‘A great bunch of people’: HCT volunteers make Cape Cod a better place

Look, over there! Is that a superhero clearing the trail? And those brave herring counters and wise walk leaders — they must be part of the same superteam. Who the heck are these wonderful people?

The answer is easy and inspiring. These fantastic friends of nature are Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) volunteers. Celebrated for their wisdom, determination and can-do spirit, our volunteers keep HCT running smoothly. They maintain trails, enhance wildlife habitat, monitor bird nest boxes, assist in the office, work on citizen science projects and engage in all sorts of unique and meaningful projects.

HCT volunteers are also renowned for their good cheer, expertise and willingness to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Perhaps most importantly, they are wicked fun to hang out with and chew the fat on a myriad of topics. Laughter and learning are the currency of these community-building compadres.

You can join this superteam in their quest to make Harwich and Cape Cod a better place. Check out our Volunteer Opportunities page for details, and fill out our Volunteer Interest Survey. We’ll follow up to arrange a meeting at HCT’s office to discuss your interests.

Why HCT volunteers love their “jobs”

At a recent Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Brooks Park, we had the chance to nosh and chat with a great group of accomplished volunteers and find out more about what they do for HCT.

“We work together to clear out invasive plants and make sure the trails are clear,” said volunteer Chris Watson. “Bittersweet is my mortal enemy.”

Watson has also worked on tree-cutting and planting projects. “I love being outside and I love working with people and it’s always just a great bunch of people at HCT,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun working with these folks.”

But like many HCT volunteers, Watson brings other talents to the table. His professional experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) computer mapping allows him to create important HCT maps that are vital to our mission.

Volunteer Vicki Goldsmith has used her photography skills to augment HCT’s birding programs. “I trail after Peter Trull when he does the bird walks and I take pictures of the birds that are seen during the walk,” she said. “After the walk, they’ll send out an email of the birds that were seen, and they’ll dress it up with some of my photos.”

Goldsmith said she has grown as a photographer from the challenge of capturing bird photos quickly under less than ideal light conditions. “I learned how to relax and take the best photo I could at that moment,” she said.

Connor O’Brien, HCT Director of Land Stewardship, depends on volunteers for all sorts of HCT projects, from trail maintenance to pollinator garden planting.

“Their time and their talents are invaluable,” said O’Brien. “Our volunteers have such a breadth of experience and skill. They are amazing people and so essential to everything that HCT does.”

—Interested in becoming an HCT volunteer? Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page and fill out our Volunteer Interest Survey.

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.