundation Fund

Cameron and Diane Fowler*

Rod and Pam Gagne

Gary and Nancy Gallagher

Tom and Mary Grein

Aidan Griffiths, Bufflehead Nature Tours

Stephen and Mary Ann Gring*

Dolores Guerrero

Halliday Financial Group

Barry and Lois Hamilton*

Karl and Katie Hausker

Hays Sheet Metal, Inc.*

Jack O’Brien and Alexa Hays-O’Brien

Cole and Diane Henry*

Bonnie Higgins and Thomas Sullivan*

Ralph Hueske

Dwight Jenson

Joanne D. Brown Foundation

Dorothy Linvill-Neal

The Lobster House

Kevin and Trisha Luing

Lund’s Fisheries, Inc.

Dan and Rebecca Magee

John Mazzo*

Paul and Bea McKirgan

Stephen Miller*

Stephen Mottola

OceanFirst Foundation

Joan O’Shea

Duane and Martha Parker

Ruth Patterson

The Phillies

Scott and Lorraine Reese*

Amy Katz Rickenbach

Chris and Dawn Ryan

Dennis and Beth Salter

Scarborough Marine Group

John and Jana Scarpa

Richard and Kathleen Schmidt

Schultz & Williams

Steve and Lori Scott

Shoprite of Hunterdon County, Inc.

Skimmer Tours, LLC

Charlene Smith and Richard Pike*

Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Lenore Tedesco and Nancy Fribley*

Susan and Tim Terranova

Steuart and Linda Thomsen

Ashley Tobin*

Mike and Marty Torpey*

John and Holly † Tyson

Mark and Mary Van Kooy

Joseph and Elaine Watson

Westside Distributors, LLC

Trey White III and Christine Reynolds 

Yacht Club Of Stone Harbor

Hal and Sharon Yoh III

Dominick Zampino

$500 to $999

John Aglialoro and Joan Carter

Thomas and Pamela Allingham

Anglesea Colony Gardens

Condo Association

Anonymous (8)

Clifford and Colette Anzilotti

Keith Bancroft

Karen Barnes

Bells School

Jim Betz

Sharon Bojcik

Carolyn Boris

John and Amy Brennan

Mary and Patrick Bridgeman

James Bromley

Stewart and Laura Bryan

Cape May Winery*

David and Ruth Capuzzi

Jim and Beth Carll*

Marc and Lauren Carpenter

Chubb Charitable Foundation

Circle Liquor

Brian and Julie Clements*

Coco Blu

Joseph and Jeannie Colalillo*

Colin and Leslie Convey

Brenda and Bob Dale

Linda Davis-Moon and Jefferson Moon

Joseph and April Denny*

Matthew and Sue Dougherty

The Wetlands Institute depends on the generosity of our donors, whose support is pivotal in helping us sustain and expand our programs in research, conservation, and education. Thank you for partnering with us!

