The Cape We Shape
Resources
Scroll to explore ways you can support Team SOS.
How We Shape The Cape
A series of educational videos on town government, municipal finance, and more to support effective advocacy for land conservation on Cape Cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Cape We Shape?
The Cape We Shape is the Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s land conservation campaign. Only about 14% of Cape Cod remains both undeveloped and unprotected. Of that remaining land, about 80% is priority natural resource land—critical areas in need of permanent protection. Through education, advocacy, and community action, we're working to build public support for protecting these lands before they're lost to development.
What are Priority Natural Resource Lands?
Priority natural resource lands are these undeveloped lands identified through statewide mapping as most important for protecting Cape Cod's drinking water, healthy ponds and coastal waters, critical wildlife habitat, and resilience to sea level rise. These areas are currently providing these protections and therefore it is important to preserve these lands in perpetuity if we are to sustain Cape Cod as we know it today.
What is Team SOS?
Team SOS is a network of volunteers working together to protect Cape Cod's remaining priority natural resource lands. Organized into town-based teams, members learn about local conservation issues, identify opportunities to support land protection in their communities, and take action alongside APCC and other local partners.
How Can I Get Involved?
Visit TheCapeWeShape.org and join Team SOS to receive campaign updates and action alerts. Help us spread the word by talking about the campaign and displaying a sign or flag on your property to show you’re a part of Team SOS.
If you want to be more involved, go to APCC.org/volunteer. Tasks include distributing campaign information, staffing outreach tables, collecting town information, and attending town committee meetings.
What Is A Land Trust?
Land trusts are private, non-profit land conservation organizations that work with landowners to acquire land or conservation restrictions for permanent conservation. Find a list of local land trusts and more information at thecompactcapecod.org.
How Does TCWS Relate to Housing?
Housing and land preservation are both important on Cape Cod. In 2021, APCC worked with the Housing Assistance Corporation on a project called Grow Smart Cape Cod” that aimed to assist communities with planning for housing and natural resource protection. To learn more, visit GrowSmartCapeCod.org.
Does the campaign plan to purchase private property to protect?
No. APCC is not planning to purchase land through The Cape We Shape campaign. Instead, we support and amplify the work of Cape Cod's local land trusts, which work with willing landowners to permanently protect land through donation, sale, or conservation restrictions. To find the land trust serving your community, visit thecompact.net/members.