Door County Land Trust
Membership and Giving
“Thanks-Giving: Celebrating a Record-Breaking Year of Land Protection”
Thanks-Giving: Door County Land Trust Invites Community to Online Event Showcasing Year of Successes Door County Land Trust is excited to announce its upcoming online event, “Thanks-Giving: Celebrating a Record-Breaking Year of Land Protection” on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:30-7:00 pm on Zoom. This event will reflect on a year of remarkable achievements and the…
Read MoreDiscovering Common Ground in Land Protection
Mike Schmitz took a date to the Land Trust’s 2022 Annual Gathering and ended up with a conservation easement. At the Gathering, he discovered that his date, Ginny Bolger, shared a passion for conservation equal to his own. Bolger influenced Schmitz’s timing for entering into a conservation easement agreement with the Land Trust this…
Read MoreCelebrate Earth Week With the Land Trust
The Stewardship Workday planting on April 16 was a warmup of sorts for our community tree planting event at Oak Road on Tuesday, April 23. Join us! Video by Emily Wood This year, the Land Trust won’t celebrate just Earth Day. It’s celebrating Earth Week with FREE activities that are open to the public. The…
Read MoreTrio of Land Projects Expand Land Protection
Hibbard Creek photo by Julie Schartner With the recent addition of three land projects, DCLT now protects more than 9,400 acres across Door County and its surrounding islands. The three projects are an addition to the Hibbard Creek Natural Area, the creation of the new Oak Bluff Natural Area, and a new conservation easement.…
Read MoreOak Bluff Natural Area: Land Protection by the Bay
Door County Land Trust’s portfolio of protected properties includes a variety of ecologically sensitive lands protected for the plant and animal inhabitants. The latest land protection project, completed on December 6, 2023, is a perfect example of why some lands are best protected for wildlife. When it comes to the Land Trust’s recent creation…
Read MoreHibbard Creek: Extending an Important Wildlife Corridor
Hibbard Creek. Photo by Julie Schartner The recent purchase of 77 acres near the Hibbard Creek Natural Area aligns with the Land Trust’s goal to extend protection in wildlife corridors that provide for movement across the landscape. These corridors are crucial for the survival of animal species as they provide new home territories for…
Read MoreSouthern Door Ecological Gem to Become 15th Land Trust Preserve
An exceptionally scenic and ecologically significant 75 acres in the Town of Clay Banks has recently been added to Door County Land Trust’s roster of protected properties. The former dairy farm features a half-mile of Bear Creek that flows into Lake Michigan that supports coldwater fish. Within its eye-catching landscape of open fields, wetlands, native…
Read MoreKellner Fen Natural Area Addition Expands Land Protection
Sand Hill Cranes are one of many species that will be protected on the new acreage. The success of Door County Land Trust’s (DCLT) most recent land purchase is the direct result of the generosity of the Fischer family. The new addition of 63 acres extends the protection of water quality and wildlife surrounding the…
Read MoreNow Streaming: Water Protection
Below the still surface of Door County’s landscape, under and through the bedrock, water moves rapidly—a mixture of rainwater, snow melt, and dissolved particles collected from life above. In many areas, both nutrients and pollutants find their way quickly into the county’s waterways—as well as Lake Michigan and Green Bay—at a rate that can overwhelm…
Read MoreNew Preserve to Deliver Drama
It’s hard for the Door County Land Trust Land Team to temper their excitement when describing the property slated for the Land Trust’s fifteenth nature preserve. “It’s spectacular,” said Land Program Director Jesse Koyen. “Over a half mile of Bear Creek and its surrounding forested banks make up the heart of the property. There are…
Read MoreHikes and Events Fill Land Trust Calendar
Learn, appreciate, and support nature through hikes and special happenings planned by the Land Trust. Fresh off DCLT training, hike leaders are ready to inform and engage hikers in the discovery of the unique history, terrain, and species of Land Trust preserves. Themed hikes range from a survey of a preserve’s flora and fauna to…
Read MoreDigging deeper into new activities
The Door County Land Trust is expanding its roster of activities so you might dig a little deeper into your involvement. Join others as you increase your knowledge of the natural world and play a part in research with citizen science projects. Enjoy an immediate sense of satisfaction when working on two-hour tasks during stewardship…
Read MoreKellner Fen Addition Extends Protection of Rare Species
The Door County Land Trust recently purchased 63 acres that will extend the protection of water quality and wildlife surrounding the organization’s Kellner Fen Natural Area, located near the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Sturgeon Bay. Kellner Fen is a unique type of wetland that features a large expanse of open water and an extensive,…
Read MoreConservation Easement a Gift to Southern Door Water Quality
Water quality in Southern Door has been handed a rare gift through a conservation easement agreement recently donated to Door County Land Trust. Owned by Patricia A. Nell, of Sturgeon Bay, the 158-acre property contains a portion of the headwaters of the Ahnapee River and surrounding wetlands that slow down water runoff and filter sediments…
Read MoreFischer Family Inspires Generosity
The children of Anne Fischer are putting forth a challenge to those who value the future of Door County’s wild spaces. The Fischer Family’s goal is to inspire fellow members to give generously before December 15, 2022, to match their $350,000 grant. Donate Now! Childhood memories of immersing themselves in the wilderness around what is…
