Property

Property

The Property Committee and stewards dedicated many hours of dedication and physical labor to ensure that the land and facilities at Camp Little Notch are safe and in good condition. This committee remains very busy year-round, opening camp at Spring Stewardship Weekend, caring for the property throughout the season, closing camp at Fall Stewardship Weekend, and conducting monthly winter walk-throughs. There were over 70 volunteers at the 2018 Spring Steward Weekend! Without our stewards we could not keep camp running.

Maintaining 443 acres of Camp Little Notch property requires a significant investment of time and resources. We are becoming more aware of the need for some major enhancements to the property, particularly in the kitchen and dining hall. It is important to recognize that the cost and energy involved in managing the property will continue to be a significant portion of our budget. A strategic plan for major improvements will require planning for a capital campaign that includes grant funding as well as private donations.

Some highlights of 2018 were the creation of a map of the depth of Lakes Pond for the Mile Swim route, major repairs on the floating bridge, repair of plumbing fixtures in the Health Center, installation of a solar light in the Wolery, repair of the IMAG floor that had rotted due to bad drainage, and repair of the drainage that caused the problem! A special project for 2018 was to create silt barriers in Tall Timbers to keep further erosion from filling the lake with silt.

Forestry Management Plan

As we reported last year, in 2016, members of the Property Committee engaged in discussions with Meadowsend Timberlands Limited (MTL) regarding creation of a sustainable forestry management plan. A family owned forestry company, MTL purchased from Open Space Institute nearly 2,000 acres of the original property that made up Camp Little Notch. The Board voted to hire MTL to create a comprehensive forestry management plan. The 83-page plan was delivered to us in July 2018. The Board voted to approve the plan, with implementation to begin in the summer of 2019.

Implementation of the plan will bring needed revenue to the organization (estimated $5,000-$10,000 annually, as well as other benefits. We have approximately 312 acres of land that can be logged, with high value timber at the south end of the property. The logging will be sustainable, selective harvesting, which is consistent with our mission and our conservation easement. The plan offers options for opening up spaces for additional wilderness activities, such as remote camping sites and bird watching. Lastly, sustainable forest management keeps the property healthy. The Forestry Plan also included an inventory of invasive species which is helpful for future planning related to property management.