Civic Intelligence

South Mountain Conservancy Inc

EIN 56-2410919 • 501(c)3 • South Orange, NJ

Profile

The South Mountain Conservancy is a volunteer-driven, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation founded in March 2000 dedicated to the stewardship and advocacy for, and public engagement with, the 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation, a county park in Essex County, New Jersey. Through extensive volunteer activities and public programs, many in partnership with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Conservancy strives to preserve, protect, and enhance the ecology, infrastructure and natural beauty of the reservation. It also seeks to foster public appreciation, involvement and support for this beloved, forested regional park situated in densely populated suburbs 15 miles west of lower Manhattan.

PO Box 273South Orange, NJ 07079

www.somocon.org

Siviq Scores

Precomputed percentiles relative to similar nonprofits. These scores are descriptive rather than judgmental.

Liabilities / Assets

67th percentile

0.01x

Higher debt load relative to assets than 67% of similar nonprofits.

501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2024

Liabilities / Revenue

73rd percentile

0.02x

Higher debt load relative to revenue than 73% of similar nonprofits.

501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2024

Net Margin

71st percentile

17%

Higher net margin than 71% of similar nonprofits.

501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2024

Top Officer Pay

88th percentile

$7,736

Higher top officer pay than 88% of similar nonprofits.

Top officer pay equals 9.2% of source-year revenue.

501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Source year 2022

Asset Growth

65th percentile

7.0%

Faster asset growth than 65% of similar nonprofits.

501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Annualized from 2023 to 2024

Revenue Growth

70th percentile

17%

Faster revenue growth than 70% of similar nonprofits.

501(c)3 • <$500k nonprofits • Annualized from 2023 to 2024

Balance Sheet
Liabilities / Assets67th percentile

Assets

Up

$157,605

Up $10,359 (+7.0%) from 2023

Liabilities

Down

$1,925

Down $4,712 (-71%) from 2023

Net Assets

$155,680

No earlier filing loaded for comparison.

Operations
Liabilities / Revenue73rd percentileNet Margin71st percentile

Revenue

Up

$90,063

Up $13,002 (+17%) from 2023

Expenses

Up

$75,040

Up $7,774 (+12%) from 2023

Net Income

Up

$15,023

Up $5,228 (+53%) from 2023

Trend Graphs

Balance Sheet Trend

Asset Growth65th percentile

Grouped bars show assets, liabilities, and net assets across loaded filings.

$200K$150K$100K$50K$0Assets 2011: $26,629Liabilities 2011: $0Net Assets 2011: $26,6292011Assets 2012: $21,460Liabilities 2012: $0Net Assets 2012: $21,4602012Assets 2013: $34,031Liabilities 2013: $0Net Assets 2013: $34,0312013Assets 2020: $105,138Liabilities 2020: $4,939Net Assets 2020: $100,1992020Assets 2021: $107,312Liabilities 2021: $2,120Net Assets 2021: $105,1922021Assets 2022: $145,600Liabilities 2022: $14,788Net Assets 2022: $130,8122022Assets 2023: $147,246Liabilities 2023: $6,6372023Assets 2024: $157,605Liabilities 2024: $1,925Net Assets 2024: $155,6802024

Highlighted filing

2024

Assets$157,605
Liabilities$1,925
Net Assets$155,680
Open 2024 Filing

Operations Trend

Revenue Growth70th percentile

Revenue, expenses, and net income by year, with the latest filing highlighted.

$800K$600K$400K$200K$0-$200KExpenses 2011: $4,8182011Revenue 2012: $624,252Expenses 2012: $629,421Net Income 2012: -$5,1692012Expenses 2013: $28,3252013Revenue 2020: $58,167Expenses 2020: $40,390Net Income 2020: $17,7772020Revenue 2021: $54,393Expenses 2021: $49,439Net Income 2021: $4,9542021Revenue 2022: $83,712Expenses 2022: $58,092Net Income 2022: $25,6202022Revenue 2023: $77,061Expenses 2023: $67,266Net Income 2023: $9,7952023Revenue 2024: $90,063Expenses 2024: $75,040Net Income 2024: $15,0232024

Highlighted filing

2024

Revenue$90,063
Expenses$75,040
Net Income$15,023
Open 2024 Filing

Filings

Most recent year

2024 • Form 990EZXML pending. An XML filing is linked for this year, but detailed extraction is still pending.

