The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, a government organization, administers around 122 “wildlife management areas” (otherwise known as WMAs) throughout the state. These wildlife areas are protected by the government as grounds that can benefit both the land and people. One of these lands is the Glassboro-Clayton CC Woods (also known as the “state woods”), which is a 2,337 acre forest accompanied by swamps and open fields. The woods serve as a site for many of the cultural activities of the community while also working to preserve open spaces, endangered animals, and water supplies. 

Some of the popular activities at the CC Woods are bird watching and hunting. Year round, birdwatchers flock to the wildlife management areas to see a vast variety of warblers and other bird species. In fact, according to local birdwatchers, the woods are home to an estimated 158 different bird species. During the fall and winter months, hunting is also a popular pastime. This creates an interesting juxtaposition: while humans seek to protect nature through WMAs, they balance this with what they seek to use for their own personal benefit.