Keweenaw Land Trust Inc

STEWARDSHIP:Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT) continued its work to enhance habitats and facilitate public access opportunities in keeping with conservation goals for its protected lands. KLT hosted an AmeriCorps National Civil Community Conservation team of 6 members for 8 weeks to bolster stewardship efforts during the 2024 field season. Engaging volunteers is a hallmark of growing stewardship capacity and personal connections to our protected land, and transferring knowledge that can facilitate better stewardship on private land. A component of our stewardship program is maintaining several rustic cabins available for scheduled use by donation. In accordance with LTA Standards & Practices, KLT conducted annual monitoring of its nature areas and private lands protected by conservation easements to ensure that conservation values are being protected. Documentation of monitoring and stewardship work is a critical component of accreditation with records selected by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission submitted as part of KLT's application for renewal of accreditation status. KLT continues to work on technological improvements to facilitate better networking, backup systems, security and organization of digital records for its conservation and stewardship programs.

OUTREACH -NATURE CONNECTIONS:Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT) offers a variety of programs aimed at strengthening connections to our protected lands and the broader natural world. Better understanding can translate to care and support for the conservation and stewardship efforts of the organization.New this year was a pilot Artist-in-Residence program supported by a mini-grant from the Land Trust Alliance. The program hosted 3 artists on Silver Island that later shared their work and stories at a public reception on the mainland. Story Trails are an ongoing program that posts pages of nature-themed books along a trail enticing visitors to hike and learn. Guided outdoor explorations often engage community partners or volunteers and mix learning, art and camaraderie in events on our protected lands. These include Tyke Hikes targeting families with youngsters and activities combined with stewarding or managing our nature areas. KLT programs teach about threats from invasive species and the benefits and logistics of native plantings to benefit wildlife habitats. KLT is a Leave No Trace partner encouraging responsible and ethical use of all lands open for public use. KLT engages with local schools (K-university) utilizing our protected lands as outdoor classrooms as well as sharing indoor learning about our conservation and stewardship work. KLT regularly conducts educational outreach through its website (www.KeweenawLandTrust.org), social media and email notices, and through print publication of newsletters, reports, and brochures. Countless individuals and groups create their own experiences on KLT protected lands that are open year-round for low-impact use by the general public at no charge.

OTHER: KLT is an active member of the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA) partnership, that engages interns and community partners in monitoring, management and educational outreach to raise awareness of invasive species and help control their spread. KLT supported ongoing partnerships with a Sustainable Film series and Keweenaw Geoheritage program. KLT served on an advisory committee as one stakeholder aimed at implementing a "Blueprint for the Heartlands" to guide future ownership and appropriate shared uses of about 32,000 acres of land in Keweenaw County currently under transitory ownership of The Nature Conservancy. KLT also serves on the advisory committee for the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative that supports and connects community partners with K-12 classrooms engaged in stewardship learning and projects to benefit the Lake Superior watershed.