Annual Appeal 2023
Winter, 2023
Dear Friends of the Closter Nature Center (CNC),
Do you enjoy the natural beauty of our forest? Bird song? A walk in the woods? We do, too and that’s why we work so hard to maintain our precious 136 acres of forested wetlands and 3-miles of trails right here in Closter, New Jersey.
None of this work can be done without dedicated Trustees, volunteers our small staff and YOU, our friends, and members of the Closter Nature Center. With your financial support we educate hundreds of children in our after-school and summer programs while also doing the hard work of administration and the maintenance of aging infrastructure. In 2023 we added Wi-Fi to the cabin, replaced rotten boards on well-walked trails, seating on the cabin porch, installed a new shed for trail equipment and so much more.
The most important work we are doing is to save our forest.
Our treasured forest has been devastated by invasive pests which have resulted in the loss of 1,000 Ash and Beech trees or approximately 10% of the forest canopy. This loss of canopy, coupled with invasive growth and deer browse, both of which destroys the forest’s understory, makes the work it will take to save our forest even more critical. We have recently hired two consultants to help with a long-term plan and in 2024, we will launch a multi-year Forest Restoration project with plantings scheduled for spring.
Our Naturalist and a group of dedicated volunteers are also working to improve our “Native Species Protection Exclosures”. These Exclosures create areas within the forest where native plants can grow without interference from deer and help to regenerate the forest from the seed bank naturally occurring in our woods.
Not a surprise that addressing the environmental issues of today and the unknown issues ahead is putting a great strain on our financial resources.
The Closter Nature Center asks for your help today so that we can do the important work to save our forest for the community of tomorrow.
Your generosity will allow the CNC to continue offering onsite classes, a youth summer program, staffing, and to provide the stewardship needed for Closter’s 136-acre natural gem.
DONATE TODAY
Online: at www.closternaturecenter.org/donate-now.
Membership: If you are renewing your membership via Community Pass (www.register.capturepoint.com/closter), please consider upgrading it to a higher level of support.
By Mail: Closter Nature Center, PO Box 80, Closter, New Jersey 07624
Interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor? Contact us at admin@closternaturecenter.org for more information.
We thank you for your ongoing support!
Sincerely yours,
Closter Nature Center Association Trustees