EarthShare of New Jersey*

Ebbitt Room/Virginia Hotel

Daniel Engel

Elaine Faulkner

Ritson and Julie Ferguson*

Donna Ferraioli*

Dale and Leslie Florio

Caelan and Aven Ford

Bill and Linda Furge

Jim and Mantura Gallagher

Jack and Jennifer Gensemer

Luis Gomez

Paul and Kathy Gonsalves

Mike and Dot Green

Joe and Bethann Griesser

Rae and Devin Griffiths

Harbor Outfitters*

Charles and Mary Louise Hartman*

Michael and Ann Henahan*

Christine and George Henisee

Thomas and Sharon Higgins

Harry and Louise Hill*

The Hodges Family Foundation*

Roger and Jennifer Holland

Bob and MaryBeth Humbert

Jean Hunter

Gwyn and Irv Hurd*

Bonnie Jack*

Kathryn Kearns and Brian Campbell

Father William Kelly

Helen Kushla*

Carol D. Lane*

Hillary Leonard

Lauren Long

Martin and Mary Lukacs*

Michael and Teresa Mallon*

Anthony Martino

MaryCate McDonough

Kirsten McNamara

John and Lisa McNichol*

Christopher Mills

Reese and Phyllis Moore

Gerry and Michelle Mulkeen*

Nev-R-Enuf Sportfishing

Fay J. Oxenreider*

Nathaniel Paier

Howard and Mary Panitch

Allison Pescatore and John Palma

Steve and Kris Pfeiffer*

Felicia Pfeiffer Angus and Michael Angus

Pier 47 Marina

Seymour and Jean Preston*

Printfresh

Provence

Vickie Rosskam*

Peter and Amy Sargent

Peter and Bonnie Schorsch

Bob and DiDi Scott

The Shore Club

Charles and Mary Jane Slugg*

Eileen Smalfus*

Tara Smith

Michael and Jennifer Steiner

Tim and Kristen Stout*

Robert and Susan Tafel*

Bud and Claire Thalman*

Ronald Triolo

Miles and Judy Truesdell*

Kenneth and Carol Walck*

Chuck and Carol Walsh*

Lisa Walters

Dale and Lauri Wannen

Jim and Dale Watson

John and Susan Willett

Tim and Nancy Wilmott

Terry and Judi Wochok

Ron and Ruth Workman*

Michele and Jeremy Wright

Brett and Jenna Yeager

Harvey and Julie Zalesne

$250 to $499

Margery and Frank Abel

Jim Amigh*

Carol Angelo

Anonymous (19)

