MLTN Infoline – October 15, 2026
Call for Proposals for the 2027 Maine Land Conservation Conference
Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Maine Land Trust Network are excited to announce the call for proposals for next year’s Conference! The 2027 Maine Land Conservation Conference will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 27 & 28, at the Augusta Civic Center. We invite proposals for sessions related to all areas of land conservation. Our particular focus next spring will center around the work of tending to our communities, through devotion to place and a commitment to resilience.
As land trusts, we are caretakers of the land. It’s a noble responsibility AND it can be difficult at times. There are tough decisions to be made and the job is never truly finished, but that is the work of building healthy, vibrant, diverse, and resilient communities. The Maine Land Trust Network is a community, too — one that is at its best when we think collectively, learn together, and lean on each other; we all have things we can learn and we all have things to teach. In that spirit, we encourage you to ask yourself this question: What learnings, expertise, or experiences could you share with your peers at the Maine Land Conservation Conference next spring?
Back by popular demand, we are inviting proposals for field trips, primarily on Tuesday, April 27. Field trips should be located no more than 30 minutes from the Augusta Civic Center. We do not anticipate providing transportation for field trips. Participants will provide their own transportation.
Read the Call for Proposals at our website here. If you have an idea for a field trip, workshop, or roundtable and you’d like to discuss it before submitting a proposal, don’t hesitate to reach out to Donna or Katia. We’d love to chat with you!
We look forward to hearing from you,
Angela, Donna, Jeff, Megan, and Katia
MCHT Seeks Accreditation Renewal
Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
MCHT was accredited in 2010, reaccredited in 2016 and in 2021, and is again applying for reaccreditation in 2026. During the accreditation process, the Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how MCHT complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit the Land Trust Accreditation Commission website.
You can also email your comments to info@landtrustaccreditation.org, and comments may be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Comments on MCHT’s Application will be most useful by December 27, 2026.
In-Person Day of Learning with Andy Robinson: Fundraising & Managing in Challenging Times
Thursday, November 5, 2026
9:30am-4:00pm
Maple Hill Farm and Conference Center, Hallowell
Cost: $75 per person, discounts for multiple registrants from the same organization
Andy Robinson is a nationally recognized expert on nonprofit management and fundraising. He brings a wealth of knowledge and a keen sense of humor, and you can take advantage of a full day of in-person interactive learning with Andy and your peers from other Maine land trusts.
This is an excellent opportunity to prepare for your year-end fundraising season and network with your peers, too. And since implementing the ideas you’ll learn is so much easier when you have partners, we hope you’ll bring some friends along.
Registration for the full day is only $75, and for each additional person you sign up from your organization, that drops $5. So if you bring two people, you’ll each pay just $70; three people brings it down to $65 each; and four or more you’ll pay just $60 each. Include your board members and make it a mini retreat!
Get all the details and learn more about what Andy will cover on our website. RSVP by emailing us at mltn@mcht.org. Reserve your seats today!
Nonprofit Cybersecurity Playbook, Updated for AI
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 via Zoom
3:00–4:00pm
Cost: FREE
Do you know what “foundational” cybersecurity means for an organization your size, or where to start if you’re not there yet?
This isn’t a webinar about AI. It’s a webinar about cybersecurity, the same foundational, budget-conscious approach Community IT has been teaching nonprofits for years, with a clear-eyed look at what AI actually changes and what it doesn’t. You’ll notice AI creates more convincing phishing emails, for example, but you still need multi-factor authentication, staff training, and a plan. Whether or not your organization is using AI tools yourself, your cybersecurity staff training needs to incorporate the new risks and you need to review your AI policy regularly.
Learn more, register for the webinar, and access free resources (some may require you to share your email address) to help you understand AI and your vulnerability better at Community IT’s website.
For 25 years, Community IT has exclusively served nonprofits. provide outsourced managed IT, help desk support, cybersecurity, and strategic IT planning for nonprofit organizations across the country.
