Newsletter – Francis Small Heritage Trust, Inc.

On February 3, students from Line Elementary School stepped out of the classroom and into the winter wonderland of the Gerry Preserve in Newfield. As part of our ongoing “Developing a Sense of Place” program, Mrs. Eaton’s and Mr. Kellis’s second-grade classes enjoyed a guided nature walk along the Little Ossipee River.

Accompanied by FSHT volunteers Peter Zack and Myke Russell, the students learned to identify animal tracks and winter nesting sites. For many of the children, the highlight of the day was their very first experience using snowshoes to navigate the trails.

A Longstanding Partnership

Mr. Zack has been leading these educational walks for 13 years, visiting the classrooms beforehand to share the history of the preserve. By visiting the land in both the fall and winter, students are able to observe seasonal changes firsthand and develop a lifelong respect for protected lands in their own community.

The Francis Small Heritage Trust is proud to partner with RSU 57 to foster curiosity and environmental stewardship in our local youth.

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The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protected import natural places and working lands forever. Francis Small Heritage Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The Board of Directors of Francis Small Heritage Trust considers the accreditation important to our community to insure that our policies protect your donations and provide access to our properties to all without discrimination.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Francis Small Heritage Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see https://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-elements.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Comments on Francis Small Heritage Trust’s application will be most useful by July 18, 2024.