Volunteer Spotlight: Cindy Letourneau

Recently, Land Steward Eamon Horrigan interviewed one of Wildlands’ Adopt-A-Preserve volunteers and outdoor enthusiast, Cindy Letourneau, to discuss Halfway Pond Conservation Area and her volunteer work at Wildlands:

Cindy in front of the Mashpee River at Mashpee River Reservation.

When and how did you first learn about Wildlands Trust? 

We moved to Plymouth in 2015 and I think we found out about Wildlands Trust through the local paper and became members. We first went out to a Wildlands property on a Post Feast Waddle with Malcolm. We have enjoyed that hike three times now, as have our grandchildren, who have also come twice. We definitely missed it this past year though.
 

How long have you been a part of Adopt-A-Preserve (AAP)? 

I just started in July because the pandemic finally gave me the gift of time. 

How did you discover Halfway Pond Conservation Area?

I discovered Whippoorwill and Blackmer Hill trails on my own but did not discover the Conant Storrow and Joe Brown trail sections until I walked them with Malcolm on March 15th. 

How did you discover the AAP program?

I was informed about the program by Betsy Hall, another AAP volunteer at Halfway Pond. She noticed that I came out to the trails a lot and then proceeded to tell me about the program. 
 

What is your favorite thing to do while out on monitoring visits? 

I love to pay attention to everything around me. I spend my time looking for wildlife and taking in my surroundings. 

What are some highlights for you along the Halfway Pond trail loop? 

Big Point is my favorite part of the trail because you get a panoramic view of the whole pond. It makes you feel like you are the only person in the world. I come across it right at the beginning of my hikes usually. 

 
What have been your favorite wildlife sightings at Halfway Pond? 

One of my favorite wildlife sightings has been a fox that crossed right in front of me on the trail. I have also had several close encounters with deer. I’ve seen a bald eagle over the pond from Mast Road but not while on the actual trail loop. I’ve seen evidence of coyotes too but never actually seen one. Blue herons and turtles are also some nice sightings I see along the pond. I have also frequently seen and taken pictures of a pair of swans that I was very excited to see with seven cygnets one time. I had to take a lot more pictures on that occasion. I also love to take pictures of the lady slippers that come up in May.

What is the most memorable experience you have had while at a Wildlands property?  

I remember walking out to the large European beech at Emery Preserve West on a Post Feast Waddle as being a special memory. Other than that, the aforementioned wildlife sightings are memorable experiences. 

 
What is your favorite thing about AAP? 

It feels rewarding to clean up the trails and see the difference day-to-day in having clear trails. It’s also nice to not have deadlines when you go out to the trails and have the freedom to visit them when you want. Additionally, during quarantine times, walking the trails is a good connection to the outside world because it creates an opportunity to bump into people. For example, one time in early summer, I encountered and spoke with a couple, which ended in an invitation to go kayaking with their group the following week. On other occasions, I have encountered people who have been able to share history of the area, as well as their favorite spots for wildlife sightings.

Enjoying the winter weather while snowshoeing in the Berkshires.

Do you have a favorite time of the year to visit Halfway Pond? 

I love wintertime because you can see everything from the trail without foliage blocking your view. Also, there are no mosquitoes and you don’t sweat during the winter. Spring is also great because you get to see everything in bloom, the turtles are out, as are the vernal pools. Fall is also beautiful of course. I really like the trails all year round, apart from 95 degree summer days. 

Do you have a favorite Wildlands property to walk outside of Halfway Pond? 

I mostly just walk the trails at Halfway Pond, but I have been to Emery Preserve several times because it is conveniently right here in Plymouth. 

Outside of Wildlands’ properties, are there any nature preserves in the region that you like to visit? 

