Second annual “Future Stewards of the Bristol Marsh” educational program
Heritage Conservancy, an accredited not-for-profit conservation organization that specializes in preserving our natural and historic heritage, held its second annual “Future Stewards of the Bristol Marsh” educational field trip program on May 22nd to 25th at the Bristol Marsh Preserve, where nearly 200 students from Bristol Borough Middle School and Neil Armstrong Middle School were in attendance.
The Conservancy has been working as a local partner with The Nature Conservancy and Bristol Borough to promote the ecological restoration and stewardship of the Bristol Marsh Preserve, located in Bristol Borough in Bucks County, PA. The Preserve lies along the main stem of the Delaware River and includes a freshwater tidal marsh, a special type of wetland habitat found in coastal areas but rare in Pennsylvania.
Seventh grade science teachers and educators from the Silver Lake Nature Center and Bucks County Conservation District worked with the Conservancy to create the program, which combined in-class presentations and a field trip that touched on topics like tidal and non-tidal marshes, invasive plants, and different ways plants and animals adapt in a wetland area.
“This is a unique opportunity for students to learn about different ecosystems and increase their involvement in environmental sciences,” said Susan Myerov, Senior Planner at Heritage Conservancy and program leader. “Through direct connection with nature, we hope the kids will learn to appreciate this great natural resource in their own community!”
Heritage Conservancy supporters made transportation for the program possible. During a live auction held at the Conservancy’s annual Barley Sheaf Benefit Dinner on May 20th, guests were invited to bid on “Buses for Bristol.” In total, donors funded 13 buses that were used and will continue to be used to transport students from financially challenged districts to the Bristol Marsh for this educational field trip. Funding partners for the program also included the PA DEP Coastal Zone Management Program, TD Charitable Foundation and The Schiel Family Foundation.
For more information, including directions to the public access areas of the marsh, click HERE.
About Heritage Conservancy
Based in Doylestown, PA, Heritage Conservancy is an accredited not-for-profit conservation organization that specializes in open space preservation, planning for sustainable communities, natural resource protection, property stewardship, historic preservation, adaptive reuse of existing structures, wildlife habitat restoration and biodiversity. Through 50+ years of professional land use planning and design; innovative land conservation and historic preservation strategies; public outreach and education; and the application of “best management practices” for property stewardship, the Conservancy has established itself as a acclaimed full-service leader. Its recent national accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission affirms Heritage Conservancy’s commitment to excellence, trust and permanence. Learn more by visiting HeritageConservancy.org.
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