We’re glad you asked.
Many of you may be wondering, “Why does Gathering Waters organize Wisconsin Land Trust Days?”
That’s a great question deserving of an answer.
Wisconsin Land Trust Days is a way Gathering Waters can fulfill its mission to strengthen and support the state’s land trust organizations.
Through this promotion, we strengthen land trusts by increasing the public’s awareness of protected lands and encouraging informal grassroot relationships through the statewide promotion of multiple events hosted by our member land trusts.
Anecdotes from 2019 Land Trust Days events prove the need and the effectiveness of the program.
Wisconsin Land Trust Days increases public awareness of land trusts and the work they do.
Land trust hosted events give people the chance to meet the leaders and volunteers of land trust organizations and learn about the land they protect and manage. Many times, the location of the hosted event is open to for public enjoyment and exploration.
At the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust’s ARTservancy event, Charlie Carlin heard a guest say, “You mean they have [land trusts] all over the state?”
Many land trusts work quietly behind the scenes protecting and restoring some amazing, iconic, and environmentally significant places. Our goal through Wisconsin Land Trust Days is to help people understand what a land trust does and how they benefit local neighborhoods and communities.
This year, Gathering Waters mailed the calendar of events to more than 12,000 households.
Wisconsin Land Trust Days gives land trusts the opportunity develop relationships with candidates, elected officials, and people who serve in local governments.
We know the renewal and reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program will be on the agenda for the 2021 budget. Inviting candidates and elected officials to a fun, informal, or educational events can build positive relationships between your organization and your policymakers.
This year, River Revitalization Foundation hosted the Full Moon Happy Hour with the rising of the Sturgeon Moon. When we customized their materials, they asked if we could include the “Walk 100 With the Mayor” logo, since Milwaukee’s Mayor was joining the group before the Full Moon Happy Hour.
We dual-branded the flyers and made sure the “Walk 100 with Mayor” event also received publicity. Mike Carlson and Mindy Petersen attended the event and connected with the mayor on a personal level.
>River Revitalization Foundation was not the only organization that took advantage of this outreach opportunity. During Caledonia Conservancy’s 25th Anniversary Picnic, the land trust’s leaders received a plaque from their state representative, creating a photo opp for the representative and land trust leaders.
We believe building positive relationships with elected officials in your community will make them more likely to support the work of land trusts with their votes when the time comes.
Wisconsin Land Trust Days allows land trusts to take part in statewide promotional campaigns at little or no charge.
Marketing and graphic design are expensive! By creating a statewide brand to represent Wisconsin Land Trust Days, Gathering Waters helps our land trust members, whether large or small, take advantage of the marketing and promotion.
The materials available to all of our members. All volunteer organizations may request all the printed materials while land trusts with an established brand and more staff capacity may elect to add the Wisconsin Land Trust Days logo to their existing marketing pieces. In the past two years, all land trusts received a “kit” of materials to share with their guests; the kit included Wisconsin Nature Guides.
We’re also working on a comprehensive Wisconsin Land Trust Days Toolkit that includes all the information land trusts need to publicize an event. You’ll have access to graphic and font information, timelines, publicity templates, and social media posts and schedules.
People are recognizing the Wisconsin Land Trust Days branding at events across the state.
One couple traveled from Milwaukee to Minocqua to attend Northwoods Land Trust’s paddling event after picking up a Wisconsin Land Trust Days calendar at Tall Pines Conservancy’s Ride to the Barns event.
Another family traveled from Washington Island to Hike the Hills with the Baraboo Range Preservation Association in September.
We even heard a supporter voluntarily call into The Larry Meiller show to promote Land Trust Days live on Wisconsin Public Radio!
Look for the promotion of events in 2020 as Discover Wisconsin airs an episode featuring Wisconsin Land Trust Days and promotes the initiative on social media.
So, there you have it! That’s why we embarked on the Wisconsin Land Trust Days promotional campaign.
Together, we can be a strong voice for land conservation as we help people have fun outside.
