Upper Saco Valley Land Trust

There are moments in my work when I think, “How are we going to make this happen?” Other times it’s simply, “Take a breath. We can do this.”

I suspect most of us have moments like that, even if we don’t always say it out loud. Moments of doubt are part of being human. In conservation, those moments come up more often than you might expect. 

Last year, we conserved four remarkable properties, including the 626-acre Chain of Ponds Community Forest. Each project came with its own hurdles. An unexpected deadline. A concerned neighbor. A missing form. More than once, I caught myself thinking, “Oh nuts, what can go wrong now?” 

And then, I go for a walk.

Sometimes I head to Redstone or Pequawket in Conway and Albany. Other times I find my way to Chain of Ponds, Albany Town Forest, Fryeburg Town Forest, or Dundee. Out there, in the open fields, forests, and streams, the places where wildlife moves through the seasons, something begins to shift.

These places remind me that this work is bigger than any hurdle. They are lands where people spend time together, where stories are made, memories built, and where we can step away from the noise of daily life. They are places that ground us. We all need that.

Walking these lands reminds me that while the challenges are temporary, what we protect together lasts.

This summer, you can help create more trails like these. Trail projects are underway at Chain of Ponds Community Forest, Dundee Community Forest, Eaton Hills, and other conservation areas.

You'll help creates places to rest, explore, and connect with nature, so that today's kids can fall in love with the land, just like you have. Places where families can enjoy paddling, bird watching, and picnics.

It’s a privilege to do this work alongside a staff, board, and community that care so deeply about this place. I’m grateful for the chance to protect it with you, piece by piece.

If you find yourself slipping into doubt or feeling the weight of the world, I hope you’ll take a walk and let the Valley do what it does so well.

With gratitude,

Eric White, Executive Director