Volunteers are the Heart of BTLT

We asked our staff to describe our volunteers in three words. Here’s what they shared: Passionate, dedicated, joyful. Really great folks! Generous, hard-working, capable. Enthusiastic, committed, mirthful. A true gift.

At Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, we say it often because it’s true: we could not do this work without our volunteers. They are our hands in the soil, our trail builders, our greeters, our envelope stuffers, and our spreadsheet pros. They give their time, ideas, and energy – and make BTLT stronger, more connected, and more joyful.

As one staff member put it, “Volunteers are the fabric of this organization.” They bring their lived experiences, their relationships, and their passions into our work, ensuring that “the community voice runs through all aspects of what we do.”

Whether it’s tending a garden plot, fixing a screen door at the Ecology Center, or helping a visitor fall in love with a preserve, volunteers show up again and again. “They go the extra mile and add extra finishing touches to a project that we had thought was completed. They care so much, and it shows.”

Volunteers don’t just help us do our work; they guide it. And their knowledge and skills are invaluable – from farming and plant ID to grant research, business management, science mentorship, and even Excel magic. One staff member shared, “The BTLT volunteers I get to work with are some of the smartest people I’ve ever met!”

They’ve taught us how to split perennials, how to set up rain barrel systems, how to grow vegetables, and how to slow down and really listen to the needs of the community. “I have grown so much in my role from working with volunteers,” another staff member said. “I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to learn so much.”

We rely on volunteers not just for hands-on help, but for their insight, enthusiasm, and heart. They are storytellers, connectors, and champions of this land and community. Not only do they significantly increase our physical and mental capacity to carry out our mission, but they often “give staff a boost of enthusiasm and joyful energy in carrying out our work.”

So, this Volunteer Appreciation Week, we want to say thank you.

Thank you for showing up.

Thank you for sharing your gifts.

Thank you for making this work possible and so meaningful.

We are endlessly grateful. We are better because of you.