Mission, vision, values
Our Mission
The mission of Sipson Island Trust is to inspire and empower people to live in harmony with nature. We work to protect and rewild Sipson Island, foster research and outdoor education, serve our community, and honor Indigenous wisdom.
Our Vision
We envision Sipson Island as a place where people join together to restore a natural treasure and share it as a cherished community resource — as it was and remains for Cape Cod’s Indigenous people. We intend this work as a model for other eco-restoration projects.
Ours is a collaborative vision, embracing diverse sources of knowledge and traditions on Pleasant Bay: scientists and educators, longtime residents, boaters and paddlers, and Indigenous legacies. At a time when protecting and enjoying nature are sometimes at odds, we will cultivate a deep understanding of place to keep those vital interests in dynamic balance, responsive to changes in climate and culture.
We see visitors young and old, able and less abled, from all backgrounds, coming to the island for refreshment, renewal, and well-designed programs that deepen their understanding of both this unique place and of how people and nature can interact to mutual benefit. Part of SIT’s long-range vision is a low-impact, open-air facility as the nexus for gathering and learning on the island.
We strive to build an organization characterized by a broad and passionate donor base, mutually supportive partnerships, an active and diverse board, and a strong, committed volunteer team.
Our Values
Sipson Island Trust is committed to the values of community, inclusivity, collaboration, and integrity — of ecosystems and in organizations.
We deeply believe that the work of preserving and restoring land is a greater good: for habitats and wildlife, for people’s health and spiritual well-being, for the survival of the planet and its living systems.
We are motivated and guided by the urge to give back to the natural places that give so much to us. We understand the infinite worth of the human–nature connection and strive to strengthen that connection.
We perceive the natural and human communities around Pleasant Bay as a bioregion and Sipson Island as the “heart of Pleasant Bay,” with a vital ecological role in that unique saltwater resource.
We recognize the island as a place of historical and community significance, respecting the importance of land-use history and its legacies. From this comes our commitment to steward the island’s spiritual and natural values for contemporary Indigenous people, whose ancestors knew it as a place to be protected and shared by all. We embrace this concept of the island and the need to spread awareness of this neglected history.
We believe in the power of citizen engagement in bringing our organization’s vision to life.
SIT is committed to managing Sipson Island according to principles of equal opportunity, so that every interested individual or family—regardless of race, color, national origin, gender orientation, age, disability, or income resources—has an equal right to access lands open to the public on Sipson Island.
