The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is very pleased to announce that the organization has been awarded a grant by the Quimby Family Foundation as part of the Movement program. The program is dedicated to creating and supporting opportunities for people to consistently choose, and meaningfully experience, nearby nature and wilderness through movement and activity. Many of the strategies that can achieve the program goals are ones that MATLT deploys in both conservation projects in the A.T. region in Maine, and in programs MATLT runs with partners in the landscape. These include things like:

• Deepening the bonds between people, nature, and one another through immersive wilderness journeys
• Growing outdoor recreation events to discover nearby nature and commune with neighbors
• Reducing barriers (social, physical, logistical) for people to access nearby nature and open space
• Creating, promoting, or restoring parks, gardens, and green spaces
• Addressing community disparities to encourage safe, equitable outdoor access

From the #WEOUTSIDE program to the High Peaks Initiative to the land conservation projects that protect public spaces, MATLT will continue to forge ahead and live by these principles. Thanks to the Quimby Family Foundation and our public supporters and partners for helping making this happen.