By Mariel Hohmann, TerraCorps Land Stewardship Coordinator

As snowmelt and rainy days fill the vernal pools of the Hilltowns, salamanders, frogs, and fairy shrimp are on the move. And so is HLT!
You don’t have to be a land trust to conserve these sensitive habits. In fact, anyone can help get a vernal pool certified by submitting their observations to the state!
Hilltown Land Trust has held vernal pool certifications over the years to help educate people about this powerful community science opportunity. This winter, we hosted a reunion for our intrepid Vernal Pool Plunge trainees to reconnect, celebrate their accomplishments, and look to the future.
Going forward, we’re banding together to conserve more vernal pools and educate more folks about them. Head to our Vernal Pool Plunge page to learn more and keep an eye out for these fragile environments in your area!
