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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
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Jean Hefty ( left) with her
husband Bob at a Tour day in Saddler's Woods.
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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.
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Saddler's Woods Welcome Area
250 MacArthur Boulevard, Haddon Township, NJ 08108
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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
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