The Orleans Conservation Trust protects and restores natural lands — for people and wildlife, the health of our waters, and the character of our community. | |
Now Hiring: Summer Intern | |
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Orleans Conservation Trust is hiring a paid, summer internship position. This internship offers a unique and immersive introduction to nonprofit operations, conservation techniques and strategies, ecological restoration projects, and land trust policy. OCT's intern will be involved with property inspections and maintenance, long and short-term land management planning, habitat management, property documentation, and volunteer engagement.
Click here for a full position description.
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Join the OCT Board - Seeking Candidates | |
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OCT seeks candidates who are interested on serving on its board. Trustees attend monthly board meetings and participate in our volunteer committees such as land management, land acquisition, and fundraising & membership.
This year, we are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in environmental science/land management; personnel and human resources; K-12 science/environmental education; development/fundraising; and communications/media. We also hope to add board members who will help improve OCT's connections with the business community, and we always seek candidates who will bring diverse perspectives to our work. We encourage anyone who is interested in serving on OCT's board to let us know, as our needs evolve over time.
If you are interested in becoming a Trustee or know someone who might be a good fit, please fill out this form (Word file) (PDF) and return it to OCT.
Nominations are accepted year-round. The Nominating Committee evaluates all submissions, conducts interviews based on the board's needs, and finalizes nominations in the spring. Trustees are elected by OCT's Membership at our Annual Meeting at the end of the summer.
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Learn & Burn: Twinings Pond Walk and Workday | |
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Wednesday, March 13, 9am-10:30am walk, followed by 10:30pm pile burn
135 Quanset Road, Orleans
Learn: Walk about 1 mile around Twinings Pond, exploring OCT’s eco-restoration efforts, followed by a chance to participate in our work.
Burn: After the walk, weather permitting, we’ll have a pile burn to remove invasive brush and restore native habitat.
Limited participation; advanced registration required.
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Volunteer Workday: Pile Burn | |
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Thursday, March 21, 10:00am
20 Cheney Road, Orleans
Join us on Thursday, March 21, for a pile burn as we support our restoration efforts at our Moerschner Conservation Area; 20 Cheney Rd. The burn will begin at 10:00am and will continue for several hours; however, volunteers are welcome to come and go at their convenience. We'll also be dedicating time towards invasive plant management as time permits.
Please come prepared with work gloves, non-synthetic clothing, lots of water, and loppers or handsaws if you have them.
Limited on-site parking is available, so carpooling is encouraged to make the most of the available space.
Please contact Tom to sign up and for any questions you may have.
Please note: the project is subject to appropriate fire conditions, which are determined by external organizations.
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"Picking Your Battles with Invasive Plants" Lecture | |
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Tuesday, March 26, 6:30pm
"Picking Your Battles with Invasive Plants" Lecture by Karro Frost
Via Zoom
Karro Frost, a plant biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, will discuss why we should be concerned about invasive species, how to approach getting rid of them, and some of the new invasives showing up on Cape Cod. Learn how to manage invasive plants at home.
This lecture will take place via ZOOM.
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Upcoming Walks:
- Twinings Pond (3/13)
- Orleans Watershed (4/12)
- John Kenrick Woods (5/16)
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Upcoming Talks:
- "Picking Your Battles with Invasive Plants" with Karro Frost (3/26)
- "Undeveloping Land" with Mark Robinson (4/30)
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At Home with Nature
Nature-friendly practices you can adopt for your yard
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How can landscaping create habitat for local wildlife? Your landscaping practices can transform your yard into a wildlife-friendly habitat. Planting native flora provides food and shelter for local wildlife, attracting birds, insects, and other species in ways that non-native plants will not. Creating vegetation layers with plants that reach different heights, incorporating water features, and leaving some areas untamed can mimic natural ecosystems, supporting biodiversity. Native landscaping also eliminates the need for pesticides or fertilizers, fostering a healthier environment for insects crucial to the food chain.
Check back monthly for more At Home with Nature tips!
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Orleans Conservation Trust is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1970. Over its 50-year history, the Trust has preserved more than 660 acres in Orleans. Among the most active land trusts on Cape Cod, OCT stewards a range of ecosystems, from freshwater ponds and wetlands to saltmarshes, wooded upland, and coastal grasslands, managing its lands to protect and enhance wildlife habitat, restore native ecosystems, and provide public recreation and education through a network of trails and informational signage. OCT also educates residents and visitors about important natural values and environmental issues in Orleans and around Cape Cod via guided walks, free lectures, its website, newsletter, and other communications. | | | | |
