Each year, the staff of Haven Harbour gathers to serve our local community in an act of charitable giving. Yesterday afternoon, over 40 employees took to the trails of Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge to assist NWR staff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and members of the Friends of Eastern Neck to undertake some much needed maintenance and care of the public island located to our immediate south.

Eastern Neck is a 2,285 acre migratory bird sanctuary situated among the confluence of the Chester River and upper Chesapeake Bay. The island features numerous Chesapeake habitats, including roughly 1,000 acres of tidal marsh, 600 acres of upland forest and several hundred acres of cropland.

The team at Haven Harbour helped clean up public walking trails by cutting back invading undergrowth, spreading gravel and rock, controlling grapevines around the refuge's lodge, and picking up litter along Eastern Neck Island Road and around Bogles Wharf.

"We can’t thank the staff of Haven Harbour enough for choosing to volunteer their time at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge by improving refuge trails and removing invasive plants," said Michele Whitbeck, volunteer coordinator of the Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Complex that includes Eastern Neck. "Volunteers play a critical role here. With limited staff, it’s our volunteers that greet visitors, maintain trails and help monitor wildlife populations."

“Perhaps no other recreational industry relies more on the environment than boating," added Haven Harbour Marina Resorts Managing Director Charlie Petosa. "Volunteering and supporting places like Eastern Neck is not just a responsibility, but a privilege.”

We thank Eastern Neck NWR for not only providing the opportunity to give back this season, but for maintaining a place dedicated to environmental education and recreation for our community, customers and guests.

Marketing Manager