Some of the other regional properties I have enjoyed are: 

Kingston: Muddy Pond (New England Wilderness Trust)
Mashpee: Mashpee River Reservation (The Trustees of Reservations)
Plymouth: Black Cat Preserve (Town of Plymouth), Hio Hill (Town of Plymouth), Center Hill (Town of Plymouth)
Rochester: East Over Reservation (The Trustees of Reservations)
Sandwich: Lowell Holly (The Trustees of Reservations), Talbot’s Point (Town of Sandwich)

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Wildlands’ Volunteer Spotlight Series showcases the interests and experiences of Wildlands’ dedicated volunteers. If you’d like more information on volunteering with Wildlands, please visit our volunteer page or contact us directly.

New Compost Units Built for Community Garden

In October 2020, Plymouth Eagle Scout candidate Zach Lyons constructed two, new compost holding units for Wildlands’ community garden at Davis-Douglas Farm. Prior to Zach’s help, there was a single-cylinder compost bin at the garden that was only accessible from above, making it difficult to turn. The new containers, built using lumber and wire mesh, are able to be accessed from the top and side of the unit, making it easier to work the compost. Each unit is also made up of two bays, allowing for the compost to be divided by how far along in composition it is.

We look forward to putting these structures to good use during the 2021 gardening season, and having a more productive composting system in place for our community gardeners. Thank you to Lowes in Wareham for donating the lumber used, and to Zach for his hard work! 

New Garden in the Old Foundation

By Outreach and Education Manager Rachel Calderara

If you have ever visited Wildlands’ headquarters at Davis-Douglas Farm (DDF) in Plymouth, you have likely wondered about the old granite foundation in the middle of the field. These blocks of granite are what remains of the 1890s barn that stood for about 100 years before collapsing. Since Wildlands acquired Davis-Douglas Farm in 2011, we have made a number of transformations to turn this land into our new headquarters, including restoring the old farm house to make a unique office building and erecting the Community Conservation Barn for community gatherings, which is complete with a three bay garage and woodshop for our stewardship needs. The foundation remained a relic of interest for staff and visitors alike, a beautiful granite structure in the middle of our headquarters that was unused and unsafe to enter.

For years we brainstormed ways to use this foundation, which would complete phase four of the Davis-Douglas Farm transformation. Finally, we found the answer when landscape designer Love Albrecht Howard came to us with the idea to build a demonstration garden with plants native to New England. We worked once more with Jerry Richmond, who has been a great partner throughout the DDF transformation. To prepare for its transition to a garden, Jerry and his team filled the foundation, removed a section of granite to create additional handicap parking, and repurposed this granite to build a beautiful staircase entrance from the lower field. The upper entrance was modified so a wheelchair can enter without difficulty and traverse the pathway that leads to a wide semi-circle seating area with granite benches.

On November 2 and 3, volunteers gathered to bring the garden to life under Love’s direction. We want to thank volunteers Caroline Chapin, Sarah Geer, Nina Pollock, Marilynn Atterbury, Charlotte Russel, Margi Delafield, Elaine Lackey, Lois Post, Lucy Hutchinson and Susan Wolfe for their help with planting, and to those who helped water the garden regularly in the following weeks. And of course, we want to thank Love Albrecht Howard, whose vision, hard work, and dedication to wild spaces was the driving force behind this project.

We encourage you to check out this new demonstration garden on your next visit to Davis-Douglas Farm. The garden is designed for there to be new plants of interest in bloom throughout the year. The plants did well establishing their new home this fall and we are looking forward to watching the garden blossom next year!

A Farewell and Thank You to Wildlands Trust

It is amazing how fast 11 months can fly by. It feels like only a couple weeks ago I moved from central New Jersey to begin my AmeriCorps service term with Wildlands Trust as a land stewardship coordinator. A highlight of my time at Wildlands has been the tremendous variety of landscapes at the preserves I have been fortunate to steward. From the hemlock groves of Tucker Preserve in Pembroke to the wide, open meadows of Great River Preserve in Bridgewater and so many more. I have appreciated the delightful mixture of habitats that I have been exposed to throughout my time here. 

