Volunteer with Us

“During the Fall of 2019, my good friend, John Thomas, invited me to a Tuesday Project of the Barnstable Land Trust. I had no idea what they did or why but I thought it sounded like something that I would like. Back in 2019, the number of volunteers for these projects was somewhat limited but the people came from various “walks of life” and it proved to be a great project. As I continued volunteering for these Tuesday projects, it became very clear what the Barnstable Land Trust does and why they do it. I am now a member of the Land Stewardship Committee and as a committee, we discuss and determine what can be done to maintain the 1,100 acres of protected property. I am also a member of the soon to be famous, BLT Burn Team. I also head up the mowing team which is a team of seven superb volunteers. Our job is to maintain the properties that have roadside presence as well as several trails under the protection of Barnstable Land Trust. The number of volunteers has rapidly grown since 2019 thanks to the leadership of Kelly Barber, Director of Land Stewardship. That combined with the inspiring vision of Janet Milkman has clearly shown what Barnstable Land Trust can do. The future is bright and Cape Cod will be better for it. I am proud to be a part of this organization.”

“I was born and raised on Cape Cod and the work BLT does to maintain our open spaces and to protect the fragile ecosystem is crucial to maintain the Cape Cod I grew up with. I am an avid photographer and BLT’s properties have amazing wildlife to photograph. Since I love the outdoors, I enjoy volunteering to help maintain BLT properties to improve access for ALL to enjoy.”

“As a background, I’ve lived on the Cape since 1975 and have worked in the banking industry on Cape Cod my whole career. I currently am a VP and Senior Financial Advisor with Cape Cod Five in their Wealth Management Services group. I initially joined the BLT Board over 20 years ago to provide support to the organization’s finance area and soon took over the Treasurer’s role. As a bank officer, I was encouraged to volunteer with a local non-profit organization. I chose Barnstable Land Trust for the following reasons: 1) It was important for me to get involved in an organization where I thought my skill set (primarily financial) was needed; 2) I wanted to help move an organization forward in achieving its long term goals; and 3) I wanted to be involved in an organization which was going to help preserve an aspect of Cape Cod that makes it such a special place to live or visit. I strongly believe I made the right choice in donating my time, treasure, and energy to Barnstable Trust. In return, my involvement has given me great personal satisfaction, increased my appreciation for the natural beauty of Cape Cod, and given me many new friends who have shared in giving back to the community that we love.

“I’ve had the privilege of living on Cape Cod for over 50 years, spending my time since college working on water resource protection and land use planning projects, here on the Cod and around the country. This experience makes me appreciate the value of all the protected open space on the Cape, and I’m pleased to help BLT continue this important work. Protecting these lands supports wildlife habitat and minimizes our water quality impacts to drinking water, ponds, and our coastal waters. It’s nice to live in such a special place!”

“For many years I have conducted a series of walks and presentations highlighting the natural resources in Barnstable, particularly the Crocker Neck Conservation Area in Cotuit. As a life-long educator in environmental science I have always enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge with others of all ages. It is personally gratifying to know that we can make a difference in protecting the environment through education. Enjoying the outdoors while simultaneously learning about the ecology of an area increases the likelihood that a participant will want to protect and conserve these valuable and beautiful natural areas. Whether it’s the seashore, or a salt marsh, or a forest, it is critical that we understand their importance in our daily lives. I am honored to make my small contribution to the ongoing mission of the Barnstable Land Trust.”

“I like to work outside and had not built up a circle of acquaintances since moving to the Cape full time. John T convinced me that Tuesday stewardship sessions would be a small investment and give me a chance to do both, work outside and meet new likeminded individuals. In addition, I learned about the BLT’s various properties - some real gems - and how to identify some invasive species. Early in my career, we had a small hobby farm and for 25 years, I was very active with the local fire department, both of which I enjoyed very much. My participation on the mow team and the burn team seemed only natural. It’s a great group of volunteers with a great mission.”

“We joined the BLT and became Land Stewards when we moved to the Cape in 2017. We were drawn to BLT as we supported their mission of preserving and caring for land in Barnstable for people now and in future generations, to enjoy. We love being outdoors, and the BLT properties offer a wide range of different experiences. As Land Stewards, we’ve helped clear trails, removed invasive species, harvested and planted native seeds, cleaned up beaches, built piles of clippings and helped burn them safely. One of our favorite projects was building the trail around Cotuit’s Lowell Park. The Land Steward volunteers are a wonderful group of good-natured, fun-loving people with a very wide range of backgrounds. Our work parties always leave us with a great deal of satisfaction, a sense of belonging, and of doing positive things for the betterment of the Cape.”