Caledonia Conservancy History and Accomplishments

2010
Created School to Nature committee
Guided Organizational Assessment for CC Board of Directors in June, led by Gathering Waters Conservancy & Land Trust Alliance in preparation for 2011 application for accreditation to Land Trust Alliance
Strategic Planning Meeting (Five Year Plan) attended by Board & Committee Chairs in September
Created new CC brochure
Began active Cross Country ski group on Conservancy trails groomed with donated tracker

2009
Received a Knowles-Nelson stewardship grant to purchase 23.89 acres of the Capes Section of Tabor Woods
Completed conservation easement of Wendy and Larry McCalvy property (26 acres)
Completed Greater Racine Kennel Club trail easement which connects the trails north of 6 Mile Rd. to the trails south of 6 Mile Rd
Working with Racine County and the Village of Caledonia who have approved a plan to donate 14.87 acres of woods and wetlands between North Meadows and September Drive in Caledonia to the Caledonia Conservancy
Annual Mid Winter Donor Party held in February
Annual Kentucky Derby party held in May
Annual Poker Ride held in June
Annual Fall Landowners and Supporters picnic held in September
Students from Racine Unified School District visited Caledonia Conservancy land for educational and community service purposes
Sent three newsletters to supporters of Caledonia Conservancy One Board Member attended the Land Trust Alliance National Rally in Portland, Oregon
Monthly trail cleanings performed by volunteers from April through November, supervised by the stewardship committee
Mapped walking and horse trails in Tabor Woods and placed two large signs to show hikers where they are in relationship to the area
Two highway cleanups completed in 2009 [ Clean up on 6 Mile Rd starting at highway 31 and going west to Hwy 38].  

2008

The parking lot at the Trout Ponds/Prairie completed. 
New walking trails cut in King’s Corner and signage put up. 
Dedication held at McCalvy Tabor Woods and King’s Corner. 
Held 2nd annual Kentucky Derby Party, 7th annual Poker Ride, 13th annual landowner’s picnic and 1st annual Halloween Chili Trail Ride, and the mid-winter party for large donors, committee and board members. 
Held six scheduled trail cleanings with several unscheduled cleanings. 
Fundraising: Trail saddle tag letters for Stewardship Fund. Two yearly fundraising letters, Horses and Trails of Caledonia Calendar. 
Newsletter and press releases. 
Finished Emergency Response Plan. 
Three Board members attended the Land Trust Alliance National Rally in Pittsburg, PA 
Received a Knowles Nelson Department of Natural Resources Grant for $171,550 to help purchase Phase III Cape Tabor Woods project. 
Formed and accreditation committee for LTA certification program.
Two Board members attended a Wingspread Conference with the Lake Michigan Shoreland AllianceLandtrust.

2007
· Received donation of 32.5 acres at the southwest corner of 5 Mile Road and Highway 31 from Toni Ehrlich and the Ehrlich family.
· Finished trailer parking easement and graveled area in Gordon Memorial Tabor Woods.
· Finished car parking area in McCalvy Tabor Woods.
· Put in 450 foot of rail fence, signage and trails in McCalvy Tabor Woods.
· Held Kentucky Derby Party, Poker Ride at Decision Farm, neighborhood picnic, trail cleaning days.
· Fundraising: Trail saddle tag letters for Stewardship fund. Two yearly fundraising letters, Horses and Trails of Caledonia Calendar.
· Newsletter and press releases
· Participated in Caledonia Garden Tour.
. Developed an emergency response plan to mark trails so medical personnel can easily find someone in case of emergency.
. Four members attended the Land Trust Alliance rally in Denver, CO
. Three members attended the Midwest Land Trust Alliance in Mundelein, IL

2006
· Protected 13.8 more acres in the Tabor Woods Natural Area and celebrated with a public dedication
· Ceremony for the Gordon Memorial and Wendy McCalvy Tabor Woods.
· Bought 1.75 acres from the Duda family to connect the Right of Way trail and Tabor Woods.
· Received a grant from the Wisconsin State Horse Council for trail work in Tabor Woods.
· Adopted new National Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.
· Eric Schumann, founder, sponsored tour of Jim Siepmann’s conservation subdivisions.
· Held Poker Ride at Decision Farm
. Picnic thanking landowners and silent auction fundraising.

2005
· Adopted Wisconsin Land Trust Statement of Principles Resolution.
· Adopted Database/Mail List policy and code of ethics and standards of service for Board of Directors.
· Completed stewardship plans for all properties and funded the Stewardship Endowment.
· Board members and volunteers attended National Land Trust Alliance Rally in Madison, WI.
· Joined the Lake Michigan Shoreland Alliance.
· Hired consultants to conduct Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threat Survey.
· Two Board Members and volunteers regularly attend Village Board and Plan Commission meetings.
· Held Poker Ride at Neubauer Farm.
· Picnic thanking landowners and silent auction fundraising.

