For many years, you’ve asked us…
“How do we inspire the next generation to love and care for the land like we do?”
We believe we’ve found a plan that works. But in order to succeed we need your help!
For the past several years, Greg, Pam and Autumn have worked to build and expand relationships with local grade schools, scout troops, high school environmental clubs and internship programs. We’ve built a presence on social media apps that younger generations use like Instagram and Snapchat. And we’re seeing results. In only the first 5 months of 2018, we’ve had 10 events that focused on or involved young people from age 5 all the way to the 20-something interns.
Donating now will help us fund the activities that interest kids, teens and millennials.
So what’s been going on?
– Our Earth Day clean up included teens and kids who worked alongside long-time volunteers for hours discussing how their work will help our wildlife, land and waterways.
– One of our local scout troops brought a team of 25 to help clean up our life vests and raised funds to donate new ones to ACLT’s Guided Canoe Program.
– RT West hosted students from Northern High School to help build the frame for a “Gourd Tunnel” on Double Oak Farm.
– Our Land Manager, Autumn Phillips-Lewis and her CCC intern, Taylor Roswall, worked with and quizzed local teens at the annual Calvert County Envirothon.
The future of our natural world is in the hands of the next generation. Like you, ACLT is committed to engaging young people more and more each year.
But we need your help to continue this effort.
Making a donation now will allow us to focus on events and projects that connect nature lovers just like you with the naturalists of the future. Won’t you consider helping ACLT provide these experiences? Donating to the 2018 spring appeal will support ACLT’s general fund and will provide support for the wide variety of ways we are connecting with kids and young people.
By giving to ACLT, you’ll be helping to fund:
– Educational visits from local public and private schools
– Kid friendly events like our “ACLT 2nd Sundays” and Family Day
– Hiking Trail Maintenance and other work days in which teens participate
– Guided hikes and visits for scout groups which we currently offer for free
You’ve told us that engaging the next generation is one of the most important activities ACLT can take on. We’ve listened closely and spent several years patiently laying the ground work. Youth engagement in 2017 gave us reason to hope and, if we can continue on this path with your help, 2018 will be our best year yet!
Every donation, in any amount, will make a difference in our ability to continue to focus on this effort!
Together, we can protect the future of this beautiful and ecologically important region while watching the next generation fall in love with it. Just like we did.
With our most sincere thanks,
Pat Griffin
President, American Chestnut
PS: Please donate. Then come out to an event and see the impact your support makes on the kids who will one day care for this land we all love so much!
