Category: Newsletter

đź“°Now Available: Read the Spring 2026 Tidings of the Turtle Newsletter!

Tadd Stuart

Dear Subscribers,

The Spring 2026 edition of our newsletter, Tidings of the Turtle, has just been posted to the website!

This issue is packed with exciting updates on our recent conservation efforts, community collaborations, and an absolute lineup of summer events you won’t want to miss.

What’s Inside This Issue:

  • The Great Oaks Wilderness Sanctuary: A deep dive into the 553.65-acre “forever wild” parcel in Parsonsfield, now protected under a conservation easement held by FSHT.
  • Accessible Trail Updates: Highlights and community feedback from our April listening sessions regarding the proposed “All Persons” trails at Outlet Park (Waterboro) and Norton Hill (Porter).
  • Summer 2026 Event Calendar: Registration details for upcoming forage walks, moonlight hikes, the FSHT Trail Challenge, and youth activities partnered with Sacopee Valley Adult & Community Education.
  • Winter Reflections: A thank-you to the hardy volunteers and community members who braved the single digits for our January snowshoe trek on Sawyer Mountain.

How to Read

You can view or download the complete PDF directly from the Newsletter section of our website.

👉 Click here to view the Spring 2026 Newsletter on FSHT.org

Thank you for your continued support of local, volunteer-led land conservation!

Warmly,
Francis Small Heritage Trust
Preserving wildlife habitat, protecting watersheds, and ensuring public access in southern and western Maine.

Line Elementary Second Graders Explore Gerry Preserve

Tadd Stuart

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.

Click Here to see the full article

Stakeholder Notification/ Public Notice

alansparks

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.