bicentennial nature trust conservation area the celebration begins
TRANSCRIPT
www.sycamorelandtrust.org
Winter 2015
the twig
How do they do it? Winter survival strategies of local wildlife
page 6
page 2
Beanblossom Creek becomes a Bicentennial Nature Trust Conservation Area
The celebration begins!2015 is Sycamore’s 25th Anniversary!
page 12
Ride, Sycamore, ride!First Climate ride Midwest a success
page 8
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ur region is poised to get a big boost from the Bicentennial Nature Trust, which has approved Sycamore’s proposal to make part of Beanblossom Creek in northern Monroe County a Bicentennial Conservation Area in honor of the state’s 200th Anniversary.
With this designation, the state will allocate $1 million toward land conservation in the Beanblossom Creek watershed, already the home
of Sycamore’s flagship Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, the City of Bloomington’s Lake Griffy Nature Preserve, and parts of the Morgan-Monroe
State Forest. This money will go to purchase wetlands and other ecologically important parcels.
As one of just five designated Bicentennial Conservation Areas in the state, this Beanblossom Creek area will be a legacy of natural lands for public use and enjoyment. It offers an opportunity for all Hoosiers to contribute to the creation of this legacy, as each project seeking a portion of the $1 million requires an equal amount of matching funds.
This is where Sycamore excels. With a strong base of supporters eager to play a role in local land conservation, and an innovative mindset for leveraging funding sources to make your donations go further, Sycamore is well positioned to make the most of this exceptional opportunity.
Our work has already begun. Thanks to a partial land donation by Bill and Kathleen Oliver and grants from the Bicentennial Nature Trust and Ropchan Foundation, we have purchased 27 acres of land along Beanblossom Creek that expands the Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve for the first time since 2001. The 10-acre floodplain portion is being restored to bottomland hardwood forest by the ecological consulting and
“My family has lived in the Beanblossom Creek area for over 35 years and enjoyed the beauty of undisturbed woodlands, wetlands and crop areas that provide a great habitat for wildlife. i think it is fantastic that this area has been identified for additional conservation.” —Mike Baker, Sycamore board member and local resident
Far Left: A magnificent mature bald eagle rises from the trees along Beanblossom Creek. Eagles have been nesting here for about 10 years.
Left: The increasingly rare purple fringeless orchid (Platanthera peramoena) blooms in the Beanblossom Creek Bicentennial Conservation Area.
Right: The Beanblossom Creek Bicentennial Conservation Area. For a larger map, go to: http://sycamorelandtrust.org/bcbca
Beanblossom Creek designated a Bicentennial Conservation Area
By Katrina Folsom, CommuniCations DireCtor
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Former Governor Mitch Daniels announced the Bicentennial Nature Trust (BNT) in his 2012 State of the State Address as a new statewide effort to honor Indiana’s 200th Anniversary in 2016. The BNT was created to preserve and protect important conservation and recreation areas throughout Indiana by matching donations of land or dollars. Property acquired with this fund will become part of the public trust to ensure that the land is protected for future generations of Hoosiers to use and enjoy.
restoration firm Cardno JFNew in honor of the late Bruce Behan, one of their employees who used to lead Sycamore hikes there.
Connecting natural areas in the Beanblossom Creek watershed is a high priority for the conservation community. The area is home to dozens of threatened and rare species, including endangered Indiana bats, nesting bald eagles, and the beautiful purple fringeless orchid. As a Bicentennial Conservation Area, this network of protected
lands will be a treasure for future generations. As Mike Baker says, “Having areas to see bald eagles, herons, bats, and birds of all kinds is such a wonderful legacy to pass on.”
If you would like to contribute to the incredible legacy this Bicentennial Conservation Area will have for southern Indiana, please consider donating matching funds, or land within the area. Contact Sheryl Woodhouse Keese at (812) 336-5382 x104 or [email protected] to learn more.
Cardno JFNew employees are working to restore a 10-acre portion of Beanb-lossom Creek floodplain to bottomland hardwood forest by planting a variety of trees, especially oaks, that will do well on the site and have high wildlife value. Additional grasses, sedges, and wildflowers add diversity, beauty, and erosion control while the trees grow.
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From the PresidentGetting the most from your Sycamore membership
T hink about the New Year’s resolutions you made for yourself. Are there any you’re still working on? How about that gym mem-bership? Are you still benefitting from that
monthly payment you’re making? What about your Sycamore Land Trust membership? Are you benefitting to the fullest extent?
