I decided to revisit one of my favorite books for this series. I first read Kingbird Highway in 1998, when I was just starting my career and getting interested in birds. The book describes a young man’s passion for birds, but more than that, it is a chronicle of living on the road. Kenn Kaufman hitchhiked across the country in 1973, setting the North American bird record for the most North American bird species seen in one year.
As President and CEO, Cliff keeps our 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.
Full disclosure. I did not read Playground, Richard Powers’ new novel. I listened to it (twice) in audiobook format. I find myself listening to a lot of books these days, being on the road going from preserve to preserve. The second time I listened, I caught onto the fact that the audiobook has an element that is different from the physical version. It is hard to say much more than that without any spoilers. Continue reading →
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He brings not only a love of nature, but an ability to create meaningful partnerships that advance crucial work.
In honor of Black History Month, here are some great reads that braid the Black experience and the natural world.
The Home Place, by J. Drew Lanham
Subtitled “Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature,” this work masterfully intertwines the personal, historical, and environmental. Lanham, an ornithologist, takes readers through his life growing up in Edgefield County, South Carolina. It’s a place with a lasting legacy of slavery, where generations of Lanhams have deep roots. As he reflects on his relationship with the land, Lanham reveals the complicated intersection of his Black identity with his love for the natural world—a space historically dominated by white voices. Filled with moments of humor, heartbreak, and profound insight, The Home Place offers a poignant meditation on belonging, identity, and the environmental struggles that come with living in a place of such rich, painful history. Perfect for anyone interested in how conservation, race, and personal legacy intersect in today’s world. 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.
Plants make choices. They network and communicate, compete and collaborate. They assess risks and allocate their energies accordingly. They alter their behavior and morphology according to environmental cues. They even spread the word about threats to kin and non-kin alike.
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.
When I was asked to write a book review, I had to pause and take a moment to think about which book would be good for me to read right now. I tend to choose informational, textbook-like screeds that are always super interesting, but can be difficult to read. Then I was gifted this little treat of a book by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It’s lighthearted, yet introspective, and just over 100 pages of easy text.
Max is our newest member of the stewardship team, having served as a seasonal staffer the past few years. He previously worked with the DNR Division of Nature Preserves and the Indiana Heritage Data Center.
North Woods is a novel written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason. It was easily my favorite read of 2024. The story begins on a plot of land in northern Massachusetts, and remains in the exact same spot for hundreds of years. Starting with a pair of runaway lovers in the 1600s, we bear witness to the North Woods’ changes through the context of natural succession and human interaction.
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.
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Grace removing invasive honeysuckle at White River Bluffs
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.
Part 4 of our “Staff Picks” series for National Book Blitz Month
I was solving a jigsaw puzzle the other day—one with the Chicago skyline where the entire top was a bright blue sky. There was one piece of that sky that was eluding me. Annoying! But after a while of unsuccessfully looking for the missing piece, I decided to move on to a different section of the puzzle. While solving the other corner, I stumbled across the missing piece—it was right in front of me the whole time! Continue reading →
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. He came to his stewardship role at CILTI after undertaking invasive species control and trail maintenance for Little Traverse Conservancy in Harbor Springs, MI.
Part 3 of our “Staff Picks” series for National Book Blitz Month
Monarch and Milkweed, by Helen Frost and Leonid Gore
Helen Frost’s Monarch and Milkweed is a captivating book that explores the extraordinary connection between monarch butterflies and the milkweed plant. Frost’s lyrical prose pairs perfectly with Leonid Gore’s vibrant illustrations, creating a stunning and engaging book for readers.
Traci has always loved nature, channeling her passion into creating habitat for bees and butterflies (and taking stunning photographs of them). She coordinates our outreach efforts.
Part 2 of our “Staff Picks” series for National Book Blitz Month
An Immense World, by Ed Yong, is a rare book with the potential to change how you perceive the world around you, especially the natural world. This might seem like a bold claim, but I think it’s true. Continue reading →
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.
