Family Fun and Learning from Land Trusts

Alabama

2021 Concert at Three Caves Series | Land Trust of North Alabama
June 19, July 10 and August 7 | Three Caves
Enjoy a night of music at a truly unique outdoor venue while supporting conservation in North Alabama. Learn more.

Jefferson County Landowner Tour ​| Freshwater Land Trust
July 22 | Turkey Creek Nature Preserve
We all live in a watershed even though we may not realize it. Put simply, a watershed includes all land that drains into a body of water. A majority of Alabama residents gets their drinking water from rivers and runoff. As rainwater flows to the nearest downslope body of water it comes in contact with anything we pour, drop, or place on the ground. This body of water could be on your tree farm, fishing pond or your town’s water source. Alabama Tree Farm System and Partners invite you to attend their Jefferson County landowner tour. This outdoor tour will include tips and tools landowners can use to ensure their forest is healthy resulting in clean water for everyone. Topics include ways to improve your forest through forest management, pond management and certifications. Learn more and register.

Land Aid Concert 2021 ​| Freshwater Land Trust
August 8 | Avondale Brewing Company
Freshwater Land Trust’s Junior Board will be hosting our twelfth annual Land Aid, a fundraising concert benefitting land conservation and trail building across Central Alabama. So get your tickets now to jam out with us and Umphrey’s McGee, all in the name of conserving Alabama. Learn more.

California

Navarro Point Stewards Day​ | Mendocino Land Trust
Second Thursday every month | Navarro Point Preserve
Navarro Point Preserve is owned and managed by Mendocino Land Trust that relies on volunteer stewardship workdays to maintain our network of public access trails and beaches. Volunteers spend the day pulling invasive plant species, picking up garbage, maintaining the trail and taking in the beautiful scenery. Stewardship workdays are open to all ages and experience levels. Learn more.

Hare Creek Beach Stewards | Mendocino Land Trust
Second Saturday every month | Hare Creek Beach
Hare Creek Beach is owned and managed by Mendocino Land Trust. We rely on volunteer stewardship workdays to maintain our network of public access trails and beaches. Volunteers spend the day pulling invasive plant species, picking up garbage, maintaining the trail and taking in the beautiful scenery. Stewardship workdays are open to all ages and experience levels. Learn more.

Ten Mile Stewards Day | Mendocino Land Trust
Third Saturday every month | Old Smith Ranch Trail
The Ten Mile property requires regular attention to control invasive plants, maintain the picnic area and remove woody debris created during the construction of the trail. We invite everyone and anyone to help us maintain this beautiful public access trail. Stewardship workdays are open to all ages and experience levels. Learn more.

Weather Patterns Of The Coast | Coastside Land Trust
June 19 | Virtual
Join the Coastside Land Trust and local meteorology expert, Jan Null, as we explore some of the San Mateo Coast’s weather phenomena. We will discuss the seasonal patterns of the region, as well as the ways that our “normal” is shifting. This presentation will give us an opportunity to explore the many factors that make our weather and climate so unique and dynamic. We will address some of the more serious climate changes influencing the coast, as well as exploring some of the exciting weather-related phenomena that have delighted Coastsiders for generations. Learn more.

Colorado

Land Trust Field Trips | Crested Butte Land Trust
June 24, July 29, August 26 and September 30 | Crested Butte, Colorado
Join CBLT staff and partners on easy hikes to conserved land to learn about the great work being done there!  Learn more.

Forever Colorado BBQ ​ | Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust
August 14 | Fetcher Ranch, Clark, Colorado
The Forever Colorado BBQ will include cocktails, dinner, dancing and a silent auction, benefiting the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust & the conservation of working lands. Learn more.

Florida

Summer Photo Contest | Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
June 21–August 21 | Virtual
Vote for the best photo from the Foundation's photo contest! The virtual competition will award prizes to category winners as selected by the jury as well as People’s Choice awards as determine by popular vote on Facebook. Learn more.