Open filing
Assets
$157,605
Liabilities
$1,925
Net assets
$155,680
Revenue
$90,063
Expenses
$75,040
Net income
$15,023
Balance SheetOperations
YearAssetsLiabilitiesNet AssetsRevenueExpensesNet Income
2024XML pending. An XML filing is linked for this year, but detailed extraction is still pending.$1.58$0.02$1.56$0.90$0.75$0.15
2023Summary only. Only limited summary data is available for this year.$1.47$0.07$0.77$0.67$0.10
2022Detailed filing. Detailed filing data is available for this year.$1.46$0.15$1.31$0.84$0.58$0.26
2021XML pending. An XML filing is linked for this year, but detailed extraction is still pending.$1.07$0.02$1.05$0.54$0.49$0.05
2020XML pending. An XML filing is linked for this year, but detailed extraction is still pending.$1.05$0.05$1.00$0.58$0.40$0.18
2013Facts available. Structured filing facts are available, but richer extracted sections are limited.$0.34$0.00$0.34$0.28
2012Summary only. Only limited summary data is available for this year.$0.21$0.00$0.21$6.24$6.29$0.05
2011Facts available. Structured filing facts are available, but richer extracted sections are limited.$0.27$0.00$0.27$0.05
Latest Detailed Filing

The latest 2024 filing currently has linked XML that has not been fully parsed yet. Showing the latest detailed filing from 2022 below.

Jump To
Filing Snapshot
Filing Period
Jan 1, 2022 to Dec 31, 2022
Signed
Nov 10, 2023
Return Version
2022v5.0
Gross Receipts
$92,643
Mission and Program Overview

Mission

The South Mountain Conservancy is a volunteer-driven, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation founded in March 2000 dedicated to the stewardship and advocacy for, and public engagement with, the 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation, a county park in Essex County, New Jersey. Through extensive volunteer activities and public programs, many in partnership with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Conservancy strives to preserve, protect, and enhance the ecology, infrastructure and natural beauty of the reservation. It also seeks to foster public appreciation, involvement and support for this beloved, forested regional park situated in densely populated suburbs 15 miles west of lower Manhattan.

