As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
"As long as this exists..." by Anne Frank, excerpt from The Diary of a Young Girl
Dear Friends of CETL,
We are grateful to have the Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning as a source of healing and renewal. So much has happened since the beginning of the year.
On a cold and snowy February day our treasurer, Don Sprangers, made his way to the attorney’s office in Machias, ME to sign the closing documents that launched the Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning. We are so thankful to all of you for your support to make this happen.
In March CETL received our official 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. This paves the way for grants, gifts from Community Foundations and Donor Advised Funds, and other monies available to the nonprofit world. We welcome any grant ideas you come across and are actively looking for volunteers to join our grant writing committee. Please reach out at info@cetlmaine.org for more information or to volunteer.
There is so much to do to ready the facility for programs and rentals and now with the virus, it is difficult to predict what our time frame will be. Meanwhile, the land is preserved from development, and we can breathe a sigh of relief! Bit by bit, we’ve been ticking off the to do list. We’re cleaning and clearing indoors and out, and preparing to paint and stain the buildings.
As of this writing, we are awaiting word from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a prominent costal land trust, that they will be purchasing an easement on our shorefront for preservation into perpetuity. This will be an important step in achieving our mission for this land. It will also add funds for our building renovation work.
It has been so gratifying to hear from folks, both local and from far away, who remember fondly how their experiences by the bay shaped them. We were thrilled to receive this email in July: “Many years ago, as a teenager, I attended a marine science camp held at the (then) field station—twice—and it was a life changing experience in my understanding of nature, and my place in it. My family is visiting Lubec next week, and I am wondering if it would be possible to bring my 5-year-old daughter and walk around the outside of the center and show her the bay and where I went to camp. We are working on her outdoors and nature skills, and she is very interested in ecology and ecological stewardship (we call it being a good “outdoors person” and “taking care of nature”). It would mean a lot to me if I could show her around, and I think it may inspire her to continue her interest and respect for nature.” -Justin Daras
This is exactly why we formed our organization and purchased the field station, to preserve the land as a learning place for future generations. It is exciting to think about the possibilities for inviting old friends back and making new connections. We don’t know when that will be, but we’ll keep you posted.
With gratitude,
The Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning