Continuing Projects:

• HCS 5th Grade Ecology: Continuation of the environmental field studies program, started in the 2008-9 academic year, with the Hamilton Central School fifth grade classes.  They have prepared some short videos of their experiences. This program continues to be a big success.
         5th Grade Project             Videos (2009-10)       Spring 2012 Walk on new Wetland Trail
   
• Fiddler’s Green: Continuation of the Long-term program, started in 2010, to develop a stewardship management plan for Fiddler’s Green, a local bog now owned by The Nature Conservancy.  We will be mapping the property, the bog, rare and invasive species over the next few years in a cooperative program with Colgate University faculty and students.  We hope to remove some invasive species and reduce encroachment of white pines, tamaracks, and maples that are rapidly shrinking the bog.
          Summer 2010 Report           Fall 2010 Report  

2012-14 Projects:
    New Acquisitions:

• Gateway Reserve: The project's four-acre parcel is located about 1 mile north of the Hamilton village center is strategically important to the educational and recreational mission of SMHT.  SMHT has purchased this parcel and plans to provide trailhead access to the trail along the Madison Feeder of the historic Chenango Canal.  The trail overlooks 53 acres of federally protected land and is a local birding hotspot.  SMHT has received grants to support improvements to facilitate public access and expansion of our educational programs with elementary school children.  More...
• Brackett Woods: This 25.6 acre parcel was covered with a donated conservation easement in July, 2014.  The property has a stream, wetland, a 30 foot waterfall (Scott’s Falls), forest and access to the the Madison Feeder. This property is ideal for extending our environmental education program with the Hamilton Central School.  Access to the Madison feeder trail has the potential for connecting with the Gateway Reserve property and another property owned by the Chenango Canal Association.  Altogether, we are anticipating connecting about 1.5 miles of trail along the feeder with the eight mile Chenango Canal Towpath Trail that leads from the Village of Hamilton to Bouckville. More...

2011 Projects:
      Two Grants Received by the SMHT from the Land Trust Alliance Funded by the New York state Environmental Protection Fund

• Board of Directors Training:  SMHT received a grant from the Land Trust Alliance for a Guided Organizational Assessment program, based on Land Trust Standards and Practices, aimed at developing the skills and capabilities of the Board.  This $5000 grant ($10% match) provided funding for a professional consultant to run the program, which was successfully completed.
• Public Access and Education:  This project, funded By a grant of $2000 (25% match) from the Land Trust Alliance, allowed us to expand an existing trail system on the Leland Reserve to provide additional access to wetlands for the public and expand the environmental education project scope for the 5th grade classes of the Hamilton Central School (continuing the 5th grade project).   Take a walk down the path with this 4 minute video. 

2010 Projects:
    Leland Reserve Site Improvements:

• Parking area: We were able to lease a small parcel from the adjoining property owner for a parking lot at the Leland Reserve for about ten cars or a few cars and a school bus.  The purpose is to provide safe access to the Reserve for the public and especially the school students who come for the environmental studies project.
• Fencing: We installed a post and split rail fence and two gates along the frontage on Preston Hill Road as some significant expense.  The purposes were to make the site more attractive as a destination, provide greater safety for visitors, especially young children and restrict access to the site by motorized vehicles.

2011 Hamilton Village 4th of July Parade:

Again the SMHT entered a float in the 2011 Hamilton, NY 4th of July Parade and won a trophy for the “Greenest Entry.”  The overall theme was “The Red White and Blue ... and Green.”  We reused our 2009 float in the spirit of total recycling and added a new design of a red, white and blue recycling symbol on a green circle background.

2009 4th of July Parade:

The SMHT entered a float in the 2009 Hamilton, NY 4th of July Parade and won a trophy for the “Greenest Theme.”  The overall theme was “It’s Patriotic to be Green.”   Slide show of our participation.