It was a surprise challenge gift from a member of the Loon Echo Land Trust’s board of directors matched by the generosity of Wyonegonic Camps – along with several anonymous gifts in the last week of a fund-raising campaign – that helped the land trust obtain their goal of $1.5 million dollars to protect land in the Lakes Region. Specifically, the money will go to protect Pleasant Mountain and expand Sebago Headwaters Preserve.

To celbrate, Loon Echo held its donor recognition party on Sunday, August 28 at Winona Camps on Moose Pond in Bridgton. Approximately 400 donors and partners of the Lakes Region Legacy Campaign were invited to attend.

In total, the Land Trust protects about 3,000 acres in several Lakes Region towns including Casco, Naples, Bridgton and Denmark. Property currently under their protection on Pleasant Mountain include 1,288 acres including the Ledges Trail and a portion of the Mackay Pasture Trail; 160 acres including the Bald Peak Trail and “Needles Eye;” a 14-acre conservation easement on Shawnee Peak Ski Area, and a 10-acre Conservation Easement on Beaver Pond.

Loon Echo also protects land in the Sebago Headwaters Preserve in Bridgton and Naples including the Bald Pate Preserve of 486 acres, the Sebago Headwaters property comprising 261 acres, and the Holt Pond Preserve of 400 acres. Holt Pond is owned by the Lakes Environmental Association.

Founded in 1987, the Land Trust’s mission is to protect land in the northern Sebago Lake region for education, recreation, plant and wildlife habitat, water quality, rare and endangered species, and sustaining agriculture and forests.

A bronze plaque recognizing those who generously gave to this effort will be installed on The Ledges Trail on Pleasant Mountain.