Land Trust launches Stewardship Campaign
Children discovering nature’s creepy crawlies while participating in BRLT’S environmental education program, the Osprey Program. The land trust is raising money to sustain its education program, which it provides for partner programs, such as Y’s Camp Knickerbocker, and to the community at large. Courtesy of BRLT
Children discovering nature’s creepy crawlies while participating in BRLT’S environmental education program, the Osprey Program. The land trust is raising money to sustain its education program, which it provides for partner programs, such as Y’s Camp Knickerbocker, and to the community at large. Courtesy of BRLT
Boothbay Region Land Trust’s (BRLT) hiking trails, waterfront access and environmental education are available year-round, free of charge. In order to keep these community resources available at their current levels, BRLT kicked off its Stewardship Campaign at the July 6 Volksmarch for the Land event.
Businesses and residents have come forward and generously contributed over $1.5 million (more than half of the $3 million necessary for long-term stewardship).
BRLT is now reaching out to the community, Boothbay region residents and visitors, to help meet a $500,000 challenge before year’s end. To encourage the public’s participation, donors have provided matching dollars to double the value of all public gifts in 2013.
The land trust is fortunate to have all campaign costs underwritten; therefore, 100 percent of all gifts go straight to BRLT’s endowment fund.
BRLT now has 22 preserves with over 30 miles of hiking trails and six preserves accessible by water. These preserves provide habitat for over 160 bird species and include 17 miles of saltwater frontage, six islands and 200 acres of deer-wintering area.
The Osprey Program, BRLT’s environmental education program, reaches over 500 kids and 150 adults annually with over 175 free programs serving ages 3 and up. BRLT is able to offer its programs free to the community directly and through partner programs with the Boothbay Region YMCA, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and area schools.
BRLT relies entirely on voluntary donations and grants to fund its work. When hikers visit preserves or attend an educational program, there is no fee, no required membership or gate. Currently, seed grants fund a significant portion of preserve access and education. These grants begin to expire at year’s end. Tax deductible gifts and pledges will provide the dollars necessary to sustain these community resources – today, tomorrow and forever.
Gifts of all sizes are welcome and necessary. For more information, please call 207-633-4818, visit the land trust at 137 Townsend Avenue or at www.bbrlt.org, or stop by one of the preserve kiosks for more information. Stewardship Campaign information is also available at business locations throughout the community, including J. Edward Knight, Topside Inn, Washburn & Doughty and First Federal.
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