Calling her 2009 debut Bloom proved prophetic, as the multi-talented performer blossomed into a powerful and charismatic presence at radio and on the contemporary jazz festival circuit. Along the way, Cindy performed everywhere from the River Raisin’ Jazz Festival in Monroe, Michigan to the Dubai Jazz Fest. She won Best New Artist at the American Smooth Jazz Awards and was named Debut Artist of the Year by the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival and Smooth Jazz News.

For details and online ticket sales, please click HERE.

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Space is limited and events are free unless noted. Programs may be cancelled or rescheduled due to rain. Reservations are required (except for Sauta Cave gray bat program) and must be made by calling 256.534.5263.

* * * *
“Go Fish” at Harvest Square Preserve
June 4, 5:30-7:30 pm
Make your own homemade fishing pole and come catch some fish!
Capacity: 25 children (ages 6 to 12) with accompanying adult.
Call the Land Trust at 256.534.5263 for reservations. Long pants, bug spray, flashlight, and sturdy shoes recommended.

Writing with Heather at Monte Sano Nature Preserve
June 11, 10:30-11:30 am
Author Heather Montgomery will share her work and will lead us to explore the natural world. Bring your creative and observant minds. We’ll provide the pencils, clipboards, and inspiration.
Capacity: 15 children (ages 8 to 10) with accompanying adult.
Call the Land Trust at 256.534.5263 for reservations. Long pants and sturdy shoes recommended.

“Herp” Hike on Wildflower Trail
June 18, 11:00-12:30 pm
Herpetologist Andrew Cantrell is our guide as we turn over rocks and walk near creeks in search of reptiles and amphibians. Frogs, toads, and lizards might await you!
Capacity: 25 children (ages 8 to 10) with accompanying adult.
Reservations at 256.534.5263 Long pants, bug spray, and closed toe shoes required.

~BIRDS at the Square~
June 25, 6:30-8:00 pm
Harvest Square, that is. Come out for a fun evening as we learn about birds and what makes them so important via interactive activities and games.
Capacity: 25 children (ages 4 to 9) with accompanying adult.
Call the Land Trust at 256.534.5263 for reservations. Long pants, bug spray, flashlight, and sturdy shoes recommended.

View North Alabama’s Endangered Gray Bats!
July 2, 7:00 pm, Sauta Cave near Scottsboro
No reservations required.
Keith Hudson, Wildlife Biologist with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Nongame Wildlife Program, will share his expertise on the quarter million Gray Bats of protected Sauta Cave. This is the largest nursery colony of gray bats east of the Mississippi River and all the bats emerge about a half hour before true dark. Sauta Cave Drive (closed to cars) is located just past mile marker 131 on Hwy. 72 going east toward Scottsboro. Park on shoulder of Hwy. 72 and walk app. 200 yards to observation platform. Please wear sturdy shoes, a poncho with hood, and bring a flashlight.

See Hartselle’s Amazing “WaterWorks”
July 9, 1:00-3:00 pm
Tour this state-of-the-art environmental center! A former water treatment plant, “WaterWorks” is the only water treatment facility in the country that has been re-designed to treat water with natural wetland processes. The facility provides fun, hands-on programs that teach the value of natural and constructed wetlands relating to water quality, flood prevention, water storage during droughts, ground water recharging, and wildlife habitat. Cost: $4.00 per person.
Capacity: 25 children ages 6-12 with accompanying adult. Call 256.534.5263 for reservations.

Cookout and Fun at Three Caves
July 16, 6:00-8:00 pm
For an educational event you won’t want to miss, join us at Three Caves (a former limestone quarry) at the foot of Monte Sano Mountain. We’ll provide hot dogs, s’mores, and fun for the family. Mobility required to walk 150 yards.
Capacity: 20 children ages 6-10 with accompanying adult. Reservations at 256.534.5263.

What’s That Tree?
July 23, 11:00-Noon
Walk with Forester Callie Schweitzer on Wade Mountain Nature Preserve as she explains how to identify the trees of North Alabama. Long pants, bug/tick spray, and sturdy shoes recommended.
Capacity: 15 children (ages 8 to 10) with accompanying adult.
Call the Land Trust at 256.534.5263 to reserve your spot.

Canoe the Flint with Alabama Eco Adventures
July 30, 1:00-4:00 pm
Paddle on the Flint River via water with the expert staff of Alabama Eco Adventures. Ages 10 to 15. No younger “tagalongs” please.
Capacity: 25 children with accompanying adult. Cost: $10.00 per person. Please wear clothing and shoes that can get wet. Reservations required at 256.534.5263.

Of course, one of the best all-around aerobic activities is hiking. Land Trust trails are free to use year ’round. Trails are open dawn to dusk so enjoy nature’s own health club – the beautiful outdoors!

Did you participate in the “Health Huntsville” initative? Don’t stop now! Our Preserves are just minutes from downtown and are great venues for exercise and reflection. Hit trails with the kids and grandkids – special memories are just waiting to be made.

