Take a Walk on the Wild Side and Explore Cape Cod’s New Conservation Calendar
The first-of-its-kind calendar highlights regional nature programs
Barnstable, MA – The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts (“the Compact”) and its nonprofit members are excited to launch a new regional calendar of events - the first of its kind. The Conservation Calendar includes programs from villages and towns across Cape Cod, encouraging both visitors and residents to take part in nature and environmental events. Currently, over 60 programs can be found listed at www.blt.org/capeconservationcalendar as well as on other conservation organizational websites.
“We are excited to launch this new calendar as part of Environmental Awareness Month,” said Mark Robinson, the Compact’s founder and Executive Director. “Many of the Compact’s members offer amazing programs that engage, educate, and inspire people to connect with nature in different ways. This calendar will make it much easier for people to take advantage of exploring natural spaces and places across the region by simply going to one place.”
Inspired by the popularity of First Day Hikes Cape Cod, an annual tradition which was launched in 2022 as an innovative regional collaboration encouraging people to ‘get outdoors’ on January 1st, the Cape’s conservation community recognized an opportunity to create even more awareness about the rich diversity of natural places and educational opportunities across town boundaries throughout the entire year.
The new Conservation Calendar helps to spotlight programs without going to individual towns or organizational websites. Powered by the “Comm Cohort,” an informal group of dedicated community outreach volunteers and professional staff co-led by the Barnstable Land Trust and the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, this initiative is hosted by Tockify.com and illustrates the powerful impact of nonprofit collaborations. Events can be sorted by date, town, organization, and type and is constantly being updated.
“This is an exciting opportunity to connect more people across the entire region on and with the land” exclaimed Barnstable Land Trust’s Executive Director, Janet Milkman, who also serves as the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition’s board president. “Playing a role in launching collaborative initiatives like First Day Hikes Cape Cod and the Conservation Calendar has allowed BLT to connect with its conservation colleagues in a way that also benefits the region as a whole.”
“The Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s environmental efforts focus on issues that include habitat protection, ecosystem restoration and monitoring, water quality, environmental sustainability, and promoting native landscaping” said Andrew Gottleib, APCC’s executive director. “APCC also has a strong education and outreach program, so we recognize the important impact that a resource like the Conservation Calendar can have in reaching more of the general public informing them of programs and events that will engage and inspire all to become better environmental stewards and advocates.”
First Day Hikes Cape Cod will happen on January 1, 2025, and feature free programs, events, and activities in towns across the Cape. Check the Conservation Calendar for more details in November.
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The Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC): Founded in 1968, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod is the Cape region’s leading nonprofit environmental advocacy and education organization, working for the adoption of laws, policies and programs that protect, preserve and restore Cape Cod’s natural resources. APCC focuses its efforts on the protection of groundwater, surface water, and wetland resources, preservation of open space, the promotion of responsible, planned growth and the achievement of an environmental ethic. Find out more at APCC.org.
Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources in the Town of Barnstable and nearby areas. BLT has protected over 1,250 acres in the Town of Barnstable and supported the Town in conserving over 11,000 more. Recognized as a regional leader in collaborative land preservation and stewardship, community engagement, training, and advocacy, BLT leverages its conservation expertise to inform local public decisions as they impact our ecosystems, community health, well-being, and quality of life. To learn more about the organization, see the full calendar of events, or to access one of its three popular trail map guides (Barnstable Trail Guide – English and Portuguese versions, Cape Cod Pathways/Barnstable Trail Guide, and Eagle Pond & Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide), visit http://www.BLT.org or call 508-771-2585.
The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts (the Compact): The Compact provides 32 local and regional land trusts as well as watershed associations with technical expertise to preserve critical lands that protect the public water supply, protect scenic views, protect wildlife habitat, provide walking trails, and protect Cape Cod’s character, all of which draw countless visitors who drive our regional economy. Recognized as a nationwide model of a sustainable land trust coalition, the mission of the Compact is to increase the amount of legally protected open space on Cape Cod by encouraging and assisting communities to acquire and manage important natural areas. To learn more about the organization, visit http://www.thecompact.net/ .