Bergen Swamp PS

The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society is an educational conservation organization dedicated to protecting the native flora and fauna of its Upstate New York properties. Chartered as a New York State living museum, it describes itself as the first private environmental land trust in the United States to receive that designation. The Society manages five properties as sanctuaries, including Bergen Swamp, Hotchkiss Preserve, Slater Preserve, Taylor Marsh, and Zurich Bog.

Together, these landscapes protect habitats such as fens, cedar swamps, marshes, and bogs, supporting rare plants, native orchids, and resident and migrating birds. The public may visit without charge, provided visitors remain on marked trails. The Society also arranges access for schools, colleges, and accredited groups conducting research and study, and its preserves serve as outdoor classrooms.

It shares scientific and cultural information about its lands through a biannual membership newsletter and presentations at New York wetland conferences. Additional resources include property maps, bird checklists, photographs, research guidance, event information, and opportunities to become a member or request a group visit