2024 Impact Report
Douglas Land Conservancy
Executive Director's Letter
Dear Supporters of Douglas Land Conservancy,
It’s hard to believe winter is upon is. The temperatures have dropped, the snow is falling, and the days are getting ever shorter. This year has brought a lot of change. It seems each year goes faster and contains more transformation. The one constant is open space protected with conservation easements. While the world around us moves and shakes, I find I am always coming back to those outdoor places that bring the calm. Dawson Butte will still be Dawson Butte in ten years. If I am here in ten years, I will still be able to find solace and peace there.
I hope you will take time to pause and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of nature this season. Although the snow is twinkling on the ground, I encourage you to find an aspect of the land to connect with. People travel from around the world to our region to experience the beauty and majesty of our landscapes and wildlife. We are so lucky to be surrounded by both and I encourage everyone to get outside and use our open spaces, even in the cold. Walk, jog, paint, read, sit, or simply reflect at a park or an open space and soak in that vibrant Colorado winter sunshine. We’ll see you out there!
Laura Sanford
Executive Director, Douglas Land Conservancy
What We Do
Conserve for Our Future
We collaborate with private landowners and local governments to establish and hold conservation easements to forever protect these beautiful lands. DLC currently holds 85 separate conservation easements, totaling 27,437 acres. That's 5% of Douglas County.
Enhance Stewardship of Local Land
DLC commits to monitoring conservation easement properties in perpetuity to ensure that terms of the easements are upheld and defended, and the conservation values are maintained or enhanced over time. We monitor every single property currently protected under DLC conservation easement annually.
Protect Invaluable Wildlife Habitat
Preserving open spaces protects and enhances wildlife habitat and creates migration corridors. Elk, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, bluebirds, and many other species benefit from protected land. Private conservation easements are important puzzle pieces that connect large swaths of public conserved lands, such as linking National Forests to county open spaces.
Create Opportunities for Public Recreation
With conservation easements on over 14,500 acres open to the public, we provide unique opportunities for locals and visitors to explore nature close to home. These properties, conserved in perpetuity, will be there for countless generations to develop a deep appreciation of the land and natural ecosystems.
Collaborate for a Stronger Community
By developing positive, transparent relationships and strong partnerships with the broad community, including landowners, donors, volunteers, government agencies, the land trust community and other conservation supporters, DLC establishes itself as a trusted organization, worthy of receiving financial support, collaborating on new conservation projects, and educating members of the community.
Encourage Awareness and Appreciation of the Natural World
DLC conducts a diverse education program to encourage a sustainable, widespread conservation ethic across generations of Front Range inhabitants. The education program also deepens public and landowner support for our mission, crucial to building financial strength through donations and acquiring new conservation easements. Douglas Land Conservancy organized 88 public activities this year, highlighting such topics as native flora and fauna, geology, pollinators, history, and water conservation.
DLC Updates
Project of the Year: Lost Canyon Ranch
681 acres adjacent to Castlewood Canyon State Park are permanently protected thanks to the support of multiple partners. Owned by the Town of Castle Rock, this acquisition is the largest one-time acquisition and protection in the Town's history.
"Lost Canyon Ranch is a once in a lifetime conservation opportunity," DLC Executive Director Laura Sanford said. "DLC is so grateful to The Conservation Fund, the Town of Castle Rock, Douglas County, GOCO, and all the supporters of conservation and open lands for making permanent preservation possible."
To read more about Lost Canyon, visit our website .
Investing in Our Volunteers
The intensive Service Enterprise initiative builds nonprofit capacity through strategically engaging volunteers and their skills. DLC's volunteer base of multigenerational community members with diverse lived experience enrich our outreach program and organizational culture to help us build a strong conservation ethic across the Central Front Range. We apply for accreditation in early 2025. To learn more, visit the website .
Staff Development
Each DLC staff member attended trainings, conferences, and webinars to refresh and expand their professional knowledge. From AFP ICON, an annual global fundraising conference, to LTA Rally, the Land Trust Alliance's national summit, to COSA, a statewide open space conference, we sought new ideas to accelerate our mission and sustain our organization in perpetuity.
Volunteer Monitors
For the first time, volunteers had the opportunity to assist on annual conservation easement monitoring visits. They logged over 245 volunteer hours helping our Stewardship Coordinator assess the general ecological health of conserved properties and ensure our landowners are abiding by their particular easement's restrictions on activities and use. This is also an opportunity to connect with our landowners, answer questions, and direct them toward resources to help them best steward their land.
