Conserving Land • Protecting Resources
Since 1987
 

As of January 1, 2024, the Rensselaer Land Trust has merged with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance. For all questions regarding donations, events, land, or other matters, please visit www.rensselaerplateau.org or call 518-712-9211. For questions about the merger, use extension 101 to speak with Jim Bonesteel. You can expect a new name and logo for our merged organization by Spring / Summer 2024 and a new website by the end of the year!

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COVID-19 Response

 

Dear Friends and Supporters of Rensselaer Land Trust,

We are sending our best wishes for health and safety to you during these difficult and unprecedented times. As we continue to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis, we’d like to share an update on how your land trust is responding.

As you know, Rensselaer Land Trust is dedicated to connecting people to nature and providing access to outdoor places. We do this by hosting hikes and educational outings and inviting visitors to our preserves to safely enjoy the natural world.

In order to be true to that mission, and to protect you, we are canceling the following events:

  • Amphibian Walk at Poestenkill Community Forest led by Jeff Briggs and co-sponsored with Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, originally scheduled for April 11
  • 13th Annual Tomhannock Reservoir Shoreline Clean-Up, originally scheduled for April 18
  • Bird Walk led by Jim de Waal Malefyt, and co-sponsored with Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, originally scheduled for May 2
  • Conservation Partnership Reception at Sand Lake Center for the Arts, originally scheduled for May 7. We hope to reschedule this event to sometime in the summer – as the COVID-19 situation allows. We’ll be in touch with further details in the next few months.


We will be cancelling the rest of our spring outings schedule as well. As for our summer outings, we will monitor news on COVID-19 from the CDC and WHO and follow the guidance on public gatherings from federal, state, and local government leaders. We will inform you of our plans in future E-communcations and on our Facebook page and website www.renstrust.org.


As for the annual meeting on November 15, 2020 we intend to move ahead with planning. We’ll contact you with more information about this event in the early autumn.

In the meantime, our nature preserves are OPEN 7 days per week, dawn to dusk, for your enjoyment. Now more than ever we are seeing the value of having open spaces available in our communities. The healing properties from being outdoors and connecting with nature, breathing fresh air, and soaking up vitamin D as the days lengthen can only help us during these uncertain times. Let's take time out to enjoy the outdoors in our beautiful area – while following social distancing guidance by staying at least 6 feet from other people on the trail.

Click HERE for a list of Rensselaer Land Trust's open preserves.

For those of you unable or uncertain about going hiking right now we intend to provide you with news on the natural world here in Rensselaer County and further afield in this space and through our Facebook page and website.

Also, RLT staff is currently working from home and practicing social distancing. We hope you are doing the same, if possible. We are available via phone at 518-659-5263. We’d enjoy hearing from you.

Finally, our thoughts extend to the millions of caregivers around the world who are putting themselves at risk to serve others in need. Closer to home, there are many people in Rensselaer County who live on limited means and are facing very tough times. Moments like this present all of us with the opportunity to help others. We at RLT will turn our attention to reflecting on how we can serve, and we know many others are doing the same.

With appreciation for all you do and will be doing during this challenging time,


John Winter, Executive Director

Bob Crowley, President