Program Services

DescriptionGrantsExpenses
Forest Regeneration & Landscape Improvement-- The goals of this program are to monitor, maintain and improve the ecology and infrastructure of the 14-acre Wildflower and Forest Preserve and, to a lesser extent,Forest Regeneration & Landscape Improvement- The goals of this program are to monitor, maintain and improve the ecology and infrastructure of the 14-acre Wildflower and Forest Preserve and, to a lesser extent, the 41 smaller regeneration sites established in 2009 throughout the Reservation, and address select problems in areas adjoining these sites. Started in 2008, this long-term, ongoing program seeks to provide native seed sources for the Reservation at large at these regeneration sites in order to restore a balanced forest ecology. This is necessary as the forest's natural regeneration has been impaired by an expanding set of invasive plants and insects and the over-browsing of native plants by an overpopulation of white-tailed deer. The program enlists the efforts of some two dozen volunteers who meet multiple times throughout the year, supplemented by community groups and two paid college summer interns (the program's most significant expense). The Conservancy also spends thousands of dollars each year on plants, herbicides, and materials to repair the eight-foot fences at regeneration sites to ensure deer are kept out. Besides its ecological importance, the Wildflower and Forest Preserve serves as a destination to educate and engage people of all ages. The Preserve offers: a mile of easily traversed trails; informational signage regarding the woodland, vernal pond, and meadow ecosystems; and artwork that is part of the adjoining Wildflower Sculpture Park. In 2022 we: had two interns for the summer; removed or eradicated several thousand invasive plants in the Preserve and in or near regeneration sites using basal bark herbicide application and hand removal; planted native species in the spring; repaired fencing at four forest regeneration sites that were damaged by fallen trees; and maintained the Preserve trails.$0$10,882
Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP) -- Started in 2012, this program offers the public the opportunity to see innovative art pieces in a naturalistic setting. It is located on a broad strip of land outside the Wildflower and Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP) -- Started in 2012, this program offers the public the opportunity to see innovative art pieces in a naturalistic setting. Located on a broad strip of land outside the Wildflower and Forest Preserve and within the Preserve, the WSP provides artists a chance to present their work to the public and expand on ideas in a much larger format. It augments its set of 14 permanent pieces each year with three to four new works on short-term loan. In addition, the WSP curator, artists and volunteers provide classes for community groups to better understand the art and the creative process. The WSP is supported by grants and infrastructure improvements by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. In 2022, we had three new exhibits, two of which are permanent additions.$6,600$7,497
Other programs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fairy Trail -- Nationally publicized (NY Times, Reader's Digest), this enormously popular half-mile path at the start of the Rahway Trail near the Locust Grove picnic area in Millburn features dozens of "fairy houses" consisting of weathered wood and natural materials built and maintained by SMC volunteers. Originally created and maintained independently by local resident Therese Ojibway, the South Mountain Conservancy joined with Therese several years ago to enhance the experience of visitors of all ages by maintaining the trail by putting down woodchips, installing barriers, etc. Our aim is to make it sustainable in light of its enormous popularity and occasional vandalism. In 2022, Therese left the area so we recruited and trained two new program coordinators to maintain and construct new houses, some in concert with the Millburn H.S. art department and other community groups. We also continued to distribute wood chips to improve the trails.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Trail Maintenance and Construction. This stewardship program area involves an enormous volunteer effort throughout the year through four coordinated Conservancy programs. Though collectively these generally require far fewer financial resources than our Forest Regeneration program, it has a more direct impact on the thousands of people who visit the Reservation each month.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------These programs are: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Trailkeepers* thirty volunteers who independently monitor, brush back vegetation and blaze our 50-plus miles of trails and woods roads.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Chainsaw Gang* A dozen volunteers that remove fallen trees that block trails throughout the year. In 2022, we 194 trees off the trails. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Trail Work Crew* This group of volunteers (supplemented at times with community groups) has constructed or overseen contractors that built over six miles of new, sustainable hiking trails since its creation in 2007. It also works to improve drainage on wider woods roads and builds raised bog bridges and other infrastructure often with the assistance of Scouts BSA and other community groups. In 2022, we constructed new connecting trails and created a new trail to avoid icy conditions in the winter. ---------------- *Trash Tacklers/Ploggers* Both groups and independent volunteers have been engaged with removing trash from trails and picnic areas through coordinated programs (even contests) several times during the year. During the pandemic, when trail use has been estimated by national organizations to have tripled, the amount of litter has increased substantially. In 2022, dozens of volunteers, in groups and individually, collected 328 bags of trash from the trails and picnic areas.---------------------------------------------------------------=====================================================------------------------------------------------There are four major public programs run by the Conservancy. -----------------------------------------------------*Hiking* Our hiking program probably engages the largest number of participants each year. Open to the public and free of charge, these guided hikes led by SMC volunteers offer programs year-round for people with a wide range of abilities, including special children's hikes. While temporarily limited during the pandemic, in 2022, we offered 75 hikes serving nearly 500 participants. ----------------------------------------------*Citizen Science* This program combines public involvement with monitoring and stewardship of the Reservation's fauna. Interested members of the public are trained in programs affiliated with Frogwatch USA and eBird. It also oversees the installation and maintenance of bird nests throughout the Reservation and is planning programs on water ecology in conjunction with the Rahway River Watershed Association. In past years similar efforts were involved with the Conservancy's co-sponsorship of *Bio-Blitz* programs in conjunction with the County Parks Department in 2008 and 2019. These intensive 24-hour assessments of the park's flora and fauna engaged both local scientists and public volunteers.---------------------------------- *SMR Family Campout* For a decade, this award-winning, overnight, nature-intensive overnight program, co-sponsored with the Essex County Parks Department, is held each October with activities tailored to families with children ages 4-11. In 2022, 150 participants were at the Campout. -----------------------------------*Mayapple Trail Run* Offering challenging trail runs of 10 to 50 miles, this event has been held every year except two since 2008. It highlights the exceptional trail system in the South Mountain Reservation and serves as a fund-raising opportunity for the Conservancy. In 2022, 133 runners completed the spring race.$0$5,761
Map and Wayfinding Systems. The ongoing revision of our Reservation map to reflect trail and facility changes and the installation of a way-finding system in the park has been ongoing for several years. Ten Map and Wayfinding Systems -- The ongoing revision of our Reservation map to reflect trail and facility changes and the installation of a way-finding system in the park has been ongoing for several years. Ten large-sized kiosk displays are maintained at major access points to the reservation along with 40 small, 12"x12" localized "mini-maps" at trail intersections. (The smaller maps are generally installed as part of Eagle Scout projects we oversee). We have also created a smartphone app for Android phones, soon to be available for the Apple iOS platform. These efforts are all in service to our mission to encourage and enable exploration of the park. In 2022, we worked with Scouts to install six new mini-maps and repair several kiosks, improving the protective plexiglass and removing graffiti.$0$4,628
Compensation and Service Providers
Top Officer Pay88th percentile

