Spring, 2022
NEWSLETTER
BHHT’s George Stevens Academy ISIP Intern
-Chrissy Beardsley Allen, Development Director
For two weeks this late winter we were pleased to host an Independent Study & Internship Program (ISIP) student from GSA. This long-standing program at the high school is one I know well, as I too participated in it at a local nonprofit when I was a student there (class of ’98). Having Longrie Christiansen join our team for two weeks was a real treat. He did a whole array of activities including: winter trail hikes and conditions reports on social media, helped with my annual donor analysis spreadsheets, read many past newsletters and annual reports to learn more about BHHT, helped promote and run outreach events, learned more about the conservation priorities of the organization, and entered trail use data from the 2021 season. Below is a short article he wrote about his findings.
Trail Usage
-Longrie Christiansen, 2022 ISIP Intern
In 2021, thousands of people from all over the country and world visited Blue Hill Heritage Trust’s trails. In just August and September alone, the most popular trail system, Blue Hill Mountain, had over 1,000 people from thirty-four different states and three different countries hike its trail. Not only have the trails been popular with visitors, but locals of the Blue Hill Peninsula consistently used them throughout the entire year. In all of 2021, people from at least 40 different states & 4 different countries reported their visit on the Trail Sign-In Forms. Some of the farthest away places included Hilo, HI, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Los Angeles, CA. People also reported to have traveled from Canada, Germany, Moscow, Russia, London, and England. That’s an impressive amount and variety of people, but it’s even more impressive that it all happened in the height of a pandemic. Almost always when people would sign the forms, they’d include a comment thanking BHHT for all it’s done or how wonderful their experience was that day. Some of the comments received include, “What a treasure!”, “Great trail maintenance- a lot of work- THANK YOU!!!”. At Penny's Preserve, “Thank you, Rich, and to all the families for preserving this land, open to the public, and allowing dogs to run free…” which just goes to show how much the community supports and appreciates BHHT for providing a necessary service.
Photo Credit: "Selfie" by Longrie Christiansen
Our 2021 Annual Report will be hitting mailboxes soon! If you are not currently a donor, or would like to view a digital copy,
Participating in State Wildlife Management Planning
-Sandy Walczyk, Conservation Forester
I was recently invited to participate in the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) Furbearer Planning Group, as part of the Fisher and Martin Subcommittee. This group was formed to help provide citizen and stakeholder input into the creation of the updated Maine Furbearer Management Plan which, once completed, will include public survey results, and furbearer management considerations and strategies to aid in the management of Maine's 16 species of furbearers through 2030.
I am serving as a representative voice for landtrusts and other large landowners, and will help to review the state’s Furbearer management through this unique lens. BHHT is honored to be included in this important process and to lend our voice to issues of resource management and conservation outside of our geographic footprint.
Our Calendar is Full. Join Us!
-Landere Naisbitt, Outreach Coordinator
Our Programs & Events Calendar is bursting at the seams as we enter the spring months of 2022 with a robust combination of in-person and online community events and school field trips. Farmers Market preparations (with a new supply of Tees) are in the works as well as a collaboration for the annual Bagaduce Alewife Celebration at Pierces Pond. Join us for guided hikes, or take on the Spring Hiking Challenge on your own. Look out for webinars about topics ranging from the Eastern Woodland Rematriation Collective to Beavers to Birding. This summer look us up for Full Moon Hikes, Baby Beach Walks, and Caring for Your Land Workshops, including the kids version at Wild Sun Catchers. We are excited to be collaborating with many wonderful community partners including Blue Hill Public Library, Healthy Peninsula, Island Heritage Trust, Nature Links, and many more. We look forward to seeing you! Contact Landere at landere@bluehillheritagetrust.org or call 374-5118 to learn more!
Photo Credit: Claire Malina, BHPL
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