The Little Traverse Conservancy has established a new education endowment and welcomed a new director of education.
The Sowing the Seeds Education Endowment, combined with the Andreae Brown Family Environmental Education Endowment Fund, creates the first fully endowed education program of any land trust in the nation, according to a community announcement.
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This means the conservancy’s outdoor education programs, such as guided hikes, school partnerships and hands-on experiences on the land, will be available to Northern Michigan children and families for generations to come.
The creation of the fully endowed education program was inspired by longtime conservancy supporters Ian and Sally Bund, who encouraged the organization to think big about the future of environmental education.
New director of education brings experience, enthusiasm
Alongside this milestone, the conservancy is welcoming Dylan Klinesteker as the new director of environmental education. Klinesteker brings years of experience in outdoor learning and community engagement, along with what colleagues describe as a contagious enthusiasm for connecting people to the natural world.
Pictured (from left) are Dylan Klinesteker, the new director of environmental education, and Woody Gardner, Little Traverse Conservancy board member.
Under his leadership, and with the Sowing the Seeds Endowment in place, the conservancy’s education programs are expected to expand their reach and impact, offering opportunities for children, families and community members to explore and fall in love with the landscapes of Northern Michigan.
Conservancy celebrates achievement, honors generosity
As the conservancy celebrates this achievement, the organization also honors the generosity of Woody Gardner, the Andreae Brown family and the leadership of Ian and Sally Bund. Together, these gifts ensure that the conservancy’s commitment to nurturing a new generation of conservationists will remain as enduring as the forests, waters and open spaces it protects.
For more information, visit landtrust.org or call 231-347-0991.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Little Traverse Conservancy launches education endowment