Week 2: Wilderness and Wildlife

Week 2 of the Young Stewards Summer Camp program will take campers exploring the different habitats that New Jersey’s native wildlife call home. The campers will also visit different wildlife refuges and sanctuaries which care for injured or orphaned native or exotic wildlife. Campers will understand the importance in assisting these animals and returning them back into the wild or placing them in the proper facilities. The campers will have a chance to meet with wildlife rehabilitators to understand ways they can help conserve the wilderness and wildlife of New Jersey.

Past field trips and activities included:

• Visiting the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, NJ. The campers had a guided tour of their Sea Life Museum and rescue and rehabilitation center. With the help of an intern from the MMSC the campers participated in a mock sea turtle on the beach where they learned the steps to a successful sea turtle rescue, including identifying injuries, proper handling, measuring and documenting techniques.
• Exploring Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, NJ. The campers get a unique experience at Woodford where we hike their 170+ acres of wilderness trails looking for signs of animals that are native to the Pine Barrens. Then we explore the resident wildlife that live at Woodford’s animal refuge permanently due to disabilities or habituation/imprinting.
• Visited The Raptor Trust in Millington, NJ to view up close and personal the many hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls that are permanent residents of the facility. The campers also were educated on what to do if they ever found an injured bird.