Garden & Sanctuary - Erik Brunetti Foundation for the Arts

The Elderwell Wildlife Sanctuary & Native Garden

A Living Landscape for Contemplation and Ecological Utility—Composite view from the Elderwell Wildlife Sanctuary. At left, a juvenile white-tailed buck (Odocoileus virginianus) stands near the woodland perimeter—an uncommon daytime sight, often associated with maternal nesting in the vicinity. At right, a mature Purple Laurel (Rhododendron catawbiense) in seasonal bloom, native to the Appalachian region and prominent throughout the Sanctuary’s shaded slopes.

Located at the summit of College Hill, the Elderwell Wildlife Sanctuary & Native Garden functions as a curated ecological restoration program stewarded by the Erik Brunetti Foundation for the Arts. The 1.5-acre estate supports an active population of native species including white-tailed deer, Eastern cottontail rabbits, striped chipmunks, robins, cardinals, and goldfinches. The flora features Appalachian-native rhododendrons and indigenous understory growth, now restored through non-commercial land practices.

Once maintained as ornamental grounds, the landscape is now restructured as a low-intervention ecological refuge—emphasizing symbolic cultivation, seasonal observation, and long-range habitat resilience. A planned wildlife water source, linked to the property’s historic well, is under development to provide permanent access for sanctuary species. This infrastructure anchors the site’s viability as a replicable model of nonprofit ecological stewardship.

In maintaining the site’s ecological integrity, the Foundation performs a conservation function historically managed by public agencies—advancing habitat preservation outside of state administration. Educational access is available by institutional inquiry and advance coordination, with programming developed for accredited scholars, ecological researchers, and nonprofit collaborators.

The Sanctuary preserves ecological corridors and open space while executing a charitable service under Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener framework. The program aligns with conservation priorities set forth by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association. It serves as a micro-scale model of land-based nonprofit stewardship in a region where such responsibilities are increasingly delegated to private foundations.

For stewardship inquiries related to the maintenance, restoration, or activation of the Shimer House and Sanctuary grounds, contact:

foundation@erikbrunettifoundation.org

A 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions may be tax-deductible. Operates pursuant to the statutory criteria set forth in Pennsylvania’s Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act (10 P.S. § 371 et seq.).