CAPE MAY – For more than 30 years, New Jersey Audubon’s Nature Center of Cape May has served as the sentinel of Cape May Harbor. Originally founded as a grass-roots effort to preserve the harbor and the unique and precious resource that it represents, the Nature Center of Cape May has evolved over the decades to become the focal point not only for the preservation of the harbor’s marine environment but perhaps more importantly, for educating generations of citizens as to the importance of that precious resource. For the majority of those many years, one person has stood at the helm and guided the efforts of the center.
Gretchen Whitman was a young mother with two small children at home when the legendary Charlotte Todd recognized a well of untapped potential and encouraged Whitman to come on board as a volunteer. Within three years, that volunteer became the Sanctuary Director and that Sanctuary Director’s vision resulted in today’s Nature Center of Cape May. Perched on the south rim of Cape May Harbor, the Center, with its bright-blue roofed tower, truly has evolved to be the sentinel of Cape May Harbor.
It wasn’t always so.
Thanks to the vision and leadership of Gretchen Whitman, a diverse collection of donated structures was transformed into a lively campus consisting of a marine science laboratory, education hall, outdoor classroom, craft hall and a modern visitor’s center housing not only offices and nature store, but an art gallery, children’s play area, “Nature Nook” critter area, all of which is topped by a three-story observation tower with a wrap-around deck. The transformation has been no less than spectacular.
No less spectacular has been the impact of the Center upon the surrounding community. Generations of Cape May County children and visitors have gleaned an appreciation for the natural world by attending the Center’s summer camps. Many others have taken advantage of the scholarships and internships available through the Center in order to pursue careers in the sciences, law enforcement, education and engineering. And its not only children who have benefited since the Center offers programs and opportunities for adults of all ages.
But time moves on. Sanctuary Director Gretchen Whitman’s children are now adults and she has decided that it is time to pass the baton to Emily Reed.
Emily Reed has been the Nature Center’s Program Director since 2021. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Emily (nee Wilmouth) attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology. After graduating from UW in 2017, Emily migrated east to take a position as a naturalist with New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory in Cape May Point. Assigned to the hawkwatch platform, she contributed to the annual migration count while also assisting visitors by identifying myriads of raptors that migrate through the Cape May peninsula every autumn. During her time working on the hawkwatch platform, Emily would meet her future husband, Tom Reed, as of “Reed’s Beach” on the Delaware Bay. At the conclusion of that first summer, she returned to the Midwest to complete her graduate studies and earn her Masters in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota at Duluth.
A strong professional draw combined with an equally strong personal attraction conspired to bring Emily back east where she resumed working with New Jersey Audubon. Then in 2021, Sanctuary Director Whitman broached the prospect of Emily coming on board as the Program Director at the Nature Center of Cape May where she would oversee the Center’s popular and busy summer camp schedule. Professionally, it was a perfect match, Whitman as mentor, Emily as protegee. A year later another perfect match came to fruition as Emily Wilmoth became Emily Reed when she and Tom Reed exchanged vows of marriage.
And so, the Nature Center of Cape May comes full circle, now under the leadership of Emily Reed, a new Director with her own vision. Emily shares these thoughts, “I want the Nature Center to be a place that ignites a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world, inspiring all visitors to explore, learn and celebrate nature.” She continues with this objective, “We are a space for community, creativity and hope. Through immersive experiences and programs, we aim to foster a life-long appreciation of nature and a commitment to protect it for future generations.” And finally, she makes the following invitation, “As I enter this new role, I’d love to hear from our neighbors. I encourage you to share your ideas of how the Nature Center can best serve you, the Cape May community, as we move forward on this journey together.”
And so, a page has turned. The foundation is firm and strong, and the vision is clear and concise. The Nature Center of Cape May moves forward with a new Director and purpose. Visit us on the rim of Cape May Harbor at 1600 Delaware Avenue, here in the Nation’s First Seaside Resort. We will be happy to meet you.
