Happy Trails at ACLT Photo Contest!

Looking for a fun activity to do for the long weekend? Enter the ACLT Happy Trails Photo Contest! From the amateur to the professional this contest is open to everyone. The top three photos will be featured on the ACLT website, Instagram and Facebook page! Think you have what it takes to win?

Just follow these simple steps:

1.) Hit the trials! Take a winning photo while out on the ACLT trails. Get creative!

2.) Post your photo to Instagram adding the American Chestnut Land Trust location, and tag it using the #ACLTtrailphotocontest  Be sure to tell us what trail you were on.

3.) Post your photo anytime from now until Midnight Tuesday the 28^th. The three winners will be announced on Wednesday the 29^th.

Since we can’t wait to share your amazing photo, be sure that you are comfortable with everything in the photo being featured (children, pets, etc.) This contest is not sponsored by Instagram in any way.

Good Luck & Happy Trails!

Need some inspiration? Follow our official ACLT Instagram page @hikeaclt or view it here.

We have implemented a new policy here at the ACLT to eliminate some of the negative impacts on the land and the experiences of other hikers. If you “pack in” please remember to “pack out”.

What is “Pack in, Pack out”?

It is a policy implemented by many parks, at the local, state, and even national levels. Its goal is to preserve the land for all to enjoy. It is a very effective practice simply meaning that when we go out on the trails we take our litter with us.

Why has ACLT implemented this policy?

We are thrilled to see more hikers over the years, and are excited to share the natural beauty with more people. But that also comes with a larger impact on the environment. This new practice doesn’t stop at protecting the environment, the community benefits from it too.

What are the benefits to this policy?

We are all aware of how trash can harm the environment, but many people do not realize how “natural” items such as fruit peels and dog waste impact it too. Neither of these are actually natural to the environment of ACLT and they can take a long time to decompose. Apple cores take 8 weeks to break down, and orange and banana peels can take up to 2 years! Besides, we would much rather have these items as compost for our produce at the Double Oak Farm. Dog waste can also contain bacteria/parasites that persist in the soil or water for years, harming the local wildlife. Removing these items when we leave helps prevent these problems.

“Packing out” helps protect the environment and the experiences for our community. Keeping the trails clean helps preserve the natural beauty that hikers come here to experience. Not having to clean up trash gives others more time to enjoy nature in its purest form. “Pack in, Pack Out” also lets our staff and volunteers redirect their focus and resources away from maintenance, and invest them into new conservation projects and fun events.

We are delighted to see more people out on the trails and enjoying the land that we love! We hope that you will join us in preserving the land for even more people to enjoy.

If you pack in, please remember to pack out, all of us here at ACLT and your fellow hikers thank you!

Spring is here at the ACLT!

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. Are you looking for a fun spring activity to get some sun and enjoy nature at its finest? Well, look no further! Birdwatching is a great way to get some fresh air, exercise, witness the beauty of nature and maybe even learn a little more about the world around you.

You don’t have to be a master birder and travel to exotic places to get breathtaking views, here at the ACLT we have over 150 different species of birds so there are plenty to discover! With a unique combination of woodlands and fields, Parker’s Creek, and the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, the ACLT is home to a large variety of bird species. From large birds of prey such as the majestic Bald Eagle, the Red-Shouldered Hawk, and the Barred Owl; to iconic symbols of the Chesapeake Bay like the Osprey and Great Blue Heron; to the colorful Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker; and many others, there are plenty of interesting and colorful creatures that are sure to catch your eye.

The ACLT doesn’t just provide visitors with the chance to make some new feathered friends, it is also designated as a Maryland Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society for protecting and preserving special habitats of at-risk species of birds, those who are seeing a decline in both their habitats and numbers. This provides birdwatchers with the opportunity to see rare and threatened species of birds, such as the at-risk Kentucky Warbler and Wood Thrush. Two other IBA target species, the Louisiana Waterthrush and the Worm-eating Warbler, can be spotted in the woodlands of the ACLT. 

Not sure where to begin your adventure? Check out our Birds of ACLT Database where you can search for a particular bird, or see what you could discover on your trip based off of their habitat. Each profile features the bird species, where they can be spotted, pictures, and fun facts about them.

 So grab your binoculars, a free printable ACLT Bird Checklist, along with your sense of adventure and see all there is to discover!

Want to learn more about the birds you find, or discover all of the best viewing points on the trails? Join as us on one of our Guided Hikes or Canoe Trips  where our Master Naturalists will give you the inside scoop. Or, for the hardcore birders and true nature lovers, become a Master Naturalist through our Master Naturalist Classes!

For more information on birdwatching visit:

https://www.acltweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/summer_birds_Updated.pdf

http://md.audubon.org/sites/g/files/amh621/f/parkers_creek_iba-july_2016.pdf

https://www.acltweb.org/index.php/the-land/watershed-ecology/birds-of-aclt/

http://somdaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SorzanoBrochure2010.pdf

It is spring! (Finally!!!) Time to hit the ACLT trails to enjoy the spring flowers. Last Sunday was a beautiful day – crisp and sunny.  The trails were awash with a scintillating display of early spring wildflowers – especially the Horse Swamp trail.

Nothing out of the ordinary but how invigorating to be out in a restful setting with the freshness of a new year. The liriodendrons were turning green, the maple trees with their red buds were clearly discernable, and the frogs were singing. Beautiful.