Local land trust invites the community to explore its public access preserves this summer

Capitol Land Trust (CLT) is offering free guided walks for the public at its Bayshore Preserve near Shelton and its not-yet-officially-open Inspiring Kids Preserve in Olympia.

While CLT operates several public access nature preserves in Thurston and Mason counties, the exceptional diversity of natural features and habitats found at these two properties has earned them designation as “ambassador preserves.” With summer in full swing, now is the perfect chance to explore these special places.

For nearly 40 years, CLT has been conserving important local lands and waters that sustain our region. To date, the organization has protected more than 6,700 acres and nearly 20 miles of marine shoreline across the South Puget Sound and Chehalis Basin watersheds. Now, building on more than a decade of experience managing public access preserves, CLT’s vision is to expand access to nature while protecting the habitats these lands were conserved to support.

“Inspiring Kids Preserve and Bayshore Preserve offer unique ways to engage a broad range of people in our community,” says CLT Executive Director Dave Winter. “Given their rich diversity of habitats and proximity to local communities, these two preserves are perfect places to explore, learn, and connect to the benefits of nature.”

Conservation the community can experience

CLT believes the foundation for local land conservation and lasting stewardship is built through the meaningful relationships people develop with nature and each other. 

Helping more people understand, value, and care for the land fosters increased interest in long-term protection of our area’s vital landscapes.

Visitors to these places will notice they aren’t like typical city parks and they’re not like national parks, either. They occupy a space in between. As nature preserves, they deliver a sense of wilderness and yet, their proximity to urban centers makes them easily accessible.

“We’re creating opportunities for people to experience the land in ways that inspire lasting care and a long-term commitment to conservation,” says CLT Development Director Alison Beglin. “Especially for young people who will shape the future of this work.”

Summer events provide the perfect opportunity for exploration

CLT’s ongoing monthly series, Second Saturdays at Bayshore, offers a loosely structured program based on themes like nature photography, marine ecosystems, and cultural history. As the name suggests, it takes place at Bayshore Preserve near Shelton on the second Saturday of each month now through November. These free and casually paced events are open to people of all abilities and ages.

Throughout July, CLT’s other outdoor series of Guided Preserve Walks offers an inside look at their long-term plans for both Bayshore Preserve and the future Inspiring Kids Preserve. Each walk is a chance to slow down and experience what the land has been waiting to reveal — whether that’s the gurgle of Johns Creek flowing into Oakland Bay or the hush of Inspiring Kids Preserve’s mature forest.

CLT encourages all members of our community to sign up for these free events.  For information about all CLT’s Guided Walks and other events, click here.

To learn more about Capitol Land Trust’s work or to sign up for their e-newsletter, The Heron, visit www.CapitolLandTrust.org 

Two-minute preview video

Watch CLT’s What Do You See? video to get a peek at our ambassador preserves:

To donate or learn more about the Connecting to the Land Campaign, click here.  CLT also regularly post updates to its Facebook and Instagram pages.