​Save the Environment of Moorestown was founded in 1972 as a grassroots organization with a mission to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural environment of Moorestown, New Jersey, for today and for future generations. STEM’s work over the years to address local environmental issues such as water and air pollution, solid waste disposal, & recycling also includes helping to preserve and protect Moorestown’s open spaces. Our Natural Area Care program helps to maintain these sites on an ongoing basis. ​We are always looking for new members.

Open Spaces

About Us

Membership

Volunteer

NJDEP Summer Jobs

Do you know a young person with an interest in the outdoors or sees an environmental career in their future? If so, check out this post from Jay Springer at NJDEP. They have a summer program offering jobs in NJ’s State Parks. Sounds like a great way to spend the summer and learn more about NJ’s State Parks while gaining wonderful real life work experience.

Jobs. Green ones. A key priority for me at NJDEP is building youth interest in environmental careers, and especially helping our diverse youth see themselves in public service, with environmental protection a top, worthwhile and personally fulfilling prospect. Whether in natural resource management, environmental regulation, or clean energy, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection has much to offer the would-be environmental professional. One great way for our youth to get their feet green is spending a summer getting paid in New Jersey's state parks. From leading nature tours to patrolling with our State Park Police, there is a world of opportunity to explore. Tell everyone you know--especially our youth. https://lnkd.in/ec7cPEA

Looking Ahead to Summer 2021

​STEM is looking at working with Parks and Recreation to tackle some trail improvement projects this summer. Two of the projects will entail building elevated walkways over some of the wet areas at Esther Yanai and South Valley preserves. Another project is to improve the entrance to Waterworks Woods. 

To be successful, these projects will require adults to help supervise teenagers who will be doing the “heavy lifting”. It is expected that the projects will be multi-day and start at 8:30 and end at 11:30 each day. We are working out details, but it could be a great opportunity to improve the trails at three different preserves. Experience with tools would be helpful.

Tentative dates are July 5 - 9 at Esther Yanai, August 20 - 27 at South Valley Woods and August 16 - 20 at Water Works Woods.

If you are interested please respond to me via my email - markpensiero99@gmail.com. Please include your contact information, including telephone number, email, and which project(s) you would be interested in supporting.

Mark Pensiero, STEM President

New Kiosk at Esther Yanai Preserve
January, 2021

STEM is happy to report the installation of a kiosk at the Esther Yanai Preserve. The kiosk was a gift of Moorestown Parks and Recreation Department and is a wonderful addition to the preserve. Thank you Theresa Miller, Director of Parks and Recreation for making it happen. The kiosk is filled with information about the preserve and it’s history, a trail map, and information about Moorestown’s other preserved open spaces.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the new and improved Esther Yanai Preserve, I highly recommend a visit. A pair of waterproof shoes are highly recommended as the trail is very wet in the winter and spring. Thanks to everyone who has been involved in improving the preserve over the past six months.

​Mark Pensiero, President STEM

More Recent Happenings

STEM partners with Parks and Rec. to highlight township’s open spaces

Goal is to maintain them, but also tout their accessibility in Moorestown.
By Kelly Flynn, originally published in The Moorestown Sun on December 15, 2020

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Save the Environment of Moorestown (STEM) were already hard at work preserving the township’s open spaces. But with more people eager to explore the great outdoors than ever, STEM members continue to expand their efforts to make Moorestown’s open spaces more accessible to the public.

Mark Pensiero, president of STEM, said the group is even receiving some help. STEM has joined forces with the Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation, and together, they’re eager to not only maintain the untouched pieces of land but spread the word about them.

STEM completed a slew of projects at Esther Yanai Preserve. During the summer, First United Methodist Church of Moorestown’s youth group joined forces with STEM and pulled out invasive species, cleared blocked trails and laid down bridges at the Esther Yanai Preserve and South Valley Woods.

The improvements haven’t stopped since. In August, 18 people showed up to cut back invasive Japanese stilt grass at the preserve and ultimately cut a 25-foot swath across the property. More recently, a second set of bridges was installed by Moorestown High School student Justin Nicolik as part of his Eagle Scout project.

“These bridges make the entire preserve passable, whereas in the past, it was difficult, if not impossible, to traverse the property, even after a heavy rain,” Pensiero said.

The Department of Parks and Recreation was responsible for sending Nicolik STEM’s way. Theresa Miller, the department’s director, said Parks and Rec is often approached by teens who want to complete a community project in order to earn their Eagle Scout designation. Miller said the plan is to continue to send these teens STEM’s way to see what work the open spaces are in need of.

STEM also purchased and installed a bench honoring Esther and Steve Yanai. The preserve was named after Esther, a founding member of STEM who encouraged the township to preserve the particular piece of property that now bears her name.

“The new bench affords a beautiful vista of Swede’s Run, the stream that borders the western border of the property,” Pensiero noted.

Steve Yanai, Esther’s husband, also made a $25,000 donation that allowed for the addition of a parking lot on the property. Previously, there was parking for only a car or two at the site, making it largely inaccessible to the  public.

With all of the recent improvements to both Esther Yanai Preserve and South Valley Woods, Pensiero reached out to Miller to talk about developing hikes and other programs to introduce Moorestown residents to the spaces.

Pensiero will lead a hike of South Valley Woods on Jan. 9. A local bird watcher, Pensiero’s tour will have attendees looking for wintering bird species and will point out some of the interesting flora found in the woods.

Miller said while Parks and Rec has worked with STEM on occasion in the past, together they’re putting their heads together to discuss ways to get the open spaces on residents’ radar and hope to develop more programming in the future.

“I don’t think people are as aware as they could be,” Miller said. “We have a lot of beautiful open spaces. They’re gems in our community. We really want to get more people involved.”
​
To learn more about STEM, visit stemonline.org. To register for Parks and Recreation programming, visit moorestown.nj.us/482/Parks-Recreation.

Above: First United Methodist Church of Moorestown Youth Group volunteers.

Above: Invasive Stiltgrass blocks a trail at South Valley Woods.

Above: After the Stiltgrass was cleared.

Above: Scouts install one of two new bridges at Esther Yanai Preserve.

Above: A bench honoring Steve & Esther Yanai overlooks Swede's Run at Esther Yanai Preserve.