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We did it! New Urban Nature Preserve at Poesten Kill Bends in Troy and Brunswick

Annie Jacobson PoestenKillBends

THANK YOU to the MANY generous community members that took action this summer to help us reach our $99,000 fundraising goal to purchase the 76-acre property along Poesten Kill Creek in Troy and Brunswick. As we approached our September 1 deadline for the property sale closing, we had an unwavering response from passionate supporters who wanted this urban natural area protected. This is a huge victory for land conservation in our area, THANK YOU!

Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance are now co-owners of this beautiful riparian and woodland habitat, the largest undeveloped forest block in Troy. This natural oasis is an excellent place to offer educational programs and recreational opportunities to our communities today and in the future.

Poesten Kill Bends is located along the south shore of the Poesten Kill and much of the area is floodplain of this mid-sized river. Protecting natural areas like this property is a climate resiliency* strategy that needs to happen locally and globally. Many southern coastal cities are evacuating this week in the face of Hurricane Dorian's destructive rains and flooding and even more close to home, many communities in the Capital District have been hit hard this past month with significant flooding from heavy rains and high winds. Extreme weather pattern changes are becoming our new normal–protecting natural areas like Poesten Kill Bends from development is a key solution in helping communities and nature adapt to our changing climate.

Thankfully we have the support of our communities to ensure our conservation efforts of today will be relevant in the years to come.

Land Trust Accreditation Commission Accreditation Renewal Stakeholder Notification/Public Notice

Accrediation images LTA LOG

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Rensselaer Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of its accreditation. 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. According to John Winter, Executive Director of Rensselaer Land Trust, “Accreditation provides assurance to our stakeholders in Rensselaer County that transactions with RLT will be competently conducted, public funding will be properly spent, and conserved properties will be appropriately stewarded. RLT was one of the first land trusts to be accredited when this important program began. We are pleased to be applying for our third round of land trust accreditation.”

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Rensselaer 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 http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices.

RLT Receives Two New York State Conservation Partnership Program Grants

Rensselaer Land Trust (RLT) is pleased to announce that it has received two NYS Conservation Partnership Program grants. The NYS Conservation Partnership Program is funded by the state’s Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in coordination with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Rensselaer Land Trust will use a $20,000 grant to support the preparation and implementation of a three-year fundraising and outreach plan that will help the land trust become more financially sustainable and better poised to achieve its goals. The grant will also support the hiring of a AmeriCorps/VISTA member who joined RLT in February.

RLT will use a $9,000 grant to support the training and outfitting of the joint Rensselaer Land Trust/Rensselaer Plateau Alliance Trail Crew to work on trail construction and maintenance projects on land trust preserves that are open to the public.

Rensselaer Naturalist Series

Explore Our Woods, Waters, and Fields

Become a Rensselaer Naturalist this Year!

A joint program with the Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance

Kate Lovering after work walk

As you wander through the woods have you ever wanted to identify the mysterious bird call from the tree tops? Or the ferns growing in the squishy bog floor?

Download the color brochure or black and white schedule

Learning Goals
At each outing in the series you will learn about a specific aspect of the natural history of Rensselaer County, such as birds, wildflowers, trees, and bogs. There will be a learning goal related to each of the outing’s topic; for example, learn 10 birds, or learn 10 wildflowers, or learn about what makes a bog a bog.

Whether you’re a beginner or already have experience with a given topic, you’ll learn something new from a Rensselaer Naturalist program. Participants will be provided with resources to review before each outing, and a list of resources for further exploration.

Open to All
The series is open to adults and teens. There is an option* of earning a customized Rensselaer Naturalist patch! For participants who complete learning goals for at least eight of the Rensselaer Natural Series programs they will receive a patch.

Online Registration and More Information
To register and learn more follow the "Register Here" links for each program listed below.

Naturalist Learning Resouces Library: Click HERE

*Learning Goals and Optional Credit Requirements: Click HERE

SPRING • SUMMER SCHEDULE