Yes, you probably read The Twig when it arrives, and perhaps you attend an event, or volunteer. But are
you getting out to the pre-serves and enjoying what you’ve helped protect? By visiting these properties, you create life experiences, be it a quiet walk just to think, or an outing with your family or friends. You make mental notes of what you see and hear. Maybe, like me,
you take a photo or two to memorialize the adventure.An additional benefit of your Sycamore member-
ship is the opportunity to participate in activities and events that allow you to interact with like-minded people. Climate Ride Midwest (see the story, page 9) was a great example: seven Sycamore members came together as Team Sycamore, bonding during training all summer and then making a long ride along Lake Mich-igan. Not only was the Team able to raise money for Sycamore, they spent four days connecting with over 100 people along the way who also care deeply about the earth.
Your membership contributes to Sycamore’s ongoing efforts to preserve and restore the natural and agricultural landscapes of southern Indiana. As you reflect on your New Year’s resolutions, consider resolving to get more out of your Sycamore Land Trust membership. Make a commitment to attend an event, visit a preserve, or volunteer for a special project. Your involvement not only creates further affinity for your local land trust, but also promotes the greater conser-vation cause, a cause that you and 1,000 other members have decided is important enough to support.
Maria Viterisi
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From the Development Director
I n celebration of our 25th Anniversary and in honor of the vision and leader-ship of our founders, we are proud to
introduce the Sycamore Land Trust Lead-ership Society. Our volunteer founders invested their time, energy, and resources into building a land trust that could stand the test of time. You fueled their spark with your own contributions of time, dollars, land, advice, and belief in its significance. Look what we have created!
You now have the opportunity to make a further investment in Sycamore’s future, in our next 25 years, and in the future of southern Indiana forever with Leadership Society and Sustaining Mem-berships. I hope you agree that important milestones deserve special recognition. Will you please take some time to review your giving and consider these options?
The Leadership Society offers five annual membership levels, beginning at $1,000. Leadership Society members have naming privileges ranging from trees and trails to entire nature preserves, and access to private tours and events. Experiences include discussions with thought leaders, hands-on field work with environmental scientists, and first visits to our newest pre-serves. It’s a great chance to do some fun stuff and learn more about the inner work-ings of Sycamore. Please see our website for a complete list of benefits.
Elaine Emmi, daughter of Lynton K. Caldwell, is one of our first Leadership Society members. She is going to enjoy both the benefits of membership and the thrill of hosting other members on inti-mate tours of Cedar Crest, Sycamore’s headquarters and the family home where she was raised. Elaine says, “Our family enjoyed living at Cedar Crest and nature was such an integral part of our lives. As Bloomington developed so rapidly, nat-ural landscapes disappeared. Returning to Bloomington after being away 35 years, I
joined the Leader-ship Society as a fur-ther commitment to this vision.”
You may find that with the various ways you give throughout the year, you are closer than you think to Leadership Society mem-bership, and that just one more gift will get you there.
If Leadership Society membership is a stretch, chances are that a Sustaining Mem-bership is not. Sustaining Members give $5 to $10 a month (or more) through auto-matic, recurring donations via your bank or credit card. This provides Sycamore with steady, predictable funding for our work—and you the opportunity to make a greater investment in Sycamore without straining your budget. Our current Sustaining Mem-bers love the convenience: you sign up once, receive one tax receipt at the end of the year, and can cancel at any time.
If you have questions about either membership program, please email or call me at [email protected] or 812-336-5382 x104. I’d love to talk with you!
Thank you for believing in Sycamore for the past 25 years, and for supporting a more beautiful, more sustainable home for all of us.
Sheryl Woodhouse Keese
New membership levels offer expanded benefits
In SyMPAThySycamore extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Anthony (Tony) Pizzo, who died Wednesday, January 14, 2015. Dr. Pizzo served on Sycamore’s Advi-sory Board since its inception in 2000. Dr. Pizzo’s wife, Patricia Murphy Pizzo, has served on Sycamore’s Board of Directors since 1996. Resolute Sycamore supporters, they donated the 26-acre Pizzo Preserve just north of Lake Monroe in 2007. Dr. Pizzo contributed much to the well-being of Bloomington, not the least of which was his constant backing of Sycamore Land Trust.
