CELT's membership campaign is off to a great start! We're looking for 200 membership gifts to reach our goal of 300 new, returning, or renewing, by the end of the summer.  

By donating today your gift will not only be matched dollar-for-dollar by Piper Shores and our friends at the James G. and Carolyn Birmingham Foundation, but you will also receive a $10 gift certificate to use at a local farm stand!  Here's more information about how you can help us continue to conserve cherished Cape landscapes, while helping our farmers, and helping yourself to some fresh locally raised foods. And here's more information about our farms. 

A Native Plant Walk in Robinson Woods

Robinson Woods is a beautiful forest with a variety of interesting native plants. In this walk, we'll  learn about some of the wildflowers, ferns, shrubs and trees native to Maine.  Heather McCargo (founder of the Wild Seed Project) will talk about which species are adaptable to gardens and developed landscapes and the threats to their survival, and she will inspire you with their unusual reproductive strategies and edible and medicinal properties. Learning to recognize our native species is the first step to advocating for their preservation.

Heather McCargo is an educator with 30 years of expertise in plant propagation, landscape design and conservation. There are  more details on our website. This walk is free and open to the public, but please email to let us know you'd like to attend. The Wild Seed Project works to increase the use of native plants to conserve biodiversity, encourage  plant adaption in the face of climate change, and to create pollination and migration corridors.  

The Cape Farm Alliance's 7th Annual Strawberry Fest Friday, June 26th and Saturday, June 27th  

This annual event celebrates local food in all its summer glory. Friday night features a Lobster Bake/Pig Roast (all locally caught/raised) at Shady Oak Farm, with live music and a silent auction. Tickets are available at Alewive's Brook Farm (Old Ocean House Rd.) and Jordan's Farm on Wells Rd. The festival on Saturday (no tickets required) in Maxwell's strawberry fields on Two Lights Rd., will feature local bands, kids' fun, amazing food, artisans, and agricultural demos. Click here for more details, and stop by CELT's booth at the festival.  We'll have tickets for Paint for Preservation and the raffle, membership information, and some giant bubble-making fun as well!  

Nikki Dresser moved from Bethel to Cape in 2005 and currently lives near Fort Williams with her husband Derek and their two sons. She loves the small, close-knit nature of Cape as well as its proximity to an urban center. Her favorite places in town are the Robinson Woods and the Fort. Nikki came to greatly value outdoor spaces when growing up and spending time in Jackson, New Hampshire, where there are large amounts of protected areas for hiking, biking, skiing and other activities. Throughout the years, Nikki has realized how enriching the natural environment has been to her own life, her family, and the greater community. Nature provides a sanctuary for all animals - human and otherwise. As our world becomes more and more technology-focused, Nikki feels it's more important than ever to create and protect these special places that nourish us.

Wyman Briggs grew up fishing and boating on Penobscot Bay and canoeing the rivers of northern Maine. After earning degrees from Middlebury College, the London School of Economics, and Harvard University (Environmental Policy), he completed 22 years as a Coast Guard officer in the field of marine environmental response, and his family has lived in many locations. In 2000 they were able to return to Maine when Wyman was appointed Executive Officer for the Coast Guard in Portland. He currently works as a civilian contingency planner and incident manager for the Coast Guard, and recently served as Chair of the Cape Nordic Board and the town's Alternative Energy Committee. He lives on Mountain View Rd. with his wife Laura and their three daughters. Wyman enjoys kayaking and skiing with his family and taking their Golden Retriever Casco on regular walks in Robinson Woods. Through involvement with CELT, Wyman has enjoyed giving back to the community, and connecting with other members. This summer, he embarks on a 450-mile biking adventure in the Slovenian Alps with several CELT members.

Jim Fisher and his wife Debbie have lived in the Oakhurst neighborhood for over 20 years, where they raised three children, and he appreciates the quality of Cape's schools, its active land trust, and its proximity to Portland. He especially enjoys kayaking and boating on Casco Bay, and walking, biking, and skiing along the myriad trails through Stonegate, Cranbrook, and Robinson Woods. Jim is president of Northeast Civil Solutions, the engineering and surveying company he founded in 1992 to take on preservation and development projects throughout New England. A retired military officer and an active participant in Boy Scouts since his youth, Jim has always been interested and involved in environmental and conservation issues.  Having grown up adjacent to a very large tract of undeveloped woods, streams, and fields, Jim came to appreciate the outdoors at a young age. He subscribes to a legacy of preservation that respects property owners while greatly benefiting the environment, wildlife, and the public.