Dennis Conservation Land Trust

The Dennis Conservation Land Trust (DCLT) is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting Cape Cod's iconic lands, nestled between Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound, while fostering a healthier, more sustainable future through science, education, and agriculture. We not only conserve ecologically significant landscapes, but also restore farmland, provide career-focused environmental internships, promote sustainable gardening, and expand access to fresh, local food. By blending conservation, science, stewardship, and hands-on learning, we connect people of all ages and abilities to the land-building a shared commitment to protect nature, nourish our community, and preserve agricultural heritage.

Our small but growing team has:
✅ Permanently protected over 675 acres of land in our focus area (Dennis, Cape Cod, MA) including its most iconic forests, wetlands, beaches, and pondshores
✅ Provided permanent land access to Indigenous Communities, including local Wampanoag friends, through the establishment of one of the nation's first Cultural Respect Easements
✅ Established our Environmental Study Center at Not Enough Acres Farm, where we invite everyone to explore nature through sustainable agriculture and scientific study
✅ Founded a summer science fair internship program, through which our local high school interns have earned top placements at the state-wide competition
✅ Started and continued water quality monitoring at Chase Garden Creek, New England's most important ecosystem for shellfish propagation
✅ Created collaborative, educational farm plots, where we, our students, and our community partners such as the Brazilian Resource Center grow food for donation to local food pantries
✅ Founded the Community Biodiversity Initiative, a data-driven effort to recruit community scientists to monitor biodiversity where it will have the greatest conservation impact

Testimonials

"I spent many years struggling with fitting into the box that I believed all science lovers should be rigid, formulaic, and overly self-serious. DCLT staff has taught me and so many other young people that science can be playful, creative, and a FUN way of interacting more deeply with the world" - TerraCorps Member, 2025

"When I started with AmeriCorps Cape Cod, I had lost a lot of confidence in myself and felt directionless. DCLT saw potential in me and brought it out with their mentorship. I am forever grateful." - AmeriCorps Cape Cod Member, 2024

"Since starting as an intern over a year ago, I've been met with nothing but support and kindness." - DCLT Science Fair Intern, 2024