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Witch hazel

The Year that Was

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It’s no secret that the difficult events of 2020 spurred, for many, a greater connection to the natural world. That connection was reflected in monetary support for land protection. As we look back at “the year that was,” we are still overwhelmed by the level of generosity shown our organization. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Scarlet tanager

Forest Interior Habitat: A Haven for Songbirds and Eastern Box Turtles

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Part of a series on CILTI’s conservation targets by guest blogger Ed Pope

Although most of Indiana was wooded when Europeans first arrived, forest interior habitat is very rare today. Most forested land was cleared for farming, and while small woods can be found on many farms, there are very few large unbroken tracts of forest remaining. Continue reading →

Ed Pope

Guest Blogger

ed@circlecitybicycles.com
Ed Pope is a retired engineer from Rolls-Royce and a CILTI member since 2002.
Spalding siblings in Melzer Woods

A Legacy of Land Protection

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Thirty-five acres of Shelby County agricultural land came under protection this year, right next to the venerated old growth forest of Meltzer Woods. The Land Trust purchased the property from the Spalding family, descendants of the forest’s original champion, Brady Meltzer. The land had been in the family since 1857. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Controlled Burn at Blossom Hollow

Controlled Burn to Provide Data for Natural Area Management

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The sight of fire in the woods might feel a bit jarring in the wake of so much wildfire destruction in other parts of the world. But fire has always been a factor in shaping the landscape. In conservation work, we can use it strategically to help restore the land. That was the plan for a recent controlled burn at The Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Marsh wren

Emergent Marshes Support Biodiversity

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Part of a series on CILTI’s conservation targets by guest blogger Ed Pope

We all know how important wetlands are. They provide food and habitat for all kinds of plants and animals, while filtering excess nutrients and sediment from surface runoff. At one time a significant portion of Indiana was wetlands. Before most of it was drained for agriculture, the Grand Kankakee Marsh in northwest Indiana was the second largest marshland in the United States. It was often referred to as “The Everglades of the North.” Continue reading →

Ed Pope

Guest Blogger

ed@circlecitybicycles.com
Ed Pope is a retired engineer from Rolls-Royce and a CILTI member since 2002.
Rough green snake

A Rare Find at Glacier’s End

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By Stewardship Specialist Phillip Weldy

One October day last year, our stewardship crew was out at Glacier’s End Nature Preserve treating invasive species. It was a sunny, warm fall day in the woods. I was moving through a relatively invasive-free section of the preserve when I heard a rustle nearby among the briar and leaves.

Continue reading →

Phillip Weldy

Stewardship Specialist

pweldy@conservingindiana.org
574.286.9344
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. He came to his stewardship role at CILTI after undertaking invasive species control and trail maintenance for Little Traverse Conservancy in Harbor Springs, MI.
Meltzer Woods photo by Jordan England

Announcing the Trek Our Trails Challenge

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Are you ready for a nature fix? This Black Friday, we are kicking off a yearlong challenge that you can enjoy on your own. Make your way to a nature preserve to get started in the Trek Our Trails challenge! Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Constance Macy as E. Lucy Braun

A Giant in her Field

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Dr. E. Lucy Braun, whose pioneering work in forest ecology paved the way for today’s conservationists, stepped out of history to greet attendees of our Spirit and Place Festival hike. The old growth forest of Meltzer Woods offered a stunning backdrop for her comments as she looked back at the past 100 years. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Oliver's Woods

Meeting with a View

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Sunshine on the river, leaves turning golden, and strategic thinking. The board of the Indiana Land Protection Alliance, of which our executive director Cliff Chapman is the treasurer, met recently at Oliver’s Woods for a planning retreat. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Photo by Greg Hess

Your Gift Goes Twice as Far

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We are honored that a generous donor has offered a matching challenge grant to close out 2020. All contributions will be doubled during this season’s giving campaign, as the Efroymson Family Fund will match all gifts received by December 28, 2020, up to $75,000. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Manager

smiller@conservingindiana.org
317.370.2464
Shawndra is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.