SMC Board Member Spotlight - Leslie Arthur

Les joined the SMC board in the spring of 2023 after years hiking in the reservation. An avid hiker, he is a certified hiking leader with the Appalachian Mountain Club which promotes diversity in hiking and outdoor activities. When not on the trails, Les is cycling and part of the tri-state Black cycling culture which often gets together on weekends with as many as 60 people for riding and charity events.


Professionally, Les worked in the NJ public school system for 30 years teaching African American history, U.S. history and Latin American culture and economics. He currently is a Ph.D. candidate in African American history at Rutgers University.

At the South Mountain Conservancy, Les will focus on hiking and outreach initiatives with the broader Essex County community. Welcome Les!
Major Improvements Planned for the Fairy Trail

In 2025, the Conservancy hopes to put into motion plans to make major improvements along the beloved Fairy Trail. As described in our master plan for this popular attraction, we would like to install several rustic benches and a shelter similar to the one at Washington Rock. To these ends, in October the Conservancy received a $25k challenge grant from the Bolger Foundation. It's a challenge grant because we need to raise $50,000 in 2025 to unlock the funds. Once this occurs, it will have a cascading effect: the total sum can be doubled by using part of the $500,000 NJ DEP Green Acres grant that was allocated in 2021. We are excited about making the Fairy Trail more user-friendly for the thousands who visit each year. 

If you want to make a donation to the Fairy Trail Fund, click HERE.  If you would like to purchase a Fairy Trail poster click HERE. 
 
SMC Annual Meeting to be held in March

Come learn about the Conservancy's 2025 programs directly from the program coordinators and discover how you can get involved and volunteer. Representatives from Trash Tackers, Trailkeepers, Chainsaw Gang, Citizen Science, Hiking and Fairy Trails, as well as board members, will be available to answer questions and share their accomplishments from last year, along with plans for the upcoming season.

Featured Speaker, Mike Van Clef, PhD. head of NJ Invasive Species Strike Team. Mike will present the results of the just completed, SMC-funded study and the ten-year plan to manage invasive plants in the Reservation. Mike has a PhD in ecology and 25 years of experience working on stewardship of rare and invasive species, deer management, forest and grassland restorations, ecological health monitoring and natural resource policy.  Mike serves on the Hopewell Township Deer Management Advisory Committee, acts as Stewardship Director for Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and was a co-founder of the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team.
Hikes Continue in the Winter!
South Mountain Conservancy is pleased to offer free, guided hikes all through the winter months! Give yourself the gift of wellness and come breathe the fresh forest air!
 

February is American Heart Month. Join us for hikes geared towards the 50+ year old community! Take small steps to combat cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. These hikes will be of moderate pace and difficulty led by SMC Board Member, Ivette Canjura. 

See our Meetup page for schedule and signups: 
Meetup Registration
SMC Hidden Places Challenge

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Citizen Science: Lori LaBorde, citizenscience@somocon.org
Chainsaw Gang: David Berry, chainsawgang@somocon.org
Community Outreach: Dave Berry, community-outreach@somocon.org
Fairy Trail: Julie Gould & Beth Kelly, fairytrail@somocon.org
Forest Regeneration: Rich Rockwell, forestregen@somocon.org
Hikes: Bobbette Clarke, hikes@somocon.org
Mayapple Trail Runs: Dennis Percher, Mayapple-Trail-Runs@somocon.org
SMR Family Campout: Penni Malakates & Dennis Percher,  familycampout@somocon.org
Trailkeepers: Dennis Percher & Dave Berry, trailkeepers@somocon.org
Trail Work Crew: Dennis Percher & John Verzani, trailwork@somocon.org
Trash Tacklers: David Berry, trashtacklers@somocon.org
Wildflower Sculpture Park: Doris Cacoilo, sculpturepark@somocon.org
Operations Director: Penni Malakates, opsdirector@somocon.org
Copyright © 2025 South Mountain Conservancy, All rights reserved.