Cecil Land Trust

06/05/2026

05/25/2026

Never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Day isn’t about barbecues or beach days—it’s about those A...

05/18/2026

05/17/2026

Great information to share!!

Turtles:

They're all crossing right now. Five turtles, five different reasons — and the help each one needs is slightly different.

One rule covers all of them: move her in the direction she was already heading 🐢

🐢 Common snapping turtle — she's nesting. Heading for sandy or gravelly soil to lay eggs. She's large, heavy, and may snap if handled. Don't pick her up by the tail — it damages her spine. Slide a towel or doormat under her and pull her across, or grip the very back edge of the shell and walk her forward. She's not aggressive — she's defensive because she's out of water and exposed

🐢 Eastern painted turtle — she's nesting too. Smaller, lighter, looking for sunny well-drained soil. Pick her up by the sides of the shell and carry her across in the direction she was heading. She's calm and easy to move

🐢 Eastern box turtle — she's not going to water. Box turtles are land turtles. She's walking her home range — a territory she may have traveled for decades. Pick her up gently and move her in the direction she was heading. Do not put her in a pond. She's not aquatic and she can't swim well enough to survive it

🐢 Spotted turtle — she's moving between wetlands or heading to a nesting site. Small, dark shell with yellow spots. Same handling as the painted turtle — lift by the shell sides, move in the direction she was going

🐢 Wood turtle — she's foraging. Wood turtles leave streams to walk through forests and fields. She's on land on purpose. Lift by the shell sides, same direction rule

🌿 The universal mistakes to avoid:

- Don't relocate any turtle to a "better" spot — she knows where she's going. Moving her to a location she didn't choose can disorient her permanently, especially box turtles
- Don't carry a snapping turtle by the tail — the weight damages her vertebrae
- Don't put a box turtle in water — she's a land turtle
- If you see the same species crossing the same stretch of road every spring, that's a nesting corridor. Slow down in that zone during May and June

Five turtles. Five reasons. One rule: always the direction she was heading 🐢

05/09/2026

05/05/2026

We are proud to support this program!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cecil County Agricultural Education Day Educates Over 1,100 Students

The Cecil County Agricultural Education Planning Association (CCAEPA) proudly hosted the annual Cecil County Agricultural Education Day at the Cecil County Fairgrounds on April 28th, 29th, and 30th. This impactful three-day event provided hands-on agricultural education to more than 1,100 seventh-grade students from across Cecil County.

The CCAEPA, the organizing body behind this successful event, is a collaborative partnership made up of representatives from Cecil Soil Conservation District, University of Maryland Extension - Cecil County, Cecil County Economic Development, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Department of Natural Resources, Cecil County Public Schools and Blackbird Business Advisors. Together, these organizations work to promote agricultural literacy and awareness among local youth.

Students participated in a wide range of interactive sessions led by 30 knowledgeable presenters, covering topics such as land and water, animal science, food science, and agricultural technology. The event was made possible through the dedication of more than 70 volunteers who contributed their time and expertise to ensure a meaningful and engaging experience for all participants.

The CCAEPA extends sincere appreciation to its generous sponsors and supporters, including APGFCU, Cecil County Farm Bureau, Cecil County Economic Development, Smithfield, Gore, Bill and Phyllis Kilby, Morris & Ritchie Associates, R Brookes Mechanical, Upper Bay Ruritan, Upper Shore Regional Council, Hoober Inc., Atlantic Tractor, Choptank Electric, Land O’ Lakes, students from CCST Ag Science Program and Decoy Bookstore. Their continued support plays a vital role in the success and growth of this educational initiative.

Cecil County Agricultural Education Day continues to inspire the next generation by connecting students with the importance of agriculture in their daily lives and future careers.

For more information about the event or to learn how to get involved, please contact the Cecil County Agricultural Education Planning Association, [email protected]. If you wish to support this event for 2027 please feel free to visit the following link to donate: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/cecil-county-ag-education-day--2027

04/22/2026

Sharing a great memory of our second project on this Earth Day! Cecil Land Trust continues to be good stewards of the land with over 43 properties put into preservation in Cecil County and continued stream restoration projects on those preserved properties.