The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is a private, non-profit, member-supported land conservation trust. It was founded in 1986 to address the loss of open space and public access, the disappearance of family farms in the Williamstown area and to encourage responsible development.
The legal name of the organization is: “Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, Inc.” However, as of 2021, it does business as: “Williamstown Rural Lands.” The corporation is organized and operates as a non-profit corporation under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts general Laws and in compliance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended from time to time. Our federal tax ID number is 04-2940686.
Mission statement: Williamstown Rural Lands conserves and promotes the forests, fields, farms and natural habitats of our region for the benefit of our communities and future generations.
In support of this Mission, we are committed to:
- Conserving land selectively with important wildlife habitat value, land in close proximity to other preserved open space, and working landscapes such as farms and forests;
- Promoting outdoor recreation by establishing public access to conservation lands wherever possible.
- Offering nature-based education programs, workshops and events to learn about our natural and cultural heritage, and to encourage participants to experience the land firsthand;
Williamstown Rural Lands:
- Owns over 950 acres in 20 parcels that are open to the public for hiking and recreation
- Holds 11 Conservation Restrictions on over 280 acres
- Maintains 50+ miles of trails with the support of the Williamstown Conservation Commission and the Williams Outing Club
- Hosts programs and events for all ages and open to the public year round.
In cooperation with partner organizations and agencies and including the holdings noted above, WRL has preserved more than 3,500 acres of prime agricultural, forest and habitat lands including the Petersburg Pass Scenic Area, the Haley Farm on the Hopper that’s now part of the Mount Greylock Reservation, the Phelps Farm in South Williamstown, and our scenic and historic Sheep Hill headquarters.
Sheep Hill is the site for programs and events highlighting the natural and cultural history of the former farm, the town and the surrounding region. An old dairy barn is now the Dietze Interpretive Center. Programs, events, and informal exploration are available year round. Children’s nature programs include school field trips, pre-school, after school and summer nature and science.
Staff
Robin Sears, PhD, Executive Director
Dan Gura, Stewardship Director
Rachel Durgin, Programs Director
Alexandra Weil, Assistant Director
Board
Greg Islan, President
Barbara Carr, Vice President
Phil McKnight, Vice President
Geraldine Shen, Vice President
William Sprague, Treasurer
Robert D. Kraus, Secretary
Stephen N. Pagnotta, Counsel
Cosmo Catalano, Jr.
Brian Cole
Averill Cook
Aly Corey
Raquel Cuéllar-Parajón
Jane Culnane
Bill Hodash
Betsy Kolbert
Allen Pope
Tommy Richey
Jeff Sher
Wendy Skavlem
Tamanika Terry Steward
Brad Wells
Tatum Wilson
Presidents Emeriti
Marion C. Alton
Henry W. Art
Anita Barker
Elizabeth Bartels
Linda Becker
Roger Bolton
Jock Brooks
John C. Craig
Anne Crider
David P. Dethier
Maureen Dietze
Sam Edson
Karen Falk
Virginia Fletcher
Juliet Flynt
Henry Flynt, Jr.
Mary Lou Galusha
James C. Gibbons
Susan Gold
Dustin Griffin
Bruce D. Grinnell
Sherwood Guernsey
Amy Herring
David A. Horton
Tom Jorling
Libby Kieffer
Chester K. Lasell
Penny Low
Don H. McLucas, Jr.
Nancy Nylen
Claire-Ann Oakley
Stephen N.
Pagnotta, Esq.
Charles Schlesinger
Malcolm Smith
John L. Sprague
Richard C. Steege
Win Stuebner
John Umlauf
Pam Weatherbee
Kim Wells
Samuel Westcott, Jr.
John Winant
Reinhard A. Wobus
Elizabeth Wright
Names in italics are deceased.