After a Thanksgiving feast of turkey, taters, and maybe one slice of pie too many, many of us will be looking for a good excuse to get outside and move again. Fortunately, you don’t have to look far. Whether you head up Red Grade Trails or wander the Big Goose Natural Area with your favorite pawed pals, SCLT’s community trails offer the perfect way to walk off those holiday helpings while taking in the scenery that makes Sheridan County home.

And while we’re out there stretching our legs and enjoying the crisp air, it’s worth remembering something important: these trails, and so many of the places we love, exist because of neighbors—people who care deeply about this land and this community.

At SCLT, we’ve seen that generosity shine all year long. Ranch families worked with us to conserve working lands, open spaces, and wildlife habitat, helping ensure that herds stay healthy, grasslands remain strong, and future generations will inherit the wide-open views that make Sheridan County so special.

Trail builders, partners, and dedicated volunteers helped us build and maintain miles of trails so families can connect with the outdoors in every season—even after second (and third!) helpings on Turkey Day. And if you’re planning to enjoy a little leftover pumpkin pie… don’t worry; Sheridan County has plenty of miles to help you earn it back.

This year, people across the community also stepped up to save historic places and stories before they’re lost forever. From moving Wyoming’s last surviving streetcar to its new home to giving a historic homestead a little TLC to sharing local history through Explore History tours and talks, neighbors are helping preserve the stories that make our county unique.

And of course, the Big Goose Natural Area (BGNA) has quickly become a beloved place for people to create community connections. Families explore the off-leash dog area, school groups learn, volunteers teach, and neighbors gather along the creek. The BGNA is becoming a place where conservation, recreation, education, and history all meet—open to all, free to visit, and built to inspire for generations to come.

But if you ask us what we’re most thankful for this season, the answer is simple: our volunteers.

This year, volunteers donated 1,276 hours of their time back to the places they love. They led Discovery Sessions, planted trees, repaired fences, taught classes, pulled weeds, shared stories, and welcomed visitors. Their time, talent, and caring hearts stretch SCLT’s impact farther than any budget ever could.

One of those volunteers, Bob Giurgevich, has spent many hours leading plant walk Discovery Sessions. He summed up the spirit of volunteerism perfectly when he said, “I end up learning more from the people on the trips than I think I provide to them.” That humility, curiosity, and sense of shared purpose are exactly what make this community so special.

As the holidays approach, we’re also grateful for a generous friend of SCLT who has offered a $65,000 Holiday Challenge Match—our largest ever—to inspire giving through January 15. Every dollar donated will be matched dollar-for-dollar, and new or increased monthly gifts will be matched $3 for every $1 given. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to make your impact go even further for the land, water, trails, history, and community spaces you care about most.

So if you’re feeling grateful for the trails that help you work off your Thanksgiving meal, the open spaces that feed the soul, or the neighbors who always show up when it matters most, this is your chance to turn that gratitude into lasting good.

With Giving Tuesday just days away on December 2nd, we invite you to join friends and neighbors across Sheridan County in celebrating generosity—whether through a gift, a shared story, or an hour of volunteer time.

From all of us at Sheridan Community Land Trust, thank you for the kindness you show all year long. Your support sparks lasting impact throughout our community.

To make a gift that will be matched, visit https://SheridanCLT.org/Donate, mail a gift to PO Box 7185, Sheridan, WY 82801, or stop by our office at 14 Lane Ln. Together, we’re keeping Sheridan County’s land, water, history, and trails thriving—for generations to come.