The Friends of the Woods, founded in 1997, developed as a sub-committee of the South Plainfield Environmental Commission.

Charged with providing maintenance and environmental education at the Borough-owned Highland Woods Environmental Education Reserve at 115 Sylvania Place, the non-profit volunteer group works with local schools, scouts and the public.

The Nature Center was opened in 2006 and serves as a classroom and activity center focused around environmental education. Highlights in the center include animal skulls and bones, rocks and minerals, fossils, and a large collection of nature books and magazines. The Nature Center is open on specially designated weekends.

Groups of 5 or more interested in taking a guided nature walk of the reserve (weekday or weekend) should contact Dorothy Miele at spnaturetrails@verizon.net.

Volunteers are welcome to assist with trail and property maintenance, docent duties at the Nature Center, and programming.