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Our Annual Report is Now Available
Every fall, the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust publishes an Annual Report to highlight the past year's accomplishments. We're proud to present CELT's
2016 Annual Report , and we invite you to reflect
on the accomplishments highlighted in the summary, as they wouldn't be possible
without
our members and donors, volunteers, partners, supporters, Board of Directors,
committee members, and staff.
Hard copies of the report have been mailed to CELT members and
Cape
Elizabeth residents.
Additional copies are available at the
CELT office at 330 Ocean House Rd. Please feel free to stop by,
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to our year-end appeal to sustain the momentum
you'll see documented in the Annual Report, throughout the coming year. Land acquisition projects, stewardship, education, and working with Cape Elizabeth's agricultural community to conserve farmland and our town's rural character are CELT's
t
op priorities for the coming year.
To make a donation, please click here, stop by the office, or call 767-6054. We are so very grateful for your continued support. Our success would not be possible without you!
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Let CELT Help Fill Those Stockings! 
Cape Elizabeth Town and Trail maps have been making welcome appearances in local stockings for years. Now, in addition to the much-loved maps, we have CELT water bottles for sale.
These great looking and functional water bottles featuring CELT's oak tree logo are proudly made in America by Liberty Bottles of Washington State. Entirely recyclable, these water bottles will last for years. Pick yours up at the CELT office for $20.
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Naturalist's Corner:
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
There's no denying that shoveling snow is annoying. And that it makes parking difficult. It's easy to get caught up in these frustrations and forget how important snow is to our local ecology. When brushing off your car, remember these things - a small sample of how important snow is here in Maine:
- Snow insulates the soil. In one study, the air temperature was -14 degrees, and under the 9-inch snowpack, the soil surface temperature was 28 degrees! This, among many other things, protects the soil's microbial communities. During the winter, our microbes are enriching our soils with nutrients like nitrogen and sulfur. This means that come spring, we will have a productive growing season for the foods and plants we love; flowers for weddings, backyard tomatoes and endless summer squash, acres of corn, hay for large animals, and even next year's Christmas trees.
- Snowmelt provides the water for vernal pools. These beautiful woodland ponds only exist in spring, as a result of snowmelt and rainfall. No purely aquatic species like fish can live in them since they're not year-round. Thus, they are the perfect place for organisms like spotted salamanders and wood frogs to lay their eggs. These animals in turn are valuable parts of the local food web.
- The ski and snowmobile industries bring in over $500 million to the state. The costs of snow removal (physical and environmental) are estimated at only $100 million. Our state relies on snow for a huge part of its economy. And many people succumb to the "backyard" effect - if we don't see snow in our backyards, we don't think to travel somewhere else for winter sports.
So...let it snow!
- Linden Rayton, CELT Education Coordinator
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CELT Board Profile: Lisa Gent
Long-time board member and former Education Committee Co-Chair Lisa Gent has been helping to expand CELT's youth programming and outreach for close to 15 years now, and shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to lead school field trips and nature programs and to create new opportunities, such as the Environmental Resource Center at Pond Cove School, our teacher mini-grant program, and Natureland on the school campus. (She also serves on the Stewardship Committee and is CELT's personal jeweler, creating for us her uniquely beautiful Oak Society pins.)
 As a former elementary school teacher, environmental educator and parent to three boys, Lisa's skills are a perfect fit for CELT. Lisa notes, "When I left my full-time job at Maine Audubon, I made a commitment to offer what I could to Cape schools. I also believe strongly in CELT's mission and want to support the organization any way I can. Education is the key to sparking the stewards of tomorrow, and helping people understand and hopefully protect what we have here is very important and rewarding for me."
Lisa encourages others to lead field trips. "You don't need a background in the sciences or environmental education, just a love of being outdoors with kids. We have complete walk curriculums with background information and training. A great deal comes from the walk leaders' ability to pass on their love and respect for the natural world. It's amazing to see kids come alive while on the trail, to see them light up when connections are made and discoveries revealed!"
Get in touch with our education coordinator Linden Rayton if you'd like to join Lisa in helping to inspire Cape's next generation of conservationists!
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We Have Lots Going On This Winter...
January 5: Come Learn About Owls with Rick Gray
This is part of the Thomas Memorial Library's ongoing Maine Wildlife Lecture Series.
The program gets underway at 6:30 p.m., in the library's Community Room. There is no charge to attend and all are welcome.
January 21:
Snow Shoe Outing in Robinson Woods
(2- 4 p.m.)
Join Cape Elizabeth Land Trust Executive Director, Cindy Krum and long-time CELT supporter, Tony Owens for a two-hour snowshoe adventure through the snow-laden trail network of Robinson Woods. We'll explore the fields, woods and wetlands to gain a perspective of this wonderful property in winter. Please bring your own equipment and dress accordingly. R
egister through Community Services; program #73-161. (
Participants must register at least 48 hours in advance to receive notification of changes or cancellation.)
February 4:
Animal Tracking for Families
at Great Pond (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.)
CELT's Education Coordinator Linden Rayton will help us learn to identify common winter animal tracks and we'll practice tracking too. Warm, dry clothing and footwear are a must. Children attending should be at least 6 years old, and accompanied by an adult. Register through Community Services; program #73-352. (Participants must register at least at least 48 hours in advance to receive notification of changes or cancellation.)
All of our winter programs can be viewed on our website.
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Our Office Will be Closed for a Short Break 
The CELT office will be closed Monday the 26th through Friday the
30th to allow CELT's Board Members and staff some time to relax
with family and friends and ... play in the snow!
Should you need to reach us,
please send an email to info@capelandtrust.org or leave a note in the mailbox by our office
door. Volunteers will stop in daily to check mail and email.
We hope to s
ee you out on the trails!
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From Our
Executive
Director...
December is a great time for me to reflect upon my first 12 months with CELT. As I've monitored the property boundaries with stewardship committee members, followed the standards and practices put into place during the accreditation process, coordinated appraisals for new properties, and led a winter walk for elementary school students, I felt engaged and inspired by the strong community support behind all of these efforts.
As we celebrate the solstice, and then notice days getting longer after the shortest night of the year, may we think ahead to all that we will accomplish together to continue to forward the mission of CELT.
My New Year's wish for you is that you get out and enjoy the wonders of winter in the remarkable, ecologically diverse landscape of Cape Elizabeth!
I wish you all the best this holiday season.
Cindy Krum
CELT Executive Director
Cape Elizabeth Land Trust
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