By Ashley MacRae, Communications Coordinator
The gift of time is not a gift given lightly, and Kawartha Land Trust is thankful for every hour, minute, and second that has been gifted to KLT for the conservation and care of nature in the Kawarthas throughout the organization’s 25 years.
From Kawartha Land Trust’s (KLT) inception in 2001 to its 25th anniversary in 2026, volunteers have been essential to the charity’s growth.
KLT’s humble beginnings were set in motion by five passionate citizens who volunteered their time to create Kawartha Heritage Conservancy (KHC) and the foundations of what would become Kawartha Land Trust as we know it today.
Over the years, hundreds of volunteers have gifted their time to KLT to protect and care for vital ecosystems across the Kawarthas.
“The growth of our volunteer team over the past 25 years shows how deeply our community cares about protecting the land we love,” shares Opale Fugulin, Volunteer Coordinator.
“It’s inspiring to see that momentum continues to build and to know what we can accomplish together. Volunteers are at the heart of our conservation work and everything we’ve achieved for nature. We couldn’t do it without them!”
From stewardship and governance to research and events and more, KLT volunteers have shown up for nature time and time again and shared their knowledge and skills to forward conservation in the Kawarthas.
Let us look at a few highlights from the past 25 years.
Kawartha Land Trust’s First Volunteers
In 2001, Kawartha Heritage Conservancy’s first volunteers cemented the foundations of what is now KLT, defining its purpose, incorporating the organization, and securing charitable status.
Ian Attridge acted as KHC’s volunteer counsel, worked with partners and land holders, and spoke at events to spread the word. Fellow co-founders and volunteers Barbara Heidenreich (Chair), Phred Collins, Terry Rees, and Mieke Schipper, formed KHC’s very first Board of Directors.
By 2002, these dedicated volunteers had protected the organization’s first property — 100-acre Schipper (Gamiing Nature Centre) CEA.
We thank KLT’s founders and first volunteers for their vision!
Ongoing Restoration at KLT’s Ballyduff Trails
KLT’s tallgrass prairie at Ballyduff Trails nature reserve is one of the rarest and most Endangered ecosystems in North America. Caring for the prairie means bringing a lot of hands and hearts together.
For the past 15 years, KLT volunteers have been deeply involved in the care of the tallgrass prairie. Dedicated volunteers have gifted their time to a number of projects that support this grassland ecosystem, including tallgrass and wildlife seed harvests, growing tallgrass and wildflower plugs and planting them, species inventories, mapping and surveying the prairie to inform stewardship work, seed scattering, and managing invasive species.
We’re deeply thankful to every volunteer who has contributed to the care of the tallgrass prairie, including Ballyduff Trails donors, Ralph McKim and Jean Garsonnin.
Protecting and Caring for KLT’s Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island
2015 was a pivotal year for KLT and our growing community of volunteers. Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island was, and remains, the largest undeveloped island in the Kawarthas thanks to land donors Mike and Terry Wilson and the large number of passionate volunteers who helped to raise awareness of this important project.
Volunteers helped raise the 1-million-dollar land stewardship fund that was needed before KLT could accept the donation of the island. Later on that year, the Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island Management Advisory Team (BIMAT) was formed to deliver on KLT’s conservation promises. This group of over two dozen volunteers assisted in stewardship planning, operations, and outreach and communications related to the island.
Since that time, many volunteers have contributed to the ongoing care of the island. Thank you to all who have helped with clean-ups, monitoring, the docks, community trail maintenance, and so much more.
KLT’s Christie Bentham Wetland and Ston(e)y Lake Family Forest Volunteer Fundraising Efforts
In both 2020 and 2024, groups of KLT volunteers came together to lead community fundraising efforts to protect two ecologically significant properties, resulting in the permanent protection of both properties.
Through the successful conservation of KLT’s Christie Bentham Wetland, est. 2020, and Ston(e)y Lake Family Forest, est. 2024, the respective volunteer fundraising teams ensured the combined protection of over 1,850 feet of natural, undisturbed shoreline and almost 150 acres of nature in Peterborough County.
We remain grateful to everyone who contributed to the lasting protection of KLT’s Christie Bentham Wetland and Ston(e)y Lake Family Forest. You made a lasting difference for nature.
These four examples are just some of the ways that KLT volunteers have made a difference for nature in the Kawarthas in the past 25 years.
“I am continually amazed, particularly as we celebrate our 25th year, at the impact Kawartha Land Trust volunteers have had, and continue to have, on conservation throughout the Kawarthas,” shares Anna Lee, People and Operations Director.
“Many of our volunteers have worked alongside KLT for longer than our current staff team, providing insight, continuity, and a living memory of where we started from. These legacy volunteers inspire our new and passionate volunteers as well as our staff as we continue to work towards our shared vision.”
It’s moving and heartwarming to see such a large community of like-minded people coming together year after year to conserve and care for nature in the Kawarthas.
Thank you to all who have given the gift of time to Kawartha Land Trust to protect the land you love for future generations!
Main photo: 2025 Tallgrass Prairie seed harvest at KLT’s Ballyduff Trails. (KLT)