The Breakdown on Heirs Property | Alachua Conservation Trust
June 22 | Virtual
As part of Alachua Conservation Trust's Keep Florida Wild Virtual Series, we invite you to join us for an informative presentation on heirs property. During this webinar, Candace A. Spencer, Esq. will cover the basics of heirs property and its effect on Black land ownership of agricultural land. Following the presentation, there will be a question and answer session with our speaker.  Learn more.

Illinois

Family Nature Adventurers | Natural Land Institute
June 23–August 11 | Virtual
Discover Nature All Around You! Fall in love with nature, discover your outdoor surroundings and learn how you can help protect and have fun in nature. Watch a video online followed by a suggested activity outside. Register online to begin this free outdoor adventure series with your family and help your kids earn a Natural Land Institute Junior Naturalist Badge! Learn more.

Idaho

Birds & Burritos | Kaniksu Land Trust
June 5 | Sandpoint, Idaho
Celebrate National Trails Day on a bird walk. Join local birding expert and KLT board member, Rich Del Carlo, and passionate birder and breakfast burrito maker extraordinaire, Celeste Grace, as they introduce you to the birds of Pine Street Woods. Wake up with the birds, enjoy a homemade breakfast as you listen to a talk on birds in our area and then enjoy a walk and bird spotting in and around Pine Street Woods. Learn more.

Folk School Jamboree | Kaniksu Land Trust
June 12 | Sandpoint, Idaho
Join us in kicking off in grand style the Kaniksu Folk School. We will be debuting the new summer class series as well as enjoying a viewing of traditional crafts, games for all, great music and some handcraft projects that you can do yourself. Eichardt’s will join us and serve libations. Bring a picnic and spend the day with our amazing Folk School Staff and artisans. Learn more.

Yoga in the Cedars | Palouse Land Trust
June 19 | Idler's Rest Nature Preserve
After a painfully long hiatus due to the pandemic, we are thrilled to announce this year’s first Yoga in the Cedars at Idler’s Rest! Our amazing friend and partner Meggie Cafferty will again be leading this morning session, open to all ages and skill levels. Class will include a bit of breathwork and meditation in addition to our yoga postures. Whether you are a new yogi or seasoned practitioner, there will be something for everyone during this all-levels class. Get outdoors, travel to a serene spot on the Palouse and enjoy connecting with yourself and the natural world in this renewed community setting. Learn more.

QiGong at Idler's Rest​ | Palouse Land Trust
June 22 – July 20 | Idler's Rest Nature Preserve
Qigong is a Chinese word that means “energy cultivation” or “energy exercise.” Qigong routines have been practiced in China for thousands of years in order to improve health and wellness. Many different styles of qigong exist but most utilize a combination of conscious movement, breath awareness and visualization. Join certified Qigong teacher Meggan Baumgartner, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl.OM for a special five-week Dai-Mai class held in the cedar grove clearing at Idler’s Rest. Learn more.

Pairings in the Pines | Kaniksu Land Trust
July 21 | Sandpoint, Idaho
Join Kaniksu Land Trust for its inaugural fundraising event, Pairings in the Pines. Hike along our meadow trail and enjoy stops along the way where you can taste local bites paired with different wines from Colter’s Creek Winery in Julietta, Idaho. Learn more.

Run For The Woods | Kaniksu Land Trust
October 9 | Sandpoint, Idaho
Enjoy a day in the woods with friends and family running for a great cause. All race proceeds will benefit Kaniksu Land Trust. There will be optional routes of varying distances. A route and pace for everyone to enjoy. Start your training! Learn more.

Indiana

Reddy Red-Tail Explorers | Red-tail Land Conservancy
Beginning June 6
Reddy Red-tail invites families to explore the outdoors with him this summer. His Do-It-Yourself summer camp gives you eight weekly nature observation challenges. Each week there is something new to discover, a recommended trail to explore and an activity to spark understanding of our natural world. Red-tail Land Conservancy is offering free nature journals to young explorers as they start to record what they see and feel in nature! Learn more.

