When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Wildlands Trust Stewardship Training Center (STC), Plymouth MA
Land trusts exist to protect land for perpetuity—but ensuring that mission endures requires strong leadership, intentional planning, and organizational resilience. This leadership retreat is designed for land trust board members and senior staff to come together and focus on one essential question: how do we ensure that both our organizations and the lands they protect remain secure, effective, and endure for generations to come?
Through a mix of presentations, facilitated discussions with guest speakers, and peer exchange, participants will explore the critical components of organizational permanence, focusing on three interconnected areas:
- Land trust leadership today: In a creative and engaging format, participants will hear from peer leaders about what it means to lead a land trust today. Participants will then reflect on these topics in the context of their own organizations.
Guest presenters: Hal Minis (Brewster Conservation Trust), Karen Grey (Wildlands Trust) and Colin Novick (Greater Worcester Land Trust).
- Strengthening Board-Staff partnership for collective fundraising impact: During this facilitated panel discussion, hear from local land trust staff and board members on building deeper alignment, clarity, and collaboration across leadership roles to strengthen organizational impact and fundraising outcomes. Bring your own questions and success stories.
Guest presenters: Rachel Horgan and Alison Falk (Essex County Greenbelt Association)
- Nurturing Board Governance: During this panel discussion, learn from peer land trusts about their approaches to sustaining board governance. Potential topics include board recruitment and onboarding, committee structure and use, developing board members into officers, and engaging long-time and founding board members. We’ll crowd source scalable strategies, tips, and tricks, so please come prepared to share what’s worked for your land trust!
Guest presenters: Kristin DeBoer (Kestrel Land Trust) and Mark Gerath (Groton Conservation Trust)
Following these three blocks, participants will have a chance to workshop their own challenge through a facilitated peer consulting activity that builds on the content discussed throughout the day.
FAQs
Who should attend this retreat? This retreat has been designed for land trust board members and executive or director level staff. We encourage each organization to bring two or three people, with at least one board member and one staff person (if applicable). This retreat is specifically for land trusts operating in Massachusetts.
What's the cost to attend? Thanks to funding from an anonymous donor, we can offer registration for $50 per person. A second person from your organization can register for $40. This event is capped at 50 people, so this fee holds your spot and includes a light breakfast and lunch. For those traveling significant distances, lodging is available the evening before the retreat. There are a limited number of rooms at the STC available at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. Depending on the level of interest, we may plan for pizza and activities. Lodging options are available on the registration form.
Agenda
9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Welcome and introductions
10:00 am Reflections on leadership today
11:00 am Strengthening Board-Staff partnership for collective impact
Noon Lunch
12:30 pm Walk or personal time
1:00 pm Nurturing board governance
2:00 pm Peer consulting activity
3:00 pm Wrap-up
3:30 pm Adjourn