The Pascommuck Conservation Trust
Preserving our past. Protecting our future.
On March 26th PCT hosted a guided walk of Old Pascommuck as well as the Mount Tom North Trailhead as part of the Mass Land Trust coalitions annual meeting. And on May 4th Marty Klein and Tom Lautzenheiser gave a guided tour of the Dwyer conservation area that was attended by 14 participants.
Below is a link to a number of resources sent to us from a representative from Stop Nature Deficit Disorder (website link – Stopndd.org). The document lists a number of resource links to various activities to keep your children busy outside and connecting with nature during these trying times.
https://pctland.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Overcoming-nature-deficit-disorder.pdf
This years Easthampton High School student recipient of the Pascommuck Conservation Trust Scholarship, given in memory of Ed Dwyer, is Caleb Subocz who is already taking a college level environmental science course.
Congratulations Caleb!
The 2024 annual meeting was attended by approximately 35 people. During the business part of the meeting there was some discussion regarding dogs and dog owners on the properties as there have been problems with unleashed dogs. Members indicated that they noticed more wildlife on properties where dogs were not allowed versus those where they were.
Marty Klein, board member, presented an informative talk and slide show about wild mushrooms through the seasons during the second half of the meeting.
Thanks to all who participated.
For those who missed the meeting there are two separate links for the business part and the wild mushroom presentation:
*Link to the 2024 business meeting.
*Link to the wild mushroom presentation.
Pascommuck Conservation Trust has a number of beautiful site settings for memorial benches. We want to add to the welcome our conservation areas offer visitors as we look forward to 2024 and celebrating 42 years of conservation.
Your dedicated donation will purchase a sturdy bench ($1700 minimum), chair ($900 minimum), or plaque on an existing bench ($500 minimum). A plaque will honor your loved one, promote a business, or quote a favorite nature poem. Your gift will add to our Stewardship Endowment to maintain and enhance these treasured retreats.
The Endowment generates income to help cover such costs as keeping trails clear of downed trees, annual mowing to maintain bird habitat, rebuilding bridges & steps, and fighting invasive plants — all critical to ensuring our conservation areas remain welcoming, beautiful, and ecologically healthy.
An informational brochure can be downloaded here for further information.
If you would like further information and to talk with someone at PCT please use our contact form.
Pascommuck Conservation Trust has no paid staff, meaning your gifts always go directly towards protecting land, maintaining our conservation areas for public access and habitat protection, and the few unavoidable expenses such as accounting necessary to keep operating.
We have also relied almost entirely on board & volunteer hours for property upkeep. But in recent times, the added burdens of damage from severe weather, aging board members, and increased use of our conservation areas has made it necessary to supplement our own timewith contracted part-time assistance, particularly for any work requiring specialized expertise or involving heavy equipment.
We are asking for your help in building a modest endowment to supplement our regular fundraising and cover not only a portion of those contractor fees, but also materials for replacement or new bog bridges, steps, etc., clearing downed trees off trails, sign maintenance, enhancement of habitat for wildlife and native plants, and other ongoing stewardship.