Our Mission Statement
Working with our community to conserve natural and productive landscapes,
and to enhance scenic, recreational, and educational opportunities.
Strategic Plan
The Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT) addresses its mission in an organized, focused way. In 2018 we revisited our strategic plan with the intention to adapt and grow the ways we serve our community. Our planning was supported by a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation.
Read the MALT Strategic Plan 2022-2025 here.
Contact or Visit us
Mailing Address: PO Box 804, Middlebury, VT 05753
Email and Phone: info@maltvt.org, 802-388-1007
Office Location: 298 Maple Street, Suite 1B in the Historic Marble Works
“After living in Chittenden County for 32 years, Patty and I decided to move “back to Vermont” and chose Middlebury in 2006. I had recently retired and we wanted to be more connected to our community.
I have always been drawn to outdoor activities; biking, skiing, hiking, and a life-long love of lacrosse. After settling into our Chipman Park home, I wanted to see what volunteer activities were available and I found MALT.
I have been volunteering 1/2 day per week ever since. I started with general office work and eventually learned to manage their donor database. Just this past year, MALT moved to a new database, Little Green Light, which has improved our efficiency immensely.
I give to MALT in both time and money. I believe that conserving land for future generations is extremely important and this work needs to be done as early as possible, before the land is gone. MALT takes a long-term view of how to preserve our landscapes, provides opportunity for outdoor activities, and helps us all to live balanced lives.”
History
MALT was incorporated in 1987 as the “Middlebury Land Trust” with the purpose of preserving key open and scenic lands in Middlebury. At that time, Middlebury had a local farmland tax abatement program. When the State re-instituted their tax abatement program, Middlebury residents voted to transfer the money they were paying into the local program into a conservation fund. The land trust was charged with advising the select board on the use of these funds. One-half of the income from the Conservation Fund is provided to the Land Trust for administrative support each year.
In 1996, we expanded to include surrounding towns and changed our name to Middlebury Area Land Trust, or MALT. We have created nearly 30 miles of trails to make a complete loop around Middlebury with 2 bridges that span Otter Creek, and a spur trail heading to Snake Mountain. We are working with the National Park Service and North Country Trail Association to connect the TAM with the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Long Trail. We have conserved over 3,500 acres of land, farms, forests, wetlands and recreational areas. We hold 22 easements and own four properties and one façade easement. We have updated license agreements for trail to conservation easements. Our original 13 members have been increased to 229 members in 2018. You can learn about our conserved lands here. We offer environmental educational and recreational opportunities for all ages through naturalist themed-programs, year-round nature-based youth programs, and support several school projects from elementary to college level by providing outdoor classrooms on our conserved lands.
Work with local, regional and national entities to support volunteer and business efforts to increase economic vitality of the region and quality of life issues. National Public Lands Day, working with Lake Champlain Basin program to sponsor events advertised in NY times to increase visitation to the area, and provide TAM maps free of charge to area businesses and the Chamber of Commerce.
How Is MALT funded?
We receive funding from membership, Backpacks, Boots, and Binoculars, business donations, grants, and our annual fundraiser, the TAM Trek.
A special thank you to Caleb Kenna and Josh Hummel for
donating many of the pictures that appear on this site.