Leadership Council

Leadership Council Honored at New Stewardship Training Center

By Kyla Isakson, Membership and Digital Media Coordinator 

Leadership Council members gather around the Stewardship Training Center front gardens to listen to remarks by Board Chair Sam Chapin and President Karen Grey.

On Thursday, June 8, Wildlands Trust welcomed over 60 Leadership Council members to explore our recent 30-acre acquisition on Halfway Pond in Plymouth. The reception honored those who have contributed major gifts this year. We were so happy to host this wonderful group and show them our deep appreciation for their generous support. 

After a hearty breakfast in our new Stewardship Training Center (STC), guests were ushered out to the blooming front gardens to hear from Board Chair Sam Chapin and President Karen Grey. Sam shared some wonderful knowledge about the property and the area surrounding beautiful Halfway Pond. Karen followed to detail the immense growth that Wildlands has experienced over the last 50 years, and how much more there is to look forward to, starting with establishing the STC to improve the skills, knowledge, and capacity of the land stewardship community in Massachusetts. Following these uplifting speeches, Leadership Council members had the opportunity to intermingle, take a short tour around the property led by our stewardship staff, and explore the impressive 12,000-square-foot Center, from the woodshop and learning area in the basement all the way to the bedrooms and attic. We were proud to show off our newest undertaking, and although there is still much to do, we are excited to see how this project will take shape and help advance land conservation through skill-building for volunteers and continuing education for professionals. 

Stewardship Coordinator Zoë Smiarowski shows Leadership Council members around Wildlands’ new 30-acre parcel on Halfway Pond.

Leadership Council gifts are the foundation of Wildlands' annual giving, making it possible for us to continue to grow and meet the conservation needs of Southeastern Massachusetts. Our region benefits greatly from the generosity of this special group of donors, including through cleaner air and water, protected habitats for diverse wildlife, and abundant open space for all to enjoy.  

To show our appreciation for the Leadership Council, Wildlands hosts a celebration in the Conservation Barn at Davis-Douglas Farm each fall and offers a Preserve Tour at a different Wildlands property each June. Leadership Council members are also recognized on a plaque that hangs in the Davis-Douglas Farmhouse at our headquarters. 

Do you, too, want to provide vital support for Wildlands’ efforts to preserve the natural heritage of Southeastern Massachusetts? Join our Leadership Council today and secure your spot at our next special event this fall! 

Click through the slideshow below to see more photos from the Preserve Tour.

Leadership Council Honored at Annual Preserve Tour

Read Time: 2 min

By Kyla Isakson, Membership and Digital Media Coordinator

The Leadership Council’s 8th Annual Preserve Tour took place on Friday, June 10. Over 40 members convened with Wildlands’ staff at the entrance of Great River Preserve, in Bridgewater, for a reception to honor the group of donors who contributed major gifts this year. They received a warm welcome from Chairman of the Board Sam Chapin and Executive Director Karen Grey, detailing the importance of the group’s dedication to our organization and the value of the unique lands we conserve.

After a wonderful breakfast, Wildlands’ Board Members and avid birders Brian Harrington and Wayne Petersen each led a portion of the attendants on a walk through the preserve. Time was spent embracing the valuable diversity of the surrounding land and wildlife, observing American Robins, Great Blue Herons, Yellow Warblers, Bobolinks, Grackles, Baltimore Orioles, dragonflies, and American toads, just to name a few! Our knowledgeable guides shared tips for identifying different bird species based on both appearance and vocalizations. Wildlands Trust is incredibly grateful to all of our Leadership Council members for the significant and important support they provide for land conservation throughout the year!

Leadership Council to Be Recognized at Preserve Tour

Read Time: 2 min

By Amy Markarian, Senior Copywriter

On Friday, June 10, our 8th Annual Leadership Council Preserve Tour will be held at Great River Preserve, in Bridgewater. Wildlands Trust’s Leadership Council is composed of the generous donors who have contributed $500 or more to our annual fund, and it’s open to anyone who wishes to make such a donation. Members are welcomed into this group throughout the year, as gifts are received, and are notified through a Leadership Council invitation from our Donor Relations Manager, Sue Chamberlain. 

Leadership Council gifts are the foundation of Wildlands' annual giving, making it possible for us to continue to grow and meet the conservation needs of Southeastern Massachusetts. Our region benefits greatly from the generosity of this special group of donors--with cleaner air and water, protected wildlife and habitats, and abundant open space for all to enjoy. 

To show our appreciation for our Leadership Council, Wildlands holds a Fall Supper in the Conservation Barn at Davis-Douglas Farm each November, and a Preserve Tour at a different showcase preserve each June. Leadership Council members’ names are also recognized with a plaque that hangs at the Davis-Douglas Farmhouse at our headquarters.

The 2022 Preserve Tour at Great River Preserve promises to be a treat for our members. This stunning preserve encompasses a range of habitats and features, with over a mile of pristine river frontage along one of the most beautiful and undisturbed stretches of the lengthy Taunton River. With expansive open fields, mixed pine/oak woodlands, vernal pools, and habitat for several rare species, including the Eastern Box Turtle, few other properties along this “Wild and Scenic River” offer comparable aesthetic and ecological value.  After a delicious breakfast at the preserve, birding experts will guide the tour and offer information about the abundance of birds that inhabit the area. 

Do you, too, want to provide vital support for Wildlands’ efforts to preserve the natural heritage of Southeastern Massachusetts? Join our Leadership Council today and secure your spot at our next special event!

https://wildlandstrust.org/leadership-council 

Wildlands Honors Doug Hart with Appointment as Chair Emeritus

By President & Executive Director, Karen Grey

Doug.JPG

Nonprofits rely on volunteer board members who donate time and expertise to help advance mission based work. It’s hard work, but with a talented, dedicated group, and an effective board leader, it can be extremely rewarding and meaningful for all involved. As the highest governing position in the organization, a board chair, with the right skills and experience, can set the stage for a successful and highly functioning organization.

Doug Hart has served with distinction as Wildlands Trust’s chairman of the board since 2007. Always leading with personal integrity and intelligence, Doug earned the confidence and respect of the board and staff early on in his tenure. His thoughtful approach, dedication, and ability to show all involved how to “do the right thing, not the easy thing,” inspired this most recent chapter of Wildlands’ journey. Under Doug’s leadership, the journey has led to a new home at Davis-Douglas Farm, endowment growth of 400%, unprecedented membership and donor growth, doubling of the staff, and 6,000 new acres of protected land in Southeastern Massachusetts.

When Doug ran a meeting, everyone had a voice, everyone was respected, and you could count on being out the door by 9:00 p.m. When I called him on the phone for advice (which was frequently), he offered his insights and guidance without ever telling me what to do. He would listen to me carefully and then say “You know, why don’t you try this…”

I thank Doug Hart from the bottom of my heart for all he has done for Wildlands Trust and for what he has taught me over the last 12 years. I am honored to call him the best boss I’ve ever had and we are all proud to call him our Chair Emeritus.


On Saturday, November 2, 2019, we honored Doug at Wildlands’ annual Chairman’s Council Supper. Thank you to all those who attended for making this year’s gathering extra special for us and for Doug.

Browse the photos below to see the lands Wildlands has protected under Doug’s leadership: