WELCOME TO SCUDDER PRESERVE
Scudder Preserve is a 90-acre natural haven in the Navesink section of Middletown Township. Originally owned by the Scudder Family, a series of visionary land and conservation easement donations led to the property’s full preservation. In 2024, MCF became the permanent owner of Scudder Preserve. We are dedicated to stewarding this special land – the organization’s first land holding – as a nature preserve and community space; welcoming outdoor exploration and safeguarding the land’s ecological integrity.
Future Vision
Thanks to a transformative $1 million donation from an anonymous donor as seed funding and a critical grant partnership with New Jersey Resources, Scudder Preserve is entering an exciting new chapter. Planned investments are supporting habitat restoration, climate-resilient public access, and hands-on education programming, ensuring Scudder Preserve grows into a living classroom and a lasting refuge for both nature and people. Building on our dedication to land preservation and open space, in the coming years Scudder Preserve will become a living laboratory where educators, students, and conservationists can thrive. can play an important role in protecting our waterways, ecosystems, and wildlife.
“MCF is excited to enter this new chapter. Scudder Preserve is an important natural habitat, which offers tremendous opportunities for us to have a physical space for engaging with the public, conducting educational programming and demonstration projects for conservation and habitat restoration.”
– Matthew Cohen, MCF President (2023-2026)
Why Scudder Preserve?
MCF’s impetus for becoming a landowner was its strategic vision to establish a hands-on education and outreach plan to reach Monmouth County residents of all ages, focused on environmental sustainability and quality of life related to its mission. The organization rolled out a new three-year strategic plan in summer 2023 to re-establish and expand K-12 educational initiatives and devise a plan for land ownership.
This trend toward land ownership is growing in the land trust community because there is only so much land remaining that is not yet developed or preserved, and at some point, land trusts will focus primarily on fostering their protected lands. Thus, land trusts nationwide (including MCF) are thinking long-term about their changing role. In MCF’s case, our vision is to focus on educational outreach to immediately increase awareness and rally support for and involvement in land conservation, and into the future, continue to educate the public on environmental sustainability.
Get Involved
Visit Scudder Preserve
Free and open to the public to enjoy our nature trails, abundant wildlife, and lush scenery. Join us for year-round nature excursions and interactive lessons for all ages.
Managing a Natural Sanctuary for the Benefit of All Species
Scudder Preserve contains an abundant mix of natural habitats, including wooded areas with pockets of old growth and a Signature Tree, wetlands, ponds, stream corridor, and grassy meadows.
To restore and enrich the ecological health of the land, MCF is implementing a multi-pronged management approach as part of our land stewardship agenda, including projects to:
- Restore populations of native plants
- Improve the health of our forests and meadows
- Promote water quality
- Control invasive species
- Build climate resilience
This work is supported by a generous grant from New Jersey Resources through their Coastal Climate Initiative and other charitable donations.
NEWS & UPDATES
Follow Along as We Restore Scudder Preserve!
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Behind-the-Scenes as We Inventory Scudder Preserve’s Natural Resources
Q&A with Anthony Silva, Senior Biologist at DuBois & Associates…
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Preserving A Living Monument: A 201-Year-Old Tree Becomes a Signature Landmark at MCF’s Scudder Preserve
At the heart of Scudder Preserve in Middletown, New Jersey,…
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Q&A with Erica Muller: Forester for MCF’s Scudder Preserve
by Judy Musa MCF staff recently sat down with Erica…
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New Jersey Audubon and Monmouth Conservation Foundation Partner to Transfer Ownership of Scudder Preserve
To follow news about Scudder Preserve News, click here MCF…
Ecological Features and Stewardship Tools
Recognized by the NJDEP Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) Project as core wildlife habitat, Scudder Preserve provides essential resources for wildlife, including threatened and critical bird species, mammals, reptiles, insects, and flowering plants. To responsibly steward the property for long-term sustainability, we are using multiple stewardship tools that work together, including:
Natural Resource Inventory
Specialists conducted a year-long comprehensive analysis to quantify the presence and health of all natural features and life on the site, providing an important baseline to inform our management strategies. Learn more about our Natural Resource Inventory.
Forest Stewardship
Plan
A state-approved forester assessed the landscape and offers guidance on practices that enhance forest health and biodiversity while reducing the spread of invasives and the potential for fire.
Deer Management Program
As part of our Forest Stewardship Plan, we continue to address the ecological imbalance caused by overabundant deer populations through a carefully designed, controlled hunting initiative.
Watershed Assessment and Analysis
Professionals are evaluating existing water control structures and wetlands and recommending improvements for water quality and habitat health.
Explore More at MCF.
Featuring photography by: Scudder Family, New Jersey Resources, Emilee Carton, Jersey Shore Wildlife Photography, Kevin Knecht, Jena Cosimo, Karen Keene, DuBois & Associates, Element5 Digital, and Kathy Buchan.
