April 2013

With a background in education, environmental sustainability, and community involvement, Robin Shields couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use her skills as the new Executive Director of the Sippican Lands Trust.

The Marion native recently moved back to her hometown with her husband Tim and two kids, Abby and Ben.

A Tabor Academy and Dartmouth College graduate, Robin spent 10 years as a busy stay-at-home mom and was ready to return to the workplace and apply her education and experiential knowledge to an organization she believes in.

Robin has served on a land trust board in Fairhaven, worked with the Buzzards Bay Coalition, got a graduate degree at the University of Rhode Island, and volunteered for numerous organizations while raising her two children.

She is ecstatic to be back in the community and is looking forward to making connections with other local organizations and encouraging area residents to visit the Land Trusts’ properties.  Trail maps are available in the SLT office at 354 Front Street, next to Uncle John’s Coffee.

Robin has plans to improve communication with the community and to develop the Land Trusts’ education and outreach programs for nature lovers of all ages!

Saturday, October 13, 2012
9:30 am @ our White Eagle Property

Please join guest leaders Diane Camacho & Jo-Anne Gallant for a Geocaching Walk through SLT’s White Eagle property. Geocaching is similar to a technological scavenger hunt.  Bring a GPS device or a GPS-enabled mobile phone. Don’t own? Someone will assist you. To learn more about geocaching, visit www.geocaching.com.

Helen A. Arthur

 Sippican Lands Trust seeks applicants for its $1,000.00 “Helen A. Arthur Scholarship Award”, which will be awarded to a local high school senior and Marion resident graduating by June 30, 2012, from Bishop Stang High School, Old Rochester Regional High School, and Tabor Academy pursuing an education in environmental studies or a related field.

Helen Adams Arthur (1940-2008) was a beloved resident of Marion, MA for 43 years and a long-time steward for Sippican Lands Trust alongside her husband, Richard I. “Dick” Arthur.  Helen and her entire family have always been deeply interested in the preservation of beautiful open spaces in Marion. 

The scholarship is made available through the Sippican Lands Trust stewardship fund.  The scholarship is consistent with the SLT mission of preserving land in order to enrich the quality of life for present and future generations of Marion and visitors and of furthering environmental education in the community.

For further information and the application please click on “Education” on our home page .  The deadline for application is May 12, 2012.

Boy Scouts cleaning up Brainard Marsh

On Saturday, February 4, Boy Scout Troop#32, under the guidance and supervision of Head Steward Bill Saltonstall, along with Matthew Hlady, Senior Patrol Leader, went to town on SLT’s Brainard Marsh parcel, making it picture perfect for hikers and passersby!  

The project included leveling the trail and cutting back brush, then placing landscape fabric, six cubic yards of dense graded gravel, and two cubic yards of 3/8” pea stone on approximately 130 feet of trail. The Scouts did a great job moving the gravel and stone to the worksite by wheelbarrow. The trail should provide a firm walking surface where mud had previously been a problem for visitors to the area. They scouts, for over four hours, worked diligently clearing up the parcel and putting in a friendly walking trail.  They were there for over four hours. 

Board member, Marty Howell noted, “When I stopped by later for the “after” photo I was excited to see the walkway but even more excited about the excellent cleanup!  Wow!” 

The Scout Master for Troop #32 is Doug Breault and he can be reached at dougbreault@gmail.com. 

Please be sure to go out and visit Brainard Marsh and witness for yourself the great job this troop did!

The most unusual find was a large, ceramic insulator from one of the 14 408-foot tall wireless towers that stood on the property from 1914 to 1960. The black insulator weighs about 25 lbs., and is one of dozens that must still be scattered across the wooded 163-acre site.

The next cleanup will be on Saturday, February 25, when members and friends of the Sippican Lands Trust will do trail maintenance work at Kenny’s Landing, located at the end of Ichabod Lane in North Marion.

The work includes adding Sippican Lands Trust signs to the parcel, trail clearing as needed and cleaning up brush and storm-damaged trees near the road.

A pre-cleanup meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. for coffee at Uncle Jon’s. People can sign up ahead of time by calling the Sippican Lands Trust office at 508-748-3080. Gloves, clippers, and waterproof footwear are suggested.

Jennifer Francis and her dad, Earl Briggs

Anne Robertson and son Nate; Earl Briggs and his daughter Jennifer Francis; Nick Grace; Alan Harris and son Sam; Kitsy and John Howard; Marty Howell; Peter Converse; Sam Saltonstall; Bill and Tinker Saltonstall; and Tim Crowley spent two hours gathering trash, tires, car parts and even leftover equipment from the old wireless towers that once stood on the property.

Written by staff on the the sippican.village soup

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