This one time, at Land Camp...

Fall-like weather greeted the over 70 representatives from land trusts across Oregon and Washington at the Menucha retreat center in Corbett, Oregon for the 2011 Northwest Land Trust conference.  With a pastoral and historic setting as the backdrop (Menucha was the home of former Oregon governor Julius Meier in 1920’s) the theme of the conference was one of ‘camp.’  Family style meals, shared sleeping quarters and healthy discussions around the campfire were all conducive to sharing best practices among the dedicated group of represented land trusts from Oregon and Washington.  Leading the organizational planning were the Washington Association of Land Trusts (WALT) and the newly formed Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts (COLT), both of whom are committed to moving the issue of land conservation forward.

Trainings included fundraising strategies, leadership for conservation organizations, financial management, stewardship and conservation project tracking, as well as informal discussion groups between staff with similar roles.  All in all, the two and a half day conference was a great success, and for a relatively new land trust staff person like me, a great chance to network and learn more about the amazing projects and efforts being put forth across the region.  It also allowed me to share just a bit more about what makes Deschutes Land Trust one of the leaders in the nation for our vision, application of mission and adherence to strong administrative, fundraising and land management standards.

Supporters of the conservation movement should be proud of the great work being done by land trusts from southern Oregon to northern Washington, and most places in between. The collaborative effort on display at this year’s Northwest Land Trust conference really exemplifies my belief that while we have different geographies which define our work, we truly are better together.

Attendees from Oregon included: Friends of Columbia Gorge Land Trust, Blue Mountains Conservancy, Cape Blanco Challenge, Central Coast Land Conservancy, Deschutes Land Trust, Elk River Land Trust, Greenbelt Land Trust, Klamath Lake Land Land Trust, Lower Nehalem Community Trust, McKenzie River Trust, North Coast Land Conservancy, Northwest Rangeland Trust, Parkdale Valley Land Trust, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy of Oregon, The Wetlands Conservancy, Trust for Public Land (OR & WA), Wallowa Land Trust, and the Columbia Land Trust (OR & WA.)

Attendees from Washington included: Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Blue Mountain Land Trust, Capitol Land Trust, Cascade Land Conservancy, Chehalis River Basin Land Trust, Chelan Douglas Land Trust, Douglas Land Trust, Family Forest Foundation, Indian Country Conservancy, Inland Northwest Land Trust, Jefferson Land Trust, Kittitas Conservation Trust, Lummi Island Heritage Trust, Nisqually Land Trust, Okanogan Land Trust, PCC Farmland Trust, Skagit Land Trust, Vashon Maury Land Trust, and the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.