The Norman Award winner is given annually to an exceptional volunteer, and is named after one of the Land Trust’s founding board members.    “We are so grateful for every one of our volunteers.  We simply could not keep up the pace of our conservation work without them,” said Ann Johnston, Executive Director.

Neil and his wife, Sandra, hail from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and own a second home in Mt. Crested Butte.  Since discovering Crested Butte, Neil has been instrumental in helping the Land Trust in multiple ways, particularly with fundraising events.  “I don’t even think that I’ve done enough:  I’m honored,” said Neil.

Neil is one of the Land Trust’s approximately 200 volunteers who value open space, trails, scenic views, and the ranching history of the Gunnison Valley.   Volunteering is an opportunity to meet new friends, share your expertise, or gain new skills.  If you would like to help the Land Trust with trail building, species identification and monitoring, noxious weed control, office assistance, or event assistance, please contact Liz at events@cblandtrust.org or call 970.349.1206.  Kids are welcome too!

Hal Brill and Allison Elliot owned their land for years and wanted to ensure that the wildlife habitat and fresh water streams that are so important to the character of Gunnison County remain for generations to come.  Their property is adjacent to other protected lands, and provides habitat for migratory songbirds with large home ranges, such as the mountain bluebird and the hairy woodpecker.  Small mammals like the red fox, coyote and porcupine also frequent the property.    Two small streams cascade across the land, which is at an elevation of about 10,700 feet above sea level.

There are no roads or buildings on the property, which will continue to be managed in its natural condition.  There are several abandoned mine adits dating back to around 1886.   The Crested Butte Land Trust is grateful for the efforts and vision of over 70 different families who have voluntarily protected their lands.    Whether a landowner desires to maintain ownership, sell, or donate their land for preservation, there are plenty of options for permanently protecting their land.  For more information, please contact Ann Johnston, Executive Director, at director@cblandtrust.org or 970.349.1206.

Visit the Crested Butte Land Trust’s profile on GivingFirst.org, at www.givingfirst.org/cblandtrust/overview, where you can view comprehensive, objective and up-to-date information about the Land Trust.  We hope GivingFirst.org becomes indispensable for your local giving.

home page photograph by rebecca weil

kurt reise

Accreditation through the independent Land Trust Accreditation Commission lets the public know that the Crested Butte Land Trust has undergone an extensive external review of the governance and management systems and policies it uses to protect land.   Because the Commission recognizes the need for public accountability, it accepts public comments on applicants.    Comments must relate to the applicant’s compliance with national quality standards. Comments are most useful if they are received by the Commission before January 1, 2012.

There are over 1,700 land trusts operating in the U.S., and 135 of those are currently accredited.  Your local Land Trust is guided by a dedicated, all-volunteer board of directors, an experienced staff, and an excellent legal team, who work together to “preserve the present for the future.”  For more information, go to www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or call or email Ann at 970.349.1206 or director@cblandtrust.org.

photograph by xavier fane

Our early February snow fall has produced excellent skiing conditions, with several additional snow storms in the forecast.  Enjoy Nordic skiing or snowshoeing on the Land Trust staff’s favorite – Mike’s Mile trail – which was expanded last winter to connect 4,000 feet of Crested Butte Land Trust parcels with a Bureau of Land Management parcel out to Gunsight Bridge.  This trail is named in honor of Mike Martin, a Crested Butte local who was passionate about trails and the natural beauty of the Slate River Valley.  The Land Trust is exploring the possibility of expanding this to a year round trail with several partners, including the Mike Martin Community Foundation, the CB Nordic Council and the CB Mountain Bike Association.

Each fall, the Nordic Council places temporary bridging so that winter enthusiasts can safely cross the Slate River.  To get to Mike’s Mile, take either the Red Lady Trail from Kebler Pass Road, Pooch’s Paradise from the alien shack or the first parking lot on Peanut Lake Road, or the Beaver Trail from town or the gronk.  Mike’s Mile is an intermediate trail with some undulating hills.  Dogs are allowed on this trail when accessed from Pooches Paradise.  A Nordic Pass is required on all of the trails.  Enjoy!

photograph by rebecca weil

The Crested Butte Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for national accreditation.

