homepage - outings - national - brochure - 12300a

The Trip

The Cape May area is rich with diverse woodland, marshland, and sandy beach habitats. The charming Victorian village of Cape May lies to the south, well-known resort beaches (e.g. Wildwood) lie to the east, and the unique Pine Barrens of New Jersey lie to the north. Our campground is inland in a beautiful state forest with lake and trails, private tent sites, hot showers, and facilities nearby. During our week in the Cape May area, we will assist The Nature Conservancy's Delaware Bayshores program in land, plant, and animal protection activities.

The Project

Among potential projects that we will perform for and with The Nature Conservancy are trail development and maintenance, invasive plant removal, and replanting of native plants. Previous trips in the area have involved trail clearing, maintenance, and participation in research on horseshoe crabs that are declining in the area . The TNC staff puts a lot of thought into the variety and pace of the work projects and they work side-by-side with us.

Itinerary

We will meet on Sunday, May 13th at the Belleplain State Forest Campground in Woodbine, NJ and eat our first supper together after setting up camp. Please plan to arrive no later than 4 p.m. During the week, we will gather at work sites identified by TNC staff and work about five hours per day. Afternoons will be spent in recreational outings to places of interest or free time. Our last meal together will be breakfast on Saturday, May 19th after which we will break camp and depart.

Getting There

The nearest airports are located in Philadelphia and Atlantic City; both have bus service to the Woodbine area. We can arrange pickup from the bus stop to the campground. A trip roster and further directions will be provided several weeks before the outing to facilitate carpooling for participants who wish to share rides.

Accommodations and Food

The group will camp in the beautiful Belleplain State Forest Campground with hot shower and toilet facilities as well as spacious, well-maintained campsites and running water for cooking. The Campground has a lake with beach for swimming and boating as well as several hiking trails.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated Moderate. The Moderate designation for this trip is based upon an activity involving step-building on sandy river bluffs, which occupied one work day last year. This constituted the most strenuous of the work assignments. Other options are also available. We take regular work breaks and sometimes alternate work with other activities such as short walks to see particular sights or kayak on the river.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants will provide their own tents, sleeping bags, and work clothing as well as dishes and flatware. Sierra Club provides the community cooking equipment. TNC will supply all necessary work tools. A detailed list of what to bring will be sent to confirmed participants several weeks before the outing.

References

• Cox, Donald, A Naturalist's Guide to Wetland Plants. 2002. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse U.
• Cox, Donald, A Naturalist's Guide to Seashore Plants. 2002. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse U.
• McPhee, John, The Pine Barrens. 1968. New York: Ferrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Conservation

Participants will assist in a variety of land and species protection activities in collaboration with TNC. The Cape May area has environmentally sensitive habitats that support biodiversity among wildlife and plant life, including species enroute between winter locations and summer breeding grounds. Both plant life and animals are threatened due to rapid alteration and development.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Sandy Raviv has been a Sierra Club member since 1984, and has participated in or led Sierra Outings to a number of U.S. coastal locations, including the Maryland Eastern Shore, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Cumberland Island in Georgia, Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Acadia National Park in Maine, and the Florida Everglades.

Assistant Leader:

Herb Wolff joined the Sierra Club in 1984. Since then, Herb has participated in many Sierra Club national outings, most, but not all being service outings including trips in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Maine and Massachusetts. Herb's related interests include study of local history, culture and geology. Herb resides in Warwick, New York.

E-mail: herbwolff@optonline.net

---

General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners