Levels of Support
We greatly appreciate every level of support. Please let us know if you would like to keep your gift anonymous.
President’s Circle: $1,000+
With your gift of $1,000 or more, you will be invited to our Annual President’s Circle event, gain early access to event reservations and be recognized in our newsletter, A Sense of Place.
Preservationist: $500-$999
Protector: $250-$499
Conservationist: $100-$249
Family Membership: $50
Individual Membership: $30
Business Membership: $100
Planned Giving
Orchard Society
By including the Westerly Land Trust in your estate plans, you will become part of the Orchard Society, a group of forward-thinking individuals committed to protecting the natural beauty, environmental health, and urban character of Westerly for future generations.
For those who make a planned gift of $10,000 or more, we will plant a native Rhode Island tree in a Westerly Land Trust preserve garnished with a plaque acknowledging your legacy.
In whatever manner you choose to give, and in whatever amount, we are grateful for your investment in Westerly Land Trust’s future. Your planning today helps ensure the natural beauty and ecological integrity of Westerly tomorrow. Future generations will benefit form your foresight. You will truly give a gift that lasts forever.
Planned Giving Opportunities
Bequests through a will or trust
The most common and simplest way to make a planned gift is through your will or trust. You can provide a specific dollar amount, a percentage, a residual amount, real estate, or tangible property to the Westerly Land Trust. This provision can be made through a new will or trust or added as a codicil or amendment. The following sample language can be used to add a codicil to your will:
I give to the Westerly Land Trust, with its principal business office at P.O. Box 601, Westerly, Rhode Island 02891 (insert written amount of gift, percentage of the estate or residuary of estate, or description of property) for its land conservation work.
A simple codicil as this may be attached to your will at no cost. It need only be signed and dated by you and forwarded to your attorney.
IRA Rollover and Pension Fund Gifts
Often the largest part of one’s estate, these funds are some of the best ways to make a charitable gift because of the ease of initiation, particularly under recent legislation. Donating these assets to the Westerly Land Trust avoids potential double taxation under both income and estate tax provisions. The Westerly Land Trust can be named as a partial or contingent beneficiary of your retirement or pension plan.
Gifts of Life Insurance
Several options are available for making a charitable gift of insurance policies. With a relatively small outlay for premiums, you can make a substantial gift while obtaining tax benefits. The Westerly Land Trust can be named as the sole, partial, or contingent beneficiary of a new or existing policy. Also, a paid up policy can be donated to the Land Trust as the owner and sole beneficiary.
Charitable Gift Annuity
There are many ways to fund a Gift Annuity, but cash or appreciated stock are the most common. When transferring securities to the Westerly Land Trust, you can obtain an immediate charitable income tax deduction and avoid a portion of potential capital gains tax as well. In addition, your income can frequently be increased in the form of a lifetime annuity payment based upon your age.
The Next Step
If you would like assistance planning and directing your gift to the Westerly Land Trust, please contact Jennifer Fusco jfusco@westerlylandtrust.org or 401-315-2610.
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It’s hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of summer. Just last week, we bid farewell to our summer interns: Quincy Rome, Ella Anderson (both thanks to support from Southeastern New England Educational and Charitable Foundation), and Will Wholean.
🍄🐝Quincy is a Rhode Island native who joined WLT as the Conservation Programs intern, supporting our youth education programming. Here’s his main take away from teaching Westerly’s kiddos this summer: “There is no better way to raise an environmentally conscious citizen than to expose them to nature at a young age, and prioritize fun while doing it.” Clearly Quincy gets it! Over his term, it was a pleasure to watch him grow and encourage the students to grow, too. Best of luck at Appalachian State University this fall, Quincy!
🌸🌲Ella worked with @frontierfarmri and @echo_rock_flowers as the Sustainable Farming intern. She brought with her years of experience from the (literal) field—she’s worked on her family’s Christmas tree farm since 2013. Through her internship experience, Ella learned “sustainable practices including responsible land stewardship, no tilling, in ground raised beds, the use of cover crops, watering systems, natural fertilizers, pest prevention, and more.” WLT is proud to play a role in encouraging young people to learn these sustainable methods to support the land long into the future. Wishing you a happy return to UCONN, Ella!
🥾🪚Will returned to WLT for his second summer, this time as the Land Stewardship intern. He tackled projects all over Westerly, including blazing trails at Champlin Farm Preserve, tending to the native plant garden at Barlow Nature Preserve, and constructing bridges at Avondale Farm Preserve. One of his main projects was setting up trail cameras at various properties to monitor the types of local wildlife. Stay tuned for his results, coming soon! Will, we’re cheering you on as you head back to Clark University!
Thank you for all your hard work this summer! 🌳💚
🌿✨ Nature Journaling Series ✨🌿
Join us this fall for a 3-part Nature Journaling series led by educator, naturalist, and artist Jonah Salsich!
📓 Intro to Nature Journaling – FREE!
Saturday, Sept 6 at 9:30 AM at Barlow
All ages welcome
Discover the joy of observing the natural world through words, sketches, and numbers—no artistic experience needed!
🖋️ Workshop 1
Saturday,Sept 20 at 9:30 AM at Wahaneeta Preserve
Ages 18+
$10 WLT members / $25 non-members
Explore deeper connections to nature and yourself through creative journaling.
