An energetic group of students from Quinnipiac University recently joined other volunteers to remove invasive species and undertake other clean-up activities on the 3.7-acre Cheshire Land Trust Sherry Road property. With the help of donors, the land trust recently purchased the preserve to protect wetlands and upland forest. Land trust steward Jeff Nelson observed, “Some of the students were surprised to learn that the watershed that they were working on charged the Mill River which, in turn, flows by their campus in Hamden. They were a hardworking, enthusiastic crew!”...

The Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust (CVRLT) and New Fairfield's Boy Scout Troop 137 celebrated Earth Day at CVRLT's Komlo Preserve with trail work from the parking area to Dunham Pond. The completion of the trail project at Komlo Preserve marks CVRLT's first ADA-accessible property. Board member Jayne Morin led hikers around the property in a series of mindfulness exercises to disconnect from the day's stress and enjoy nature's sights...

The Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT) in collaboration with Green Village Initiative hosted their "Fishing with Friends" workshop led by Trout Unlimited (TU) at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. Through CT DEEP's Connecticut Aquatic Resource Education program, educational material and equipment enriched the learning experience for participants. Parents and children went home with rods and lures generously provided by the Bass Pro Shop family, Todd Luty, Michael Abraham, and others...

In a collaborative effort, the Bridgewater Land Trust (BWLT), the Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority, and JBM Carting, celebrated Earth Day with rousing success in a town clean-up. With nearly 50 volunteers attending the event, BWLT was able to target a majority of the town's roadsides for litter. Winning artwork from the Burnham School "Follow the Forest Art Contest" was showcased at the event depicting the students' interpretations of the Earth Day theme. Well-known area artists, Julia Wachtel and Elizabeth Macdonald, joined BWLT Vice President Russell Marcus in choosing the winning pieces...

The mild spring weather will soon transform into summer's heavy heat, flowers are blooming, people are enjoying the outdoors, and land trusts across the state continue to inspire.

This month's collection of stories spotlights the collaborative efforts of land trusts, volunteers, and community partners in connecting people to the land and each other. By offering these opportunities to learn, work, and have fun, land trusts help build resilient communities and lifelong appreciation and stewardship of the natural world for all ages.

As we reflect on how we connect ourselves, family, and neighbors to the environment around us, let's remember to support and #LoveYourCTLandTrust.