In 2024, the Scudder family transferred ownership of their 90‑acre Scudder Preserve in Navesink, New Jersey, to the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, ending a 40‑year stewardship that began with a conservation easement in the 1980s.
The preserve, which houses a 201‑year‑old tulip tree, rare American chestnut remnants and extensive white oak stands, received Level I Arboretum accreditation from ArbNet in July, placing it among an international network of tree‑conservation sites.
MCF will open the property to the public free of charge and has already begun upgrading trails, linking the Rhododendron Trail to adjacent Huber Woods, and installing plant‑identification signage.
A $500,000 grant from the New Jersey Resources Coastal Climate Initiative and a $1 million anonymous donation fund the restoration of native plantings, invasive‑species removal and storm‑water bioswales designed with Rutgers University.
Last year, MCF’s conservation van reached more than 3,000 students, 75% of whom attended underserved schools, and the foundation plans to launch guided hikes and bird‑watching sessions this fall.
The official opening is slated for July 15, after which the foundation will host ongoing educational programs and monitor ecological health through a Natural Resource Inventory.