named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Bears in Our Backyard
Educational presentation on black bear biology, behavior, and coexistence strategies, providing guidance for safe human-wildlife interactions in the region.
Citizen Science Programs
Engages volunteers in monitoring biodiversity, including bluebird and turtle nesting, through partnerships with iNaturalist and local schools to support conservation research.
Flora of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Project
Botanical research initiative to document and preserve vascular plant species within the reservation, including rare and newly discovered species, with herbarium specimen collection and digital data sharing via Symbiota.
Prescribed Burn Project
Collaborative habitat management effort to restore and maintain ecological health in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation using controlled burns funded and coordinated with county and state agencies.
Turtle Research Program
Supports research on wood turtle land use corridors and engages citizen scientists in monitoring painted turtles within the reservation.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 2 activities
- Funding ecological research in Ward Pound Ridge ReservationFunds ongoing research projects in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, including the Flora Report to document vascular plant species and ecological communities.
- Funding programs and equipment for Ward Pound Ridge ReservationFunds programs and equipment to enhance Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and support park staff in serving the public.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
- Hosting interpretive and seasonal public programsHosts weekend nature interpretive programs year-round and a seasonal maple sugaring program in February and March that includes hands-on activities such as tapping trees and boiling sap.
- Operating children's ecology and nature education programsOperates the Children's Summer Ecology Program and nature camps for children from Pre-K to grade nine, offering ecology education through games, hiking, archaeological site visits, and nature-based art and activities.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Conducting prescribed burns for habitat managementConducted a prescribed burn in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in November 2025 following two years of preparation to support ecosystem health.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Documenting vascular plant species and ecological communitiesConducts botanical research including the collection and preservation of pressed herbarium specimens, documentation of plant taxa, and publication of quarterly Flora Project reports to support conservation and scientific understanding in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Maintaining native plant conservation gardensMaintains the Luquer-Marble Memorial Wildflower Garden, established in 1955 to preserve endangered native plants and educate visitors about plant conservation.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Operating the Delaware Indian Research CenterHosts the Delaware Indian Research Center, a collection of books and artifacts about Native Americans, particularly the Delaware, used by students, educators, and authors for research.
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Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 1 activity
- Providing educational programs on Lenape cultureOffers educational programs on Lenape life, including demonstrations of food sourcing, tool-making, and leisure activities, with immersive experiences in a traditional wigwam.
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Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
- Providing public camping accessProvides year-round camping access at open-face lean-tos and tent sites, each equipped with a picnic table and either a grill or fireplace.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Providing volunteer stewardship opportunitiesOffers volunteer opportunities in trail maintenance, bluebird box monitoring, wildflower garden maintenance, and invasive species removal at the museum and surrounding reservation.
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Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Supporting museum exhibits and education programsProvides financial and volunteer support for exhibits, school programs, and education programs at the Trailside Nature Museum.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Historic infrastructure and reforestation projectsConstructed Trailside Museum, built roads and camping shelters, planted 500,000 pines, hemlocks, and spruces to restore forest cover lost to Chestnut Blight and Dutch Elm disease, and maintained museum operations during WWII by paying the curator's salary.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$89K
Contributions & grants$88K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5871%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$87K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$81K
balance sheet
Total assets$328K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$328K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -4.7%
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Bedford Audubon Partner — Collaboration through shared board membership with Linda Burke, PhD
- Bedford Garden Club Partner — Collaborated to establish one of the first nature trails in New York State and supported Trailside Museum operations during WWII.
- Bedford Garden Club Partner — Collaborated with members Eloise Payne Luquer and Delia West Marble to fund the museum, its first naturalist, and initial nature trails.
- Blythedale Children’s Hospital Partner — Collaboration through Susan Harris's community service work
- Bronx Lacrosse Partner — Collaboration through J Durst's board membership
- Civilian Conservation Corps Government — Built Trailside Museum, roads, camping shelters, and carried out large-scale reforestation in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation from 1933 to 1942.
- Climate Reality Project Partner — Collaboration through Linda Burke's trained leader status
- Community Center Partner — Collaboration through both Phil Petronis and Susan Harris's board service
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation of the County of Westchester Government — Operates the Trailside Nature Museum, which the Friends support through financial and volunteer aid.
- John Jay High School Partner — Collaboration through Linda Burke's ongoing involvement in the Science Department and national testing coordination
- Lake Waccabuc Association Partner — Collaboration through Susan Harris's leadership role
- Lewisboro Town Government — Collaboration through Maureen Kohl's role as Town Historian
- Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management Partner — Contracted the prescribed burn project at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, with funding from the Environmental Protection Fund administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- New York Botanical Garden Partner — Collaboration through Linda Burke's prior work affiliation
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Administered Environmental Protection Fund grants used for the prescribed burn project at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
- Purchase College Partner — Collaboration through Linda Burke's chairing of the Environmental Committee at Broadview at Purchase College
- State University of New York Partner — Collaboration through Linda Burke's prior work affiliation
- Symbiota Partner — Database platform where plant specimen records and images are uploaded for global scientific access.
- The Harvey School Partner — Collaboration through Susan Harris's administrative and community service leadership
- Three Lakes Council Partner — Collaboration through Susan Harris's leadership role
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Partner — Collaborates on research, prescribed burns, and conservation efforts within the reservation.
- Westchester County Government — Manages Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and hosts related park information on its official website.
- Westchester County Government — Partners with Westchester County for access to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and offers differential fees for county residents.
- Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Partner — Coordinated the prescribed burn project at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
- Westchester County Parks Commission Government — Partnered with the Bedford Garden Club to support trail development and managed park operations, including fire tower operations.
- Westchester County Parks’ Conservation Division Partner — Coordinated the prescribed burn project at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
- iNaturalist Partner — Hosts the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Biodiversity Club, a citizen science initiative to catalog local flora and fauna.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Citizen Science Engagement for Biodiversity Monitoringmethodology: citizen science monitoringBy involving volunteers in biodiversity monitoring and data collection, we enhance ecological documentation and foster public stewardship, because community participation increases data volume while deepening public connection to local ecosystems.
- Experiential Environmental Educationmethodology: experiential-educationBy using immersive, hands-on outdoor learning experiences, we foster deeper engagement and understanding of nature and ecology in children and the public, because direct interaction with natural environments produces more meaningful and lasting environmental awareness than classroom-based instruction alone.
- Science-Based Conservation Documentationmethodology: scientific documentation for conservation planningBy systematically documenting plant species and ecological communities through scientifically rigorous surveys, we improve conservation outcomes, because accurate, accessible data enables evidence-based land management and protection of at-risk species and habitats.