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MLTN Infoline – August 31, 2026

September 1, 2026|

Many Learning & Networking Opportunities Coming Your Way

With the coming of September, we have lots of opportunities – many of them in person – for you to build skills and network with your peers. Scroll down to check out details for these great opportunities:

Some workshops have participant limits, so sign up soon to reserve your space.

Hope you can enjoy these beautiful late summer days,

Angela, Donna, Katia, Megan, and Jeff
 

Help Shape the Future of Environmental Learning in Maine

The 2026 Census of Community-Based Environmental Learning is now open, and we’re helping spread the word. The CBEL+ Census is a statewide survey that helps us understand how schools and organizations across Maine are educating youth about the environment and connecting them to their communities. Learning may happen indoors or outdoors and can include community-based, inquiry-based, nature-based, environmental education, and more. 

If you are a classroom teacher, school administrator, early childhood educator, or out-of-school educator or leader, your experience belongs in the statewide picture. Every response helps guide future funding, professional learning, partnerships, and statewide priorities.

Add your voice. Take the census now.

Please feel free to pass this along to another Maine educator or leader whose work should be represented.
 

New Thinking Around Delayed Mowing

Faced with plummeting grassland bird populations, conservationists introduced the concept of delayed mowing in the early 2000s to accommodate the breeding cycles of these birds, which nest on the ground in hayfields. Conservation groups, including The Bobolink Project and the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, developed programs to pay private landowners who follow delayed-mowing guidelines as a way to offset income lost to forgone cuts or poor hay quality.

Recently, however, conservationists have discovered that delayed mowing has an unintended beneficiary: invasive plant species. As much as they help breeding birds, infrequent cuts also allow invasives to spread and set seed. As a result, the Bobolink Project shifted its mowing dates last year. Read all about the change and what’s being done about the invasives that have taken hold in this article in Northern Woodlands magazine. 
 

Why Trail Metrics Matter: A Virtual Workshop

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 

9:30-11:30am

Cost: $150

Participant Limit: 30

Join Enock Glidden and his business Outdoor Access Solutions for a focused workshop on improving trail access through accurate data collection. This session will explore how moving away from vague, outdated trail descriptions empowers a diverse population to safely participate in and enjoy outdoor recreation.

Click here to register. 
 

Sustainable Trail Design and Building Workshop

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026

9:00am – 3:00pm

MCHT’s Boothead Preserve, Lubec

Cost: FREE

Instructor: Jed Talbot, OBP Trailworks LLC

Hosted by Downeast Conservation Network & Maine Coast Heritage Trust

The workshop will begin with an overview of trail sustainability and accessibility challenges at Boot Head over the past 30 years, leading to a 2026 trail overhaul. We’ll discuss how existing layout, sensitive resources, funding, and community sentiment shaped the best outcome. Next, we’ll discuss sustainable trail design and construction on the Boot Head Trail, currently under construction. Participants will walk the trail while reviewing layout choices, construction methods, and measures to protect sensitive areas.

There may be an opportunity to get your hands dirty and work alongside the OBP crew on the trail, so come prepared with closed toe shoes, work gloves, appropriate clothing for the weather, water, lunch, and snacks.  

Open to anyone interested in learning more about building sustainable and accessible trails.

Click here to register.
 

Building and Cultivating Major Donors for Small- to Mid-Size Nonprofits Series

Three Tuesdays, September 15, 29, and October 13, 2026 (with optional working session on alternate Tuesdays) via Zoom

10:30am-12:00pm

Cost: $175 for MANP members*, $255 for non-members

This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Many nonprofit leaders know they need to diversify funding, but major donor fundraising can feel out of reach, especially in small- to mid-size nonprofits without large development teams. The good news is that your next major donor is likely already connected to your organization or within your existing network. The key is knowing where to look, how to build the relationship, and how to confidently invite deeper investment in your mission. 

In this 3-session virtual series, you will build confidence, clarity, and learn practical systems needed to identify, cultivate, and engage major donors in ways that feel genuine, strategic, and aligned with your mission.

Visit MANP’s website to learn more and get the code and link to register on partner website. 

*Most MLTN are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status. 
 

Three Free Advocacy Learning Opportunities from MANP

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to become a more effective advocate, these free webinars will help you understand the basics, prepare for the 2026 election, and learn practical ways to engage your community and advocate effectively for your mission.

Wednesday, September 16, from 12:00-1:00pm – 2026 Elections: How Maine Nonprofits Can Take Action  What does an election year mean for your nonprofit? Learn what nonprofits can (and can’t) do during election season, how to support nonpartisan voter engagement, and how to help your community become informed voters.

Friday, September 18, from 9:00-9:45am – MANP Connects: Advocacy is Mission Work  Advocacy doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Hear from nonprofit leaders who have woven advocacy into their organizations through relationship-building, board engagement, partnerships, and everyday action.

