FB Inst Jan 2025 4 blog post dec 2025
Winter at Oliver's Woods
Your Land Trust Staff Shares Nature Moments
Written By: Shawndra Miller
Date Published: December 22, 2025
Shawndra Miller
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.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Sugar Creek, Montgomery County
A place where I have shared many special moments in nature with friends and family is on Sugar Creek. My favorite place on the creek to paddle is just upriver of Shades State Park. At the end of the trip, you float right past Indiana’s first preserve, Pine Hills Nature Preserve, which is always a delight.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Salamonie River State Forest, Wabash/Huntington Counties
My nature moment happened in a surprising place, Salamonie River State Forest. It was shortly after my mom passed away, and I decided to take the family on a hike somewhere new. Like many of our family’s summer outings lately, this one happened to fall on the hottest day of the season, with a “feels like” temperature of 100 degrees. To our surprise, just when the kids were about to give up from the heat, we reached the most beautiful waterfall I could have imagined. We splashed in the water, laughed together, and remembered my mom in this peaceful spot. Nature has always been a source of healing for me during the hardest moments of my life, and this was one of those moments I’ll never forget.
Cliff Chapman
Chief Executive Officer
Brown County State Park
When I was a boy, my parents took me to Brown County State Park for my first-ever hike. It was fall and the leaves were changing. But what really sticks in my memory was a solitary encounter with wildlife. I had walked ahead of my folks and was alone on the trail when a deer emerged. We stood there practically eye to eye for a long time. It was just magical.
Max Gerke
Stewardship Specialist
Hall Woods Nature Preserve and Big Walnut Nature Preserve, Putnam County
The first year Nicole and I moved to Indiana, in the spring, we hiked the Hall Woods trail, which at the right time has a beautiful meadow of bluebells blooming. It’s usually a little cold and crisp, the creek can be heard bubbling by, and it’s just a peaceful, beautiful place to walk. After that we went to the Tall Timbers trail at Big Walnut and ID’d our first plant together. Bloodroot. We go back every year. It’s one of our first Indiana nature memories together from our new state, and we love it.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Betley Woods at Glacier’s End, Johnson County
My son, Hunter, was doing his fifth-grade project on deforestation, and I took him to Betley Woods to talk about the tree planting. We talked about how our crew had planted the farm field that was cleared more than fifty years ago—and how someday it will be hard to tell where the “old woods” stop and the “new woods” begin. A truly memorable moment!
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab, Marion County
My dad and I visited Marian University’s EcoLab at dusk on Father’s Day a few years before he passed. Beavers swam through the wetlands, and it felt like we were miles away from the city. This was one of several sites where he volunteered in retirement (along with CILTI preserves). I loved hearing stories of the schoolchildren he’d introduced to the wonders of nature. I will always cherish the time I spent walking the trail with him that evening.
Stephanie Paine Crossin
Land Protection Director
Spring Mill State Park, Lawrence County
When I was in elementary school, I joined a Children’s Museum-sponsored field trip to the state park for kids interested in snakes, caves, fossils, and geodes. I also recall learning about trees, plant identification, and frogs. We had wonderful guides and were allowed to get muddy and wet—always a fun adventure—while learning about the natural world. It only took me 40 years or so to figure out how to combine these interests with fulfilling work.
Melissa Warth
Team Coordinator
Indiana Dunes State Park, Porter County
Growing up in Northwest Indiana, my family spent many summer days visiting the Indiana Dunes State Park and Beach. As kids, it was always the highlight to climb the enormous sand dunes and run down (with or without injury). My mom would bring her painting kit and paint scenes from the beach. As an adult, I recently had the great fortune to visit the Dunes with my own kids. My son’s baseball tournament brought us to Chesterton, IN. The team spent an afternoon together at the Indiana Dunes State Park. The entire team and parents had the most wonderful time playing in the fresh water, sand, and dunes. Parents who had never been before expressed their surprise that this was in Indiana! It was fun to see the structures that had been built since I last visited, and it felt so wonderful to share this piece of my childhood with my kids.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Meltzer Woods, Shelby County
One day, while working, I stumbled upon a mantle slug eating a lion’s mane mushroom. I had never seen a slug eat anything, but the lion’s mane made this one a perfect meal, with its long “shags” hanging down. It was such a fun thing to witness in the field.
We wish everyone many wonderful nature moments in the coming year! To read more of our newsmagazine stories, find digital versions here.
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.
December 24, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Banker Potter donates Bedford Falls properties for perpetual preservation Banking tycoon Henry “Old Man” Potter has donated a swath of land previously set aside for a housing development to the Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc, (CILTI) for perpetual protection.
Newsroom
December 22, 2025
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. David Barickman Development Systems Manager Sugar Creek, Montgomery County A place where I have shared many special moments in nature [...]
Betley Woods,Meltzer Woods,Newsroom
December 16, 2025
In Montgomery County, we recently assisted the DNR Division of Nature Preserves expand Spring Creek Seeps Nature Preserve. A 30-acre tract adjoining the preserve is now protected in perpetuity.
Newsroom,Properties
