Stone Harbor in Cape May County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Building a Conservation Ethic Across the Ages
Photographed by Pete Skillman, August 3, 2025
1. Building a Conservation Ethic Across the Ages Marker
Mills chose this site for the center and engaged world-renowned architect Malcolm Wells to design a building that would welcome people to these marshes using a gentle and environmentally conscious approach. The building site had already been filled for a failed housing project that included a road to Scotch Bonnet Creek.
The Institute was dedicated in 1972 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, the global director of the World Wildlife Fund From 1972 until 1986, the Institute was managed as a biological field station for faculty at Lehigh University.
Early work focused on fisheries and wildlife surveys,
this page online
Educational programs and Institute research expanded dramatically in the late 1980s. In 1989, The Wetlands Institute established its Terrapin Research and Conservation Program, positioning the organization as a leader in terrapin conservation.
That same year, the Institute launched a student internship program, beginning a formal commitment to undergraduate training and mentoring. The program continues to this day, providing early career training for tomorrow's environmental scientists and educators.
In 2011, the Board of Trustees adopted the "Plan for the Future, ushering in an era of growth and expansion for The Wetlands Institute. Among the highlights of this phase was the development of the Seven Mile Island Innovation Lab, a collaboration with state and federal partners and other organizations focused on techniques to help marshes respond to climate change.
Developing an ethic of conservation can happen at any age.
Photographed by Pete Skillman, August 3, 2025
2. Building a Conservation Ethic Across the Ages Marker - wide view
Erected by The Wetlands Institute.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.
Location. 39° 3.653′ N, 74° 46.379′ W. Marker is in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, in Cape May County. It is on Stone Harbor Boulevard, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd, Stone Harbor NJ 08247, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on New Jersey’s Jersey Shore. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rufwud (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Pumping Station (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named The Pumping Station (approx. 0.9 miles away); Freedom Park (approx. one mile away); Our History (approx. one mile away); First Airmail Delivery in New Jersey (approx. 1.1 miles away); Native Plant Pollinator Garden (approx. 1.2 miles away); Welcome to Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stone Harbor.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Salt Marshes (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . Wetlands Institute. The website of the organization that runs the education and research center. (Submitted on August 4, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Wilmington, Delaware.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Wilmington, Delaware. This page has been viewed 69 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Wilmington, Delaware.
