Common Ground Newsletter - Tinicum Conservancy

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TC Newsletter-Spring '13-4-23-Replaced map and seal:TC Newesletter-Spring '13 4/23/13 6:30 PM Page 4 Camp Galil’s Sixty-One Acres Protected Camp Galil has been connecting children and young adults to the land along Tinicum Creek for sixty-seven years. Every summer campers learn about themselves, leadership, the environment, and more while enjoying the beauty that Tinicum offers. Camp Executive Director Sharon- A dramatic property located entirely along Tinicum Creek. Waimberg said that the camp’s board of directors feels “connected to the land.” From their perspective, the Camp Galil experience is closely tied to its Tinicum landscape. Galil’s leadership wanted to ensure that the beauty of the land and the creek remains forever protected. So entering into a conservation easement with Tinicum Conservancy was a natural for them. Preserving the land feeds into the programs the camp runs each summer. Waimberg expressed great satisfaction in recognizing that neighbors of the camp had also preserved their properties, so they know “that long after we’re gone, campers can come here and experience the same beauty that is here now.” In fact, Galil is linked to more than 480 acres of open space and is one of 11 connected easements that stretch to Ralph Stover State Park and the Tohickon Creek. there is also a strong focus on Jewish culture: Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) and Shabbat dinner, Israeli folk dancing, Havdalah (marking the end of the Sabbath with singing and music), Israeli history, culture and Hebrew. Over the years thousands of campers, aged 8 to 16, have spent their Fruits of their labor: campers and counselors in Galil’s organic garden. An undated photo shows happy campers crossing the footbridge over Tinicum Creek. The camp was founded in 1946 as part of Habonim Dror North America (the progressive Zionist Labor Youth movement). At the beginning the camp was quite primitive—no electricity and sketchy water pumps. Although Galil still focuses on leadership, personal growth, and Jewish values in a kibbutzstyle setting, it is no longer quite as rustic. Galil provides full camp activities, including the familiar: sports programs, organic gardening, arts and crafts, nature, performing arts, aquatics, outdoor adventure, obstacle courses, and, of course, campfires. But One of the property’s many spectacular streamside places for a quiet retreat. summers in Tinicum. Youngsters come from as nearby as Doylestown and as far away as Japan. Camp Galil’s sixty-one acres off of Red Hill Road contain over 3700 stream feet of Tinicum Creek and another 780 feet of a tributary stream; 4 TINICUMCONSERVANCY.ORG Spring 2013
TC Newsletter-Spring '13-4-23-Replaced map and seal:TC Newesletter-Spring '13 4/23/13 6:30 PM Page 5 the entire property lies within the Tinicum Creek Exceptional Value watershed. The easement was made possible because of the camp’s generosity and desire to protect the land, but also in large part through public funding, specifically Bucks County’s Natural Areas grant program. The County Natural Areas Inventory ranks the Tinicum Creek watershed and the Tinicum Creek Conservation Landscape as “conservation priorities” so a conservation easement on Camp Galil made perfect use of these public funds. The property is home to a feature of Tinicum Creek which has been interpreted as an “elbow of capture,” where the creek makes a dramatic 90- degree turn east on the way to the Delaware River. It is thought that the upper Tinicum Creek was once a tributary of the Tohickon Creek that was “captured” by a smaller tributary of the Delaware through headwaters erosion. This smaller creek became the lower Tinicum Creek. The riparian corridor along the creek is the most ecologically significant aspect of the property. The streamside forest in the west, south, and east contains sycamore, basswood, silver maple, black walnut, and white ash trees. Wildflowers and breeding habitat for amphibians are other features of the forested floodplain terrace. Successional red cedar woodland occupies a band along Galil’s northern boundary. A very steep hemlockforested slope borders Tinicum Creek on the southeast side, opposite the camp. The riparian corridor, including floodplain and floodplain terrace, are outside the area of active camp use. Most of the actual camp facilities are clustered in the center of the parcel. Neighbor June Rothkopf loves having Camp Galil next door, as it reminds her of her own childhood summercamp days. She is glad that kids enjoy their camp years in our “country” area. Clay Heckler contacted Tinicum Conservancy four years ago about conserving his property in Ottsville. Because the property was zoned commercial, the process was not straightforward and included some long delays. But Mr. Heckler persisted. The long-range views from the top of the property are some of the best in the area, looking down the sweep of fields and hills to the south of Park Road/Ridge Road. With Jose Garces’ Luna Farm (formerly Wenner) adjoining Mr. Heckler’s, and the Hoffman/Shivo preserved farm just beyond that, there is now a 130-acre stretch of preserved land in the northwest corner of the township. All three of the properties have been actively farmed, and the Garces property is growing organic produce destined for the Iron Chef ’s restaurant group. Thanks to Clay Heckler for continuing the conservation process. Protecting his property means another piece of Tinicum’s rural character will remain. Sugie Weiss was introduced to Bucks County in 1946 when she visited her cousin Mary Woodruff ’s farm on The name “Galil” refers to the famously scenic area of northern Israel surrounding the Sea of Galilee. This Galil flourishes along the scenic area of Tinicum Creek. - Peggy Enoch Persistent to the End: Landowners go the distance Rapp Creek. Sugie and her family, over the years, became part of the New York City-Bucks County connection. Sugie and Marty purchased their property, which lies mostly in Tinicum, but extends partly into Nockamixon Township in 1967. In December, they signed the easement conserving it. It adjoins the alreadyconserved Mirick property for a total of 62.5 acres. Sugie is looking forward to spending more time here in Bucks and calls the land “incredible,” adding, “We have treasured this property since we bought it, and have enjoyed it as a retreat from urban life.” Their sons grew up swimming in Beaver Pond and learning first-hand about the diabase geology that provides the huge rocks on their land. The Weisses encountered roadblocks in their pursuit of protecting the land “in perpetuity.” On finally closing the transaction, they expressed their appreciation for Tinicum Conservancy’s support in “sticking with us through thick and thin.” We are grateful for Marty and Sugie’s persistence in completing the easement! - P. E. Spring 2013 TINICUMCONSERVANCY.ORG 5
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Common Ground Newsletter - Tinicum Conservancy

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