2004
· Received land donations at a critical trail crossing from Halberstsadt and Estes families. Co-recipient 2004 Sustainable Racine Recognition Award in the Neighborhood Category.
· Board members active in C3 and C5 Neighborhood Planning; environmental linkage policy incorporated in Town Plans as a goals to be implemented by the Conservancy.
· Received $10,000 grant from the Forest County Potawatomi Nation for Tabor Woods.
· Town recognizes Conservancy for providing public open space at no cost to tax payers.
· Sponsored seminar with easement expert Jane Hamilton.
· Board member attended LTA conference in Austin, Texas
· Burned approximately six acres at Trout Ponds.
· Held plant sale and bingo fundraiser.
· Held Poker Ride at Neubauer Farm.
· Picnic thanking landowners and silent auction fundraising.

2003
· Permanently protected 11.5 acres of old-growth woods in the Tabor Woods Natural Area.
· Commissioned stewardship plans for Tabor Woods and the Trout Ponds Prairie.
· Three Board members served on C3 and C5 Neighborhood Planning committees.
· Co-sponsored workshop with conservation subdivision expert, Randall Arendt.
· Hosted first public walk of Tabor Woods.
· Received $6,000 grant from Root-Pike WIN for development of trails on Tabor Woods.
· Hosted “Love Letters” dinner and show fundraising event.
· Held Poker Ride at Neubauer Farm
· Picnic thanking landowners and silent auction fundraising.

2002
· Awarded $162.500 through Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Urban Green Space Program.
· Received $50,000 grant from SC Johnson Fund for Tabor Woods Project.
· Awarded $10,000 grant from We Energies for Tabor Woods project.
· Received $5,000 from Racine Community Foundation to aid with Tabor Woods acquisition.
· Awarded Root Pike Watershed Initiative Network grant for educational project.
· Supported Planning for Watershed Development conference.
· Board member attended Rural Neighborhood Planning committee.
· Held Poker Ride at Decision Farm
· Picnic thanking landowners and silent auction fundraising.

2001
· Received 16 ½-acres on the Right-of-Way between Five and Six Mile roads from Toni Ehrlich.
· Partnered with Root River Wild Ones on spring prairie burn at the Trout Ponds-Prairie.
· Received grant from Weatherfriend Land Fund for “Saving Your Trails” workshop.
· Received grant from the Besadny Conservation Fund for plant identification at Trout Ponds.
· Held Barn and Garden tour of area properties.
· Received funding from Land Trust Alliance for Fundraising conference in Grayslake, IL.
· Began participating in Racine County Adopt-a-Highway Program.
· Board members attended conference on farmland trusts and membership development.
· Established trail maintenance fund.
· Board members attend National Land Trust Alliance conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
· Board member, who monitored Town meetings, elected to Town Board.
· Began Poker Ride fundraising event at Decision Farm.
. Picnic thanking landowners and silent auction.

2000
· Purchased Right-of-Way to ½ mile south of County Line Road.
· Bargain purchase of ½ acre west of Foley Road and south of Seven Mile Road.
· Received a Recognition Award from Sustainable Racine for success in land preservation.
· Dedicated sections of green space Trail to Eric and Jane Schumann; Bob and Sheron Rohner.
· Received grant from Environmental Support Center for membership development workshop.
· Received funding from LTA and Environmental Support Center for attendance at National Land Trust Alliance Conference in Portland, Oregon.
· Members attended Town Board and Town and County Planning Commission meetings.
· Supported Sustainable Racine conservation subdivision conference with Randall Arendt.
· Partnered with Keep Caledonia Rural resident group to protect land in Tabor Woods.
· Picnic thanking landowners held.

1999
· Purchased Aboagye property in flood plain along the Root River adjacent to the Trout Ponds.
· Bought 7 Mile Tracks property.
· Three Board Members attended Gathering Water’s conference in Madison, WI.
· President attended National Land Trust Rally.
· Right-of-way graded and blockade for hunting season.
· Hired consultant to assist with communication and administration.
· Worked with Keep Caledonia Rural to stop rezoning of Tabor Woods for high –density subdivision.
· Picnic thanking landowners held.

1998
· Dedicated the Trout Ponds-Prairie to founding board member, Ralph Neubauer.
· Seeded prairie plants and grasses on seven acres of former farm land at the Trout Ponds.
· A logo was created and donated by James Tobias-Becker.
· Board members and supporters attended the National Land Trust Rally in Madison, WI.
· Income, including donations, the silent auction, and T-shirt sales amounted to $67,745.
· Picnic thanking landowners held.

1997
· Purchased 23 acres of floodplain located adjacent to the Trout Ponds along the Root River.
· Joined the National Land Trust Alliance.
· Changed name to Caledonia Conservancy, Ltd.
· Published first newsletter The Willow Times
· Income from donations and the silent auction amounted to $73,580
· Sponsored Jim Siepmann’s conservation subdivision presentation.
· Worked with Town to achieve tax exempt status for Trout Ponds Prairie.
· Picnic thanking landowners held.

1996
· Held a public meeting with Peter McKeever, Director of Wisconsin Nature Conservancy.
· Erected dedication stone to King Ehrlich, founder of the local trail system.
· The Conservancy’s 501[c] (3) tax status was approved by the IRS.
· Picnic thanking landowners held.

1995
· The Conservancy purchased 4.5 acres of floodplain known as the Trout Ponds.
· In April, the Caledonia Trails Conservation League Ltd. was incorporated.
· Picnic thanking landowners held

1994
· The Caledonia Trails Conservation League, Ltd. was formed to preserve open space and trails for horseback riding.
· Picnic thanking landowners held.