The Wetlands Institute

The Wetlands Institute of Stone Harbor, NJ promotes itself with the slogan “The Natural Place to Have Fun Learning”

The Institute promotes the conservation and preservation of coastal ecosystems and it provides interesting educational experiences for families, school groups and vacationers of all ages.

They offer regular events and workshops and annual events such as the Wings ‘n Water Festival in July and the Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival in mid-May.

I first discovered them through their  efforts towards horseshoe crab and shorebird conservation.

Delaware Bay has the largest population of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) in the world.

Did you know that horseshoe crabs are of paramount importance to human health for their blood which contains a clotting agent that provides a fast, reliable test for the presence of infections bacteria in drugs, as well as prosthetic devices such as heart valves and hip replacements.

Since 1991, the Wetlands Institute has brought scientists and volunteer citizens together to conduct censuses of the ecologically vital horseshoe crab population on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay. These censuses take place during May and June and are central to our understanding and responsible management of this ancient marine creature.

Since its foundation in 1969, the Wetlands Institute has routinely involved undergraduate students in a wide variety of research projects pertaining to coastal environments and the organisms inhabiting them.

Currently, the Wetlands Institute is a partner in the Coastal Conservation Research Program (CCRP) with Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and is also supported by other public & private donors.

The Wetlands Institute
1075 Stone Harbor Blvd.
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247-1424

Phone:(609) 368-1211


Summer Hours: May 3, 2013 through October 13, 2013-  Monday through Sunday: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, from June 15 - Labor Day


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