Trust Our Land: Wildlife fencing and conservation legacies

There’s something about spring that inspires folks in Eagle County to lend a hand. Maybe it’s the abundant sunshine or the frequent sightings of deer and elk grazing on the first green shoots of the season. Or maybe it’s the approach of Earth Day, the global movement to promote environmental awareness and action, celebrated annually on April 22.

Eagle Valley Land Trust welcomes the arrival of spring with Earth Week, the official kickoff to our community programming season, and we want you to be a part of it. This year, we’re hosting two brand new events: an estate planning workshop and a wildlife-friendly fencing project.

Securing a lasting legacy

For individuals and families thinking about the future of their land, Eagle Valley Land Trust is offering an estate planning workshop to help you navigate the complex process of legacy planning.

Leaving a meaningful legacy depends on families bridging the communication gap to discuss intergenerational equity and heritage. While talking about what will happen after a loved one passes is never easy, planning for a lasting legacy provides you and your family with the opportunity to share your most important values, beliefs, wishes, and lessons learned.

Join us for dinner and conversation on Tuesday, April 22, from 4-8 p.m. at the Eagle Valley Land Trust Conservation Center in Edwards. Jeff Tranel, agricultural and business economist with Colorado State University, will share tips and strategies gleaned from his 34 years of consulting with families on estate planning. Jeff will explain how legacy planning is about much more than just hiring an attorney to draft a will; it’s about thoughtfully preparing for how both financial and non-financial assets will be passed down to the next generation.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

This free workshop is open to anyone interested in planning for retirement, formalizing an estate plan, or leaving an enduring legacy. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to approach discussions with family members and ensure that their land, values, and vision are preserved for future generations.

Building fences that protect wildlife

For those who enjoy hands-on work and the satisfaction of making a tangible impact, Eagle Valley Land Trust is offering an opportunity to help with a fencing project at the Conservation Center. This isn’t just any old fencing; it’s a wildlife-friendly, cedar split rail boundary designed to support the elk that frequent the adjacent Eagle River Preserve. It will also serve as a demonstration of conservation-minded property management.

The fencing project, taking place on Thursday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon, is open to volunteers of all backgrounds and experience levels. No special skills are required, just a willingness to pitch in and enjoy a morning of productive, community-driven work. Some light to moderate lifting will be involved, and refreshments will be provided.

Join us in engaging with the land, connecting with fellow conservation enthusiasts, and contributing to the protection of local wildlife. By the time the last rail is in place, you will have helped to create a lasting structure that balances human interests with responsible habitat stewardship.

A week of meaningful action

There’s more. We still have spots open for the Earth Week Photography Workshop on Saturday, April 19, and the Earth Week Ethnobotany Talk on Monday, April 21. Whether you’re planning for the future of your family’s land, building fences to protect local wildlife, or learning to capture nature with your camera, you can contribute to protecting the lands and wildlife habitats that make our home so special.

To learn more about these events and RSVP, visit evlt.org/EarthWeek2025.

Adrian Brown is the Land Conservation and Stewardship manager at Eagle Valley Land Trust and can be reached at stewardship@evlt.org. To learn more about Earth Week and Eagle Valley Land Trust’s work, visit EVLT.org.