Annual Appeal 2025
Our Annual Appeal i.s now on. Every dollar you donate helps preserve land along the Rancocas and its tributaries forever from development. To contribute, click the Donate button on this website or mail a check to Rancocas Conservancy, PO Box 2188, Vincentown NJ 08088. Thank you for your generosity.
Wandering Weekend Visit to Rancocas Cranberry Preserve
15 hikers enjoyed a visit to Pinelands Alliance’s new Rancocas Cranberry Preserve in the South Branch Rancocas Watershed on Saturday, November 22. Led by Steve Elliott, Rancocas Conservancy vice president and Pinelands Alliance Director of Watershed Programs, he introduced the former cranberry farm and its beautiful features, including Atlantic White Cedar swamps, visiting tundra swans, and a resident family of bald eagles.
Founder Mark S. Thomas, M.D. Retires
In 1989, as a young medical resident, Mark Thomas began exploring the woods along Rancocas Creek in his new home of Pemberton Borough. One day, he heard a wood thrush sing and was enchanted. Thus was born the dream of preserving this beautiful place, threatened as it was at the time by development. Two years later, the dream came true, the woods now called Beechwoods Preserve, and Rancocas Conservancy incorporated as a nonprofit land trust founded by Mark and his co-founder Barbara Rich.
For more than 35 years now, Mark has been a champion of preservation in the Rancocas Watershed and of the organization he began, which now has 12 preserves throughout Burlington County, and is a generous donor himself. Most recently having served as vice president of the Board of Trustees, Mark will now continue as a volunteer and trustee emeritus.
Thank you, Mark, from the Trustees, members, donors, and lovers of the Rancocas and its watershed.
Annual Dinner a Great Success
Thanks to everyone who attended the 2025 Annual Dinner! Over $2000 was raised for the benefit of Rancocas Conservancy. We received numerous raves about the new, more casual venue of Evergreen Dairy Bar and the great presentation by Dr. Emile DeVito. See you next year.
Rancocas Conservancy Participates in Autumn Lands "Scarecrow Row" at Smithville Burlington County Park; Autumn Lands Celebration Will Be Held Saturday, October 25, 1-6pm
Did you know there is a Warden who protects the forests of the Rancocas Creek Watershed here in New Jersey? He is on display for the first time ever now and at Burlington County Parks Autumn Lands event on Saturday, October 26 from 1-6pm.
Wandering Wednesday September Hikers Visit Rich Woods
Eight wanderers enjoyed a walk through the Rich Woods section of the North Branch Preserve with Conservancy president Rick Brown and founder Mark Thomas on a Sunday, September 28, due to a rainout on Wednesday.
Welcome and Goodbye to Trustees
We are delighted to welcome Christine Black and Joe Wechselberger to the Rancocas Conservancy Board of Trustees. Christine is the chairperson of the Pemberton Township Environmental Commission. Joe is bringing his financial expertise back to the board after an absence. Both are residents of Browns Mills. Farewell and thank you to Jay Springer and Gary Patterson, who have resigned.
Wandering Wednesday August Hikers Brave the Drizzile
Seven walkers braved the drizzle to enjoy our August Wandering Wednesday Walk in Mount Holly. Founder and veep Mark Thomas taught us how to read the landscape as the watershed causes rain to make its way from the Mount Holly Mount to the North Branch Rancocas.
Mount Holly Wandering Wednesday RESCHEDULED
Due to inclement weather, the Mount Holly Wandering Wednesday walk scheduled for today, August 13, will be rescheduled to Wednesday, August 20 at the same time, 630pm. Next week’s walk will be held rain or shine, except for thunderstorms, which will cancel.
Rancocas Conservancy Co-Sponsors Mount Holly Clean Up
On Saturday, August 9, Save Mount Holly Woods and Rancocas Conservancy co-sponsored a clean up of the Grant Street Woods in Mount Holly. “It was a big effort and Grant Street looks great,” said trustee Heidi Winzinger. “So many people who have lived on Grant Street forever and keep their homes nice and tidy came out and we’re so grateful because truly this has been a neglected area.”
Free Wandering Wednesday Hike, August 13, 630pm
MOUNT HOLLY TO THE RANCOCAS: Edge of the watershed
WHEN: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 6:30 pm
WHERE: HIGH STREET MOUNT HOLLY: PARK ON NORTHBOUND SIDE BETWEEN HILLSIDE Avenue AND
EVERGREEN (APPROXIMATELY 401-421 HIGH STREET)
Distance: approximately 0.6 miles.
