Upcoming Events


Library Tour: A Love Song for the Vineyard Lawn

This winter and spring, VCS will be taking our “Love Song for the Vineyard Lawn” presentation on tour across the Island Libraries. Each month from January until May you will have an opportunity to catch this wonderful talk and Q&A. Find out how the simple act of lawn care choices affects everything from our personal health to our community’s water quality to the global climate, along with tips and resources for how to apply the Vineyard Lawn approach in your own backyard.


Beach BeFrienders

Clean-Up Gatherings Now Happening Monthly!

Owen Park to Packer’s Dock
Feb. 24, 2pm – sunset

Lighthouse & Fuller St Beach
March 30, 2 – 5pm


In collaboration with our town Libraries and DPWs, and brought to fruition by dozens of volunteers, VCS has launched an exciting new beach cleanup initiative – Beach BeFrienders!

There are two ways to participate:

1) On the 4th Saturday of every month, a volunteer will be at a pre-selected location with bags and gloves. They will also handle disposal of the trash collected.

2) Or, “BeFriend a Beach” anytime and anywhere you like! Stop by any Island library and pick up one of our special VCS trash stickers (available mid-May), put that on your collected junk, and the transfer stations will take it free of charge.

For more info please email us and sign up today to let us know you’re interested in joining the crew – thank you for helping protect our Island beaches!

Check out the Beach BeFrienders profile in Bluedot Living magazine!

Since launching the program in May 2023, dozens of beaches have been “BeFriended” with at least one gathering, including Philbin, Squibnocket, Inkwell, South Beach, Lambert’s Cove, Eastville, State Beach, Lobsterville, and many more. Thank you to everyone who has pitched in!



Climate Action Fair

Save the Date: Sunday, May 19 @ the Ag Hall

PS: The 2024 Art of Conservation opening show and awards presentation will be held during the Climate Fair!


Previous / Annual Events


Winter Walks Return!

The always fun and educational VCS Winter Walks return this fall with a new series focused on exploring the Vineyard’s coastal ponds. Get outdoors, take in the Island’s scenic beauty, and learn the conservation history of some of our local ecological treasures.  

In addition to sharing some of the most beautiful locations on the Island (many of which are not usually open to the public), this year we hope to highlight the deep connection between past, present, and future land use decisions and the ecological health of the Island’s estuaries.

All walks begin at 10 am unless otherwise noted and usually last about two hours. VCS Winter Walks are free and open to the public – and usually, with cider and cookies afterward, it’s even better than free! Because we sometimes need to limit the total number of attendees, registration is required.

Sign up for the next Winter Walk here!

November 11
Tisbury Great Pond

December 9
Lagoon Pond & Shellfish Hatchery

January 15
Squibnocket Ridge

February 10
Quenames Farm

March 9
Slough Farm & Edgartown Great Pond

Photos: Last year’s Winter Walk at Allen Sheep Farm, and our 2012 Walk at the Frances Newhall Woods Preserve (find more photos here)


Beach Kit Making

Oct. 26th 4-5pm @ the Oak Bluffs Library

Help support the burgeoning Beach BeFrienders movement by joining us for an hour of volunteer work at the Oak Bluffs Library. All ages are welcome and snacks will be provided!

The project will helping to assemble beach clean-up kits to be distributed at Town Libraries. These free kits help make it easy for anyone to “befriend a beach” in between organized BBF outings (see below). Just grab a kit, head to your favorite beach, and drop off the trash at your local transfer station – or save it for the next monthly clean-up!


Harvest Festival

Oct. 21st 10am – 3pm @ the Ag Hall

This fall, the Island community gathers once again at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury for music, pumpkin carving, wagon rides, a hay maze, fiber demos, apple cider pressing, a local wild food challenge, the farmers market, and more. Local nonprofits, including VCS, will be there with all sorts of educational activities for people of all ages. Many details are still TBD, but mark your calendars for the Harvest Festival!


Annual Meeting

of the Membership & Board of Directors

5:30 to 7:30 pm, June 20 @ The Grange in West Tisbury

Please join us at 5:30 pm on June 20th at the historic Grange Hall in West Tisbury for the annual meeting of the VCS Membership and Board of Directors. This year’s meeting will be a special celebration, as we both congratulate Executive Director Brendan O’Neill on his well-earned retirement after 38 years of leadership, and welcome Samantha Look into the role.

The meeting is open to the public, and we encourage everyone who is interested in creating a more sustainable future for our Island to join us and learn about what VCS is up to! (One item on the meeting agenda – voting on the slate of Directors – is limited to VCS Members, as per the bylaws, but it is usually quick.) We hope to see all of you there, in celebration of the past, present, and future of VCS!


