Perhaps the greatest joy at a community nonprofit is turning the dreams of many into a reality for all. This year, SCLT saw what began as a dream nearly 20 years ago take giant strides toward reality.
As more and more people have connected with land and history through fun trails, fascinating history programs and tours, and formative experiences like Discovery Sessions, Unplugs, and volunteer opportunities, SCLT outgrew its increasingly sardine-tin-like upstairs office downtown.
Thankfully, the Homer A. and Mildred S. Scott Foundation offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to a new home at its Bridges property along Big Goose Creek just a few miles outside Sheridan.
It is a place where SCLT can showcase its core missions of conservation, historic preservation, and outdoor recreation in a space where everyone in our community can access and experience those missions working together to create meaning and memories that inspire people to ensure our beautiful Bighorns backyard remains beautiful for generations to come.
Of course, what good is a move if you don’t have a move-in party? On Aug. 28, SCLT held its first Backyard BBQ, and boy howdy, was it a bash! Upwards of 600 people flocked to our new home, where they were able to tour the new-to-us office, the SCLT Community Rooms (already being used as meeting and learning space by local nonprofits!), enjoy great meats, tasty eats, games, face painting, and some gen-u-ine Western tunes from our fine friend and true troubadour, Tris Munsick.
A beyond-gorgeous late-summer evening culminated with the announcement of what may be the most impactful project in SCLT history: that the office, community rooms, and about 116 acres of pasture, grassland, and streamside adjoining it will become the future SCLT Big Goose Natural Area!
“It is a testament to the good work of SCLT,” said Jenny Craft, Executive Director of the Homer A. and Mildred S. Scott Foundation.
She told the crowd the foundation believes that “investment in community and our youth is vital for the future” and that its vision for Bridges is to “engage the community as we work to foster a premiere natural setting for active and passive uses for outdoor programming.”
“We are excited to support SCLT and their valued mission,” Craft said, and, as she looked out at the crowd of 600, concluded, “It is easy to see why this is such a great partnership.”
“Many, many, many of you have helped along the way,” said SCLT Executive Director Brad Bauer, noting how community members have shared their time, talent, and treasure to create trails, protect land, and preserve history in Sheridan County. “At the beginning of the land trust’s time, a turnout of 20 people for an event like this was a success. I think we beat that by a little bit,” he relayed.
“This is an awesome opportunity. We will open the Big Goose Natural Area to you, to our community,” Bauer continued, asking, “What does it mean? Take a moment and dream with me.”
Bauer outlined a vision of connecting families and friends to land and history together. That’s morning walks on an amazing trail through the land, grandfathers teaching granddaughters how to fish during an evening hatch, and weekend floats down the water trail. That’s seeing conservation in action on the land with wildlife-friendly fences and in the water with streambank willow plantings. It’s learning about the people and cultures who have hunted, gathered, farmed, ranched, and called this land home for tens of thousands of years. And it’s learning about its future as groups gather for Discovery Sessions, Unplugs, Explore History, and other programs on the land and welcome center, and teach one another in the community rooms.
“Can you see it?” Bauer asked, and the crowd answered a resounding “YES!!” “I can see it, too. And it’s only possible because of you,” he said. “But we’re not there yet. We expect to invest just shy of a half million into the property over the next five years, making it all the much better for wildlife, continuing to use it for agriculture, improving its use for education and recreation, and preserving the history that’s here.”
SCLT is utilizing existing funds to purchase the property. For now, the land around the office is not open for public access. We will announce more details once this jewel is ready for the community. Until then, you are welcome to visit us at the SCLT office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We’ll give you a tour.
“Thank you for dreaming with us. We need your help, and with it, those dreams will come true,” Bauer concluded.
That’s how SCLT is turning the dreams of many into a reality for all with the Big Goose Natural Area.