Employees

NameTitleFull / Part TimeBaseOtherTotal
Lori LaBordeTrustee-$7,736-$7,736
Dennis PercherChairperson, Board Of TrusteesPT$0--
John VerzaniVice Chairperson Board Of Trustees; Trail Work Crew LeaderPT$0--
David BerryTrustee;Coordinator Of Community Outreach;Trash Tacklers And Chainsaw Gang LeaderPT$0--
Richard InserroTrustee; Coordinator Trailkeepers; WebsitePT$0--
Sarah Jane JelinTrustee; Smc Secretary; Membership-$0--
Kim LevinskyTrustee; Co-Coordinator Trash Tacklers-$0--
Bijoy MecheryTrustee-$0--
Craig LeisherTrustee-$0--
Filing and Contact Details

Filer

Filer Name
South Mountain Conservancy Inc
EIN
56-2410919
Phone
8447666266
Address
PO Box 273, South Orange, NJ 07079

Signing Officer

Name
Dennis Percher
Title
chair
Phone
9738686994
Signed
2023-11-10
Supplemental Narrative

Additional Explanations

Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 16

“Description;Amount^Bank and PayPal Charges and Fees;1780|Memorial Bench Expense;3396|Art purchase and maintenance expense;5000|Supplies;8240|IT;1794|Equipment Purchase and Maintenance;927|Conferences and Meetings and Events;1565|Insurance;2595|Other;244|Marketing;58|Taxes and Government Fees;90^Total;25689^”

Form 990-EZ, Part II, Line 24

“Description;EOY Amount^Inventory of merchandise to be sold;3496^Total;3496^”

Form 990-EZ, Part II, Line 26

“Description;EOY Amount^Credit Cards Payable;8060|Sales Tax Payable;1507|Consultants Payable;3000|Reserve for printing of SMR History book;2221^Total;14788^”

Raw XML Appendix269 raw XML fields

This appendix keeps the raw XML leaves available for debugging and edge-case review. The human report above is the primary experience.

