blog post Apr 2023 res
Big Walnut Nature Preserve
Committed to Conservation
Written By: Shawndra Miller
Date Published: May 3, 2023
Shawndra Miller
Third in a series memorializing our friend and benefactor, Len Betley
Our spring newsmagazine features a tribute to the late Len Betley, who left a tremendous land protection legacy. Bill Weeks, who has a long history of service in the conservation field, worked with Len in the 1980s. We asked him to share some highlights of their collaboration.
Len was on the board of The Nature Conservancy of Indiana when Bill joined as only the second paid staff director. (When Len first served on the board in the 1960s, the organization was still all-volunteer.) Len would go on to serve as board chair while Bill was in the director role, and a great many natural areas came under protection during those years.
“One year we did 20 acquisitions,” Bill recalls. Among the highlights were additions to Big Walnut Nature Preserve in Putnam County, which expanded from one acre to over 2,400 acres now. Relic populations of Eastern hemlock and sweeping vistas of Big Walnut Creek make this a very special place.
“The additions were significant not just for the scenic views and the hemlock value as a refugia,” says Bill, “but also for making the preserve more sustainable.”
Another highlight was protecting Twin Swamps in Posey County. The organization almost turned down the chance, intimidated by the proposed size of the preserve. At 800 acres, it would have been 10 times as large as any property TNC of Indiana had ever protected. By starting with a small segment and working from there, Len, Bill, and the group were able to save the iconic swamplands.
Bill also remembers offering quarterly trips to TNC’s special places, which Len invariably helped host.
One memorable outing was through the steep terrain of Brown County’s Hitz-Rhodehamel Nature Preserve. The trail proved challenging for the group, which was largely made up of retirees.
Bill says, “I remember him helping people at the end of hike. Everyone was just exhausted, but he helped the stragglers finish the hike.”
Len’s professionalism made him a key ally, and Bill credits him with a significant role in setting the group up for success. He set high standards and ambitious goals. Time after time, he was the one in the room making pivotal contributions to strategic discussions.
And as a partner at a prestigious Indianapolis law firm (Ice Miller), Len was able to raise the profile of the work. Bill recalls, “His commitment showed people it was a legitimate cause and a legitimate organization that they ought to be part of.”
“He was very steady, and obviously a man committed to conservation in Indiana,” Bill notes. “Can you imagine working on conservation in Indiana as he did for more than 40 years as a volunteer? That itself speaks of someone who had a really deep feeling for this.”
Yet Len was always understated, modest to a fault, and measured in word and deed.
On a personal level, Bill (like many) saw Len as an important mentor. “Let’s just say that if I had a difficult decision to make, Len would have been one of two or three people that I would talk to, and I always got good advice. Some people give you a command type of advice—that was never his way.”
Instead, Len would offer a few perspectives on your dilemma, says Bill. “And you went away feeling that he had confidence that you could make the decision.
We join with Bill and the entire conservation community in mourning the loss of this trusted friend.
Read more about Len Betley’s legacy in our spring newsmagazine, available online here.
Up next: A dear friend’s remembrances
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
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.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s 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.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
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.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
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.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
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. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she 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.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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