Nature Conservancy @ Mashomack / January 2026 — Hiring Seasonal Team Members / New Programs ….

Dear Mashomack Community,

Happy New Year! Our trails are closed Monday-Friday throughout January for deer hunting season. Normal hours resume February 1st.  

As we bid farewell to our 45th year and welcome 2026, we’d like to share some of the accomplishments of our Mashomack team.

We work hard every day to keep trails open, provide engaging programs, upkeep our facilities and ensure Mashomack’s lands and water are resilient in the face of climate change. While some of this work is visible, much of it happens behind the scenes—so we’re sharing a few facts and figures that may surprise you!

Best Wishes for 2026,  
Cody-Marie 
Mashomack Conservation & Stewardship Manager

• 30 groups hosted at the Manor House 
• 5 community events held including the Spring Picnic, Summer Cocktail Party and a living history display 
• 1,100+ people welcomed to the Manor House 

• 30,000 visitors enjoyed the preserve 
• 39 onsite programs offered 
• 8 offsite outreach events staffed 
• 7 partner organizations collaborated with 
• 3,000+ volunteer hours contributed 

• 5 annual monitoring projects completed 
• 100+ acres of meadow habitat mowed 
• 177 acres of forest treated with prescribed fire 
• 3+ miles of fire line prepped 
• 73 deer harvested 

• 10 miles of trails mowed and maintained 
• 11 miles of beaches cleaned 
• 15 miles of preserve boundary markers checked 
• 5 conservation easements monitored across Shelter Island 
• 4 acres of lawn maintained around the Manor House and Visitor Center 

• 2 acres of deer exclosures removed 
• Roadside brush removal completed 
• Planning initiated for marsh restoration in Bass Creek and Miss Annie’s Creek 

• 10 buildings maintained across the preserve 
• Historic barn windows replaced and structural repairs completed 
• Entire 2nd and 3rd floors of the Manor House painted 
• Water Tower received new exterior doors on the 2nd and 3rd floors 
• Visitor Center gained an accessible pathway to the Education Building 

Seasonal Picnics, Parties, and New Programs 

The Manor House will host teams and groups and welcome the community for annual events like the Spring Picnic (May 24th), the Summer Cocktail Party (July 25th) and the Holiday Open House (Dec 12th). The Education and Outreach team have a full program schedule set through September and a mailer with summer programs will go to Shelter Island residents in May. We look forward to the return of favorites like the Mashomack Point hike, Bass Creek kayak paddles, Environmental Explorers and our new winter/ spring speaker series and environmental book club.  
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Prescribed Fire, Repairs and Upgrades 

Our conservation and stewardship teams are preparing for more prescribed fire in February and March and some upcoming trail expansions in the spring, expect to hear more about both in the coming months. We will also be continuing to make repairs and upgrades to the Visitor Center, the historic barn, and the Manor House. We are also exploring ways we can increase sustainability to our facilities through green upgrades such as solar.  
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Volunteer with Us! 

If you are interested in volunteering, we have lots of opportunities requiring a range of skills. Rebecca Kusa is always looking for Visitor Center docents and program assistants. Deb Bellomo is looking for volunteers to assist with a springtime deep clean at the Manor House and Dan Ritzler has multiple stewardship projects including mowing, trail work and invasive species removal. If interested, have an idea for something else, or want more information, please email the preserve at Mashomackpreserve@tnc.org. 

We are Hiring Seasonal Team Members!