Who We Are
Mission Statement
“Saco Valley Land Trust’s mission is to protect for future generations land of agricultural, silvicultural, recreational or biological significance, and to promote a more general understanding of the value of such conservation efforts.”
Saco Valley Land Trust was created 33 years ago, and our mission has changed little since then. Today, it seems that our original mission is even more timely.
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving land for the future of the lower Saco Valley, including the towns of Saco, Biddeford, Buxton, and Old Orchard Beach. With the help of our supporting members, dedicated volunteers, and grant programs that support conservation, Saco Valley Land Trust has now protected over 1,200 acres of land for wildlife, water quality, and a sustainable way of life. We care for the lands we have conserved, provide recreation access, help raise awareness of the importance of conservation, and are always looking for other properties that could be saved from development. Sometimes land comes to us through donation, and at other times the land trust is able to raise money for an important purchase. Our donating members provide the means to keep our operation running and not miss these opportunities to protect land for the future.
One thing we have all learned from this past few years is that so many people find comfort in the out-of-doors. With this new light shining on LOCAL CONSERVED LAND for local residents, we hope that you will consider joining us as a member or making a one-time donation to SVLT. Thank you!
Board of Directors
Richard Rhames
Board President
Sue Littlefield
Board Treasurer
Denis Rioux
Board Member
Linda Brown
Board Secretary
Chris DiMatteo- Board Member
Advisory Board
Mike Brennan
Nan Cone
Dan Dallaire
Tamara Gallagher
Edna Leary
Annica McGuirk
Sue Sladen
Staff
Abby Wilson- Event and Outreach Organizer (Dec 2022 to May 2024)
Abby is enthusiastic about education, outreach, and community engagement. She enjoys adventure during all seasons and in her free time can be found playing in Maine’s many mountains and lakes. Abby enjoys hiking, photographing wildlife, snowshoeing, writing, snowboarding, swimming, and studying the night sky.
She has worked as a whale watch naturalist in the Gulf of Maine, a snowshoe guide in the mountains of Western Maine, a zipline instructor in the Southern Berkshires of Massachusetts, an assistant land steward on Mount Desert Island, a digital media intern with the Northeast Wilderness Trust in Vermont, and as an Education Specialist with the Scarborough Land Trust.
Intern- Kaleb Burns
Meet Kaleb, the SVLT 2024 intern!
Welcome Kaleb Burns, University of New England Senior, who is joining Saco Valley Land Trust for a Winter-Spring Internship. Kaleb hails from Massachusetts and grew up with his mother, father and older sister. He became interested in the Environmental Sciences as a senior in high school through an influential teacher. Kaleb is busy with Environmental Science as his Major with Anthropology and Political Science as a double Minor. He has done volunteer work with the American Chestnut Foundation under the guidance of his professor, Dr. Klak. This year he is serving as the president of the UNE Anthropology Club. He reports he has always loved the outdoors, and is excited to start learning how land trusts operate and the role they play in tackling some of the big issues planet earth and all its inhabitants face. We are excited to have him learning about and supporting our mission.
Our Partners- We work with many other nonprofits to host events, keep trails clear, and stay connected to our community.
Meetings are usually held on the first Thursday, monthly, 7 pm, at the Saco Train Station.