Read MoreHow to Stay Safe During Hunting Season
Door County Land Trust nature preserves accommodate a wide variety of public uses including hiking, cross country skiing, wildlife observation, scientific research, and hunting. In order to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all visitors to our nature preserves, we ask hikers to review hunting safety guidelines and be aware during the season. Hunting…
Read MoreDoor County Land Trust Office Moves to New Location
The Door County Land Trust will be moving its office to a more expansive space at the newly developed Door County Epicenter at 217 N. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, the former home of Baylake Bank and Nicolet Bank, in June. The organization’s need to increase staffing over the years to address important land protection…
Read MoreThe Big Plant: Native Tree and Plant Give-Away 2023
Native Plant and Tree Give-Away Aims to Improve Wildlife Habitat Throughout Door County Upcoming tree and plant giveaway events: 2023 Dates to be announced *** How to Plant Trees and Perennials: How to plant The native tree and plant give-away is a part of The Big Plant coordinated by the Climate Change Coalition of Door…
Read MoreReserve your copy of Shoreline at the Edge: Door County’s Lakeside Forests and Wetlands!
The above photo of Kangaroo Lake is one of twenty aerialscapes photographed from an airplane by Paul M. Lurie featured in the new book, “A Shoreline at the Edge: Door County’s Lakeside Forests and Wetlands.” Through a generous donation from Paul Lurie, Door County Land Trust is making the book available for free to the…
Read MoreCan You Spare 6 Minutes to Protect More Land?
This note is a request for six minutes of your time in the next few days. Your six minutes will help protect more of Door County’s exceptional lands and waters. Your six minutes can protect the the things you love about Door County! Please take six minutes (three minutes per call) to call our two…
Read MoreLand at Heart of Kellner Fen Donated into Permanent Conservation
Land at Heart of Kellner Fen Donated into Permanent Conservation Sturgeon Bay, WI – Door County Land Trust is excited to announce the recent acquisition and protection of a 40-acre property at the center of the Kellner Fen wetland complex located north of Sturgeon Bay near Lake Michigan. The property was donated by Jim…
Read MoreAnonymous Donor Inspires Giving for Land Protection at Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp
Anonymous Donor Inspires Giving for Land Protection at Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp Ephraim, WI – An anonymous couple is inspiring others to give to the Door County Land Trust’s ongoing land protection efforts at Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp Natural Area. The couple have a love of the Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp and have been long-time supporters of the efforts to protect…
Read MoreThe Perfect Cozy Conservation Gift
The Perfect Cozy Conservation Gift. Give the perfect gift this Christmas! Place a bid for a gift basket featuring a hand-crocheted afghan donated by member Maureen McGrath, a copy of the ‘Guide to the Places We Protect’, and candied nuts homemade by Land Trust president Donna DeNardo. Each gift comes with a gift membership for the…
Read MoreNature Notes Calendar
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”21″ gal_title=”Nature Notes Calendar”] Donate $20 or more to receive your Nature Notes Calendar! Stunning monthly images and stories 19 months! June 2020-December 2021 Bloom times and locations Bird migration and nesting seasons Insect, fish, amphibian, and mammal life cycles Moon phases and meteor showers Dates of historical significance Sun rise and set times…
Read MoreBig and Little Susie Islands Donated into Permanent Conservation
Sturgeon Bay, WI – Door County Land Trust is pleased to announce Big and Little Susie Islands have been donated into permanent conservation with the Door County Land Trust. The islands were owned by brothers Paul and Arni Richter and were passed on to family. The Richter family owned the Washington Island Ferry Line, with…
Read MoreCelebrate the Protection of Pebble Beach at Little Sister Bay
The Village of Sister Bay, with assistance from the Door County Land Trust, completed the purchase of an iconic 17-acre gem along Little Sister Bay, expanding the former 40-feet of public beach with an additional 600 feet of shoreline. To celebrate the completion of the purchase of the property, Door County Land Trust and the…
Read MoreSurge of Support to Protect Pebble Beach
Surge of Support to Protect Pebble Beach Sister Bay, WI – Door County Land Trust is pleased to announce a remarkable gift from angel donors Mary and Bob Wiley of Sister Bay, to protect Pebble Beach. Door County Land Trust and the Village of Sister Bay are partnering to protect 600 feet of shoreline and…
Read MoreAnnouncing Pebble Beach
Door County Land Trust and Village of Sister Bay Announce Partnership to Protect Pebble Beach Sister Bay, WI – The Door County Land Trust and the Village of Sister Bay are pleased to announce a partnership to protect 600 feet of shoreline and 17 acres of land as a publicly accessible recreation and natural…
Read MoreNew Land Conservation Protects Headwaters and Springs within Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp
Ephraim, WI – The Door County Land Trust is pleased to announce a newly protected property containing wetlands, springs and streams within the Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp State Natural Area. The 80-acre property is the second property in the area to be protected this year, and brings the total protection of these headwaters and springs to 277…
Read MoreHeadwaters of Eagle Harbor Protected!