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever.  A public comment period is now open.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications.  Comments must relate to how the Crested Butte Land Trust complies with national quality standards.  These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust.  For the full list of standards, see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/getting-accredited/indicator-practices

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.  Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments,:  (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Comments on the Crested Butte Land Trust’s application will be most useful by January 1, 2012.

There is something for everyone at the Crested Butte Land Trust store.  Share the beauty of Crested Butte to a loved one year round with a gift of the 2012 Crested Butte Land Trust Calendar.   Give them a piece of art to decorate their tree with a Crested Butte Land Trust holiday ornament, hand painted by local artist Adam Freed.  Or make that special someone’s holiday by gifting them with a Shaun Horne original print, showcasing the beauty of Paradise Divide.

Visit www.cblandtrust.org/cblt-store-2 to view all the items available for purchase year round.  Place your orders by December 17, 2011 to receive your shipment by Christmas.

Cassidy sought a volunteer position with the Crested Butte Land Trust because she “wanted to give back to the community that I call home. What better way to do this than working for an organization that protects the open space and lands, which we all use and appreciate so much.”

“{The Crested Butte Land Trust} works tirelessly to insure that our outdoor playground remains pristine, and available for use by locals and visitors alike.” Cassidy said.  She expressed this support of the organization while soliciting donations for the silent and live auction for the 2012 Celebration of Conservation.  Her dedication to the auction assisted in the success of the first annual summer event.

Ever the outdoor enthusiast, Cassidy appreciated the effort the Land Trust puts into maintaining trails in the valley.  “Whether I am mountain biking on the lower loop, hiking  above the Gothic town site, or cross-country skiing along Trappers Crossing, I am using lands the Land Trust has worked to preserve and protect. I am proud to offer my time to ensure this important work can continue.”

Cassidy has since left her Colorado roots pursue an opportunity as a food editorial intern at EatingWell magazine in Vermont.  Her positive attitude and infectious smile will be missed in the Land Trust office.  If you are interested in volunteering at the Land Trust, please contact Liz at 970.349.1206 or events@cblantrust.org.  You can also visit ttp://cblandtrust.org/donate/volunteer for more information about volunteer opportunities at the Land Trust.

Studies have show that a meal of tasty, nutritious seeds, a natural food for bears, found in bird feeders are often the first taste bears have leading them into exploring human places. Leaving your bird feeders accessible to bears teaches them that it’s safe to come close to people and homes looking for food.  And for bears that can be a deadly lesson.  Instead of seeded bird feeders, use plant­ings, nest boxes and flowers to attract birds. Use bird feeders only when bears are hibernating and if you don’t want to stop feeding birds seed, you need to hang your feeders at least ten feet off the ground and ten feet away from anything bears can climb.

Bears are willing to work hard to get at trash and garbage, and return often in hopes of finding more. These food-conditioned bears sometimes enter homes, garages or even vehicles in search of an easy meal. Bears in pursuit of such a good source of calories have the ability to do a lot of property damage, and even become aggressive. Allowing bears to get into the garbage is one of the leading causes of human-bear conflicts. It is imperative to use bear proof trash cans, to close your garage doors and to keep food out of you vehicle.  Being smarter than the bears can protect your home and property, and help keep bears alive and wild.

Black bears are curious, intelligent and very resourceful.  The younger and more inexperienced the bear, the easier it is to teach it to avoid people and human food sources.  When a bear is forced to be destroyed, not only the bear loses but we all lose a piece of the wilderness that  makes Crested Butte so special.  Join the Crested Butte Land Trust in committing to do our part to keep the bears wild.  Visit the Colorado Department of Wildlife website at http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/Pages/LivingWithBearsL1.aspx for more tips to become “more bear aware.”