On Friday, July 13, thirty-five students and teachers from Urban Promise Summer Day Camp, held at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, were treated to an afternoon at the Hamilton-Trenton Bordentown Marsh. The trip was organized by Pat Flores, a volunteer at the Day Camp. Marsh guides were Charles Fisher, Mary Leck, Clyde Quin, and Warren Libensperger.
Many of the students had never been away from city streets, and were amazed by what they saw on their nature walk. Some of their comments were:
I liked when we saw the swans, frog, a turtle, lots of dragonflies, and finally the beaver lodge.
The butterflies were so pretty and colorful. The marsh was a fun and great place to go!
The best part of the marsh was the experience itself because it is always a good thing to try something new. I enjoyed the turtle holes but it was kind of sad because the eggs were already eaten. This is a very unique place.
Three teachers giving statements had never been to the marsh either. They said:
Many of us were not familiar with this fascinating place so close to our homes. As I picked up hickory nuts I thought of the Native Americans who had lived in and near the marsh for thousands of years.
The trip to the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh opened up a new world to me and many of the children . . . a wonder, so close and yet so far away from what we experience in our daily lives and neighborhoods.
Going to the marsh was both an educational and enjoyable adventure. It is an amazing place to visit, alive with animals, birds, plants and trees, just minutes from the City of Trenton. It was interesting to learn that the marsh was once inhabited by the Lenape Indians and that many articles recovered from the site are currently on display at the New Jersey State Museum.
Thank you Mary, Charlie, Clyde and Warren. You made our day and created a new interest for many.