The Door County Land Trust is pleased to announce a wetland property containing portions of the headwaters of Ephraim Creeks and Hidden Springs in the Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp State Natural Area is now protected! The property was purchased from a local landowner who wished for the property to remain conserved in its natural state. The property…
Read More9 Acres Donated at Chambers Island Nature Preserve
Door County Land Trust is pleased to announce the donation of 9 acres of land at the Chambers Island Nature Preserve. The donation of land, made by Pete and Fawn Rogers, long-time summer visitors on the island, is the fifth conservation project to be completed on Chambers Island during 2018. The donated land connects other…
Read MoreChambers Island Nature Preserve Expands with 50 Newly Protected Acres!
We are pleased to announce that Thursday, December 13, the Door County Land Trust completed two more land acquisitions on Chambers Island! These two additional projects are the third and fourth of five planned land protection projects on the island this December! The two properties, one a 10-acre hardwood and hemlock forest and the other…
Read MoreDoor County Land Trust Expands Chambers Island Nature Preserve With 35 Newly Protected Acres
The Door County Land Trust is pleased to announce that 35 acres of forested uplands have been acquired as an addition to the Door County Land Trust’s 600-acre Chambers Island Nature Preserve. With the October protection of two islands within Lake Mackaysee, this acquisition is the second of five new land deals to be completed on…
Read MoreLandings News Splash – Winter 2018
Read our 2018 Winter Landings News Splash!
Read MoreDoor County Land Trust Kicks Off ‘Protect What You Love’ Campaign
Land conservation doesn’t occur naturally: it takes community action! That’s why Door County Land Trust is proud to introduce the Protect What You Love new member campaign, which launches on #GivingTuesday (November 27) and ends on January 31. Since its inception in 1986, Door County Land Trust has worked to preserve, maintain and enhance lands…
Read MoreAll Aboard! Chambers Island Nature Preserve Boat Tour
Wednesday, June 27 8:00 am – 1:00 pm Fish Creek Scenic Boat Tours 4150 Maple St, Fish Creek Join us for an exciting voyage to explore the Door County Land Trust’s 600-acre Chambers Island Nature Preserve. The preserve’s towering hemlocks, pines, red oaks and maples provide habitat to 171 birds. Participants will have three options for exploring…
Read MoreDonate to Rutabaga Sea Kayak Symposium
Donate lightly used items, art or wine to the annual Rutabaga Sea Kayak Symposium Auction! This auctions raises more than $6,000 per year for the Door County Land Trust mission. Email Cinnamon Rossman to learn more.
Read MoreBay Shore Blufflands Buckthorn Blast Kick-Off Event!
Friday, June 22 9:30 am – 11:30 am Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve 5519 Reynolds Road, Carlsville Join the neighborhood effort to remove invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle! These wicked weeds are a real ‘thorn’ in our side. Here’s why: They shade out native plants like trillium and Lady’s slipper orchids. Their berries cause nutrient deficiencies…
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Register for Summer Events
June 5th!
We invite you to celebrate Door County’s beautiful open spaces! In our 2018 schedule of outings and events, you’ll find many ways to connect with the land and the people who make Door County such a special place to live and visit. From forest mindfulness immersion to discovering the aquatic wonders seen only under…
Read MoreMeet The Staff!