Path#Value
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IRS990EZ/BenefitsPaidToOrForMembersAmt00
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/PersonNm0Paul Kerner
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/PhoneNum08447666266
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IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/CityNm0South Orange
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/StateAbbreviationCd0NJ
IRS990EZ/BooksInCareOfDetail/USAddress/ZIPCd007079
IRS990EZ/CashSavingsAndInvestmentsGrp/BOYAmt0105605
IRS990EZ/CashSavingsAndInvestmentsGrp/EOYAmt0142104
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IRS990EZ/ContributionsGiftsGrantsEtcAmt049896
IRS990EZ/CostOfGoodsSoldAmt08931
IRS990EZ/CostOrOtherBasisExpenseSaleAmt00
IRS990EZ/DirectIndirectPltclExpendAmt00
IRS990EZ/DonorAdvisedFndsInd00
IRS990EZ/EngagedInExcessBenefitTransInd00
IRS990EZ/ExcessOrDeficitForYearAmt025620
IRS990EZ/FeesAndOtherPymtToIndCntrctAmt030097
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IRS990EZ/ForeignFinancialAccountInd00
IRS990EZ/ForeignOfficeInd00
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IRS990EZ/GamingGrossIncomeAmt00
IRS990EZ/GrantsAndSimilarAmountsPaidAmt00
IRS990EZ/GrossProfitLossSlsOfInvntryAmt018728
IRS990EZ/GrossReceiptsAmt092643
IRS990EZ/GrossSalesOfInventoryAmt027659
IRS990EZ/InfoInScheduleOPartIIInd0X
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IRS990EZ/InvestmentIncomeAmt0478
IRS990EZ/LandAndBuildingsGrp/BOYAmt00
IRS990EZ/LandAndBuildingsGrp/EOYAmt00
IRS990EZ/LobbyingActivitiesInd00
IRS990EZ/MadeLoansToFromOfficersInd00
IRS990EZ/MembershipDuesAmt00
IRS990EZ/MethodOfAccountingAccrualInd0X
IRS990EZ/NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt0105192
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IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/CompensationAmt00
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IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/EmployeeBenefitProgramAmt40
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IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/EmployeeBenefitProgramAmt70
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/EmployeeBenefitProgramAmt80
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IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/ExpenseAccountOtherAllwncAmt80
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm0Dennis Percher
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm1John Verzani
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm2David Berry
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm3Richard Inserro
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm4Sarah Jane Jelin
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm5Kim Levinsky
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm6Bijoy Mechery
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm7Craig Leisher
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/PersonNm8Lori LaBorde
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt0Chairperson, Board of Trustees
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt1Vice Chairperson Board of Trustees; Trail Work Crew Leader
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt2Trustee;Coordinator of Community Outreach;Trash Tacklers and Chainsaw Gang Leader
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt3Trustee; Coordinator Trailkeepers; Website
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt4Trustee; SMC Secretary; Membership
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt5Trustee; Co-coordinator Trash Tacklers
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt6Trustee
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt7Trustee
IRS990EZ/OfficerDirectorTrusteeEmplGrp/TitleTxt8Trustee
IRS990EZ/OperateHospitalInd00
IRS990EZ/Organization501c3Ind0X
IRS990EZ/OrganizationDissolvedEtcInd00
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IRS990EZ/OtherRevenueTotalAmt00
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IRS990EZ/PartVIOfCompOfHghstPdEmplTxt0NONE
IRS990EZ/PoliticalCampaignActyInd00
IRS990EZ/PrimaryExemptPurposeTxt0The South Mountain Conservancy is a volunteer-driven, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation founded in March 2000 dedicated to the stewardship and advocacy for, and public engagement with, the 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation, a county park in Essex County, New Jersey. Through extensive volunteer activities and public programs, many in partnership with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Conservancy strives to preserve, protect, and enhance the ecology, infrastructure and natural beauty of the reservation. It also seeks to foster public appreciation, involvement and support for this beloved, forested regional park situated in densely populated suburbs 15 miles west of lower Manhattan.
IRS990EZ/PrintingPublicationsPostageAmt02306
IRS990EZ/ProgramServiceRevenueAmt014610
IRS990EZ/ProgramSrvcAccomplishmentGrp/DescriptionProgramSrvcAccomTxt0Forest Regeneration & Landscape Improvement-- The goals of this program are to monitor, maintain and improve the ecology and infrastructure of the 14-acre Wildflower and Forest Preserve and, to a lesser extent,Forest Regeneration & Landscape Improvement- The goals of this program are to monitor, maintain and improve the ecology and infrastructure of the 14-acre Wildflower and Forest Preserve and, to a lesser extent, the 41 smaller regeneration sites established in 2009 throughout the Reservation, and address select problems in areas adjoining these sites. Started in 2008, this long-term, ongoing program seeks to provide native seed sources for the Reservation at large at these regeneration sites in order to restore a balanced forest ecology. This is necessary as the forest's natural regeneration has been impaired by an expanding set of invasive plants and insects and the over-browsing of native plants by an overpopulation of white-tailed deer. The program enlists the efforts of some two dozen volunteers who meet multiple times throughout the year, supplemented by community groups and two paid college summer interns (the program's most significant expense). The Conservancy also spends thousands of dollars each year on plants, herbicides, and materials to repair the eight-foot fences at regeneration sites to ensure deer are kept out. Besides its ecological importance, the Wildflower and Forest Preserve serves as a destination to educate and engage people of all ages. The Preserve offers: a mile of easily traversed trails; informational signage regarding the woodland, vernal pond, and meadow ecosystems; and artwork that is part of the adjoining Wildflower Sculpture Park. In 2022 we: had two interns for the summer; removed or eradicated several thousand invasive plants in the Preserve and in or near regeneration sites using basal bark herbicide application and hand removal; planted native species in the spring; repaired fencing at four forest regeneration sites that were damaged by fallen trees; and maintained the Preserve trails.