Suggested hiking equipment: long pants, comfortable shoes with good tread & bottled water.

In case of rain, hikes will be cancelled. Please verify cancellation via here on our website or on Facebook at Land Trust North Alabama.

Land Trust hikes are free to the public – donations to help preserve greenspace are gratefully accepted.

*Sunday, May 5 @ 2:00 pm **Cancelled due to rains.**
Huntsville Mountain’s Fanning Trail: Love the Rock Ledges and Fossils

NOTE: “Tuesdays on the Trail” events have been scheduled for June and July. Spots are first come, first served and all but two are FREE! Call the Land Trust for reservations and mark your calendar for some outdoor fun!

“The accreditation process has helped the Land Trust be the robust and sustainable organization needed to meet its conservation mission,” stated Alice Ruf, Land Trust Accreditation Chair. “Strong, well-managed land trusts provide our communities with effective champions and caretakers of critical land resources, and safeguard the land through the generations.”

The Land Trust of North Alabama, Alabama’s first land trust, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 that protects forests, fresh water resources, heirloom farms, and wildlife habitat in ten North Alabama counties. Over 6,525 acres have been conserved to date. The Land Trust has created four nature preserves – three of which are each larger than Central Park – that feature 45+ miles of trails open to the public. The Monte Sano Nature Preserve is the green backdrop for the city of Huntsville and the Trust recently preserved an additional 265 acres of Chapman Mountain on Hwy. 72 to protect a major gateway into the city.

In the United States, local citizens and communities have come together to form more than 1,700 land trusts to save the places they love. The Land Trust of North Alabama is one of only 201 land trusts from across the country that have been awarded accreditation.

“We are proud to display the accreditation seal,” stated Executive Director Cynthia Potts. “Accredited land trusts are authorized to display a seal indicating to the public that they meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust, and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. It is a mark of distinction in land conservation.”

Community leaders hailed the Land Trust’s achievement:
“As a community we are all proud of the work being done by the Land Trust and this new recognition is well deserved. The Land Trust truly adds to the quality of life in Madison County by preserving our natural areas and providing parks, trails, and greenways for our families to enjoy,” said Madison County Chairman Dale W. Strong.

“People are drawn to the Huntsville area because of its lush landscapes, mountains and rivers, and the Land Trust of North Alabama is critical in ensuring these vistas and ecologically sensitive areas will be enjoyed by future generations. It is an honor for the Land Trust to be recognized and validated for their outstanding work in conservation. We are most fortunate to have their advocacy in our community,” stated Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

“Congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment! This accreditation is a testament to the outstanding work done by the Land Trust of North Alabama, improving our quality of life and preserving our land and waterways for our citizens,” said Madison Mayor Troy Trulock.

“Accreditation provides the public with an assurance that, at the time of accreditation, land trusts meet high standards for quality and that the results of their conservation work are permanent,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn.

Each accredited land trust submitted extensive documentation and underwent a rigorous review. “Through accreditation land trusts conduct important planning and make their operations more efficient and strategic,” said Van Ryn. “Accredited organizations have engaged and trained citizen conservation leaders and improved systems for ensuring that their conservation work is permanent.”

Conserving land helps ensure clean air and drinking water; safe, healthy food; scenic landscapes and views; recreational places; and habitat for the diversity of life on earth. In addition to health and food benefits, conserving land increases property values near greenbelts, saves tax dollars by encouraging more efficient development, and reduces the need for expensive water filtration facilities.

The new address is 2707 Artie Street SW Suite 6, Huntsville, 35805-4769.

“Relocating to larger quarters to better accomplish our preservation mission also fortunately made excellent fiscal sense,” said Executive Director Cynthia Potts.

Phone 256.534.LAND (5263) and online addresses will remain the same.

As you’re making your year-end giving decisions, please think on what trails and preserved vistas mean to you. Whether it’s keeping a green backdrop for the city of Huntsville (Monte Sano Nature Preserve), creating a recreation focal point for North Madison County (Harvest Square Preserve), or saving a natural botanical garden (Matthews Preserve in Limestone County), your year-end tax-deductible donations are critical to the success of our land preservation and conservation mission. And, donations may be in honor of or in remembrance of a loved one.

Another way to support preservation is by becoming a member of Land Trust starting at $35 a year. If you’re a current member, thank you! Your additional gift today will help ensure a bright future for trails and preservation of even more of natural North Alabama for you and future generations to enjoy.

Ready? It’s easy! Click the DONATE button on the left and pay securely through PayPal. Then, if you would like, please send an email to Cathie@LandTrustNAL.org and let us know what preserving land and water resources mean to you and your family.

YOUR SUPPORT will help us protect more open lands and fresh water resources, save wildlife habitat, encourage preserving local agriculture, and enrich the deep community connection with our land – today, tomorrow, and forever!

PS Our lovely trails are open dawn to dusk – just for you! Our trail map PDF’s may be found here. Print the maps, grab some water and a camera, and wear sturdy shoes. Enjoy Land Trust trails all year ’round!