Nature as Inspiration

an environmental film festival

May 25 – 28 @ the MV Film Center

Opening Night Toast to Honor Brendan’s Retirement

The ninth edition of our annual film festival collaboration with the MV Film Society returns this Memorial Day weekend with a whole new collection of thought-provoking films, conversations, audience Q&As and more. Check out the Film Society website for the full list of films and events, purchase tickets, or an All Access Pass — it’s going to be a good one!

Please join us Thursday, May 25th starting at 6:30 pm for our Opening Night Reception, featuring a toast to celebrate Brendan O’Neill’s long service to the Island’s conservation community. Help us thank him for his indispensable role in the many significant accomplishments of VCS throughout his 38 years of leadership. Following the Toast, stay for the Opening Night Film, Patrick and the Whale. (Both parts of the event are one combined price – get tickets here.)

Real all about the big transition news here


No Mow May

Tuesday, May 9 @ the Oak Bluffs Library

Did you ever consider doing less yard work to help the environment? If we let them, our yards can act as extensions of natural ecosystems. On May 9th at 5:30 pm, the Oak Bluffs Library hosts Samantha Look (VCS Director of Advocacy and Education) for a discussion on how home lawn and garden choices impact the protection of native biodiversity. Join us to learn more about the Vineyard Conservation Society’s “Vineyard Lawns” initiative, and how you can apply the Vineyard Lawn approach to your own backyard. For event info email the OB Library

Fear no weevil – Bare feet and bugs are happy and healthy on a Vineyard Lawn


The Beach Clean-Up is Back

We are so excited to get the ball rolling for the 31st Annual VCS Earth Day Beach Clean-up! It couldn’t be easier to participate in this Island tradition: just come out to your favorite beach and volunteers will be there with bags and gloves for collecting (or BYOB!). Join your VCS friends at one of these beaches:

Aquinnah: Lobsterville, Philbin, Tribal Beaches
Chilmark: Lucy Vincent, Menemsha, Squibnocket
Edgartown: Felix Neck, Fuller Street, Lighthouse Beach, Norton Point, South Beach (Left and Right fork), State Beach (Bend in the Road), Wasque Point
Oak Bluffs: Eastville Point, Jetty Beach, North Bluff (Pier) Beach, Shellfish Hatchery, State Beach (Little Bridge), Town Beach (SSA to Pay Beach and Inkwell)
Tisbury: Lagoon Pond Landing, Lake St. Landing, Owen Little Way, Owen Park, Tashmoo Opening, VH harbor (waterfront from SSA all the way to Shell Station),
West Tisbury: Cedar Tree Neck, Lambert’s Cove, Long Point

EARTH DAY Conservation FESTIVAL

In an exciting new addition, this year we will be holding the first annual Earth Day Conservation Festival at the MV Museum. The event will be from 12-4 and will replace our traditional Beach Clean-up after party. Over 15 local conservation organizations will be there with fun activities, educational presentations, and all sorts of interesting happenings for the whole family to enjoy. All beach volunteers are encouraged to come and enjoy fresh sandwiches from local eateries and other goodies. As a bonus, entry to the Museum is free! (MV Museum will also have food available for purchase in their cafe for those who did NOT clean a beach.)

More info on the Festival here

TRASH CONTEST

Save the coolest, grossest, most unusual things you find on the beach and bring them to share at the after party at the MV Museum. If you can’t make it, post on Facebook or Instagram and tag @vineyardconservation, or just email us your pics at info@vineyardconservation.org. Fun prizes!

Travel climate friendly

The VTA is offering FREE rides for anyone going to the beach cleanup or conservation properties and also for all students for school vacation!

Local organizations returning this year to work at designated beaches include the MV Bank, Lagoon Pond Association, Friends of Sengekontacket, Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, Tisbury Waterways Inc., MV Surfcasters Association, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, The Church of Latter Day Saints, MV Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Committee, MV Shellfish Group, Junior Girl Scout & Brownie troops, Cub and Boy Scouts, Felix Neck, Harborview Hotel,  and The Trustees. Special thanks to all the Towns and the DPW’s from Tisbury, OB and Edgartown, the MV Refuse District and Bruno’s for taking care of all the beach trash!

Thank you all for your participation in this year’s Clean-up!



Great Ponds, Episode 1: On Our Watch

Directed by: Ollie Becker

Produced by: The MV Film Festival & Vineyard Conservation Society

Watch Online Now!

On Our Watch is a brand new short film telling the story of the Island’s coastal ponds: their vital importance, the threats they face, and what we all must do to save them. Beautifully shot and edited by director Ollie Becker, On Our Watch represents the product of a collaboration begun last fall between VCS and The MV Film Festival – and we are now very excited to be able to share it with all of you!

Check back here for announcements of new screening events. Screenings are usually followed by a Q&A session with the film’s creator, Ollie Becker, and other guests, including Emily Reddington of Great Pond Foundation and Jeremy Houser from VCS.

aerial photo by Ollie Becker