The Wetlands Institute

The Wetlands Institute was founded in 1969 by Herbert Mills, then Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund, and a dedicated group of citizens and scientists. The Institute is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to understanding, preserving, and protecting coastal and wetland ecosystems.

Our goal is to be a world-class conservation, education and research center in southern New Jersey that educates people of all ages about the beauty and wonders of coastal environment, and the importance the wetlands have in their daily lives. We aim to inspire everyone to want to conserve and sustain that environment forever.

Located in Cape May County, the Institute is situated on more than 15,000 acres of coastal wetlands that serve as our laboratory and classroom. We promote the conservation and preservation of coastal ecosystems by providing engaging experiences for residents, families, students, and tourists. The Wetlands Institute hosts more than 17,000 visitors annually, has more than 1,300 members, and hosts more than 14,000 students in education programs each year.

Significance Of What We Do

Our Research program is working to understand complex problems, while our Conservation programs provide opportunities for our community to implement on-the-ground solutions and make a difference. The Wetlands Institute has been educating people of all ages since our founding over 40 years ago, and our very lives depend on sustaining healthy wetlands and coastal ecosystems.

Coastal communities and coastal ecosystems are critical areas for a host of planet-altering phenomena that are in the news every day. Global warming, with predicted rises in sea level and impacts on the intensity and frequency of violent storms, depletion of fisheries, loss of biodiversity, beach erosion, protection and conservation of natural resources, sustainable development, and alternate energy development, are all important topics that are becoming mainstream.

We believe that people will value wetlands and coastal ecosystems if they understand how they work and why their health is so tightly intertwined with ours. That belief is the moving force behind all our education programs. From summer nature programs and lectures, to our hands-on programs for school children, we have inspired generations to care about the environment and to become environmentally literate citizens.