Every spring is the only spri n g - a pe r pe t u a l a s to n i s h m e n t . ~ Ellis Peters
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Wetlands U People Whose Lives Have Been Impacted by Their Time at the Institute
By Executive Director Lenore Tedesco and Devin Griffiths of The Wetlands Institute
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n 1969, Herbert Mills made a stand for wetlands protection when he purchased 6,000 acres of coastal salt marsh in southern New Jersey and founded The Wetlands Institute. Mills embarked on a mission to create a research and education center that would forever change the history of Seven Mile Beach, Cape May County, and the region. Nestled within the marsh in the luxurious green ribbon of wetlands extending along the Atlantic and Delaware Bay coasts, The Wetlands Institute continues to respond to the challenges facing this irreplaceable coastal ecosystem and remains resolutely and passionately committed to fulfilling the three priorities of its mission – research, conservation, and education – every day. The Wetlands Institute is more than its four walls; it is a gateway. The marsh is our laboratory and classroom. It was Mills’ dream that the people of Seven Mile Beach and the surrounding region would take action to protect the marsh and the wildlife that depend on it. For more than 50 years, The Wetlands Institute’s research and conservation scientists, educators, seasonal staff, volunteers, and community scientists have brought this dream to life. We are honored to share a few stories of a handful of individuals whose lives have been impacted by The Wetlands Institute.
Forty-two years ago, John Flynn became a summer intern and discovered the world of land preservation. It changed his life. “The summer of ’82 exposed me, for the first time, to the extraordinary community of people working in science and education,” he says. “I had never encountered individuals who were so talented and so completely committed to their work. I returned to Stockton that fall with a new focus. I had learned the cold, hard truth that I was not cut out to be a scientist myself, but I realized I could find a place where knowledge of the sciences could guide decision-making in policy-oriented areas.” Flynn dedicated his career to land preservation and retired as the State Trails Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program. He also serves on The Wetlands Institute Board of Trustees. Three decades after Flynn’s experience, Jessica Klein was impacted by The Wetlands Institute’s internship program as well. “[My time as an intern] instilled in me a lifelong love of coastal wetlands,” she says. “I keep an eye out for turtles every time I drive in late spring and early summer. On a purely personal level, my time at TWI made me a more confident
person. Having the support of my fellow interns and supervisors, getting to work with the public, learning new skills, and presenting my summer research really made me believe that I could make it in the environmental field. My time as an intern helped me to get my current job at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.” Katie Sellers Reynolds is a former camp participant, then seasonal staff
member and finally, a staff scientist at TWI. She now is a regulatory affairs manager at Ocean Renewable Power Company, working to advance sustainable energy practices. “TWI taught me valuable lessons on teamwork and how a small team can be mighty,” she says. “I recently moved to a smaller company and am thrilled to reacquaint myself with the small-team atmosphere and implement some of the day-
Julia Dahms, Oliver Puckett, Carly Shaw, and John Flynn. continued on page 82
Seven Mile Times Spring 2024
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