🍁 Workshop 2
Saturday, Oct 4 at 9:30 AM at Wahaneeta Preserve
Ages 18+
$10 WLT members / $25 non-members
Continue the journey with this relaxed, inspiring group and build your journaling practice.
Bring a notebook, pencils, and your curiosity. Come curious—leave inspired! 🌱
Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to learn more and register for each program!
Farm Squad summer = exploring, creating, growing, and fun in the sun!
Thanks for growing with us! 🌱☀️
#farmsquad #gardening #farming #friends #garden #farm #nature #explore #natureplay #learn #grow
Last year, to focus on permanently protecting the 90-acre Champlin Farm Preserve, we pressed pause on the Farm Dinner. This year, in celebration of this success and all the work we do to connect our community with local agriculture, we are bringing back the Farm Dinner concept—celebrating the bounty of the land by dining together al fresco—with some exciting new twists. 🌳💚
First, this will be a smaller, more intimate experience held at Barlow Nature Preserve, which has been our “home base”, our “hub”, our “headquarters” since we moved here in 2020. For five years, we have gotten to know this beautiful landscape, and helped it grow into a centerpiece of our work, complete with two vibrant working farms, Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers, a farm stand, and the heart of our youth education program.
🧑🍳And, rather than dividing the courses among different chefs, Julian ElFedayni-Connell from @thetinpeddler in Stonington and @barbarycoastct in Mystic will be curating the entire dinner which is sure to please.
So join us for our 2025 Farm Dinner on Saturday, September 13th beginning at 3:30pm — gather with friends and neighbors out on the land and enjoy a fabulous meal entirely prepared with local ingredients.
We look forward to seeing you at the table! 🌸
Follow the link in our bio to reserve your seats today. But hurry, they’re going quick!!
#farmdinner #farmtotable #farmers #farming #community #westerlyri #rhodeisland #conservation #nature
Happy August!! 🌻
We have lots of opportunities to connect with nature and foster community this month!
📚Story Time in the Garden
Join us every Tuesday in August starting at 9 am for stories in the garden followed by a hands on nature experience! Best for ages 5 and under but open to all ages! Story times are offered at NO COST thanks to generous community support!
🚣Thursday Paddles
Join the Thursday Paddlers at various locations through RI and CT. Check out of Hokes, Paddles, and Wellness webpage for the full paddle schedule.
🧘♀️Yin Yoga and Sound Bath Journey
Sunday, August 10, 9-10am
Winnapaug Farm Preserve
Join us for a tranquil journey of mind and body led by Jill Lyndes and Maddy McCann from BarreCoast. WLT members, contact elebling@westerlylandtrust.org for reduced price registration of $10.
🐝From Hive to Jar
Thursday August 21, 5:30-7pm
Barlow Nature Preserve
Join Cail Calder, aka “The Beeman“, of Westerbee Honey for a sweet and informative workshop dedicated to the art of harvesting honey.
🌸 Echo Rock Flowers Date Nights and Workshops
Barlow Nature Preserve
The farm is in full bloom and Echo Rock Flowers has lots to offer in August! Date Nights are on August 8th and 29, and a Floral Design Workshop is on August 29th.
🌱The Barlow Farm Stand, operated by Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers, is open! In addition to produce and flowers from these two farms, look for Ever-Breeze Farm eggs and Westerbee honey.
Farm stand hours are Thursday & Friday, 3-6pm, and (new in 2025) Saturday, 12-4pm.
Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to register and learn more information about each event!
#westerlyri #westerly #stoningtonct #nature #conservation #wildlife #landtrust #explore #yoga #farmstand #fresh #flowers #summer #august
Thanks to everyone who explored with us last weekend during our 4th Annual Mini BioBlitz at Champlin Farm Preserve!! We discovered an abundance of species on this recently protected 90-acre property and are excited to continue to explore it! 🐛🌲
#bioblitz #citizenscience #nature #explore #landtrust #conservation #westerlyri #pollinators #nativespecies
Birds, beaks, binoculars, oh my!
We had so much fun last week teaching three classes at Littlebrook Child Development Center all about birds! Students became birdwatchers with binoculars, explored how beaks match diets, and even built their own nests while learning how birds adapt to their environment! 🐦🪺
#birds #binoculars #beak #preschool #summer #nature #learning #explore #westerlyri #rhodeisland
📚Join us for Storytime in the Garden, a gentle and engaging outdoor program designed for children to connect with nature through books and hands-on fun.
Each session is offered on Tuesdays through the month of August (8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26) and features a read-aloud of a beautifully illustrated, nature-themed story -celebrating wildlife, flowers, pollinators, and the outdoors. After the story, participants are invited to enjoy a simple, hands-on activity inspired by the book. From binoculars to plants and bug vacuums, every week offers a new way to explore, create, and imagine. 🌸🌳
Best for ages 5 and under, but open to all. Parents/caregivers are required to attend and encouraged to participate. Please register in advance to help us best prepare for nature activities. Use the link in our bio to go to our Calendar of Events webpage!
This program is offered at NO COST thanks to generous community support!
Not able to make it? Check out our Little Free Library by our farm stand at Barlow Nature Preserve.
Also, a huge THANK YOU to Susi Brodie @brodie401 for the generous donation of her amazing nature themed children’s book collection! We have no shortage of good stories to read this summer!💚
#storytime #summerreading #reading #garden #childrensbook #family #preschool #summer #free #westerlyri #rhodeisland
