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A Message from Jeff Lambert, Executive Director:
If the Dishman Hills Conservancy is a tree, what you see is our outreach to the community – hikes, nature walks, Kids in the Hills, the Celebration Dinner, and the Buttercup Hikes. We have decided to postpone those events to slow the spread of COVID-19. Staff and volunteers have invested time into planning, and we are ready to host these events when we can safely gather again.
The fact is what you see is only part of the Conservancy. As the oldest land trust in the State, there are roots that reach deep and wide. Those roots connect to our supporters and partner organizations. Below the surface, inspiration and hard work mix with enthusiasm to transform the funding and helpful institutions into the humus for growth.
The Conservancy has pivoted and the outreach work is going online and remote. An online education program for youth, self-guided nature tours, virtual hikes, and more are coming. The education mission is branching out into preliminary work on a nature center to go along with the traditional offerings.
Stewardship work will increasingly include habitat restoration and trail work with our partners such as the Audubon Society and Washington State. The new Phillips Creek trail system has been designed with the approval of Spokane County Parks. The Spokane Mountaineers designed the trail system in collaboration with Evergreen East and Washington Trails Association. DHC is also working on the trailhead and trail system for the Wilson Conservation Area.
Benefits of the Hills are obvious during the Stay-At-Home order. Outdoor areas provide much needed space for entertainment, exercise, and emotional well-being. DHC is working hard to increase opportunities for you to enjoy the Hills. We are actively engaging in conversations with land owners to pursue our mission to Connect and Protect the Dishman Hills by acquiring conservation land through purchase or easement.
Resources such as trail maps, self-guided tours, guidelines for social distancing & trail etiquette, and suggestions of indoor activities for families can be found here on our website (links). To keep up with the latest resources from DHC, watch for emails, explore our website, and be sure you are connected via Facebook and Instagram. Last but not least, please share our messages to help us get these resources out to our community during this critical time.
To make a donation to the Dishman Hills Conservancy to help ensure that our programs can continue and the Hills remain protected, CLICK HERE. Thank you for your continued support of our organization. A donation of $35 or more will grant you DHC membership through the end of the year, and includes a subscription to our bimonthly newsletter, priority invitation to programs such as guided hikes and nature walks – as soon as they are available – and free admission to most DHC events. Most of all, our members get the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping build a lasting treasure for our community in the Wild Heart of Spokane.
