Changing Seasons and Transitions at South Hero Land Trust

After leading South Hero Land Trust for 9 growth-filled years, Emily Alger will step down from her position of Executive Director at the end of 2024. We are thrilled to announce that Guy Maguire, our Director of Programs, will be stepping into this leadership role. We will miss Emily as a daily part of South Hero Land Trust, are grateful for all she has done for the land trust and our community, and wish her all the best in her new adventures with her family. At the same time, the South Hero Land Trust Board and staff are excited about new opportunities for the land trust under Guy’s leadership.

Emily has worked at South Hero Land Trust for over 15 years. After serving as Director of Programs for 6 years, she was appointed Executive Director in 2015. She’s had a hand in everything we do during her time here, including land conservation projects, trail development, environmental education, and farm viability programs. She oversaw the conservation of Tracy Woods and opening of the Tracy Woods Community Trail, expanded the Guide to Agriculture into the interactive website and print map it is today, inspired us to prioritize accessibility in current and future trail projects, and more. Her love of the land and commitment to nurturing the relationships we each have with the land have been guideposts for our growth over the last several years.

“Having grown up on this very island, it has been a particular honor and joy to work closely with the community here to protect the land we love. I have a favorite spot around every corner and in every season. Watching the apple trees bloom in the orchards, hunting frogs and dragonflies at Round Pond, catching up with farmers over the perfect tomato at the Farmers’ Market, and watching the first snowflakes fall over farm fields… this place and the people who live here will always be in my heart. Thank you for inviting me into your kitchens and barns, for trusting me with your hopes and dreams for the future, and for working side by side with me to care for the land. I will miss being a part of the daily life of this community, and am so glad to know that South Hero Land Trust will continue to be in good hands with Guy.”

Emily Alger

Many of you know Guy well. He can be found in the community almost every day, leading outings in our natural areas, building trails, and teaching in our summer camp programs. Guy grew up in Portland, Oregon. Following a lifelong passion for the outdoors led Guy to study restoration ecology and to jobs as a field botanist, stewardship  coordinator, environmental educator, and vegetable farmer. Guy started as Director of Programs soon after he and his wife Danielle moved back to her home state of Vermont in early 2017. Working closely with Emily, Guy has developed a robust set of programs that engage community members in learning about and stewarding the natural world, improving access to the outdoors, and supporting local farm and food businesses. Guy’s diversity of skills, plus affinity for relationship building and improving equity in the conservation field, make him a great fit for our next Executive Director. We are confident in his ability to lead South Hero Land Trust with compassion and commitment over the coming years.

“From when I was young, my parents took me camping, hiking and exploring the waters of the Pacific Northwest. This fostered an early passion for the beauty of nature, and a deep feeling of responsibility towards the land. I also grew up within a community of farmers, gardeners, and great cooks, which kindled my lifelong love for local food and farms. Since then I have pursued opportunities where I can blend these two interests, which is why I was thrilled to join South Hero Land trust back in 2017, and am equally excited and honored to move into this role as executive director.”

~ Guy Maguire

Guy will officially step into the role of Executive Director on January 1. Between now and then he and Emily will work closely with the Board of Directors to facilitate a smooth transition. This will include a gradual handing over of projects and programs from Emily to Guy, and a thoughtful re-organization of staff responsibilities more broadly, so that we will be well placed to hire a new programs staff person in the spring. While some changes are inevitable, we look forward to maintaining our diverse programming, and will continue to move forward with the rebuild of the Recreation Park boardwalk, the building of the Islandacres Farm Trail, and the conservation of the Goulet Farm (amongst many more programs and projects).  If you have any questions about this transition, you are welcome to email Emily at emily@shlt.org

As we look back on the last two and a half decades of land conservation and community building in South Hero, we are so proud of what we have accomplished. Together, we have protected local farms and natural areas, built trails, improved access to local food, educated the next generations of land stewards, and more. Thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration. We are excited for all we will do together in the next decade!