Mark Attmore

Pete and Bonnie Ault*

Zachary Baer

Paul Barbin

Carolkay Barre*

Ashley Bennett

Lynn Biggart

Eugene and Joan Bissell

Andrew Blair*

Charles and Barbara Blake

Ann Bloom

Lynn Bowlby

Beth and Richard Brake*

Eileen and Neil Brazidis

Christopher and Patricia Brown*

Kenny Brown*

Audrey Buckingham*

Bob and Linda Bugden*

Thomas Cahill

Cape May County Zoo AAZK

Chris Caran

Joan Cavalier

Anthony and Donna Celentano*

Ray Classen

Robert and Brooke Coldren

Andrea Corbley*

Bill Cordasco

John and Gloria Corrado

Robin and Rob Crowl

Denice Dennis

Ed and Beth DiMarcantonio

Robert and Kate Doms

Jan Dougherty*

Joyce Ferguson*

Lisa Ferguson

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick

James and Nancy Foulk

Michael and Faith Fiocco

Christopher Fowler*

Wyman, Cheryl, and Katherine Fowler

Benjamin and Stephanie Frick*

Craig Garretson

Gary and Laura Gehman*

William Griffenburg

Carole Griffiths

The Grosso Family*

Barbara Kirch Grudt

John and Cecelia Hallinan*

Thomas and Theresa Harlan

Warren and Melanie Harlan

Melanie Harlin

Liz and Rich Hefner

Timothy and Donna Hegge

The Heywood Family

Julia Horowitz

Tim and Aurora Hughes*

Holly Hummel*

Mary Beth Hurley*

Andrew and Janet Ingrahm Dwyer

Jackson Family Wines

Jasmine and Iris Take Action Fund

Lyn Jordan

John and Barbara Kelly

Stephen and Veronica Kepchar*

Bruce, Pam, Alex, and Danny Kirch

William and Johanna Kramer

Dennis and Heather Kuczynski

Allan and Laura Kunewa

Bob and Dianne Lamina

Marie Elaine Lanza

Bill and Carol Lehman

Georgene Lockwood

Phyllis Lowe*

Low Tide Ocean Products

Maureen Luschini

Andy and Roxanne Majka*

Megan Matro

Lynn Matthews*

Leonard and Helena Mazur*

Tom McClintic

John and Suzanne McGowan*

Bob and Laurie McLaughlin

Mari McLean and Ann James*

John and Fay McManus

Kathleen McNicholas*

Julie Mealo*

Chip and Mary Jane Menz

Jim and Hannah Miller*

Warren and Tara Miller

Ralph and Esther Milnes*

Hugo and Linda Monformoso*

Paul Morse

William Moses*

Daniel and Cecelia Mowday

Mike and Lisa Munroe

Tim and Kelley Murphy

Cassandra Naylor*

Mary and Timothy Nelson

Anna and Christopher Norton

Tim and Marianne O’Shaughnessy*

Steven Parker

Kellyanne Patterson

Tony and Mary Petrick*

Pledgeling Foundation

Stephen Popowski

Diana Prokapus

Pursuit of Hoppiness Charters

The Reeds at Shelter Haven*

Phyllis Reger*

Eliot Robinson-Nettler

Avery Rome

Rosemary DePetris Foundation

Blair Russell

Richard and Beth Saunders

Henry Schellenger III

Stephen and Jeanne Schlussel

Joe and Leslie Schneid*

Ryan and Cynthia Schwarz

Alisha Slye

Greg and Emily Stahl

John and Patti Staley*

Stone Harbor Elementary School

Strathmere Fishing & Environmental Club

Bill and Cheryl Struble*

Nick and Lisa Tarrant

Brian and Laura Torchin

Blair and Candis Trogner*

Gerard and Margaret Vaccacio

Suzanne Walters*

Joe and Jolly Waterman

Mike and Susan Weed*

Beth Wetzel-Honey*

Charles and Linda Whitman*

Charles and Susan Wolfe

Fred and Carolyn Wood*

Roger Wood

P.J. and Erin Yeatman and Family

Greg and Paula Zollner*

This list reflects donations greater than $250 received throughout 2023. For a more complete list, visit wetlandsinstitute.org/donors

In Honor of

2023 Honorary & Memorial Gifts

Stewart Campbell

Devin Griffiths

Barry and Lois Hamilton

Owen Hoffman

Barbara Lacey

Amarilice Lefton

Tara Desmond Lenz and Bill Hutchinson

Margaret McAllister

Anne and Wayne Parker

Kate Parker

Jennifer and David Pisani

Steve Ryan

Fay Servedio

John Shamlian

William C. Yoh

In Memory of

Lee Amigh

Gia Baxter

Richard Bold

Louis T. Braca, Jr.

Jean H. Bussell

Lt. Perry Capiak

Harry Casey

John Conway

Doug Cribbs

Mary Jo and Frank Dennis

John and Roberta “Bert” DeVries

Nicholas C. Edelman, Jr.

Lew Ferguson

Wayne T. Forehand

Emily C. Goldner

Gary Gretsky

Kerry Michael Guerrero

Ann Gundry

J. Robert Herd

Bob Hoffman

Ryan Kemble

Janet Herd Kirch

Andrew Kousmine

Frances Lastowka

Elizabeth Hays Lockbaum

Harold E. Long, Jr.

Chris Long

Justin McCaffery

Hugh J. McFadden, Jr.

Joan Trotter Narrigan

John D. Ohls

Betty O'Toole

Bridget Bachmann Park

Thomas G. Pfeiffer

Doris Raker

Tim Richmond

Nancy and Sam Roberts

Philomena Tedesco

Stephen J. Triolo

Holly Hoch Tyson

Dante Volpe

Bill Weimar

We strive for accuracy in all that we do, but if we made an error in the listing, please contact us to help update our records.

Connecting to Conservation with The Marshketeers

As winter begins to release its icy grip and give way to the advancing spring, a small group of us awaits the return of feathered friends from afar: migration is nearly upon us. The birds are on their way, and The Marshketeers are ready. On May 11, our intrepid band of irrepressible birders will once again take on the annual caffeine-and-carb-fueled birding marathon that is New Jersey Audubon’s World Series of Birding.

Last year – despite challenging weather and hordes of biting

Help Us Soar!

