As we near the end of our fieldwork season, we want to extend a hearty THANK YOU to our volunteers. Since our current Americorps arrived on the scene in October 2009, we have had 19 work parties with 93 volunteers, logging 584 volunteer hours. To see a recap of all the fun, make sure to check out volunteer Pete Haase's thorough and wonderful photo page: http://landtrust.homestead.com/

To join in on the next work party, email Ellie at erogers@skagitlandtrust.org.

Skagit Land Trust's Heron Cam is back on-line! In cooperation with the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, check out live pictures of nesting Great Blue Herons from SLT's March's Point Conservation Area -- one of the largest heron colonies on the entire U.S. west coast. To learn more about this conservation area and Great Blue Herons, click here. (Note that the heron cam is only available from 10am to 6pm M-Fri and for a few hours on weekend days.)

Looking for a new way to enjoy the outdoors this summer? The Skagit Watershed Letterbox Trail is a fun, educational, county-wide letterbox hunt. It starts THIS Saturday, June 19th, and runs through October. Skagit Land Trust has hidden two boxes this year, one at our Green Road Marsh Conservation Area, and another at Barr Creek Conservation Area.

For a list of clues and more information, visit your local public library, or check the SCEA website. Good luck!

Skagit Land Trust protects beautiful lands throughout Skagit County -- many of which are open to the public. Go for a walk at Cumberland Creek, bring your binoculuars and do some birding at Green Rd. Marsh, or learn about elk at Hurn Field among other activities available at our conservation areas. See our new visiting Skagit Land Trust properties page for more information.

The spring Skagit Land Trust newsletter is available. Read about a new property on the Skagit that SLT worked for years to protect -- we did it and now it is a county park! And don't miss the beautiful essay by Cumberland Creek land steward Jim Johnson.

Skagit Land Trust recently received the honor of being one of only two land trusts highlighted in the annual report of the national Land Trust Alliance. Take a look at the section focusing on SLT which features an essay written by SLT board members Ralph Heft and Rusty Kuntze along with Executive Director Molly Doran, which also features a beautiful photo of Fidalgo Island.

Skagit Land Trust, working in partnership with the Skagit Watershed Council, the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and conservation-minded citizens, has permanently protected 33-acres of land along the Skagit River west of Lyman. Skagit County has agreed to own the land and to create a new public park at this beautiful site. Read all about it in this Skagit Valley Herald article, including a video tour of the new park.

Skagit Land Trust held its 19th annual meeting at Hillcrest Park Lodge Friday, March 19. Approximately 100 members spent the evening with us, sharing food and conversation, as we took care of business and presented awards to some exceptional people!

Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Bill Dietrich was our keynote speaker. You can re-read his inspiring remarks here.

For more information about Bill Dietrich and his work, visit his website.

Help protect Skagit County's natural heritage by becoming a member of Skagit Land Trust. Join together with over 1,000 other supporters of the Trust to help save the best of Skagit County.  Various membership levels are available.  Visit our store to become a member on-line, or print a membership form to mail to us. You can also call 360-428-7878 or email here for more information on becoming a member or donating to Skagit Land Trust.

Skagit Land Trust can now be found on Facebook. Become a fan of our organization's page and check back often for updates on Skagit Land Trust happenings, photos, and conversation!

Find Skagit Land Trust on Facebook.