Pollinator Planting And Trail Maintenance At Oliver’s Woods​​ | Central Indiana Land Trust
June 9 | Oliver's Woods, Indianapolis
Help us welcome back native plants and wildlife by planting pollinator-friendly plants and getting our trails cleaned up at Oliver’s Woods. Learn more.

Poetry of Birds: A Walk through the Woods with Poetry | Central Indiana Land Trust
June 12 | Oliver's Woods, Indianapolis
Join us for birdsong and lyricism at Oliver’s Woods. Located in the middle of a commercial district, Oliver’s Woods provides an oasis for our avian friends. Hear verse inspired by their beauty in this riverside nature preserve. With poetry by Hoosier poet and bird lover Lylanne Musselman followed by a nature walk led by land trust staff, we’ll celebrate the songs and plumage of the songbirds who make their home in this preserve. Learn more.

Hear Them Roar! Happy Hour With The Extraordinary Brood X Cicadas​ | Central Indiana Land Trust
June 18 | Oliver's Woods, Indianapolis
Welcome the periodical cicadas of Brood X back to Central Indiana with this family-friendly event at Oliver’s Woods. All ages are welcome to join us at our campfire circle for refreshments and a presentation on these fascinating and beneficial insects. Our presenter is Dr. Elizabeth Barnes, an entomologist and ecologist from Purdue University. After the discussion, the attendees will have time to hike our property on their own to search for these special cicadas. Learn more.

Iowa

Community Corn Harvest​​ | Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
July 22 - August 1 | Cedar Rapids
Free sweet corn for all! Come pick your own, learn the history of Iowa corn and details about Dows Farm agri-community in progress. Planted by a farmer to feed the hungriest among us post-COVID and derecho. Learn more.

Landowner Showcase​​ | Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
August 14 | Iowa City
Rural landowners are invited to a SILT farm tour and information about the tax, legal and appraisal information related to permanent land protection. Includes handouts and stories of Iowa land protectors and their impact on nature-friendly beginning farmers. Learn more.

SILTFest Iowa City​ | Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
August 14 | Iowa City
Spend an afternoon on a nature-friendly table food farm just north of Iowa City. Bring blankets or chairs, get a farm tour, listen to live music and be inspired by updates from SILT and our partner Center for Worker Justice! Free samples and other refreshments available for donation. Learn more.

Landowner Showcase​​ | Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
August 19 | Earlham
Central Iowa rural landowners are invited to tour a SILT-protected farm, hear stories from the beginning farmer who just purchased it and get tax, legal and appraisal information related to permanent land protection. Learn more.

Maine

Morning Yoga | Scarborough Land Trust​
July 13 | Pleasant Hill Preserve
Join certified yoga instructor, Beanie O’Shea, for an hour of vinyasa flow yoga with scenic views overlooking Pleasant Hill Preserve. This class is for adults, although all skill levels are welcome! Tickets are $15. Learn more.

Introductory Invasives Training | Scarborough Land Trust​
July 14 | Pleasant Hill Preserve
Under the guidance of our Stewardship Director, Sami Wolf, learn how to identify and combat invasive species at Scarborough Land Trust properties and in your own backyard! Registration is required for all participants. All ages welcome! Learn more.

Stream Explorers Workshop​ | Scarborough Land Trust​
July 16 | Broadturn Farm Preserve
Join Becca, Education and Communication Specialist, in a community science project surveying Silver Brook for aquatic insects and macroinvertebrates. Registration is required for all participants. Ages 6+ welcome for this event! Learn more.

Trail Work Days ​| Scarborough Land Trust​
July 19 and 30 | Broadturn Farm Preserve
Scarborough Land Trust relies on the help and support of volunteers to maintain and build our trails. Join us for a work day to help keep our trails accessible and in good condition! This may include removing invasives, building bog bridges or maintaining trails. Registration is required for all participants. Learn more.

Trail Work Days ​| Scarborough Land Trust​
July 19 and 30 | Broadturn Farm Preserve
Scarborough Land Trust relies on the help and support of volunteers to maintain and build our trails. Join us for a work day to help keep our trails accessible and in good condition! This may include removing invasives, building bog bridges or maintaining trails. Registration is required for all participants. Learn more.

