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Traci reading to children at a day camp

Traci’s Book Recs: Children’s Literature

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Part 3 of our “Staff Picks” series for National Book Blitz Month

Monarch and Milkweed, by Helen Frost and Leonid Gore
Helen Frost’s Monarch and Milkweed is a captivating book that explores the extraordinary connection between monarch butterflies and the milkweed plant. Frost’s lyrical prose pairs perfectly with Leonid Gore’s vibrant illustrations, creating a stunning and engaging book for readers.

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Traci Willis

Outreach Manager

twillis@conservingindiana.org
317.771.1251
Traci has always loved nature, channeling her passion into creating habitat for bees and butterflies (and taking stunning photographs of them). She coordinates our outreach efforts.
David and his dog, Reggie, reading together

David’s Book Rec: An Immense World

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Part 2 of our “Staff Picks” series for National Book Blitz Month

An Immense World, by Ed Yong, is a rare book with the potential to change how you perceive the world around you, especially the natural world. This might seem like a bold claim, but I think it’s true. Continue reading →

David Barickman

Development Systems Manager

dbarickman@conservingindiana.org
217.778.9316
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Shawndra reading The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Shawndra’s Book Rec: The Backyard Bird Chronicles

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Part 1 of our “Staff Picks” series for National Book Blitz Month

We’re kicking off the year with a series on our favorite nature books. I chose The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by novelist Amy Tan. This gorgeous book features pages from Tan’s nature journal from 2017 through 2022, with a foreword by David Allen Sibley. Continue reading →

Shawndra Miller

Communications Director

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.
Cliff Chapman with the rare Pinus monumentum

Claus Industries taps CILTI to protect World’s Tallest Christmas Tree

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monument Circle deal conserves seasonal wonder in perpetuity

Toy and overnight delivery conglomerate Claus Industries Ltd. has placed Monument Circle, home of the World’s Tallest Christmas Tree, into a conservation easement with the Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI). Under the agreement, the land will remain open to the public and available for exploration and wide-eyed delight. Continue reading →

Jen Schmits Thomas

Media Relations

Jen@jtprinc.com
317-441-2487
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together.
American burnet at Founders Fen

Innovation, Flexibility, and Speed Bring Conservation Victories

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We asked our board secretary, John Bacone, to reflect on some of our most significant land protection wins of 2024.

It is always fun to look back on the valuable work CILTI has accomplished in the past year. It is especially gratifying this year, for several reasons. CILTI again protected quite a few conservation projects, and most importantly, they were high quality habitats. But perhaps more significant is the way CILTI has partnered with a range of entities to protect nature.

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John Bacone

Secretary

Board member John Bacone retired in 2019 after 40 years as the Director of the Division of Nature Preserves with Indiana DNR. 
Larimer Fen photo by John Brittenham

Habitat protected for one of North America’s rarest butterflies, other endangered species

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indiana’s only site for Mitchell’s satyr, a species on the brink of extinction, safe from development

The purchase of a 13-acre property containing a high-quality wetland in northern Indiana will help to protect one of the rarest species in the U.S. Continue reading →

Jen Schmits Thomas

Media Relations

Jen@jtprinc.com
317-441-2487
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together.
Buck caught on the Oliver's Woods trail cam

Exploring Deer Hunting in Urban Nature Preserves

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Guest post by DJ Connors

Urban nature preserves are essential green spaces that provide an oasis for wildlife and people alike. These preserves are not only places of beauty and recreation. They also play a crucial role in wildlife management, particularly when it comes to controlling deer populations. Let’s explore the importance of deer hunting in these areas and how it benefits both the environment and the community.

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DJ Connors

Guest Blogger

DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Sycamore photo by Greg Hess

Creating local carbon credits delivers local benefits

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An Indianapolis Business Journal opinion piece by our President/CEO, Cliff Chapman

You’re probably aware that trees are growing in the Amazon rainforest to offset American corporations’ carbon footprints. You might also know that timber in the Pacific Northwest offers similar carbon credits. Continue reading →

Cliff Chapman

President and CEO

cchapman@conservingindiana.org
317.525.3329
As President and CEO, Cliff keeps our focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
James Todd

Why I Donate to CILTI

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Guest post by James Todd

I support the Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) because it is a local agency that does the important work of protecting and preserving what remains of our natural environment. Because CILTI is local to Central Indiana, I believe that my donations have a large impact on our local areas. Continue reading →

James Todd

Guest Blogger

James Todd is a 67-year-old retiree who enjoys hiking, camping, and kayaking. He is a proud supporter of Central Indiana Land Trust.
Karen Wade in Betley Woods at Glacier's End

“Just imagine the vastness of our state’s natural heritage”

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Guest post by Karen Wade

As a mostly-native plant gardener, I can often be found in my backyard on hands and knees tending pots of pawpaw seedlings, tucking soil around newly planted native spicebushes, or just hanging out on the back step marveling at how the bumblebees manage to squirm their oversize wiggle bottoms inside the white turtlehead blossoms. My suburban yard in town won’t win any garden club prizes, but I hope it provides my friends and neighbors with a glimpse of what native gardening can look like, and the ecosystem benefits it bestows. Continue reading →

Karen Wade

Board Member

Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.