Former Board member and long-time volunteer David Young gave some history talks along the way. Video excerpts and photos by Jessie Mayne may be found on YouTube or may be reached via links on our Facebook page: Land Trust of North Alabama.

Many thanks to all who participated and we look forward to seeing you next year on the 20th anniversary of this fun event!

“From Alabama to Alaska, these national recreation trails provide a gateway to outdoor recreation in both urban and rural areas,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “I am proud to partner with communities across the nation to expand this extraordinary network of trails, allowing more Americans to enjoy the great outdoors.”

The national trail system has become so extensive that if all the trails were laid end to end they would cross the entire country more than four times, offering millions of Americans opportunities to bike, hike, paddle and spend time with their family and friends outdoors.

These honored trails join an amazing list of community treasures, including Alabama’s Forever Wild’s Walls of Jericho trail system and the 631 mile Alabama Scenic River Trail. It was difficult to choose which of our trails to highlight so the complete trail systems of our three largest Preserves were each nominated. These trails total almost 40 miles or 94% of the public trails offered by the Land Trust for hiking, biking, reflection, and exercise. The Land Trust’s volunteer Trail Care Crew keeps the trails in top condition for all to enjoy.

National recreation trail designation recognizes existing trails and trail systems that link communities to recreational opportunities on public lands and in local parks across the nation. Each of the new national recreation trails will receive a certificate of designation, a letter of congratulations from Secretary Salazar, and a set of trail markers. The national recreation trail program is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the USDA Forest Service in conjunction with a number of other federal and nonprofit partners, notably American Trails, which hosts the national recreation trails website at http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails.

In order to promote and encourage the infusion of environmental education into Alabama schools and communities, the EEAA annually recognizes outstanding efforts and projects which enhance environmental quality and citizen awareness of the environment. Alabama Power Foundation sponsored this year’s awards.

“EEAA has recognized the Best Environmental Education Programs through its BEEP Awards for over 20 years,” stated Kay Stone, Outreach Program Administrator at Auburn’s Environmental Institute. “The awards committee empanels a group of judges with expertise in environmental education to review and select the outstanding educators, programs, and school projects from across Alabama. The Land Trust’s “Tuesdays on the Trail” represents the wonderful programs offered to communities bringing children and adults out to enjoy the wonders of nature in our beautiful state. We thank you for all that you do!”

Other outstanding programs recognized included Best School Project: Barrett Creek Restoration by Radney Elementary School; Best Environmental Course or Curriculum: “Skeeter’s Wild Adventure CD” produced by Project CATE Foundation; Jeffrey Scott Hughes Best Environmental Educator Award: Vicky Beckham Smith of A-Z Animals; and the EEAA Lifetime Achievement Award: the late Jeff Hughes.

Now in it’s fourth year, the TOTT program will again provide nine fun “windows into nature” to foster awareness of the unique North Alabama geology and wildlife this coming June and July. The programs are geared to encourage green conservation attitudes in the next generation – our future land stewards. Details will be available soon at www.LandTrustNAL.org and on Facebook: Land Trust North Alabama.

The Land Trust is very grateful to our hard-working education volunteers and the current Environmental Education Committee: Jocelyn Tsai/Chair, Susan and Keith Blizzard, Tim Gels, Shannon Leutzinger, Christina Turner, and Lynne Weninegar.

2012 EVENTS FOR JUNE AND JULY ARE STILL BEING FINALIZED.  Please check this website after May 3 or email questions@LandTrustNAL.org to receive more details.

Recognizing the importance of public confidence in land trusts, LTA established formal Standards and Practices in the 1980s. The Land Trust of North Alabama is a long-time proponent of these standards.

More recently, the LTA directed the Land Trust Accreditation Commission to establish a system of accreditation that recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting and caring for important natural places and working lands forever. The program has been developed to foster public confidence in land conservation and help ensure the long-term protection of land.

The Land Trust of North Alabama has chosen to participate in this voluntary accreditation program. The accreditation process includes an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the LTA.

“Since its founding 25 years ago, the Land Trust of North Alabama has pursued the highest degree of professionalism as it conserves and cares for irreplaceable lands and waters of the North Alabama region,” said Land Trust Past Chair Alice Ruf. “The rigorous accreditation process has made the Land Trust a stronger organization and we are excited for the opportunity to earn this elite seal of approval.”

A public comment period is now open. The Commission invites public input and will accept signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how the Land Trust of North Alabama complies with national quality standards that address the ethical and technical operations of the Land Trust. For a full list of standards, see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.

If you would like to comment on the Land Trust of North Alabama’s application, you may fax your comments to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission at 518-587-3183 or mail them to:
Land Trust Accreditation Commission
Attn: Public Comments
12 Spring Street, Suite 204
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

You may also submit comments online at www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments must be received by May 20, 2012. If you have questions about the accreditation process, please contact Cynthia Potts at 256.534.5263.