Cinnamon Rossman stepped into the role of Development Director at the beginning of 2018. For the past five years she has managed the Land Trust’s communications and events, and her new responsibilities now include working more closely with members and donors to build community support for the Land Trust’s mission. Cinnamon grew up near Mud Lake…
Read MoreInvestments in Stewardship Endowment Fund are Working for Our Land
Thanks to the many thoughtful Legacy Circle donors who have included the Land Trust in their will or bequest, the Stewardship Endowment Fund will be carefully put to use beginning this year. The Board of Directors and the Endowment Trustees have calculated a sustainable draw from the fund which will be applied toward the Land…
Read MoreNewly Protected! 17 Acres Adjacent to Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve
Conservation Easements Protect Homes for The Wildest Things Short-tailed weasel at Aten-Collins Conservation Easement. Photo by Nancy Aten Visionary landowners Nancy Aten and Dan Collins completed the donation of a 17-acre conservation easement to the Door County Land Trust this fall. The property, located near the 274-acre Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve, adds to a…
Read MoreLandings – News Splash! Read the Winter Newsletter Online
The 2017 Winter Newsletter has arrived! This season we’re saving on paper and providing more content on our website. Click below to view the newsletter online. Click the links to see related webpages, photos or additional content.
Read MoreGift Exchange
Gift Exchange By Francha Barnard, Door County poet and volunteer As for me, on a trail hike, you wouldn’t want me to lead; can’t identify the ten different mushrooms or four or five ferns we’d see. Can’t tell the various orchids apart or the birdsong we’d hear nearby; can’t even find the bird in the…
Read MoreMapping Guides 2018 Restoration Work
This four-person crew spent part of their summer mapping invasive species in preparation for a restoration project to begin in 2018. Door County Land Trust’s Three Springs Nature Preserve is one of several sites prioritized in this partner project to map, monitor and reduce invasive species within Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands Ramsar site, an…
Read MoreJoin us at the Bay Shore Blufflands Buckthorn Blast Kick-off Event!
You are invited to join us for a community gathering to kick-off the Bay Shore Blufflands Buckthorn Blast project September 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m.! Learn about the invasive species and unique ecology of the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve. Take a hike with staff experts and meet stewardship volunteers committed to the Buckthorn Blast. Sign up…
Read More“Land is my…” Video Contest
Land is my… What do you do outside? Where do you go when you need a break? Make a quick video that shares what land means to you and enter it in the Land Trust Alliance “Land Is My…” video contest for a chance to win cash prizes—and WE could win $10,000 too! Visit www.landismy.org for details…
Read More120 Acres of Coastal Wetland Property Protected!
Door County Land Trust Protects Wetlands at the Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp State Natural Area Sturgeon Bay, WI July 15, 2017 – The Door County Land Trust (DCLT) is pleased to announce it has protected 120 acres of coastal wetland property in the Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp State Natural Area. The property was acquired from landowner John Wehling,…
Read MoreMany thanks to Door County Board of Realtors
The Door County Board of Realtors recently held a reception at Björklunden to honor retirees with more than ten years of service in the community. Ten realtors were recognized for their collective years of service. A tribute donation to the Door County Land Trust was made for each honoree. We thank the Door County Board…
Read MoreDining for Open Spaces needs YOU!
If you have ever considered hosting or helping at a Dining for Open Spaces event, we need your help this year! Members like you are at the heart of the Dining series . Proceeds from the member-hosted events in the Dining for Open Spaces series have raised more than $330,000 to date. What does hosting…
Read MoreHappy Holidays!
Thank you for your support of the Door County Land Trust. As we look ahead to 2017, there are many places yet to protect and many nature preserves that need our ongoing care. If you haven’t already, please consider renewing your membership or making a special end-of-year gift now. We invite you to take a moment to…
Read MoreHolly King Festival
Rare Beer Silent Auction to Benefit the Door County Land Trust Calling all Beer Lovers! Our friends at Bier Zot are hosting a Rare-Bottle Silent Auction this Friday, December 16 to benefit the Door County Land Trust. There will be over a dozen rare bottles including: Deschutes 2015 Abyss, Black Butte XXV, MKE’s Grand Madam…
Read MoreThe Draw of Nature
by John Hermann Land Trust preserves are magnetic in the way they pull at me. At Heins Creek, the morning light through the pines always appears new and different than it does in any other place. Similar feelings arise as I walk in the dappled afternoon light at the Bay Shore Blufflands’ escarpment, through the…
Read MoreGet Involved
Volunteers are vital to our mission of protecting Door County’s exceptional lands and waters forever. Volunteers help by infusing energy and new ideas, taking the lead on exciting projects and events, and serving a key role in engaging with our community. Hosting or Helping at a Dining for Open Spaces Event Mailing Parties Office Work, Filing or Data…
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