Mothing Workshop​ ​| Scarborough Land Trust​
July 20 | Pleasant Hill Preserve
Gather round for a special after dark event, celebrating National Moth Week! Stewardship Director, Sami Wolf, will give a short presentation on moths, then we will check out the Moth Cloth to identify the beautiful and diverse moths of Maine that gather there. Registration is required for all participants. Learn more.

Youth Nature Hike​ ​| Scarborough Land Trust​
July 22 | Libby River Farm Preserve
Have you ever wondered what types of plants and animals are beside you as you explore the trails? Join Kelly Pietrzak, youth outdoor educator, local parent and SLT volunteer, for a hike to learn how to identify different species. Registration is required for all participants for this family-friendly event. Learn more.

Youth Monarch Walk​ ​| Scarborough Land Trust​
July 27 | Blue Point Preserve
Join Becca Ferguson, Scarborough Land Trust’s Education and Communication specialist on a walk to look for Monarch butterflies in all stages of metamorphosis. Learn why they are disappearing and what you can do to help protect them. Registration is required for all participants. Learn more.

Massachusetts

Rock & Laurel 5k Trail Race | North County Land Trust
June 26 | Crocker Conservation Area, Fitchburg
Support North County Land Trust by participating in the second  Rock & Laurel 5K Trail Race at Crocker Conservation Area in Fitchburg. We invite you to join us as you start out at the site of our event host, the Applewild School (Fitchburg Campus), and wind your way through the scenic trails lined with mountain laurel in bloom on this 5k trail race/walk to benefit NCLT. As part of the registration fee you will receive a Rock & Laurel t-shirt and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped support NCLT’s conservation efforts in north central Massachusetts. Learn more.

Team Muddy Inaugural Hike | Northeast Wilderness Trust​
July 10 | Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve, Kingston
Northeast Wilderness Trust is creating a new community of wilderness champions in Massachusetts. Team Muddy will be a small community of those who love Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve and are committed to its preservation as a wild ecosystem. NEWT will reach out to this group between one and three times a year with offerings to get further involved. Team Muddy members will have the opportunity to participate in volunteer days, educational events, BioBlitzes, fundraising and advocacy for wild places in Massachusetts. During this inaugural hike, we'll introduce folks to Muddy Pond, the Wilderness Trust and how to use iNaturalist. Learn more.

Michigan

Land is Alive Art Walk at the Chocolay Bayou​! | Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy
August 20–22 | Chocolay Bayou Preserve
The Art Walk will be a celebration of the natural beauty and community space provided by the Chocolay Bayou. This year we will celebrate this preserve's fifth Birthday with our first annual Bayou Art Walk. The public is invited to hike the Bayou, take part in a community art project and view the exhibits throughout the preserve that inspires us all with its natural beauty. Learn more.

Montana

Let's Go Birding! | Kaniksu Land Trust
June 19 | Sanders County, Montana
Kaniksu Land Trust will lead kids on a bird adventure to find and identify local birds using sight and sound! All Sanders County kids welcome! It’s free. Brought to you by KLT, 4H and Montana State University Extension. Learn more.

New Hampshire

Merrimack Paddle Challenge​ | Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
June 15-September 30 | Various locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts
Hop in the water with your family or friends for a do-it-yourself paddling adventure this summer. Paddle a collection of five destinations in the Merrimack River watershed, specially chosen to maximize fun and learn more about the ecosystem of this watershed that spans from New Hampshire to Massachusetts. Presented by: Five Rivers Conservation Trust, Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, Merrimack River Watershed Council & the Forest Society. Learn more.

New York

Botany Walk with Invasives ID | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
June 12 | Fox Preserve
Join Laura Lehtonen and Steve Young on a hike to identify plants of early summer.New York’s eighth annual “Invasive Species Awareness Week” is June 6-12, so bring your smartphone and learn how to use the app “iMapInvasives” as you learn some of the most common invasive plant species that MHLC manages. You can be part of a community science project to map invasives and help preserve our native flora! Learn more.

