Mission & History
Our Mission
Planet New Canaan is a non-partisan group, founded by local community members, committed to bringing awareness about the environmental issues facing New Canaan and the broader world. Through educational presentations, community outreach and new initiatives, we seek to inspire action that improves our town’s sustainability.
Our History
The Beginnings
Planet New Canaan was conceived in 2016. Robin Bates-Mason, a New Canaan resident and active volunteer, attended an environmental program at Grace Farms and came away inspired to create an organization for New Canaan residents concerned about the environment.
Robin, along with Katie Owsley and Margot Bright, led the first efforts to explore the opportunity to create a New Canaan organization that actively seeks to help the environment, locally and globally.
The original core team began with research. The team reached out to environmental groups in nearby towns, including Wilton Go Green, the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability, Darien Environmental Group, and Live Green CT. The conclusion reached: New Canaan should have its own environmental group.
As a result, Robin, Katie and Margot formed Planet New Canaan. The objective: to educate residents and improve sustainability — to make our town greener.
Planet New Canaan started with the help and financial sponsorship of the New Canaan Nature Center — scheduling meetings at their facility, and having the Nature Center handle PNC’s financial contributions.
Planet New Canaan’s First Initiatives
When residents Miki Porta, Christina Fagerstal, Julie Smith and Lynn Canaan came on board to create the Programs Committee, Planet New Canaan was officially in business.
The first project focused on reducing plastic bag usage. Another local conservation group, BYO New Canaan was pursuing legislative changes to ban plastic bags. Planet New Canaan got involved first by showing Bag It at the New Canaan Library, a documentary about plastic’s harmful effects. PNC then met with New Canaan merchants and encouraged them to stop handing out plastic bags. This conservation movement successfully resulted in New Canaan’s local ordinance banning carryout plastic ban, issued August 27, 2019.
Over the next five years, Planet New Canaan has been an environmental leader in New Canaan, helping implement numerous sustainability projects. As a result, these accomplishments helped New Canaan earned a Bronze-Level 2020 Sustainable CT Certification. Programs include:
- Annual Five Mile River clean-up with Surfrider Foundation;
- Establishment of the New Canaan Pollinator Pathway; PNC was one of the founding members, June 2019
- Bi-annual native plant fundraiser with Copia Home and Garden, starting in Spring 2019
- Seasonal pumpkin and Christmas Tree recycling, starting in 2020
- Food Scraps Recycling program at the New Canaan Transfer Station, starting November 2020
- Established as a tax-exempt non-profit 501(C)(3), January 2021
- Native tree funding campaign for Waveny Park, April 2021
- Ongoing educational programs with the New Canaan Library
Working in Partnership with the Town of New Canaan
Our close relationship with the Town of New Canaan, especially the New Canaan Nature Center, the Department of Public Works, The Parks & Recreation Department, has been essential to our progress. Volunteers are the engine that drive our success. We are indebted every day to our members and residents who volunteer their time. But we also know: there is more work to do!
Our Mission
Planet New Canaan is a non-partisan group, founded by local community members, committed to bringing awareness about the environmental issues facing New Canaan and the broader world. Through educational presentations, community outreach and new initiatives, we seek to inspire action that improves our town’s sustainability.
Our History
The Beginnings
Planet New Canaan was conceived in 2016. Robin Bates-Mason, a New Canaan resident and active volunteer, attended an environmental program at Grace Farms and came away inspired to create an organization for New Canaan residents concerned about the environment.
Robin, along with Katie Owsley and Margot Bright, led the first efforts to explore the opportunity to create a New Canaan organization that actively seeks to help the environment, locally and globally.
The original core team began with research. The team reached out to environmental groups in nearby towns, including Wilton Go Green, the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability, Darien Environmental Group, and Live Green CT. The conclusion reached: New Canaan should have its own environmental group.
As a result, Robin, Katie and Margot formed Planet New Canaan. The objective: to educate residents and improve sustainability — to make our town greener.
Planet New Canaan started with the help and financial sponsorship of the New Canaan Nature Center — scheduling meetings at their facility, and having the Nature Center handle PNC’s financial contributions.
Planet New Canaan’s First Initiatives
When residents Miki Porta, Christina Fagerstal, Julie Smith and Lynn Canaan came on board to create the Programs Committee, Planet New Canaan was officially in business.
The first project focused on reducing plastic bag usage. Another local conservation group, BYO New Canaan was pursuing legislative changes to ban plastic bags. Planet New Canaan got involved first by showing Bag It at the New Canaan Library, a documentary about plastic’s harmful effects. PNC then met New Canaan merchants and encouraged them to stop handing out plastic bags. This conservation movement successfully resulted in New Canaan’s local ordinance banning carryout plastic ban, issued August 27, 2019.
Over the next five years, Planet New Canaan has been an environmental leader in New Canaan, helping implement numerous sustainability projects. As a result, these accomplishments helped New Canaan earned a Bronze-Level 2020 Sustainable CT Certification. Programs include:
- Annual Five Mile River clean-up with Surfrider Foundation;
- Establishment of the New Canaan Pollinator Pathway; PNC was one of the founding members, June 2019
- Bi-annual native plant fundraiser with Copia Home and Garden, starting in Spring 2019
- Seasonal pumpkin and Christmas Tree recycling, starting in 2020
- Food Scraps Recycling program at the New Canaan Transfer Station, starting November 2020
- Established as a tax-exempt non-profit 501(C)(3), January 2021
- Native tree funding campaign for Waveny Park, April 2021
- Ongoing educational programs with the New Canaan Library
Working in Partnership with the Town of New Canaan
Our close relationship with the Town of New Canaan, especially the New Canaan Nature Center, the Department of Public Works, The Parks & Recreation Department, has been essential to our progress. Volunteers are the engine that drive our success. We are indebted every day to our members and residents who volunteer their time. But we also know: there is more work to do!
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