Your generous gift today can help us make a real difference for birds! Can we count on you? Proceeds go directly to supporting our coastal bird conservation programs. There are several ways to support us:

1. Pledge an amount per species identified, and send your contribution after we tally the results.

2. Contribute a fixed amount to send in right away.

3. Offer an additional pledge based on whether we find this year’s Bonus Bird, the Clapper Rail.

Help advance our coastal bird conservation work by supporting The Marshketeers. Donate or pledge online at wetlandsinstitute.org/wsob, download a printable pledge form, or call us at 609-368-1211.

insects – The Marshketeers tallied 134 species and raised close to $10,000 for conservation. For 2024, we’re aiming to break the $10,000 mark – and with your support, we know we can reach it. To help us on the way, we’ve chosen another bonus bird near and dear to our hearts. The Clapper Rail has been a focus of our research and conservation efforts since 2014, and, as a species at high risk from marsh loss through rising seas, it serves as a stark reminder of the critical nature of our work.

The Marshketeers are sponsored by

Spring Happenings

As the harbingers for spring arrive back in the salt marsh, The Wetlands Institute will be open daily starting May 20, 2024! Unless otherwise stated, all activities are free with admission and occur onsite at The Wetlands Institute. Questions? Please call The Wetlands Institute at 609-368-1211.

Salt Marsh Safari

11am and 2pm Daily

Watch our award-winning film, Secrets of the Salt Marsh, then join us for an interpretive marsh walk along our elevated walkway and onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek!

Creature Feature

12:30pm Monday and Friday

During this live animal presentation, get up close and personal with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs, or the popular animals of Finding Nemo.

Aquarium Feeding

12:30pm Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Help us feed the local marine life! We will open up feeding three times each week so you can see the octopus eating crabs and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp.

Summer activities start June 17, 2024! Starting then, The Wetlands Institute will be open daily with expanded programs and activities happening throughout the day. Please check our website calendar for programming updates as we transition from spring to summer hours.

Tidepool Shop

Spring is here, and with it comes the promise of warmer weather and the season’s first walks on the beach – and The Tidepool Shop has a host of great books sure to spark the imaginations of ardent ocean enthusiasts, shell-seekers, and beach bums of all ages.

Take a stroll along the beach and learn all about shells and the creatures that inhabit them in What a Shell Can Tell, or plumb the ocean’s depths with the Atlas of Ocean Adventures and discover the incredible habitats and fantastic animals that await you! Explore life

both below and above the ocean as you travel Over and Under the Waves, or set out on an expedition Deep in the Ocean; with an accompanying soundtrack, this book is a feast for both the eyes and ears. No matter which of these wonderful books you choose, you’ll find yourself swept away on an ocean of adventure!

As always, your purchase at The Tidepool Shop directly supports our important work here at The Wetlands Institute. Stop in soon and see what’s in store and - Thank You!

Catch o’ the Day

12:30pm

Wednesday

Get your feet wet (or wear waders!) as you discover what swims in the back bays. Help us drag seine or dip nets through the water to find crabs, shrimp, fish and more.

Seashell Sunday

Sunday 12:30pm

Seashells at the seashore! Join us to learn all about seashells, how to collect them without harming the environment, and touch an assortment of live mollusks and cool artifacts.

Enjoy a virtual visit to The Wetlands Institute, anytime and anywhere, by visiting the Salt Marsh Safari section of our Virtual Wetlands Experience portal on our website. wetlandsinstitute.org/virtualwetlands-experience/startexploring

Our book and gift shop is open every weekend through May 19 and daily from May 20 to September 15. Can’t visit us? Give us a call or shop online at tidepoolshop.myshopify.com. We will ship your purchase anywhere in the United States.

1075 Stone Harbor Blvd.

Stone Harbor, NJ 08247-1424

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.

• Horseshoe Crab rescue walks

• Guided shorebird walks

• Birding and wildlife cruises

• Special horseshoe crab presentations

• Shorebird and horseshoe crab workshops

• Wildlife and bird tours

• and more!