‘I have a passion for nature’ — Q&A with Kathy Mills

Kathy Mills is the new executive director of
the Scarborough Land Trust. 

SCARBOROUGH — Kathy Mills, 54, of Yarmouth, may be new to her role as executive director of the Scarborough Land Trust – having started work March 26 – but she’s an old hand at public relations, fundraising and environmental issues.

A graduate of Smith College, Mills most recently served seven years as a grants officer for Maine Audubon. Prior to that, she got her hands dirty during 18 months with the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association as an apprentice at Sunrise Farm in Cumberland, where she co-managed its community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. While at Sunrise, Mills met John Bliss and Stacy Brenner, who today lease land trust’s “signature holding,” the 434-acre Broadturn Farm, bringing her agricultural experience full circle.

Jack Anderson, chairman of the land trust's board of directors, said Mills was plucked from a field of 20 applicants, seven of whom were interviewed by a three-person selection committee. Of the two names presented to the full board, Mills was the unanimous choice, he said.

"We picked Kathy not only because she has a lot of very good fundraising experience, but she also possessed that intangible feeling of 'fit' with our organization," said Anderson.

Before her foray into farming, Mills logged a decade as associate director of advancement and director of public relations at the Maine College of Art in Portland, where, she says, one of her duties was to lead the school’s fundraising foundation.

That experience should come in handy as Scarborough Land Trust enters its 25^th year with nearly 1,000 acres to maintain and still more in its sights to preserve for future generations.

Q: What attracted you to this position with the Scarborough Land Trust?

A: I have a passion for nature and, after working at Maine Audubon – where I learned a lot about wildlife and habitats and collaborating with communities – I saw this opportunity as a chance to engage people in land conservation more directly.

Q: So, instead of educating others about conservation, you’re now rolling up your sleeves, so to speak?

A: That’s right. I’ll be working with willing landowners and partners in the town and the state to find parcels to protect for open space, recreation, wildlife and habitat, and also to connect people to those lands.

Q: Why is that important?

A: People come alive when they are outdoors in nature, in places that they love. I think it’s important in these times of lots of consumption and busy-ness to remind people that our land and wildlife habitats, and our natural resources, all need protecting.

Q: Toward that end, what are your immediate goals?

A: Our goals are three: One, to engage more people in the properties that we have and in land conservation. Secondly, we want to work with willing landowners in town and with other partners to identify additional parcels for conservation. And then, of course, we need to raise funds to make all that happen.

Q: Are there any fundraising needs that will drive your first few months on the job?

A: Well, the land trust is in good shape financially. We do have our annual spring appeal coming out in a few weeks and we have a piece of land – over 100 acres centrally located in Scarborough – under contract that we will be raising funds for later this summer.

Q: So, give us your best pitch. Why should people donate to the land trust?

A: Scarborough has some amazing natural resources. It has some extraordinary beaches and the largest salt marsh in Maine. All of the upland land in town used to be farms. If people care about open space and scenic views, and living with some green around them, then they should care about the land trust and be supportive of our work.

Q: Is your work a tough sell to taxpayers in trying economic times?

A: Well, Scarborough voters have made a pretty strong statement about the fact that they care about land conservation. The town has passed three different bonds to that effect in recent years. So, the community has spoken about the importance it places on natural resources, the land and water, fields, woods, rivers and the ocean, and you can see that in the places that have been preserved already.

Q: How do you answer those who say the town can’t afford to remove more land from both the tax rolls, since land is a nonprofit, and potential development?

A: I believe that good economic development and land conservation can go hand-in-hand. I think they can be mutually supportive. I think no one would want to see all of Scarborough developed. Preserving open space enhances quality of life and that’s a good part of why businesses want to locate here, after all.

Q: Is conservation only about preserving open space, or is agriculture a growing part of the vision?

A: Well, the land trust played a role in helping to establish the Frith Farm last year on Ash Swamp Road. Land conservation and sustainable farming also go hand-in-hand. Preserving farmland not only preserves open space, but also the land that produces healthy food to feed us and more local food uses less natural resources and energy to bring to market.

Q: Given your background with the Maine College of Art, does the land trust have opportunities within the so-called “creative economy?”

A: Not that I’m aware of, but there’s not a complete disconnect. Maine’s natural beauty and its artistic heritage are world renowned, and Scarborough has a history that brings those together in very special ways, with Prouts Neck being the place where Winslow Homer painted much of his work. Many artists value nature and draw much of their inspiration from it. We had people come to Maine Audubon all the time to do drawing and painting and photography. The Scarborough Land Trust properties are places where we would welcome people to do the same, because, as I said before, quality of place is really huge. Land conservation is a big part of maintaining Maine’s quality of place.

Q: What drives the “passion for nature” you spoke of?

A: I don’t know, that’s a good question. I think it’s just from growing up in Maine with all its wonderful natural resources. Where I grew up, on Casco Bay with the Royal River running through my town, it was hardly a booming metropolis. I just find a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment in being outdoors and exploring the outdoors. And I’m not alone in my passion. I see a lot of others who have tremendous interest in the outdoors. Some people are not aware of the places just beyond their own backyard, right in their own hometowns, that are available or them to explore.

Q: How important is it to draw people to the land your organization already has open for public use?

A: Very. I’m glad you asked that, because not many people know about the wonderful properties the land trust is protecting. Many people aren’t aware that we have trails that are open to the public, where children and adults and families can visit with their pets. You don’t have to be a hardcore hiker or heavy-duty kayaker to get out and enjoy nature in Scarborough. There are trail maps on our website [scarboroughlandtrust.org] to wonderful spaces at the Libby River Farm, Sewell Woods and Fuller Farm, in addition to Broadturn.

Q: You seem to light up when you talk about these spaces.

A: Personally, I’m really excited to be here because Scarborough has some amazing resources. More importantly, the Scarborough Land Trust has a board of directors that’s really committed and very involved. It has rolled up its sleeves and done a great deal of work to make things happen, and the town, also, is very supportive. All three of those ingredients make for tremendous and exciting opportunities for land conservation.

Q: You’ve spend a career in public relations, fundraising and conservation, but this is you’re first job as top dog. Do you feel ready to lead?

A: I feel really ready. I’ve been working in nonprofit organizations for many years and working with people at a leadership level to accomplish a lot of things. I feel I have the background to assume a leadership position now. That’s really why I pursued this.

Q: What does being a leader mean to you?

A: I think a leader’s primary role is to serve the mission of an organization and to bring other people along in support of that mission, and that’s really my focus in working here at the Scarborough Land Trust.