Reta Rutledge at Burr Oak Bend
Reta Rutledge at Burr Oak Bend
Reta Rutledge: Tales from her White Plastic Rabbit
Written By: Olivia O'Neal
Date Published: July 2, 2025
Olivia O'Neal
Second in a series about CILTI’s early supporters, in honor of our 35th anniversary
In Arizona, a white plastic rabbit sits beneath some bear grass in Reta Rutledge’s yard. It’s a piece of CILTI that has moved from house to house and now, all the way to the western side of the Mississippi river.
“The rabbit has a lot of memories,” she said.
She found the treasure during a cleanup day at the Millard Sutton/Amos Butler Audubon Sanctuary, also called the Rookery. Reta recalls crossing high waters in the pouring rain. The dismal weather did nothing to dampen the camaraderie.
“A little rain won’t stop us,” she recalls thinking. “We were exalted in working together and doing something against the odds, and it just became a fun day.”
That experience is just one of the many ways Reta has exhibited her avid appreciation for nature and the outdoors—a passion she’s had since childhood.
“Some of my favorite places in my neighborhood back in Fort Wayne were the areas that seemed the most natural,” she said.
“The Soft Spot” was a patch of grass bordering an alley and a frequent meeting spot for a young Reta and her friends. At other times they watched the bees and butterflies in neighbors’ flower gardens. At ten years old, she first went camping with her family.
But the “real beginning” was her first visit to a nature preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy in 1974.
“It was just a beautiful piece of land and I noticed the sign when I left and realized that it was owned by a nonprofit organization… (That’s when) I started contributing to The Nature Conservancy,” she said.
After learning about CILTI, she made her first donation. Through the influence of others involved in CILTI, she would begin donating her time as well.
She would become a board member at the request of Clare Oskay, board president of CILTI at the time. Clare thought that Reta’s 14 years of experience as branch manager at the Indianapolis Public Library would make her helpful in hiring the first executive director, which happened in 2001.
Over the years, Reta has gifted CILTI membership to an estimated 40 different people, including her niece. Reta has worn many hats for CILTI, including board president, volunteer, and site steward.
Additionally, Reta has proven herself a hands-on volunteer. In addition to the Rookery cleanup, another memorable (if muddy) work day took place in the rain at Burr Oak Bend. Donning a yellow slicker, pants, and jacket, she faced off against the muck.
In helping push out a truck, she learned why no one else was pushing from the back. “I just got covered in mud,” she said. “I thought it was pretty darn funny.”
Throughout the years, Reta has watched CILTI grow and change.
“I’ve seen it become much more professional but also personable,” she said. “I can see the camaraderie when I visit the office and I think that’s really an essential part of how things get done and how an organization thrives… I just can’t believe how it’s thriving and how long it’s been in existence now when it was just a thought way back then.”
For Reta, CILTI has been a major medium through which she can protect the natural areas she loves.
“I could not go save land in Central Indiana and steward it…(but) this way I got to do that,” she said.
The Rookery was part of this. Interested in buying the land, she was told twice that it wouldn’t happen.
Reta recalls Ted Harris, a CILTI member and former board member, telling her, “If other people tell you it can’t be done, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it.”
Reta’s white rabbit
She called the landowner and today, CILTI owns the Rookery, while that little plastic rabbit still makes its home with Reta.
Since moving to Arizona, Reta has found other ways of getting her hands dirty in the name of conservation. She spends her time volunteering at wildlife refuges and taking down old barbed wire fences. In fact, she has been personally involved in removing over 60 miles of barbed wire.
“It’s not CILTI, but it’s worthwhile work,” she said.
Although now across the country, Reta said that CILTI still has a special place in her heart. She is always suggesting CILTI nature preserves for her niece—an avid hiker—to visit. When she is back in Indiana, Reta tries to visit the office or her favorite nature preserve, Burnett Woods, especially when the wildflowers are in bloom. She is so committed to the organization that she and her husband named CILTI in their wills.
When she comes home from hiking in the Arizona heat or taking down a barbed wire fence, her white plastic rabbit awaits, reminding her of all she’s done for nature back in the Midwest.
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.
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.
Ben Miller
Land Protection Coordinator
Ben is excited to have officially joined the CILTI team, after many years of collaboration in partner organizations. He spent ten years of his environmental career with the Indiana DNR: Division of Fish & Wildlife, first as a Fisheries Biologist and most recently leading the Healthy Rivers Initiative (one of the state’s largest land protection projects).
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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