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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, 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 1830s, 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, formerly known as the MacArthur Tract, were officially named in his honor in January 2004.

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.

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. and The William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation..

SWCA, is managed by four volunteer board directors; the Director of Forest Management, the Director of Education, and the Director of Finance. There is currently an opening for the Director of Communications position.

John Nystedt, Director of Forest Management
John oversees restoration projects in Saddler's Woods, applying his industry experience to Saddler's Woods. 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.

Marguerite Downham, Director of Education
Marguerite "Maggi" Downham conducts tours and leads educational activities for students of all ages. She worked for many years to preserve Saddler's Woods, and was honored by the Delaware Riverkeeper organization and the Audubon Wildlife Society for her activismand stewardship. She is a teacher of business education with a Master of Arts Degree from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey.

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 received her B.A. in English from Catawba College and has over 15 years of management experience. Janet executes grants, oversees daily operations and ensures that SWCA succeeds in its core initiatives of restoration, education and research.

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