Nature Bus | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
Saturdays from June 12 – September 25 | Fox Preserve
Jump on board in the morning and spend your Saturday walking trails in the woods at Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy preserves, exploring trees of the world at Pine Hollow Arboretum or visiting Five Rivers for outdoor education opportunities. You can also take the free bus to Thacher Park for a spectacular view from the top of the Helderberg Escarpment! Learn more.

Run for Land | Genesee Land Trust​
June 18–20 | Virtual
Sign up for our virtual 5K run/walk. Choose a 3.1-mile route to walk or run anytime on June 18–20 at your own pace and convenience. Run or walk all at once or break up the run/walk into different sections. Walk or run throughout a Genesee Land Trust preserve, in your neighborhood, on a treadmill or anywhere you'd like! Learn more.

Amphibian Exploration | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
June 19 | Heldeberg Workshop
The Workshop property is well known for its natural resource values that make the Helderberg Escarpment so ecologically and geologically significant. These lands have been identified as a biodiversity “hotspot,” with records of many other animals and plants of conservation concern. Join MHLC and Al Breisch of the Heldeberg Workshop to explore the variety of amphibians living on the Workshop lands. You will also learn about some of the interesting plant species found there. Learn more.

Work Party at Cornwall Preserve | Genesee Land Trust​
June 26 | Williamson
Join Genesee Land Trust for a weekend work party at Cornwall Preserve in Williamson. This stunning 77-acre nature preserve on Lake Ontario has a number of trails and habitat types. We will work on a variety of projects including trail work and invasive plant removal. Learn more.

Honey Bees & Pollinators, co-hosted by ECOS | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
July 10 | Strawberry Fields Nature Preserve
Explore Strawberry Fields in search of pollinators! Learn more about these very important insects from our ECOS guide Cindy Elsenbeck. You’ll even get to see a working hive up close and take home instructions on making your own bee house. Learn more.

Trail Keepers at Irene Gossin Nature Preserve | Genesee Land Trust​
July 15 | Penfield
Trail Keepers visit Irene Gossin Nature Preserve in Penfield for some habitat improvement and trail work. We will be removing invasive Canada thistle and multiflora rose, and scouting out a new trail. Learn more.

Summer Hike-a-thon Scavenger Hunt | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
Beginning July 17 | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy preserves
This year we are hosting another on-your-own scavenger hunt for our Summer Hike-a-thon. Register in advance to receive a list of clues to locate the “Gnome Homes” at each of the MHLC Preserves. Take a selfie with the Gnome Home and send it to connect@mohawkhudson.org by July 30 to receive a Stewart’s ice cream gift card. The Gnome Homes will stay at the preserves all season long. Learn more.

Happy Hour Hike at Irene Gossin Nature Preserve​ | Genesee Land Trust​
July 21 | Penfield
Take a mid-week break and explore Irene Gossin Nature Preserve and the Town of Penfield’s Rothfuss Park, followed by a refreshing craft beer at K2 Brothers Brewing. We’ll meet at Rothfuss Park across the street from Irene Gossin Nature Preserve. We’ll walk the trail at Rothfuss Park and then cross the street and walk the trails at Irene Gossin Nature Preserve. This will be a 2-4-mile guided walk on paved and grass trails. After the hike, if you choose to, join us at K2 Brothers Brewing. Learn more.

Happy Hour Hike at Cornwall Preserve​ | Genesee Land Trust​
August 11 | Williamson
Take a mid-week break and explore the trails and scenic views of Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville. We’ll meet at the Cornwall Preserve parking lot and walk between 2-4 miles on grass and dirt trails, including one footbridge. After the hike, if you choose to, join us at Yia Yia’s Ice Cream Shoppe for a tasty ice cream. Learn more.

Forest Therapy Guided Walk | Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
August 15 | Holt Preserve
ThJoin MHLC and Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide Diane Kavanaugh-Black for a relaxing stroll through the Holt Preserve. Forest therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. The walk will include several invitations for participants to engage more deeply with the specific natural environment. Learn more.

North Carolina