Workshop helps New England land trusts plan for a stable future
Group events with new people and new topics can be intimidating, but board members share how attending a peer learning workshop benefited the operation of their land trusts.
The New England program staff of the Land Trust Alliance’s Eastern Division field services team hosted a succession planning workshop in 2023 that brought together seven mostly volunteer land trusts working in the Farmington River Watershed in Simsbury, Connecticut. Co-hosted with the Connecticut Land Conservation Council and the Farmington River Watershed Association, the half day of peer learning and robust discussion covered how to plan for leadership change.
Succession planning is a common challenge faced by many smaller land trusts across the country. These organizations share a deep commitment to long-term land conservation that drives a desire for a smooth transition of leadership, responsibilities, knowledge and processes. But that can feel overwhelming, especially when board members of smaller land trusts are also putting their volunteer hours toward conservation, stewardship, fundraising and community outreach goals, often without full-time or even part-time staff.
“The truth is, I’d been dreading the workshop, as I knew nothing about the topics we’d be covering. I worried I’d be lost and unable to contribute,” said Karen Berger, a board member of Canton Land Conservation Trust.
During the workshop, board members learned why continuity is essential for the success of their land trust. They also heard from experts and peers about effective strategies and tools and engaged in hands-on activities to start crafting a succession plan tailored to their land trust's unique needs.
“When we broke into discussion groups, we were excited and buzzing with ideas and questions,” Berger said.
“Being able to connect with neighboring land trusts, share our experiences and support one another wouldn’t have happened without the Land Trust Alliance. I have confidence now my land trust can plan for the future, and our conservation work will be better for it.”