IRS990EZ/ProgramSrvcAccomplishmentGrp/DescriptionProgramSrvcAccomTxt1Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP) -- Started in 2012, this program offers the public the opportunity to see innovative art pieces in a naturalistic setting. It is located on a broad strip of land outside the Wildflower and Wildflower Sculpture Park (WSP) -- Started in 2012, this program offers the public the opportunity to see innovative art pieces in a naturalistic setting. Located on a broad strip of land outside the Wildflower and Forest Preserve and within the Preserve, the WSP provides artists a chance to present their work to the public and expand on ideas in a much larger format. It augments its set of 14 permanent pieces each year with three to four new works on short-term loan. In addition, the WSP curator, artists and volunteers provide classes for community groups to better understand the art and the creative process. The WSP is supported by grants and infrastructure improvements by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. In 2022, we had three new exhibits, two of which are permanent additions.
IRS990EZ/ProgramSrvcAccomplishmentGrp/DescriptionProgramSrvcAccomTxt2Map and Wayfinding Systems. The ongoing revision of our Reservation map to reflect trail and facility changes and the installation of a way-finding system in the park has been ongoing for several years. Ten Map and Wayfinding Systems -- The ongoing revision of our Reservation map to reflect trail and facility changes and the installation of a way-finding system in the park has been ongoing for several years. Ten large-sized kiosk displays are maintained at major access points to the reservation along with 40 small, 12"x12" localized "mini-maps" at trail intersections. (The smaller maps are generally installed as part of Eagle Scout projects we oversee). We have also created a smartphone app for Android phones, soon to be available for the Apple iOS platform. These efforts are all in service to our mission to encourage and enable exploration of the park. In 2022, we worked with Scouts to install six new mini-maps and repair several kiosks, improving the protective plexiglass and removing graffiti.
IRS990EZ/ProgramSrvcAccomplishmentGrp/DescriptionProgramSrvcAccomTxt3Other programs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fairy Trail -- Nationally publicized (NY Times, Reader's Digest), this enormously popular half-mile path at the start of the Rahway Trail near the Locust Grove picnic area in Millburn features dozens of "fairy houses" consisting of weathered wood and natural materials built and maintained by SMC volunteers. Originally created and maintained independently by local resident Therese Ojibway, the South Mountain Conservancy joined with Therese several years ago to enhance the experience of visitors of all ages by maintaining the trail by putting down woodchips, installing barriers, etc. Our aim is to make it sustainable in light of its enormous popularity and occasional vandalism. In 2022, Therese left the area so we recruited and trained two new program coordinators to maintain and construct new houses, some in concert with the Millburn H.S. art department and other community groups. We also continued to distribute wood chips to improve the trails.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Trail Maintenance and Construction. This stewardship program area involves an enormous volunteer effort throughout the year through four coordinated Conservancy programs. Though collectively these generally require far fewer financial resources than our Forest Regeneration program, it has a more direct impact on the thousands of people who visit the Reservation each month.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------These programs are: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Trailkeepers* thirty volunteers who independently monitor, brush back vegetation and blaze our 50-plus miles of trails and woods roads.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Chainsaw Gang* A dozen volunteers that remove fallen trees that block trails throughout the year. In 2022, we 194 trees off the trails. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Trail Work Crew* This group of volunteers (supplemented at times with community groups) has constructed or overseen contractors that built over six miles of new, sustainable hiking trails since its creation in 2007. It also works to improve drainage on wider woods roads and builds raised bog bridges and other infrastructure often with the assistance of Scouts BSA and other community groups. In 2022, we constructed new connecting trails and created a new trail to avoid icy conditions in the winter. ---------------- *Trash Tacklers/Ploggers* Both groups and independent volunteers have been engaged with removing trash from trails and picnic areas through coordinated programs (even contests) several times during the year. During the pandemic, when trail use has been estimated by national organizations to have tripled, the amount of litter has increased substantially. In 2022, dozens of volunteers, in groups and individually, collected 328 bags of trash from the trails and picnic areas.---------------------------------------------------------------=====================================================------------------------------------------------There are four major public programs run by the Conservancy. -----------------------------------------------------*Hiking* Our hiking program probably engages the largest number of participants each year. Open to the public and free of charge, these guided hikes led by SMC volunteers offer programs year-round for people with a wide range of abilities, including special children's hikes. While temporarily limited during the pandemic, in 2022, we offered 75 hikes serving n
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IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt0Description;Amount^Bank and PayPal Charges and Fees;1780|Memorial Bench Expense;3396|Art purchase and maintenance expense;5000|Supplies;8240|IT;1794|Equipment Purchase and Maintenance;927|Conferences and Meetings and Events;1565|Insurance;2595|Other;244|Marketing;58|Taxes and Government Fees;90^Total;25689^
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IRS990ScheduleO/SupplementalInformationDetail/ExplanationTxt2Description;EOY Amount^Credit Cards Payable;8060|Sales Tax Payable;1507|Consultants Payable;3000|Reserve for printing of SMR History book;2221^Total;14788^
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