I first fell in love with nature in suburban Los Angeles, where I grew up. The landscape was brown most of the year, but there was always something new to see. I loved to hike in the mountains behind our house alone or with my father, watching the sky for hawks, identifying plants, and marveling at the views of the neighborhoods below. Continue reading →
Julie Dart
Guest Blogger
Julie Dart is a Master Naturalist and retired writer and editor. She and her husband, Jeff Swiatek, are the proud parents of two adult sons and enjoy removing invasive plant species on CILTI volunteer work days.
Get ready to double your impact! We’re pleased to share that the Efroymson Family Fund is bringing us another generous year-end challenge. Every donation up to $250,000 will be matched dollar for dollar! Your gift can go twice as far for nature in Central Indiana—but only if it’s made by midnight on December 31, 2024. Continue reading →
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.
Halloween is nearly upon us, and if you visit the hardware store as often as I do, you know Halloween decorations have been out since July. Among the giant skeletons and ghoulish snow-globes you will find another cute creature ubiquitous with Halloween: the bat. Continue reading →
Grace grew up roaming the woods, creeks and wetlands around the Chesapeake Bay watershed. From an early trout-raising project to a “gap year” spent restoring coral reefs in Thailand, her interest in aquatic conservation has only grown. Now she cares for several riverine nature preserves as CILTI’s White River Steward.
Weft fern confirms uniqueness of the nature preserve
A team of natural scientists recently discovered a rare plant at Fern Station, the new nature preserve that the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) purchased last year. Weft fern is a state-endangered species that grows on rocks, caves, and sheltered crevices. The scientists found the specimen during a plant inventory of the 570-acre forest west of Greencastle in Putnam County. Continue reading →
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.
It will come as no surprise to CILTI members and supporters: Nature—and forests in particular—can heal us. Physicians and mental health professionals the world over recognize this. Many have begun to prescribe nature walks to their patients. Continue reading →
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.
Acquisition will add to DNR property, help to preserve globally rare habitat
The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) has closed on the purchase of a 14-acre parcel adjacent to Baseline Barrens Nature Preserve near Fredericksburg in Washington County.
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.
Our Make-a-Will-Month series continues with a profile of Phil Schaefer, who named our organization in his will.
Phil Schaefer not only has supported CILTI in the past as our Special Projects Coordinator, he also is a longtime volunteer—and a member of the Burr Oak Society. “I strongly believe in preserving the environment and especially natural places,” he says. “I love the concept of preserving these spaces and this land forever, for future generations to enjoy.” Continue reading →
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.
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Reta and Robert have moved away from Indiana, but still support CILTI. Reta is shown here near Crested Butte, CO.
Our Make-a-Will-Month series continues with longtime member Reta Rutledge sharing why she and her husband, Robert, decided to name our organization in their wills.Continue reading →
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.
In honor of Estate Planning Awareness Week, we are giving another shout-out to our Burr Oak Society members. These dedicated individuals have included the land trust in their estate plans. But Central Indiana Land Trust is not the true beneficiary. Indiana’s natural spaces are. Continue reading →
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.
Water Quality Month spurs us to take a look at the health of our most precious resource. We often focus on the importance of wetlands in filtering drinking water. But here’s a surprising partner in protecting a clean water supply: Forests. Continue reading →
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.