Meet Samantha Collins Sam joined The Wetlands Institute as a Research Scientist in early April. Before arriving she served as the Refuge Ornithologist at Rockefeller Refuge researching avian species of concern to better inform conservation, management and restoration. She served as a biologist with the Bird Banding Laboratory where she managed...

Coastal Conservation Research Program The 2019 Coastal Conservation Research Program interns have been fully immersed in their summer at the Institute, learning new skills, contributing to our projects, and developing their own individual studies: Tully Frain*, University of Connecticut Zachary Hulmes+, University of Rhode Island Jamie Infanti*,...

The Wetlands Institute is pleased to announce our 50th Anniversary Endowment Campaign to raise $3.5 million. Our 50th Anniversary is an ideal moment in our history to seek endowment support, and building our endowment is the most important investment we can make. Staying true to our mission, we will invest in the people and programs that define...

by Amy Swanson, Supporter I grew up in a small blue-collar town outside Philadelphia. Most families had both parents working to make ends meet, and some lived in poverty. If college was a goal, then a scholarship was needed. I had a passion for science that started early. In elementary school I wanted to know how things worked. In junior high I...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director It’s spring in the wetlands and the marshes are vibrant and full of life. So too is the Institute, with the undergraduate interns settled in for a remarkable learning experience and personal discovery. Visitors come in every day to learn about this wonderful environment, and grandparents, parents and...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Fifty years ago, the founding of The Wetlands Institute marked a milestone in the history of the conservation movement. In 1969, Herbert Mills and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) made a stand for wetland protection on a national stage, and they did it here in South Jersey. Mills, then WWF Executive...

Stone Harbor, NJ (April 22,  2019) – The Wetlands Institute (TWI) and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind (Ørsted) are pleased to announce a partnership to execute this year’s “ReTURN the Favor NJ” project, an annual campaign that is implemented by TWI and partnership organizations to support recovery of the state’s horseshoe crab population. Each spring...

The Wetlands Institute and Sturdy Savings Bank reaffirmed Sturdy Savings Bank’s commitment to supporting The Wetlands Institute’s mission of promoting appreciation, understanding and stewardship of wetlands and coastal ecosystems through our programs in research, conservation and education.

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director It’s 2019, and it’s a very special year for all of us at The Wetlands Institute. This is the year we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Institute’s founding. The milestone is providing a perfect opportunity for us to look back at the remarkable history of the organization and celebrate all the...

by Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development As The Wetlands Institute prepared to celebrate its 25th Anniversary, Education leadership at the time wrote the following: “What are The Wetlands Institute’s plans for the next twenty-five years? What roles are we planning to play in the field of research, education and conservation?...

As we celebrate 50 years since the founding of The Wetlands Institute, it is an opportune time to explore our roots, and reflect upon our journey.

Stone Harbor, NJ - On February 17, 2019, The Wetlands Institute is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its founding. The non-profit organization has a mission to preserve, protect and steward wetlands and coastal ecosystems and fulfills its mission through programs in research, conservation and education.  The Wetlands Institute was founded...

by Brooke Knapick Environmental education for our youth is key to ensuring a future for the wetlands and coastal ecosystems. For many years, The Wetlands Institute has maintained long-standing partnerships with local schools in both Middle Township and Ocean City. Beginning in 2016, we extended these partnerships to include schools...

by Dr. Lenore TedescoThis summer, I wrote about the sea of plastic and its impact on marine life. I spent a lot of time working with the Boroughs to craft appropriate ordinance language and educate the councils on the issues. I also challenged everyone to do something about it by finding ways to reduce, reuse and recycle in our daily...

by Evelyn Rider, Herbert Mills Legacy Society Member Having been a member of the Wetlands Institute for nearly 20 years, I decided to include The Wetlands Institute in my estate planning. The natural world of the shore is both enjoyable and important to me. As a young child, I loved being outside! Nature was a big part of my life. My...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director As I write this column, the monarchs are migrating and the marsh has taken on a multitude of colors reminding us of the changing seasons. By now, you all know that my internal clock is tuned to the annual cycles of migrations and changing patterns of vegetation. As a geologist by training, I...

by Dr. Lenore TedescoMilestones are significant and here at The Wetlands Institute we are about to celebrate a milestone. The Wetlands Institute turns fifty in 2019. Fifty years is a notable achievement and especially for a small non-profit. It’s a great time to reflect on the past and also to look to the future. It’s a wonderful opportunity to...

Coastal Conservation Research Program It was a busy, muddy summer with the Coastal Conservation Research Program interns. We were able to learn so much through their contributions, and had a great time doing it! The crew of six– all undergraduates or recent graduates – helped us collect data to monitor diamondback terrapins, coastal birds,...

In July, Quest for the Best Foundation awarded the Institute with a two-year grant of $82,698 to support the Diamondback Terrapin Conservation program. Grant funds are in support of the headstarting program, mark and recapture work, intern support and the Terrapins in the Classroom Program. The grant also provides funds to support the expansion...

by Brian Williamson In an effort to fill gaps in our knowledge of behavior and survival of juvenile terrapins, we initiated a telemetry study to track movements of head-started juvenile terrapins this summer. We are partnering with Cellular Tracking Technologies (CTT), a wildlife tracking company based in Cape May County, New Jersey, to test the...

by Anne Galli For 50 years the Wetlands Institute has been moving forward founder Herb Mill’s vision for a coastal research, conservation and education facility supported by a community convinced that coastal wetlands are of paramount importance. Step by step, day-by-day, project-by-project. Some of the initiatives have been consistent, ongoing...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Another summer is screaming by. Part of me can’t believe it’s going by so quickly, while another part of me is excited by all the wonderful accomplishments of the team here. Hundreds of children are exploring the marsh and beach and connecting to nature through Summer Nature Programs. Thousands of...

Jamie is our new Manager of Advancement, and helps coordinate fundraising and marketing efforts at TWI. Her passion is connecting people with environmental issues, encouraging them to support projects which impact quality of life and the environment. A marketing internship, and then entry-level positions with environmental nonprofits taught her...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco I often wonder about my role, my contribution, my impact. Perhaps it’s because I think about the impact the average American lifestyle has on the environment so much that it has become alarming. I am talking about our disposable society, and the starkest, in your face awareness comes when you actually open your eyes and look...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director For the past 4 years, scientists at The Wetlands Institute have been working as part of a project team that includes the US Army Corp of Engineers, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, The Nature Conservancy and many others working to understand if we can provide ecological benefit to marshes...