Wabanaki-led Resilience
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 via Zoom
10:00 – 11:30am
Cost: Free for Maine Philanthropy Center members; $35 for non-members
This Maine Philanthropy Center webinar presentation will describe a four-year effort by citizens and government officials from each of the five Wabanaki Nations to build their capacity to adopt sustainable energy and be more resilient to a changing climate. Co-developed in 2022, with University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions (UMCSS) partners, the Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Team (WSET) is a group of Tribal government employees and Tribal citizens from each Wabanaki Tribal Nation that collaborates on research-informed projects to support sustainable energy and resilience in each Nation. Through monthly meetings, collaborative grant proposals, and shared support from the inter-tribal Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Coordinator and UMCSS researchers, the WSET has been building each Tribe’s internal capacity for leading sustainability work.
The Sipayik Resilience Committee (SRC) is a first-of-its kind Tribal citizen-led committee that has been advancing sustainability initiatives in Sipyaik (the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point), including community-Tribal government engagement, educational workshops, residential and Tribal government energy efficiency programs, and food sovereignty initiatives. Also co-developed in 2022 with UMCSS partners, the SRC centers Tribal citizen voices in shaping Sipayik’s sustainable future. It also serves as a strong example for other Tribal members in Maine and across the country looking to advance Tribal citizen-led initiatives in partnership with their Tribal governments.
Prescription Trails: Leveraging the Science of Trail Therapy
Thursday, October 29, 2026 via Zoom
1:00-2:00pm
Cost: FREE for everyone (viewable for up to 24 hours following each webinar)
In this science-backed session from American Trails, Falcon guidebook authors Jamie Siebrase and Adam Sawyer will explore the link between mental health and the outdoors, as detailed in the upcoming book “Trail Therapy: Finding Wholeness in Nature” (Globe Pequot; November 2026). They’ll dive into the latest research on how movement through natural environments—from nearby nature in urban centers to remote backcountry—builds resilience and helps trail users of all ages and skill levels manage stress, anxiety, depression, and more. They will walk attendees through the various science-backed features (water and birdsong, for example) that promote emotional wellness, and discuss existing prescription trails (ABQ has a network) as well as the concept of nature prescriptions. By the end of this fact-filled talk, trail agencies, builders, planners, and managers will have a deeper understanding of how and why nature heals, equipping them to better advocate for the mental health benefits of the trails they manage and protect.
Learn more and register at American Trails website.
PCLB Foundation Land & Easement Acquisition Program (LEAP) Information Session
Tuesday, November 10, 2027 via Zoom
12:00 – 1:00pm
Cost: FREE but registration is required.
Join MLTN and the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation for this informational session to learn about Land and Easement Acquisition Program grants for select regions in Maine. This program has been a powerful resource for helping land trusts secure the final matching funds needed to complete projects in New York and Connecticut. Starting in 2026, the program expanded to include select regions in Maine. Designed to serve as “last-in” funding, the program supports projects that are close to completion and able to close by June 30, 2028.
Program guidelines are available here. Land trusts with questions about project eligibility or application requirements are encouraged to contact MCHT’s Senior Director of Community and Government Relations Angela Twitchell at MLTN for support.
Latest Postings on Our Jobs Page
Great positions working in conservation and the environment continue to fill our jobs page. Here are the newest postings. View the full list any time.
Executive Director – Blue Hill Heritage Trust
Conservation Project Manager, Mount Desert Island – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Development and Communications Associate – Midcoast Conservancy
Quimby Family Foundation Autumn Application Period Closes 10/31
Application forms are open from September 1 to October 31. The grant notification date is January 1.
Each year, the Quimby Family Foundation awards grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Maine who are working to advance Human Wholeness through the focus areas of movement and nourishment. Learn more about these focus areas here.
Learn more about their process, timeline, values they seek, and access the application form on their website.