Rachelle Curran Apse GHS ’95, likes to think outside, no box required. Since 2015, she has worked hard to preserve open spaces for future generations as the executive director of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. From its humble beginnings in the 1980s in Gorham the Land Trust has grown to encompass the towns of Gray, Standish, Windham and Westbrook.
A graduate of University of Maine, Curran Apse earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science in 1999 and a master of arts degree from Humboldt State University in 2003 in the social science program, with a focus on environment and community.
During her 25 years in the environmental field, she has worked with the Environmental Health Strategy Center, Maine Audubon, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group. Her efforts were recently acknowledged when she was named one of Maine Magazine’s “Mainers of the Year,” in the field of Outdoor Recreation.
Photo credit: Rachelle Curran ApseRachelle Curran Apse hikes with her family son Tobin, husband Colin and daughter Mara at Acadia National Park.
Growing up in Gorham, Curran Apse was as an avid runner on the GHS cross-country team. To stay in shape, she ran the informal forested trails in town. Being outdoors inspired her curiosity and appreciation of nature and lead her to study environmental science.
Knowing that since she was a kid, Gorham has nearly doubled in size, continues to motivate her to lead the organization. “Most of the trails I loved running on when I was a kid are now subdivisions, and many of the forests, fields and trails are gone because the land was not conserved,” she said.
With her leadership, the Land Trust has grown to encompass 18 preserves and 2170 acres, protecting land in the fast-growing communities west of Portland. The most recent project is a 750-acre parcel larger in size than Bradbury State Park.
The Land Trust also oversees the 28-mile Sebago to the Sea Trail. It also recruits and trains volunteers who take water samples of the Presumpscot River and its tributaries for the Maine DEP. This important work helps monitor the health of the Presumpscot River watershed to keep it safe for wildlife and humans to enjoy.
Curran Apse and the Land Trust Board worked to earn National Land Trust Accreditation by meeting stringent standards in fiscal responsibility, ethical conduct, strong leadership, governance, and lasting stewardship. This important designation also makes it possible to access a wider array of grant funds.
Curran Apse, along with her staff, has worked hard to develop and expand free outreach programs for community members of all ages. She is deeply committed to providing more opportunities for families to get outdoors, close to home, on family-friendly trails, by creating scavenger hunts, fairy/gnome villages, and story walks on conserved lands. She believes these educational, recreational, and social programs have clearly met a community need. “Over 1,000 families as well as many adults of all ages have attended programs in the last two years,” she said.
According to Curran Apse, only about 2% of the town of Gorham is conserved as open space for the public to access. The Land Trust continues to work with interested private landowners and the town to expand conservation land and access to the outdoors and nature. She is committed to expanding opportunities here in her hometown because access to the outdoors is important for our quality of life and for the local economy.
She added, “The Land Trust, has the opportunity to help ensure that as Gorham’s development continues, there are also significant conservation and trail projects that protect the beloved informal forested trails that will provide access to nature close to home for generations to come.”
Curran Apse and her husband, Colin Apse live in Portland with their son, Colin and daughter, Mara. She is the daughter of Al and the late Carol Curran. Her sisters Nilaya and Sally are also GHS grads.
Curran Apse wishes to acknowledge the many volunteers and supporters from Gorham and surrounding towns who make conservation and public access to the outdoors possible. To learn more and to get involved go to: www.prlt.org.