Nature Coordinating Committee

Summaries of Resident Outdoor Activities
March 21, 2002

Woodlands Group. This is a small group of residents who are physically able to carry out activities related to the care of the natural preserve of Medford Leas. The major focus is the maintenance of our system of nearly five miles of woodland and meadow foot trails, including a perimeter trail and various side trails requiring a little more walking ability. Maintenance includes trimming of brush and tree branches and limbs, weed and poison ivy control and upkeep of trail markers. In the woodlands, the group also works on removal of invasive plants and has responsibility for the canoe racks and the canoe landing. They meet for about two hours every Monday morning year around. Trails are regularly checked for dead tree and limb hazards; those needing heavy work are referred to the grounds crew. The canoe dock facilitates canoeing up and down t he Southwest Branch of the Rancocas Creek, which border Medford Leas on the east side.

Mapping of Natural Areas. We have been fortunate in having had two residents with skill or experience at mapping. Over the years a map of the entire campus has been created showing all the buildings, grounds and natural areas. The natural areas are subdivided according to the natural communities classification and botanical survey prepared by a professional botanist in 1993. Trails make all these areas accessible to residents interested in native plants, trees, wildflowers and birds. A grid system has been made for precise location of arboretum plantings, woodland and meadow trails and our creeks sytem.

Nature Bulletin Board and Poster Display. A nature bulletin board is maintained by residents in a prominent place in the main building, with rotating exhibits relevant to Medford Leas, such as trees and wildflowers and also conservation issues and other nature items of public interest. We also have a large folding poster display showing features of the Arboretum and other pictures of Medford Leas for display at meetings and conferences held here.
Bird Club. Medford Leas Has always had a bird club consisting of residents interested in bird study. Meetings are held in our Activities Room for everyone to attend, including those who are unable to do outdoor bird study or participate in the field trips to Cape May, Barnegat, Brigantine, Bear Swamp and other points of seasonal interest for bird study. Emphasis is also given to backyard bird study, and many residents have bird feeders and participate in seasonal bird reports. This is a popular activity open to many residents of limited physical abilities. A monthly list is maintained on the main bulletin board for people to report birds seen near their residence or elsewhere on the campus.

Bird Club. See separate entry under B for Bird

Guided Tours. Some of our residents who are familiar with the courtyard and arboretum plantings and the woodlands act as guides of tours occasionally offered to groups of visitors here at meetings. In the future, they will be assisted by a small number of Master Gardeners who will be trained to be guides. Residents have prepared handout brochures and maps of the arboretum and courtyard gardens that are available to interested visitors as well as those taking the tours.

Barton Arboretum work. In the past, the job of tagging and mapping all the more than one thousand tree and shrub accessions to the Barton Arboretum has been carried out by the residents, in cooperation with the Director of Landscaping. The work continues as trees and shrubs are added, removed and replaced. All Arboretum accessions are now listed on the computer with locations mapped on a system of grid maps. Residents continue to provide voluntary work needed to maintain the Arboretum. The Barton Arboretum Oversight Committee includes a number of residents. more about the arboretum

Farm Medford Leas has an area subdivided into garden plots, where residents can grow vegetables and flowers. This continues to be a popular and healthy outdoor activity. Residents of independent living units, that is Rushmore and Bridlington, who prepare their own meals, especially grow a lot of vegetables for their own use. However, garden plots are also popular with some people who live in the full-service apartments. Some residents grow flowers for distribution to residents who are confined to our nursing care units.

Nature Center and Library Medford Leas has a building that we call the Nature Center, which has a combination meeting room and nature library, for those interested in nature activities. Various groups such as the Woodland Group and the Arboretum Oversight Committee meet there periodically. An attached greenhouse and a potting room provide space for residents to grow plants for their apartments during the winter months. Supervision of the greenhouse, as well as another greenhouse near the court apartments, is in the hands of a resident committee.

Wildflowers Group. Beginning in the very early spring and continuing into late fall, Saturday morning walks are conducted for those who may have an interest in the flowers. The walks are replete with discussions concerning identification and in some cases the local folklore of a particular flower. Some of the participants take photographs of them (great subjects for digital cameras). A cumulative listing of the flowers identified during these walks is being maintained. So far, 168 different species of wild flowering plants have been identified and catalogued with the pertinent information for each one, and it is expected that many more will be added to the list. These species may be studied by visiting the wildflowers section of this website.