When I started at Wildlands, I thought that much of my time would be devoted to managing trails, but the position offered a much wider range of experiences. Tasks such as building benches or training new volunteers, while at first challenging, developed into new skills through the aid and supervision of friendly Wildlands staff. I most enjoyed the ever-changing variety of responsibilities because it has made me a more flexible and open-minded individual.

Leading the way through Stone Farm Conservation Area at Brockton Nature Festival (October 2019).

This fall, I will be attending Duke University’s environmental management graduate program with a concentration in ecosystem science and conservation. Throughout this exciting new chapter, I hope to continue deepening my knowledge of our surrounding habitats and how to best protect them. I owe Wildlands a lot of credit for helping prepare me for this new experience. 

I would like to thank those who supported me throughout my service term. First off, I would like to thank the entire Wildlands community for being welcoming and supportive throughout this chapter of my life, especially Erik Boyer and Conor Michaud for being supportive supervisors. Thank you to the Brockton High School Envirothon team, a fun and bright group of students, who invoked a feeling of nostalgia from my own high school experience. Thank you to Rachel Calderara, Joyce Voorhis, Melissa Kelly and Hayley Leonard, who also support the Envirothon team. Thank you to the TerraCorps staff as well, especially Mackenzie Sains, Hanna Mogensen and Marissa Patterson, who were always helpful in guiding me towards the goals of my service. 

I would like to also give an immense thank you to all the volunteers I worked with on work days or Adopt-A-Preserve trainings. You are invaluable to the execution of Wildlands’ mission and I had a blast getting to know such an interesting, eclectic group of people. Although this is a farewell for now, I am confident I will return to walk some of the many scenic trail systems, see past co-workers and reconnect with volunteers. 

- Eamon Horrigan

Brockton Youth Shine Bright Despite COVID-19 Challenges

By Outreach and Education Manager Rachel Calderara

The 2019/20 Envirothon team tours the Taunton River Desalination Plan (winter 2019).

Since 2015, Wildlands Trust has sponsored and coached the Brockton High School (BHS) Envirothon team. The team heads to the Massachusetts Envirothon each May, where they compete with high schools from across the state in forestry, wildlife, soils and water, and present a current issue research project on a topic that changes each year. Over the years, the team has earned some impressive accolades, including winning first prize for their current issue project on working with nature in watersheds in 2018. Our partner at BHS, science teacher Joyce Voorhis, received the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education in both 2017 and 2019 for her work with the Envirothon team. 

Although 2020 brought unique challenges for Envirothon and the Brockton team, they managed to shine bright in the face of adversity. When the 2020 Massachusetts Envirothon was cancelled, the organization challenged teams to a video contest in place of the competition. Five students from the BHS team – Alyce Watt, Logan Coughlin, Erika Fernandes, Christina Giusti and Sofiyat Bello – stepped up to the challenge and created an 8-minute video about the water issues facing their city and their thoughts about COVID-19 and the environment both at home and around the world. Brockton High School was one of only five teams to submit a video for the challenge, earning them a $250 gift card to Forestry Suppliers. You can watch their video presentation here:

 

This summer, another unique opportunity arose, this time for alumni of the program, when they were invited to speak at a Watershed Action Alliance of Southeastern Massachusetts (WAA) virtual meeting. Wildlands Trust Outreach and Education Manager Rachel Calderara worked with WAA Coordinator and Outreach Manager Dorie Stolley to assemble a panel of three inspirational women to share their perspectives on the environment with WAA for their “Learn Along” series on environmental justice. Brockton High School Envirothon alumni Lily Green, MaryKate Clark and Nicole Mejia shared their unique experiences and spoke of the significant impacts that environmental education has had on their lives. You can watch WAA’s recording of the Zoom meeting here:

At Wildlands Trust, our commitment to environmental education in the city of Brockton remains strong despite the challenges of this pandemic, and we look forward to getting back to work with the students this fall, whether in person or online.