This year the Land Trust celebrates 30 years of conservation, community, and caring for the land! That’s quite a milestone that is reflected in the 18,700+ acres we’ve protected, the 12,500+ people we’ve connected to the land, and the 125,800+ hours that have been donated to caring for the land! It is also reflected in the smaller things, like these 30 fun facts about the Land Trust.

1. In 1995, the Land Trust had: 6 board members, 10 volunteers, 493 hours volunteered, 10 donors.
   

   

2. The Land Trust was founded at Deschutes Brewery! Find our plaque on the wall in downtown Bend!
3. We protect one of the oldest structures in Deschutes County, the Hindman barn.
4. We protect an island! The seven-acre Thomas Preserve.
5. Priday Ranch protects ten miles of creek in one Preserve!
6. Several of our properties protect the rare Peck’s penstemon, a flower that cannot be found outside of Central Oregon.
   

   

7. We protect a fen! Fens are biological hotspots and can remain in the same location for thousands of years.
8. The very first Nature Night was in January 2011 and was attended by ~50 people.
9. Indian Ford Meadow Preserve was our first Preserve, protected in 1996.
10. Our old-growth Metolius Preserve ponderosa pines smell like vanilla or butterscotch. Go ahead, give them a smell!
    

    

11. We’ve given away 168,400 milkweed seeds to help monarch butterflies since 2019. 
12. Cascade elk, found at several Preserves, are a hybrid of Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk. 
13. The amazing Robin Wall Kimmerer presented at our Nature Nights in 2021. More than 830 people signed up to see her!
14. The nine-foot long ancient sabertooth salmon may have once been found in Trout Creek at Priday Ranch.
15. Cactus? Yep, we have them in Central Oregon and protect them at Priday Ranch.
16. Mussels, not just for oceans, but protected at Ochoco Preserve.
    

    

     
17. 14,094 hours have been logged removing weeds at Land Trust protected lands since 1995! Thank you volunteers!
18. Our current hike leaders have 173 years of collective experience and expertise leading outings for the Land Trust! 
19. We were one of the Top 10 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon in 2024.
20. Always innovating, we tried using goats to remove invasive weeds at Ochoco Preserve.
21. We discovered a new butterfly at the Metolius Preserve, the Asher’s blue!
22. We offered our first public tours in 2001 after we protected Camp Polk Meadow Preserve in 2000.
    

    

23. The first young steelhead were released in Whychus Creek at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve in 2007. Learn more about reintroduction today.
24. The Land Trust has been nationally accredited since 2009.
25. Beaver were seen felling trees by heavy equipment operators during the 2009-2012 Whychus Creek restoration at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. 
26. Wolves have returned to Land Trust protected lands!
27. The Land Trust has been working to protect Skyline Forest since 2005!
28. Our staff ranges in age 29-73, and two staff members are celebrating 20 years with the Land Trust!
29. We’ve been holding the Metolius Preserve Tree Hunt since 2004! 
30. In 2024, the Land Trust had: 14 board members, 16 staff, 5,651 hours volunteered, 1,712 donors.
    

    

Thank you for making it all possible! We truly couldn't conserve and care for the land without the thousands of supporters, volunteers, and advocates by our side! Keep on celebrating, watch our 30th Anniversary Video!