SWCA NOW ON FACEBOOK

We are excited to now have a facebook page where we can share comments and photos of our events and activities. Please join us!

Registration Now Open: Winter Children's Programs
Saddler's Woods Conservation Association will be hosting "Nature's Winter Wonderland" programs for children ages 4 - 9 years old. The "Chipmunks" group, for ages 4 - 5 will be held Fri. Jan. 20th from 4:30 - 6pm at the Haddon Township Environmental & Historical Center and on Saturday Jan. 21st from 1 - 2pm at Saddler's Woods.

The "Forest Explorers" group for ages 6 - 9, will be held on Fri. Jan. 27th from 4 - 6pm at the Haddon Township Environmental & Historical Center and on Saturday Jan. 28th from 1 - 2pm. Registration with payment in advance required. Cost per child $20 for non-members, $15 for members. Class minimum 3, maximum 10. For more information call 856 869 7372, or email info@saddlerswoods.org. Click Here for Program Brochure and Registration.

SWCA Member Jean Hefty Passed Away
Saddler’s Woods has lost a dear friend, Jean Hefty. Jean and her husband Bob were instrumental in helping to permanently preserve the woods. They did this in large part to carry the torch lit by their son, Doug Hefty, who worked to preserve Saddler's Woods as a freshman at Haddon Township High School in the early 1970s.

We hope you will take a moment to reflect on Jean’s contributions and keep the Hefty family in your thoughts and prayers. The family has requested donations in lieu of flowers to Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association, Ashland Evangelical Presbyterian Church, or Holt International Children's Services, 1195 City View St., Eugene, OR 97402

Jean Hefty ( left) with her husband Bob at a Tour day in Saddler's Woods.

Fall Newsletter:
Our fall newsletter is now available and features articles on our restoration work, recent grant awards and our very successful Fall Stewardship Event. Click Here to download.

About Saddler's Woods
Saddler's Woods is a 25 acre urban forest located in Haddon Township, New Jersey. Saddler's Woods surrounds the headwater spring of the main branch of the Newton Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River in Camden County, and is unique for its combined features of an old growth forest, young woodlands, a meadow, and wetlands all located within five miles of Philadelphia, PA. Every year, thousands of visitors enjoy Saddler's Woods for passive recreation and nature interpretation.

The old growth portion is a time-capsule, showing visitors the type of forest that once existed when the Arowmen and Erinwonek tribes of the Leni Lenape nation lived here. In the early 1600s, European settlers began to arrive and the forests were cleared for farms, timber, and fuel. In the 1800s, Joshua Saddler escaped a Maryland plantation to seek refuge among the large Quaker abolitionist population. Joshua Saddler found work with a local Quaker farmer, Cy Evans, and gained his freedom. He purchased a small farm and raised his family next to the woods. In 1868 Joshua Saddler wrote into his will that none of his heirs "shall cut the timber thereon". For this preservation ethic, the woods, were officially named in his honor in January 2004. Previously, the woods had never had any official name or designation.

Saddler's Woods Conservation Association
Saddler's Woods Conservation Association, SWCA, is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to education, restoration, and research of Saddler's Woods. Through programs, tours, hands on restoration, and field studies, we strive to promote the natural and cultural resources unique to this 25 acre urban forest.

Saddler's Woods Welcome Area 250 MacArthur Boulevard, Haddon Township, NJ 08108

The organization was formed by Haddon Township residents who were active in the movement to save the woods from an athletic fields development plan. But saving the woods was just the beginning. Unfortunately, Saddler's Woods had suffered decades of fragmentation and neglect. Since its preservation, SWCA volunteers have worked vigorously, logging hundreds of hours towards restoration and education. For its efforts, SWCA was honored by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, ANJEC, with an Environmental Achievement Award.

SWCA achieves its goals by partnering with community groups and area schools and by utilizing grant funds for restoration, education, and research. To date, SWCA has received grants from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Inc., the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Camden County's Open Space Clean Communities program, Conservation Resources Inc., REI, Marlton, the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation, and Subaru of America Inc..

SWCA, is managed by a volunteer board directors; three Advisory Directors, a Director of Communications,a Director of Education ( currently open), a Director of Forest Management, a Director of Finance and an Executive Director.

John Nystedt, Advisory Director
John applies his industry experience in an advisory capacity to the managing directors of SWCA. John is an associate at Andropogon Associates, Ltd. in Philadelphia, is a N.J. Certified Landscape Architect, and has 25 years of experience in landscape architecture and ecological planning.

Maggi Downham, Advisory Director
Maggi worked for many years to preserve Saddler's Woods, and was honored by the Delaware Riverkeeper organization and the Audubon Wildlife Society for her activism and stewardship. She is a teacher of business education with a Master of Arts Degree from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey. Maggi serves on many local boards such as the environmental commission and the planning and zoning board and offers her experience on local history and civic relations to the managing directors of SWCA.

Robyn Jeney, Director of Forest Management
Robyn has worked for the New Jersey Pinelands Commission since graduating from Penn State University in 2004. She earned a Masters degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in December of 2008. Robyn is responsible for the active management of Saddler's Woods to restore and protect native habitat.

Jesse Buerk, Director of Communications
Jesse holds a Master's degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and a Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He is currently employed with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Jesse is responsible for newsletters, media relations, and community outreach.

David Jacobs, Director of Finance
In addition to assisting with activities in the woods, David maintains the financial records for the association and pursues grant opportunities. David received his B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of New Jersey.

Janet Goehner-Jacobs, Executive Director
Janet has over 15 years of management experience. Janet was active in the movement to save Saddler's Woods from development and worked to found an organization dedicated to Saddler's Woods when preserved. Janet executes grants, oversees daily operations, and ensures that SWCA succeeds in its core initiatives of restoration, education and research.

Support our mission. Become a member!

Contact Us

About this site