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s the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, we retreat into our homes and turn on the furnace. Watching the birds at the
feeder, hot cocoa in hand, we might wonder how the animals fare out there.
Some critters don’t maintain a constant body temperature and cannot stay warm enough to keep from freezing. This includes
amphibians, fish, reptiles, insects and other invertebrates. They can survive with little food but if they get too cold they will die. A few
insects migrate and leave the colder climes for places that stay warmer, but amphib-ians, fish, reptiles, and most invertebrates must find protected areas to overwinter.
Frogs and turtles may burrow into the mud in lakes and ponds. Snakes find den-ning areas in rock crevices. Insects and other invertebrates may burrow into the soil, or hide under loose bark or in hollow plant stems. While many animals seek shelter where the temperature does not fall below freezing, some frogs and insects generate their own antifreeze to stop ice crystals from forming in their cells, preventing the tissue damage that would otherwise kill them. Many insects overwinter in particular life stages—as eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults. On a warm winter day it isn’t uncommon to see moths flying around. Sometimes bats will emerge to eat them.
Wild creatures use many ways to survive in winter
By Cathy meyer, naturalist, monroe County ParKs & reCreation DePt.
Burrow, hide, hibernate
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Birds and mammals maintain a body temperature higher than their surroundings in winter and must find enough food to fuel their higher metabolism. Most of Indiana’s mam-mals are active all winter and have adaptations such as warm fur, feathers, or extra body fat. Other than bats, few of our mammals truly hibernate. Many, such as chipmunks and skunks, remain in underground dens or other shelters when the weather is very cold and only come out on warmer days. Some ani-mals, like the chipmunks, have stored food to get them through the winter. Beavers anchor branches under the water so they can feed even if the water freezes above them. Squirrels and blue jays bury nuts.
Many birds, especially the insect eaters, migrate south. While humming-birds can enter a state of torpor, most of them migrate. Migration as a sur-vival tactic is triggered by day length, not temperature fluctuations. Even so, migration itself has high energy costs and can be very dangerous.
Winter is a great time to visit a Sycamore Land Trust preserve to look for signs of animal activity such as tracks in the snow or mud, scat, chewed nuts, deer rubs, woodpecker holes, and beaver work on trees. Your chance of actually seeing the animals is greater because there are no leaves to block the view and animals may be more active as they search for food. Find out who your neighbors really are!
Opposite page: With enough food to fuel their high metabolism, winter residents like this Carolina chickadee can survive.
Top right: Look carefully! There’s a squirrel peeking out of its winter hidey-hole at Sycamore’s Dilcher-Turner Canyon Forest preserve in Greene County.
Right: This eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) has just emerged from its winter burrow at Sycamore’s Tangeman Woods in Bartholomew County.
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Won’t you join us? Team Sycamore is ready to do it again! We hope to double our riders and funds raised in 2015. Take the challenge! The commitment to a team is a strong motivator to participate in training rides and to get in shape. It’s doable! The Midwest course is FLAT!
CoNTACT: [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x104.
Top: Team Sycamore on their bikes in Lake County, Indiana. L – r: Brian Keese, Marcia Veldman, Jeff White, Legene White, Sheryl Woodhouse Keese, Bill Brown, Jeff Meitus.
Above: The first Climate Ride Midwest starts off from Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 6, 2014.
Right: Legene White, winding up her second day of Climate Ride Midwest near Lawton, Michigan.
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hree-hundred-ten miles in four days. My husband, Jeff, would
be riding in the first Climate Ride Midwest, September 6 – 9, 2014, but could I do it? Could I keep up
with the stronger (and younger!) cyclists who’d already signed on
for Team Sycamore? FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out—finally won out and
my training began. As it turned out, Cli-mate Ride defined my summer. I found new friends with a shared goal, a priority of fit-ness and healthy eating, and a “can do” atti-tude that permeated all aspects of my life.
The purpose of Climate Ride was to raise awareness of climate change and to raise money for Sycamore Land Trust. Each rider needed to raise a minimum of $2,800. Jeff and I discovered that this was easier than anticipated. The cause was compelling and Sycamore has a terrific reputation for pre-serving and protecting land. Friends, family, and old college buddies made contributions to support the causes of climate awareness and Sycamore, which emboldened us to meet the physical challenge. Jeff White and Robert Meitus were among the top 10 fundraisers of all 110 Midwest riders, each earning a coveted Climate Ride “green jersey.”