Wednesday, September 23, from 12:00–1:15pm – Nonprofit Advocacy 101: Why, What + How  Ready to put advocacy into practice? This beginner-friendly training will cover the fundamentals every nonprofit should know, including what 501(c)(3) organizations can do, how lobbying differs from advocacy, and simple steps to begin advocating for your mission with confidence.

Have questions about advocacy specific to land conservation? Contact us.
 

Maine Planned Giving Council Annual Conference

Thursday, September 17, 2026 (evening networking social on Sept 16, 5:30-7pm)

8:00am-4:00pm

Doubletree Hotel, South Portland

Cost: $175 for MPGC members and $275 for nonmembers (includes a membership)

Early Bird Registration closes 9.1.26. Registration goes up to $200 after that. Space is limited.

This year’s Keynote Speaker will be Ericka Webb, Executive Director of Gift Planning for Boston College. She will share her story and experience with her talk Practical Use of AI in Gift Planning. A timely topic for all with the revolutionary changes occurring in our world these days. The conference features eight different breakout sessions, a wrap up keynote, and the opportunity to network with professionals from across the state.

Learn more and register at Maine Planned Giving Council’s website. 
 

First Two Stops on Our Regional Meeting Tour: Casco Bay and Downeast

The Maine Land Trust Network organizes annual fall meetings throughout the state to connect staff, board members, and volunteers from various land trusts. These gatherings provide a platform for discussing shared challenges and opportunities in land conservation. We welcome any suggestions or topics you would like to see addressed at these meetings!

RSVP by emailing  and be sure to include which meeting you’d like to attend.

To view dates for all Regional Meetings around of the state, check out our events page. 
 

The 3 Cs of HR Success: Compliance, Culture, and Consistency

Three Thursdays, September 24, October 1, and October 8, 2026 via Zoom

1:00-2:00pm

Cost: $60 for MANP members*, $90 for non-members

This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and North Carolina Center for Nonprofits

This three-part HR series is designed for nonprofit leaders and staff who manage HR responsibilities without a dedicated HR team. Across three practical sessions, you’ll gain guidance on HR compliance, workplace culture, and consistent people practices, with real-world tools and strategies you can put into practice right away.

  • September 24: HR Compliance Made Simple for Small Nonprofits
  • October 1: Building a Culture Where People Want to Stay
  • October 8: The Consistency Advantage: HR Practices that Strengthen Nonprofits

Visit MANP’s website for details on each session, discount code, and link to register on partner website.

*Most MLTN are MANP members. Contact us to check your organization’s MLTN membership status. 
 

Accessibility in the Wild

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

9:00am-3:00pm

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation, 125 Outward Bound Road, Newry

Cost: $300

Experience the outdoors with Outdoor Access Solutions. This all-day, interactive workshop will focus on breaking down physical and informational barriers in outdoor recreation. Whether you are a land manager, a conservation advocate, or simply passionate about the outdoors, this workshop will take you out of the classroom and onto the trails. You will gain practical, on-the-ground experience in improving trail access, evaluating environments, and creating inclusive spaces. 

Please come prepared to be outdoors. It is recommended that you bring water and weather-appropriate gear. Lunch will be provided. 

Click here to learn more and register. 
 

Latest Postings on Our Jobs Page

Here are the most recent job postings from our job board, with some amazing opportunities for the right candidates. View the full list any time. 

ARMS National Coordinating Attorney – Land Trust Alliance

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sample Sorter – Maine Department of Environmental Protection, TriState Staffing

LakeSmart Program Specialist – Maine Lakes

Operations & Finance Coordinator – 30 Mile River Watershed Association

Field Naturalist – Maine Audubon

Executive Director – Friends of Baxter State Park

Southern Maine Community Outreach Manager – Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Marketing & Communications Manager – Hearty Roots
 

Transaction Assistance Grants

Applications due: Monday, August 31st

The Transaction Assistance Grant (TAG) Program from MLTN seeks to accelerate the pace of land conservation by providing financial assistance to land trusts for transaction-related project costs. TAG grants can cover the cost of appraisal work, title work, legal fees, and more. 

Applicants must be 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission dedicated to land conservation in Maine and members of the Maine Land Trust Network. Projects must be located within Maine and can be a purchase, bargain-sale, or donation of any conservation easement or fee property, to be held by the applicant and protected in perpetuity.

Applications for TAG grants are accepted monthly, with applications due on the last day of a given month as long as funds are available.

Visit the MLTN website to review the grant guidance document for a comprehensive overview of the TAG program and evaluation criteria. Contact Angela Twitchell () with questions or to discuss a project before submitting an application.
 

L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grants

Applications due: Friday, September 25, 2026

Our longest standing regrant program, L.L.Bean grants provide funding to Maine land trusts for stewardship projects, such as preserve management planning and trail improvements, as well as for programming to promote outdoor activities, especially for underserved populations.

This year, the total amount available to Maine land trusts is $50,000, with a maximum grant request of $10,000. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a member of the Maine Land Trust Network. 

View details, past grantees, and download the application at our website.