It’s summertime and nothing beats being outside: running barefoot in the grass or sand, swimming or boating on pristine waters, and getting your hands into the dirt, growing food ready to eat. Wherever and however you do it, the summer months are peak time to connect with the land.

WLCT embraces the “human element” of conservation, with a goal to create experiences that are meaningful, while also promoting ecological function. Balancing recreational enjoyment with habitat management is a tall task and we are continuously improving.

12 Properties, Dozens of Trails

Thanks to the great work of our community and partners, we have been able to open many new trails over the past 15 years. Before the first visitor sets foot on a trail, our team has been over a it dozens of time on foot…and on paper.

We examine current uses of a property–old wood roads, family trails, farm trails, and other generationally-used pathways. We consider the habitat surrounding them: has wildlife adapted to the human presence and has the flora adapted to repeated use? Our preference is to use these prudently developed pathways. If there are not existing human paths, we traverse the land to examine forest composition, analyze known habitat layers, and document the wildlife we witness in the process. We try to place trails in places where they will least disturb the plant and wildlife of the place. Patience and purposeful planning allow for a high quality visitor experience without disturbing the conservation values of the land.

WHY Trail Placement MatterS

Thoughtful trail placement creates trails that support habitats. In turn those high-functioning ecological systems also benefit human visitors (and our four-legged companions)!

Ticks are most certainly a concern in any outdoor exploration, but in an ecosystem that is functioning, they are less abundant because predators will consume them. Invasive plants can be outcompeted by native plants when identified early or addressed with a targeted plan. The forest floor can withstand the usage of many thousand visitors when the trail is planned correctly. All of these items are crucial to the work, and we thank YOU our visitors for being patient with out stewardship and supporting the work by caring for the land as you enjoy it!