By mid-summer, Team Sycamore had tackled enough southern Indiana hills to feel fairly confident of our physical endurance. We’d bonded over sweat and a few near-misses, and finally figured out the logistics of getting seven riders, bikes, and gear to the starting line in Grand Rapids while still having a “getaway vehicle” at the ending point in Chicago. The national Climate Ride
organization provided detailed information about the route and the accommodations. We were ready to ride!
Climate Riders hailed from not only the Midwest but also from as far away as the coasts. Some had participated in pre-vious Climate Rides and wanted to be a part of the inaugural Climate Ride Midwest. All were concerned about protecting our Earth. There was great camaraderie. As we mingled while riding, over meals, and during the evening programs, we shared stories about the many ways we volunteer for our favorite causes.
Climate Ride had a few surprises! It was EASY; our training paid off and the levity within Team Sycamore kept us smiling. Many riders, new to distance cycling, chose to take on Climate Ride as a “stretch goal.” The retreat centers where we stayed were nice, with good food and decent beds. And swimming in Lake Michigan after a day of biking felt like a massage!
Climate Ride was a vacation from the busy-ness of life. My only responsibility for four days was to get me and my bike 75 miles down the road. Everything else was taken care of by the fun and encouraging Climate Ride staff.
For more information, and activities that don’t involve cycling, check out the Climate Ride website climateride.org for the hike in Glacier and other events. We also encourage you to join us in spirit with your donations as we work together with Sycamore Land Trust to preserve land in southern Indiana.
Can a vacation help save the world?First Climate ride Midwest raises funds for Sycamore
By legene White
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K eeping track of all the land protec-tion projects—big and small—com-pleted over the course of a year can
be challenging, so here’s a birds-eye view! With member support, Sycamore completed seven important acquisitions in five counties and secured funding for a major project area. Here is the list, in chronological order.Singer TracT (January): This small but key 1.7-acre property in Pike County is surrounded by Sycamore’s Columbia Mine Preserve and a planned addition to Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Sycamore went into action when the parcel was almost lost at tax sale, and purchased it from the original owner, thanks to a gift from Bob and Judy Wargel. The Patoka River NWR purchased the land from Sycamore in September.Moore FaMily TracT (February): These eight wooded acres are one of two 2014 additions to Syca-more’s Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve in Brown County. Jan Moore and sons Adrian and Martin made a half-price bargain sale donation to Sycamore, matched by a grant from the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust.Wood PreServe and KenT PreServe (March): These neighboring properties in Monroe County total 95 acres and border the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, providing habitat for the state-endan-gered timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and fea-turing a scenic waterfall. Lindsay and Loren Wood’s donation of 40 acres allowed Sycamore to match grants from the Bicentennial Nature Trust and The Nature Conservancy and purchase 55 acres from Gary and Dianne Kent. nolan FaMily TracT (June): The second addi-tion to Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve in a year, this 18-acre woods in Brown County connects to the Moore Tract. Undisturbed for over 60 years, it had been pur-chased by the late Val Nolan Jr. and family in 1950. Like
the Moores, the Nolans made a half-price bargain sale donation to match a Bicentennial Nature Trust grant.danaK conServaTion eaSeMenTS (July): Dorothy Danak donated conservation easements on two parcels in Crawford County, totaling 106 acres. one prop-erty features a high-quality hardwood forest on a steep slope above Brushy Creek, and the other holds a diverse mix of forest and open habitat next to a historic cemetery. beanbloSSoM creeK conServaTion area (SePTeMber): As detailed in the story on pages 2 – 3, Sycamore secured the designation of a Bicentennial Conservation Area along Beanblossom Creek in Monroe County, with $1 million in matching funds allocated for land acquisition.
FiSh creeK conServaTion eaSeMenT addi-Tion (SePTeMber): Myriam Wood added 10 more acres of forest to the 125 acres she and her late husband Jim had already protected along Fish Creek in owen County. oliver TracT (deceMber): Also described in the Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area story, this 27-acre addition to Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, the first since 2001, was made possible by a bargain sale gift and other assistance from Bill and Kathleen oliver, as well as funding from the Bicentennial Nature Trust and the Ropchan Foundation.