NOTICE: short distance of steep slope near Mt Holly Summit
At 183 feet, Mount Holly is the second highest point in Burlington County. The northern edge of the
Rancocas Creek watershed runs through the top of it. Water falling on the south side of the Mount
collects and drains into the North Branch of the Rancocas in downtown Mount Holly; to the north, water
drains to the north to the Assiscunk Creek and into the Delaware at Burlington City.
Come gain a sense of the elevation of Mount Holly. Follow the flow of water from the mount to the
south, where it gathers in the Bartram Woods neighborhood into wetlands, and across Rancocas Road
into the Rancocas’s North Branch, just upstream from the Water Treatment Plant.
Join co-founder and Vice-President Mark Thomas on a walk that traces the route of water from the
mount to the creek. Learn how to read this landscape for clues to the connection between Mount Holly
and the Rancocas
Wear comfortable shoes, bring hydration, and a hiking stick. Insect repellant is recommended.
See You at Burlington County Farm Fair
Rancocas Conservancy will have an exhibit at Burlington County Farm Fair, July 22-27 at the County Fairgrounds on Jobstown Road in Springfield Township. Stop by the History Tent to say hi, get a copy of our new brochure and grab some goodies.
Free Wandering Wednesday Hike, July 9, 7pm
Join Rancocas Conservancy president Rick Brown at Arneys Mount Burlington County Park for a walk of about 2 miles on paved and packed dirt on Wednesday, July 9 at 7pm. RSVP to contact@rancocasconservancy.org or just show up. Trailhead is on Juliustown Road in Springfield Township.
Free National Trails Day Hike- June 7, 2025
Join Rancocas Conservancy in celebrating National Trails Day with a free two mile hike at our Beechwoods Preserve in Pemberton Boro on Saturday, June 7 at 9am. We will meet at 201 Hanover Street behind Frog Canoe and Kayak. The trail will be a combination of paved and flat wide packed dirt, so that tick precautions should not be necessary. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. RSVP to contact@rancocasconservancy.org.
New Trustees Are Introduced to the Rancocas Watershed and Our Preserves
On November 23, our four trustees new to the board in 2024 Curt Nissley, Jay Springer, Gary Patterson and Heidi Winzinger, got a firsthand look at the preserves and conservation easements east of Route 206, along with those already on the board. Founder and Veep Mark Thomas provided background information on history and ecology. Trustees new and old marveled at the beauty and variety in the more than 2000 acres of land preserved forever from development, thanks to your generosity. On February 8 the tour was completed with visits to the preserves west of 206.
Thank you for your generosity!
Thanks to all our friends and donors for making the 2024 Annual Appeal almost 1/3 more successful than 2023! You gave $41,738 towards preserving land along the Rancocas, its tributaries and in the watershed forever from development. In 2025 we are hopeful for adding more property to the total in our existing 12 preserves and conservation easements. Keep your fingers crossed that several prospects we are pursuing come to fruition.
2024 Annual Appeal
Dear Friends,
As the year moves into its last changes of color, now is the time we ask you to donate to the Annual Appeal which funds our mission: buying property along the Rancocas Creek and its tributaries to protect it forever from development. The degree to which we thrive in our efforts depends on your generosity and support. Over the 33 year history of the Rancocas Conservancy, we have acquired and managed over 2000 acres in 12 preserves throughout the watershed. Together we are building a community of care for the land and water we love.
We are grateful for your past support and ask you to give as generously as you can. The Rancocas Conservancy has shown that a dedicated group of volunteer stewards can perform great things for the area we hold dear. Your donation is 100% deductible for tax purposes. To donate online, use the QR code below. You can also mail a check to PO Box 2188, Vincentown NJ 08088.
Thank you.
For the Rancocas,
Rick Brown, President
Private Property Hike with Outdoor Club of South Jersey
On October 3, Rancocas Conservancy partnered with our friends from Outdoor Club of South Jersey for a hike along the North Branch Rancocas on scenic private property in New Lisbon. Twelve hikers enjoyed fall foliage and white cedar swamps led by Dr. Mark Thomas.
Rancocas Conservancy Annual Dinner, Oct. 16, 6pm
Save this date! Rancocas Conservancy will return to the beautiful Bradford Estate at 1910 Marne Highway in Hainesport on the South Branch Rancocas for our Annual Dinner. Those who attended last year will remember a wonderful evening of great food, fellowship and a fascinating speaker. This year we will host Dr. Mark Demitroff of Stockton University, who will share his study of the wetlands geology of the Rancocas watershed and the adjoining pinelands. $65 reservations are now being taken online by clicking on the Donate button in the upper right of this page. Checks will be accepted at the door, however we would prefer not to take cash.
