Amanda Takes a Walk – AND Shares Good Practices for Getting Outside
Increased visitation to preserves and trails is a continued trend in Maine and around the country. We’re excited to see so many people getting outside and benefiting from fresh air, exercise, and the solace of nature. We’ve also seen signs that some of these visitors are new to the outdoors and don’t necessarily know how to prepare for outdoor activities, or how to do their part to keep places beautiful and resilient. Well, we’ve got a new tool to help spread the word about responsible use when heading outdoors. Maine Coast Heritage Trust has put together a short, fun video that shares basic tips for getting outside safely, and we’ve branded it for the Maine Land Trust Network so you can use it, too. It’s called Amanda Takes a Walk. We encourage you to use this video in your own communications. Here’s the Vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/552016879.
While no one tool or message alone is going to turn every visitor into a responsible user, this video is a relaxed way to share some good information about how to be safe and responsible when heading outside in Maine.
The legislative session is wrapping up in Augusta as the state’s policymakers seek to finish their business by June 16. There are still many issues to be decided including a Land for Maine’s Future bond. Legislators have three LMF proposals before them ranging from $30 million over three years to $60 million over five years. LMF supporters should reach out to their legislators over the next week and encourage them to not adjourn before sending a multi-year LMF bond to Maine voters in November. The last time an LMF bond was sent to Maine voters was 2012. Contact information for your legislator can be found here: State Representatives and State Senators.
Be sure to share community and economic benefits associated with LMF projects in your area. For more information on the LMF program including statewide statistics visit: www.landformainesfuture.org. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Jeff Romano, MCHT’s Public Policy Manager
MLCAN Model Boilerplate Conservation Easement Update
The Maine Land Conservation Attorneys Network met last month and approved changes to their Model Boilerplate Conservation Easement. The template was last updated in 2018, so if you use or refer to this document, please review the updates and get this latest version. It has been posted to the Sample Documents section of MLTN’s Publications and Documents page.
Writing The Land
Writing the Land is a year-long, recurring partnership between the environmental and creative communities meant to promote and support the protection of lands.
Centrally-coordinated poets each adopt a conserved property from a list provided by participating land trusts. Inspired by these locations, poets will provide poems in written form and optionally read their poems, either on site or on a recording made elsewhere, which can be embedded and shared on digital platforms. Finished project poems will be published in printed and video forms on www.writingtheland.org, as well as made into annual anthologies which can be sold, raffled, or given away as a fundraising vehicle, available at wholesale to the land trusts and to poets.
Land trusts may use the poems in their outreach materials providing proper acknowledgement to the poet and the project. Land trusts will each have a chapter of a set number of pages in the anthology to which they can add whatever related material they choose. One or more collaborative reading events will be scheduled for the end of 2022 to launch the book.
For more information, contact Lis McLoughlin at or 413-475-0650.
Models of Volunteer Management
Thursday, July 8th, 2021
11:00am-1:00pm
Cost: $35 for MANP members*, $55 for nonmembers
Brought to you thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
What motivates your organization to run programs with volunteers? The volunteer workforce can be an important resource to support your nonprofit’s programs and mission. How can you make the most out of the time supporters donate? And how can you recruit and retain volunteers to increase the impact of your organization?
This workshop is designed for small and mid-sized nonprofits. Whether you want to refresh your memory on volunteer management strategies or learn new ideas to expand your impact, this workshop will help you think through research-supported designs of volunteer programs.
Learn more and register at MANP’s website and be sure use the discount code.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check on your MLTN membership status.
Beginner Grantwriting: Getting Started Wednesday, July 14th, 2021 10:00am-1:00pm
Cost: $89 for MANP members*, $129 for non-members
Brought to you thanks for a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
This beginner-level workshop will introduce grantwriting to nonprofit professionals who have less than one year of experience with the skill. Many people who work in nonprofits find themselves in the position of “accidental grantwriter” and do not feel fully equipped for the challenge. This training will provide content and resources to deepen participants’ knowledge of and skills in grantwriting. This session will dig into the basic elements of foundation research and grant planning.
In this training, you will:
Deepen your understanding about the funding landscape;
Learn about the types of foundations providing grants to nonprofits; and
Develop an understanding of the sections of a grant proposal including budgeting and evaluation.
Workshop participants will receive a digital copy of the Handbook for Successful Grant Writing that covers topics ranging from research and planning to a glossary of commonly used terms. The Handbook is only available to participants and is not otherwise for sale.
Register on MANP’s website and be sure to use the discount code!
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check on your MLTN membership status.
Recreational Trails Program Funding Increased
This spring Maine’s Department of Transportation increased the amount of funding available through its Recreational Trails Program (RTP) by $462,000, a 50% increase over previous years’ levels. Through an agreement between the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), MDOT will dedicate 98% of annual apportionment, or $1.4 million to the RTP over each of the next two fiscal years. Thank you MDOT Commissioner Van Note and DACF Commissioner Beal for developing this agreement!
If your agency or organization is interested in building trails that will be open to the public, or already has trails that need to be rehabilitated, then RTP is a great option. RTP can fund up to 80% of your project costs. Now is the time to get your trail plans developed and to get your application started.
The revised application documents are now posted on the Maine RTP website. Applications for the next RTP grant round are due September 24, 2021 for project start dates in the spring of 2022.
For more information please contact Doug Beck at or by phone at 207-624-6090.
Jobs in the Conservation Sector
New opportunities available now. Click here for full list.
This new, one-time grant will help fund land trust collaborations in Maine. Applicants must be current with their MLTN membership. Contact Donna to check on your membership status. Visit the MLTN website for all the details and the application.
Energize the Environment Grant Program
Proposals Due: June 30th, 2021
Through its Energize the Environment Grant program, Quadratech will award a single grant of $3,500 to an individual or group currently pursuing a program or initiative designed to benefit the environment in their community. Examples of eligible projects include trail building or restoration projects; park beautification events; litter-prevention initiatives; Earth-study projects; sustainable land management activities; community educational projects; and youth educational engagement events.
See the Quadratec website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.
