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 we protect remain secure, effective, and enduring 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 pressing challenges, innovative strategies, and emerging opportunities. There will also be time on the agenda to brainstorm solutions to a set of challenges and pain points elevated by you and your land trust peers day-of.
- Strengthening Board-Staff partnership for collective fundraising impact: During this portion of the agenda, we will focus on building deeper alignment, clarity, and collaboration across leadership roles to strengthen organizational impact and fundraising outcomes. You will explore how shared ownership of the mission—especially around donor engagement and stewardship—can enhance both effectiveness and sustainability.
- Succession planning for staff and Board leadership: Participants will learn and share strategies to prepare for orderly leadership transition. The retreat will provide tools for building leadership pipelines, clarifying roles, and creating succession plans that maintain momentum during times of change.
By the end of the retreat, board and staff participants will gain a renewed sense of purpose and shared responsibility in ensuring that the lands they have worked so hard to protect remain protected—forever.
When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Wildlands Trust Stewardship Training Center (STC), Plymouth MA
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. More about lodging options coming with the registration form.
Draft Agenda
9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Welcome and introductions
10:00 am Reflections on leadership today
Guest speakers share PechaKucha presentations about pressing challenges, innovative strategies, and emerging opportunities
11:00 am Strengthening Board-Staff partnership for collective impact
Here we will focus on building deeper alignment, clarity, and collaboration across leadership roles to strengthen fundraising outcomes
Noon Lunch
12:30 pm Walk or personal time
1:00 pm Succession Planning for Land Trusts: a panel discussion and activity
2:00 pm Discussing Undiscussables
3:00 pm Wrap-up
3:30 pm Adjourn