Guest post by Vanessa Armstrong, founder of the free library nonprofit Hoosier Landmarks for Learning and granddaughter of Philip Meltzer The story of Meltzer Woods begins with John Frederick Meltzer, a German immigrant who purchased the initial 160 acres of Shelby County farmland in 1857. While most 19th-century settlers [...]
Have you ever been walking through woods and thought to yourself, “How old are these trees?” Me too! […]
Kidneys of the planet. Biodiversity hotspots. Sponges. These are just some of the ways wetlands can be described, according to Gary Lamberti, Nieuwland Professor of Aquatic Science at the University of Notre Dame. […]
Guest post by board member John Bacone When you think about future generations, what do you hope they inherit? I think about this all the time; you probably do as well. We grew up in a world where we had fresh air, clean water, and woodlands and parks to [...]
As nature-lovers ourselves, we appreciated the chance to reflect on our top nature moments. Enjoy these “postcards” from our staff, which first appeared in the fall 2025 newsmagazine. […]
Our board member, John Bacone, reflects on conserving key natural areas. He led the Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves for over four decades. Years ago, when I was working in the Indiana DNR Division of Nature Preserves (DNP), I asked Bob Waltz, the State Entomologist, how [...]
September is Self-Care Awareness Month. It’s a good time to think about what helps us slow down, recharge, and feel better. One of the easiest ways to care for yourself is to spend time in nature. […]
Seventh in a series about CILTI’s early supporters, in honor of our 35th anniversary You can’t be a diver without having an appreciation for nature and a concern for wildlife. Brian Muckerheide knows this firsthand. His daughter, Sarah Muckerheide, is studying underwater archaeology with Indiana University’s Center for Underwater [...]
Fifth in a series about CILTI’s early supporters, in honor of our 35th anniversary As a kid, Michael Spalding would explore his family’s 100-acre property and look up at the “awe-inspiring, gigantic trees” just a mile east of what would become Meltzer Woods. He also often ventured into that forest, [...]
First in a series about CILTI’s early supporters, in honor of our 35th anniversary John Bacone has been a supporter of CILTI since the beginning. He was involved in the first conversations of CILTI’s creation, after the idea was sparked by available land harboring a rare species of phlox. [...]
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