Wildlands Trust
Stewardship Training Center
Advancing land conservation through skill-building for volunteers and continuing education for professionals
Halfway Pond Conservation Area, Plymouth
New and expanded funding for land protection is good news. However, the care and management of these lands will be left to an already stressed and under-resourced land stewardship system. Strapped stewardship resources are the norm at our National and State Parks and on our townlands and land trust properties. Without more funding and innovation directed toward caring for land, we risk an erosion of public confidence and the degradation of the biological and social values we seek to protect.
Wildlands Trust formally launched the Stewardship Training Center (STC) in 2024 to help bolster stewardship of conservation lands. Wildlands and partners will offer a wide range of training programs at the STC to
help municipalities and land-holding organizations build much-needed stewardship capacity and
encourage continuous learning for professionals working in land protection.
Wildlands makes the STC available to organizations wishing to host trainings and meetings. We offer an affordable fee structure to encourage the use of this accommodating facility by partners.
Wildlands Trust’s Erik Boyer clearing a tree from a trail
Upcoming Programs
Twilight Trailmasters: Join Wildlands Trust on Thursday evenings throughout the summer to learn trail skills in partnership with municipalities across our service region.
Hanover: Join the Town of Hanover and Wildlands Trust staff to learn about clearing vegetation from trail corridors and using power tools to repair bridges. Register Here
Marshfield: Join the Town of Marshfield Recreation Trails Committee and Wildlands Trust to build a trail extension that will enhance an existing trail system. Register Here
This Fall: The Wildlands Stewardship Training Center is partnering with Essex County Greenbelt to host a series of 4 virtual workshops in the fall of 2024 for those interested in building their conservation GIS skills. More information coming soon!
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Wildlands Trust is developing a core curriculum to assist municipalities and small land trusts recruit, train, deploy, and recognize volunteers. Programming content will include:
Establishing a Town Trail Committee
Recruiting, Training, and Managing Volunteers
Communications and Recognition to Ensure Volunteer Engagement
Safe Tool Use and Maintenance
Trail Building 101, 201, 301
Invasive Species Management
Chainsaw Use and Safety (Certification)
Basic Bridge and Boardwalk Building
Establishing Citizen Science Programs
Wilderness First Aid
Woodworking for Land Stewards
Wildfire Risk Reduction
Forest & Woodland Management
Lake, Pond & Stream Ecology
Basics of Permitting
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March 4-5, 2023: Basic Chainsaw Training
June 26-27, 2023: Seasonal Land Steward Training
September 9-10, 2023: Wilderness First Aid Training
November 11-12, 2023: Chainsaw Level 1 Felling & Storm Damage Training
May 8, 2024: Vernal Pool Conservation Workshop
Winter/Spring 2024: Tier 1 Volunteer Training Series
February 24: Basic First Aid & CPR
March 7: Public Advocacy & Challenges
April 18: Hand Tool Use & Maintenance
May 9: Trail Monitoring & Maintenance
June 10-11, 2024: Seasonal Land Steward Training
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Halfway Pond Conservation Area is an ecological gem in South Plymouth, complete with pine barrens, wetlands, mixed-oak forests, and a shoreline on idyllic Halfway Pond. With support from private donors, Wildlands purchased the last remaining private parcel abutting the preserve, which now totals over 550 acres. Combined with its big sister to the west, Myles Standish State Forest, and its little sister to the south, Halfway Pond Wildlife Management Area, these properties comprise the most expansive protected public open space in Eastern Massachusetts.
Outside view of the Stewardship Training Center
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The Stewardship Training Center is housed in a 12,000-square-foot building, the former estate of prominent cranberry grower LeBaron Russell Barker. Lodging and meals will be available for overnight program participants in the Barker Estate, which includes the following amenities:
Two full kitchens
14 bedrooms
40 beds
Nine bathrooms
Large dining room
Double Parlor Classroom for up to 60 people
Elevator to all four floors
Break-out rooms
Patio and Porch Spaces overlooking Halfway Pond
Outdoor Training Spaces
30’ by 50’ timber-frame pavilion (to be constructed)
Fully equipped woodshop
Laundry center
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Pond Access
12 miles of hiking trails
Biking trails
Cross-country ski trails
Car-top boat access to Halfway Pond
Fishing
Birding, Wildlife Watching, and Nature Study
Members of the advisory committee at a meeting in December 2022
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A statewide advisory committee is working to set this important new initiative's strategy, programmatic content, and policies.
Buzz Constable (Chair)
Attorney, Former President, Mass Land Trust CoalitionFran Blanchard
Vice President for Stewardship, The TrusteesPaul Bruce
Corporate AdvisorPaul Catanzaro
Professor, UMass Amherst, Department of Environmental ConservationDavid Gould
Director, Marine & Environmental Affairs, Town of PlymouthJoe Grady
Former Conservation Agent, Town of DuxburyKaren Grey
President, Wildlands TrustMolly Jacobs
Vice President for Environmental Education & Outreach, ManometBernie McHugh
Founder, Mass Land Trust Coalition
President, Montana AudubonMark Robinson
President, Compact of Cape Cod Conservation TrustsDr. Mark Russo
Board Member, Wildlands TrustTim Simmons
Restoration Ecologist, MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species
Program Director of Science & Stewardship, The Nature Conservancy MAZoë Smiarowski
Stewardship Coordinator, Wildlands TrustSkip Stuck
Stewardship Volunteer, Wildlands TrustJason Zimmer
District Supervisor, Mass Division of Fisheries & WildlifeOna Ferguson
Consensus Building Institute
For more information, contact:
Zoë Smiarowski
Stewardship Programs Manager
trainingcenter@wildlandstrust.org
774-343-5121 x109
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