2024 Volunteer Report
How Volunteers Contributed to Our Mission
- Developed 21 blog posts and articles for the DLC website and regional news outlets
- Supported the successful fledging of 688 young birds from bluebird boxes on protected open spaces
- Planned a record-breaking JA Ranch Sunset BBQ with 300+ attendees
- Applied for and received $44,000 in grant funding for DLC programs and operations
- Led or assisted with 67 outreach programs
- Monitored 85 conservation easements alongside our Stewardship Coordinator
- Prepared 4,500 appeal letters
- Captured the natural beauty of our region and shared it with others through our annual photo contest
Return on Volunteer Investment (ROVI)
ROVI focuses on more than just volunteer hours contributed multiplied by the dollar value of a volunteer hour. It reflects both the contributions of volunteers and the organizational investment to show the return on that investment. Volunteers may give their time freely, but engaging volunteers is not free! While this number is different for every organization, DLC's 2024 ROVI is $4.58 for every $1 invested in our volunteer strategy.
Why do you volunteer?
"In Nature there is beauty everywhere. I love exploring the outdoors in any season. Watching the changes where I live and all over Colorado, due to development, has made me sad. I am so grateful for the ongoing hard work of DLC, who works to protect and preserve natural areas in Douglas County and other areas in Colorado’s Front Range, so I can go play in Nature, right from my door."
-Caroline Smith
Colorado volunteerism
While volunteering rates saw a dip at the start of the pandemic, a biennial AmeriCorps report found that both organized volunteering and informal helping are rising.
In Colorado, 34.7% of people reported volunteering through a formal organization at least once- an 8.5-point increase between 2021 and 2023.
Interested in Volunteering?
We hold new volunteer orientations and information sessions in January and February each year. To get on the list for 2025 sessions, get in touch with us at info@douglaslandconservancy.org!
2024 Events
Volunteer Appreciation
Volunteer Appreciation. Click to expand.
DLC invited our volunteers out to Sandstone for a day at summer camp! Volunteers, Board members, and staff played games and enjoyed a potluck-style BBQ in a beautiful, forested setting on one of our favorite open spaces.
Hops Hike
Hops Hike. Click to expand.
Our annual August partnership with 105 West Brewing begins with a hike on a private property near Louviers to collect wild hops. The Master Brewer then takes the hops and transforms them into a delicious DLC beer, this year titled "DLC Hoppy Trails Witbier."
JA Ranch Sunset BBQ
JA Ranch Sunset BBQ. Click to expand.
Our most successful event yet, the JA Ranch Sunset BBQ brought over 300 people together on a conserved ranch. Complete with a fabulous silent auction, western-themed games like cornhole and roping, and insane views, this evening gathering was the embodiment of summer fun.
Geology Caravan Tour
Geology Caravan Tour. Click to expand.
Beginning at Hidden Mesa, the group snaked around to different open areas with significant geological features to learn about the most impactful events that shaped the land we stand on today.
Mel Sorensen Stewardship Award
Mel Sorensen Stewardship Award. Click to expand.
New this year, DLC honored conservation easement landowners Chris Hashimoto and Dale Ferg who continuously exemplify extraordinary care for their land. This award was created to pay homage to those that take responsibility for the landscapes we've inherited and ensure they remain healthy, vibrant, and full of life for future generations. Read more about Chris and Dale here.
Memorial Day Birding Hike
Memorial Day Birding Hike. Click to expand.
Jackie Sanderson (Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources) and DLC bird experts led a hike through DuPont Open Space to identify and count bird species present on the property. This data is collected each year to monitor changes to the avian population at this vital habitat refuge over time.
Fall Festival + Creepy Crawlies
Fall Festival + Creepy Crawlies. Click to expand.
DLC and the Town of Castle Rock invited Nature's Educators and local vendors to a fun-filled community gathering at the end of October. The naturalists at Nature's Educators brought some native species with a spookier reputation to educate the community about their benefit to our ecosystems.
Decode Douglas County Outdoors
Decode Douglas County Outdoors. Click to expand.
300 people from all over the country participated in the treasure hunt this year! Keep an eye on DLC's email newsletters, website, and social media for exciting changes to the program coming in 2025. Every member of your family will be able to explore Douglas County’s cherished open spaces in the year ahead and learn more about the public lands that make our home like no other.
Legacy Circle
Make a lasting commitment to preserve the open space and natural habitat of our area.
DLC Legacy Circle members at this year's annual gathering, held at Lost Canyon Ranch.
"Douglas Land Conservancy's promise to fulfill its conservation mission in perpetuity is powerful. As natural landscapes and habitats continue to shrink, it is more important than ever that DLC remains strong to defend currently protected places and find opportunities to protect additional lands. I am honored to include DLC in my estate plans, helping ensure that DLC has critical resources needed for years to come. Generations far in the future will look back with gratitude to the commitments we make now."
Legacy Circle benefits include:
Unique Identifying Pin Special Events Exclusive Newsletter Updates
To join DLC's Legacy Circle, let us know if you plan to leave a gift to DLC in your will, life insurance policy, or other financial instrument.
Other Ways to Give
For other ways to contribute to the lasting conservation of ecological and cultural resources in your backyard, visit the Giving page on our website.
DLC Board and Staff would like to thank you for your continued support of our mission and conservation initiatives, both locally and across the globe.
