When I think about legacy, I think about a tree. While it can take years for a sapling to grow into a beautiful mature tree, they’re benefitting other plants, wildlife, and our communities almost immediately. Their tiny roots start filtering water and keeping soil in place, protecting our watersheds. Their flowers and buds feed pollinators and provide habitat for the insects that make up the base of the food chain that supports all life on this planet. Even a small amount of shade can stop a sun-loving weed or two from getting a foothold.
In a few short months, we’ll be celebrating a lot of trees together at the Taghkanic Community Forest. This brand-new public property will open June 6, 2026, on National Trails Day – mark your calendars now!
The 500-acre forest is home to hundreds of trees of all ages and is part of a much bigger forest – the mid-Hudson Wildlife Corridor. This forest is incredibly special, and one of only two of its kind east of the Mississippi River. Its roots stretch deep into Southern Appalachia and extend all the way into Canada.
Thanks to the efforts of CLC, partner organizations, grantors, and a generous conservation-minded landowner, the Taghkanic Community Forest is protected and will endure long into the future.
Permanent protection of land is just one kind of legacy. This forest represents a brand-new model of land management for CLC. It’s being cared for by a group of land stewards who have volunteered to become the Taghkanic Community Forest Committee. Together, these community members make important decisions about where trails should be sited, what sorts of activities will be encouraged, and how to manage and improve habitats. These volunteers are shaping the future of this land for generations to come.
The Taghkanic Community Forest has already been shaped by hundreds of hands. This past May, volunteers gathered to plant over a thousand trees, restoring an area that will become a vibrant forest. Together, they dug in and planted trees like bur oaks, sassafras, and sycamores – species selected for their ability to endure in the face of a changing climate in the years to come. I like to imagine that this part of the forest already knows how much we care for it, and perhaps that’s why these tender young saplings are already thriving.
Many hands continue to care for this forest. One of the busiest pairs belongs to current Community Forest member and former CLC Trustee, Tim Kennelty. Tim championed this effort from the beginning, bringing not only his extensive knowledge of habitats, pollinator life cycles, and tree care, but also his unbridled enthusiasm for getting others involved in efforts to care for land.
“Trees give me hope,” Tim says. “I’m a tree fanatic because trees come before us, and they’re going to live long after us. I know trees are always going to be around, even with diseases and spongy moths – if we have enough trees and people tend to them, we’re going to survive. We think of our life spans as being so long, but there are tree species that last for hundreds of years, it’s just amazing.”
Tim’s legacy will also last for hundreds of years in the form of a planned gift he’s made to CLC. He dedicated his gift to care forever for Taghkanic Community Forest. Just like the oaks and the sycamores and the sassafras, his generosity has taken root, and this land will continue to thrive for generations to come.
To recognize the legacy giving that Tim and others like him have committed to, CLC is honored to share the launch of our legacy society, the Sycamore Circle.
The sycamore is a special tree. It’s prehistoric: cultures dating back as far as ancient Egypt have recognized it as a symbol of spiritual connection, protection, and healing. Here in Columbia County, this majestic tree grows along riverbanks, providing habitat for mammals, pollinators, and many species of birds. While it can live for up to 400 years, the sycamore continues to care for the land long after it’s done growing. Its wood feeds beetles and insects. Cavities in the bark provide nesting places for owls and wood ducks. Even the trunk can become a nursery, feeding the next generation of trees as they sprout from the soil.
Consider the legacy you will leave for the land. If you’d like to discuss how you can leave a legacy and be part of caring for land for generations to come, or if you’ve already made a commitment as part of your estate planning, please contact me so we can welcome you to the Sycamore Circle. Legacy giving is truly transformational for the land we love. We hope you will join Tim and other CLC supporters by making a legacy commitment today.
P.S. Want to talk more about anything in this letter? Get in touch with me at [email protected] or 518.557.1762.
Sincerely,
Troy Weldy
President
