Our Story: How It All Began

In 2006, James Sullivan took his first camping trip in the Hudson River Recreation Area, part of the Lake George Wild Forest in Lake Luzerne, New York. Known to locals as Buttermilk and Bear Slides, the area’s natural beauty was unforgettable—but so was the impact of human activity. James was heartbroken to witness litter scattered across the ground, spray paint defacing rocks and trees, and vehicles driving over fragile vegetation.

Despite these challenges, James continued camping in the area with his mother, her boyfriend, his sister, and her husband. Their love for the forest only grew stronger with each visit. Determined to make a difference, James reached out to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) around 2013. He shared his story and expressed his desire to start a nonprofit that could help clean up the area and protect its natural resources.

A few weeks later, a DEC forester contacted James and introduced him to the DEC’s Volunteer Stewardship Agreement (VSA) program. James signed the agreement that same year, formalizing his commitment to environmental stewardship.

On November 29, 2013, Morgan Duke Conservation Society was officially incorporated in New York State. In 2014, it was granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, becoming a recognized nonprofit organization. That same year, on May 18, James, his family, and a Forest Ranger completed the organization’s first project—planting trees in areas below Stone Mountain and beyond.

What began as one camper’s heartbreak became a mission to protect, restore, and inspire stewardship of the Hudson River Special Management Area and beyond.

One sunny afternoon, James Sullivan and his mother were standing on the beach island at Darling Ford in the Hudson River Recreation Area. The river was calm, the sky clear, and the day seemed perfect for enjoying the beauty of nature.

James was standing in the middle of the beach when something extraordinary happened. A Great Blue Heron suddenly emerged from the trees and began walking slowly across the sand—carefully, almost as if it were tiptoeing—straight toward him. It showed no fear. Step by step, it made its way until it stood just a few feet from where James stood, frozen in place, not daring to move.

As he looked down, James saw something that hit him hard: the heron was standing on a crushed soda can.

This proud, graceful bird—so wild and majestic—had stepped right onto a piece of human trash. It paused and looked around at the beachgoers nearby, almost as if silently asking, “Please don’t destroy my home.”

After a few moments, the heron flew over to a large log lying along the shoreline. It settled there peacefully—until a group of young adults came too close, trying to provoke it. James was furious. He couldn’t understand how anyone could treat such a rare and beautiful animal with such carelessness.

That experience left a deep impression on him.

A few weeks later, while tubing down the Hudson River, James spotted what appeared to be the same Great Blue Heron standing on that same beach island. As he floated by, the heron looked up—and then it spread its wings and flew directly over his head.

To James, it felt like a moment of recognition. As if the bird remembered him. As if it was saying thank you—for seeing it, for caring, and for standing up for its habitat.

Moments like this are why James founded the Morgan Duke Conservation Society. They remind us that nature is always speaking—we just have to slow down and listen.