• Monitoring of State Certified Vernal Pools or State recognized potential vernal pools
  

• This is a great way to get kids and adults in rubber boots and help check things out in small wetlands. We look for and document frog species, salamanders, fairy shrimp, etc. This can be done March 15- May 1.
• This information and documentation is valuable because the species found in these small wetlands are completely dependent upon the wetland for survival. If we find the wetland is being disturbed or impacted in anyway, it needs to be documented.

• Property Monitoring
  

• Right now we consider this our "Land Stewardship Program". This program is expanding, thus,  the more hands "on deck" the better.
• This involves individuals learning to read maps (both aerial and land plans), locate property bounds, work with local neighbors, and identify such things as dumping, etc.
• A simple property monitoring form is filled out after each inspection. The form requires the monitor to not only document what was mentioned above, but also document any animal or bird species they saw, what the habitat type is like, unique features (such as stone walls) etc.
• Monitoring our properties is important because it will enable us in the future to look back each year to see what the property looked like, what some of the issues were, etc.

• Trail Maintenance
  

• Once trails are constructed they need maintenance. Trail maintenance can take place all year round. OCT has four good sized trail systems.
• During the spring the trails always need a winter clean-up due to downed trees and debris.
• During the summer the trails need to be trimmed back because of encroaching vegetation.
• During the fall the trails need one last clean-up before the winter hits and the ground freezes complete with sticks and other debris.

• Trail Creation
  

• OCT does have a number of trails, but there are a few properties that would lend themselves to having a trail created on it.
• This would entail the volunteer to take a look at the topography of the land, point our unique features, and look towards developing a looping system, etc.
• It might also be a way to get students and parents using Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) to map out the proposed trail systems.

• Exotic Invasive Species Identification/ Removal
  

• Exotic invasive plant species, those being plants that are not native to Cape Cod, often out compete native plant species communities and lessen the ecological value of the conservation lands.
• Invasive plant species can pull down and kill full sized tree's, overtake the ground shrubs, and essentially ruin the ecological and scenic value of the land.
• By removing the invasive plants we are improving the community's conservation lands.
• The removal of invasive plants can be done with large machinery or hand tools, such as loppers, weed wrenches, and chain saws (certified or a professional).
• This is where we spend the majority of our land management time.

• Marsh Cleanups
  

• OCT owns a number of large marshes which can essentially be cleaned up as often as possible.
• For example, each springt the Namskaket Marsh which runs along along the bike trail is cleaned. This location has easy access, is important for the health of the marsh, and clears the scenic view along the bike trail for those who visit.

• Photography
  

• We need photographers for a number of reasons. First and foremost relates to Property Monitoring, mentioned above. During the inspections, we need someone to take pictures of the unique things documented in the monitoring form. We also need someone to take pictures of the property boundaries. That way we know what the boundaries looked like from year to year. It will inform us if someone is mowing or encroaching in any way
• Scenic & Animal Photography: OCT is currently updating its website and as we do so, we would like to have updated pictures of OCT lands for the public's viewing. I think this would be a good way to get people interested in OCT land that is open to the public. We could showcase 1-2 pictures a week at a public location and say "Do you know where this view is." Photo taken by _____

• Paintings
  

• While OCT doesn't have a formal painting program, like photography, we could work to find pubic locations to showcase the paintings, creating awareness of the Town's open spaces both to students and the community.

• Water Sampling
  

• OCT often works in conjunction with the Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC), another local non-profit organization, and we can coordinate with them in this project..
• OCT could communicate with OPC to see what ways the volunteers could help collect and document the water quality of Orleans freshwater and brackish ponds.
• The program is currently running and I am sure OPC would like to have more volunteers involved.

• Sign Maintenance/ Installation
  

• Currently OCT has five signs installed. They were installed two years ago and require general maintenance yearly. The maintenance is basic cleaning, new screws, etc.
• It is our hope that we will be buying more signs to increase awareness of OCT lands. The signs are installed on a 4"x4"x8' pole. This is a nice project for a few kids at a time.
• Requires team building, use of small handheld screw drivers, etc.

• Construction of bird/ duck boxes
  

• OCT is always trying to find way to increase a properties ecological value while also getting the community directly involved in doing so. OCT would be interested in any  volunteers who could construct duck/ bird boxes to be installed along the edges of ponds, trails, etc.

• Animal track Identification
  

• Volunteers could work to search and identify animal tracks. While this is best done in the winter months, the spring mud season is often a good time as well.
• If tracks can be identified then we will have a better understanding of which species and how many call particular properties their "home".

• Turtle Monitoring
  

• OCT recently conducted a large state funded restoration of a terrapin turtle habitat. While professionally trained individuals currently monitor the turtles with MA Audubon, there is some possibility of general community members joining with professionals to look for the very rare terrapin turtles in the fall.
• OCT owns a number of properties along the edges of ponds. We are always searching for box turtles, a state recognized protected species. When identified, we document this information for our purposes while also filling out form for the States Natural Heritage Bureau, so they know how many have been sited.

AmeriCorps-Cape Cod      http://www.americorpscapecod.org/
Town of Orleans       http://www.town.orleans.ma.us/Pages/index
The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts     htttp://www.thecompact.net/
Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod      http://apcc.org/
Cape Cod Commission     http://www.capecodcommission.org/
Land Trust Alliance     http://www.landtrustalliance.org/                        
Massachusetts Audubon Society     http://www.massaudubon.org/
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition     http://www.massland.org/
New England Forestry Foundation     http://www.newenglandforestry.org/
The Nature Conservancy     http://www.nature.org/
Trust for Public Land     http://www.tpl.org/








                                                                        

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