Whidbey-Camano Land Trust

Stewardship:keystone preserve was a large stewardship focus in 2024 including the construction of a visitor parking lot and trail construction to facilitate future public access. The site also had extensive restoration work with the grading of a new stream channel and removal of shoreline bulkhead. Initial work on almost 15 acres of native plants began in the fall and will complete in the winter of 2025. The stewardship team also installed new signs and kiosks at several public access sites as we continue to improve interpretive material on our properties. Monitored, maintained, and enhanced trails across all land trust public access sites. Controlled noxious weeds on many land trust natural areas with dedicated stewardship staff and volunteers. Successful controlled burn at admiralty inlet preserve to improve native prairie ecosystems and promote the previously endangered golden paintbrush; and continued prairie planting at admiralty inlet preserve. Forest restoration work through variable density thinning occurred at trillium community forest to improve site health and biodiversity. Annual monitoring was completed on all conservation easement properties. 558 volunteers completed 7,988 hours of service though work parties and independent projects.

Communications and outreach:members received eleven e-news with conservation updates and 42+ other digital communications. We produced and distributed four printed newsletters, including our annual report and 21 additional print projects like invitations, cards, flyers, activities, and posters. We put on 76 events and activities connecting people to the land, including our sea, trees and pie bike ride where we introduce a new south-end route, two meet & mingles, one member picnic, one volunteer bbq, a legacy circle brunch, holiday open house, a bio blitz at keystone, and a fun trivia night. We tabled at 10 public events and published a 2024 calendar sold at 15 local retail locations. Our biggest impact happened with connecting kids to conservation where we held 20 school related outreach events, serving over 870 students. These events included field-based learning on preserves, hands-on activities in and outside of the classroom, guided walks, work parties and student discussion panels.

Accreditation: every four years, since becoming accredited in 2012, we re-apply for accreditation with the land trust accreditation commission, an independent program of the national land trust alliance. As part of the renewal, we are required to submit updated policies and procedures, as well as detailed documentation on select projects. These submissions are used to illustrate our compliance with the standards and practices established by the land trust alliance, show that we adhere to our own policies and procedures, and emphasize our commitment to protecting important natural places and working lands forever.