Above left: On a beautiful October day, this group of enthusiastic volunteers from the Hoosier Hikers Council (HHC) began building a two-mile trail at Sycamore’s Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill in Brown County. Workdays will continue on the third Saturday of every month until the trail is complete. Your help is needed! No experience is necessary, and the HHC even supplies tools. Email [email protected] to volunteer or for more information.
Above middle: The Danak Conservation Easement in Crawford County is home to this brilliant male scarlet tanager.
Above right: Lindsay Wood with baby Georgia near the new Wood Preserve.
Sycamore reviews a successful year, thanks to youBy John laWrenCe, assistant DireCtor
Photos by John Lawrence
Property Update
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A t Sycamore, we talk about perpetuity and the future a lot. The beauty of Sycamore’s mission is that the work
you help us do today has a permanent, posi-tive impact: acres upon acres of land pro-tected for wildlife, for air and water quality, for rural heritage and scenic beauty.
For all this future talk to be meaningful, we have to continue investing in educa-tion—for people of all ages—to build their awareness and to nurture their love of place. Our Environmental Education Program has done amazing things in the 10 years since its inception: it has provided hands-on expe-riences in nature for tens of thousands of children and adults to learn about science, mathematics, poetry, photography, and life.
So it brings us great joy and optimism to be able to expand the program to a full-time position, thanks to a generous anony-mous donor. In addition to two years of full-time salary funding, the donor has pledged $250,000 as seed money for an endowment, provided we can match that amount within the next 15 months.
Our goal is to create a $1 million endow-ment that will provide reliable funding each year to sustain this permanent position. We
still need to raise $188,000 by May 2016 to secure the seed money, but once we do, we have two more anonymous donors who will fulfill pledges totaling $225,000. That puts us 75 percent of the way to $1 million!
Let’s take that seed and grow a mighty oak. If you care about instilling the love of nature in the next generation, or know someone who would be thrilled to be part of this movement, please let us know. We need your help to take advantage of this match.
As our friend Scott Sanders wrote, people will only protect what they love, and they only love what they know. Will you help?
To learn more, please contact Sheryl Woodhouse Keese at 812-336-5382 x104 or [email protected].
Left: Eco-warriors at the ready! Three girls from the Childs Elementary Eco-School are ready to tackle invasive plants. These hard-working students experienced the unparalleled hands-on learning opportuni-ties—like restoring a habitat by removing invasive plants—that Sycamore’s EE program offers.
Below: “What is it?” A Li’l Hiker shows his find to Outreach Event Coordinator David Rupp, who will continue to offer his excel-lent Li’l Hikers and Weekday Walkers outings.
Environmental Education Update
An everlasting impact on hearts and mindsendowment to fund full-time educatorBy Katrina Folsom, CommuniCations DireCtor
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hen Sycamore Land Trust got its start 25 years ago, its
founders hardly envisioned it reaching such great heights. For
the first 10 years, the land trust relied entirely on volunteers, who worked hard both to pro-tect land and to develop Sycamore’s philo-sophical foundation as a positive, practical, and non-political organization.
By now, the people who’ve supported Sycamore over the years have created a major impact: more than 8,300 acres perma-nently protected, and tens of thousands of students and adults impacted by Sycamore’s Environmental Edu-cation Program. You can see and feel the impact:
Beautiful hardwood forests, diverse wet-lands, and family farms protected forever;
Scenic spots you can seek out for a quiet stroll, teaching your children about nature, birdwatching—an overall restoration of spirit;
Optimism that future generations are connecting with nature.
Twenty-five years is significant in the life of a nonprofit created by passionate local citizens, nurtured by volunteers for the first 10 years of its life, and reliant upon the good-will of private donors for its lifeblood. But 25
years is insignificant in the time scale of our natural world and human history. We stand on bedrock that contains fossils of an ancient sea, we canoe on rivers that settlers traversed hundreds of years before us, we watch majestic bald eagles again successfully raise young, and we walk with awe in stands of old-growth trees.
The land that Sycamore has protected in its first 25 years is a true legacy for future generations. The children that run along the
boardwalk at Beanb-lossom Bottoms can watch the preserve grow up as they do. The trees on Sycamore pre-
serves will grow larger and more magnificent, like the 200-year-old, 15-foot wide Sycamore tree photographed in the Wabash River Valley in the early 1800s. Because how do you get a tree 15 feet wide and 200 years old? You take a sapling 15 millimeters wide, and you protect it. That’s the unique value of Sycamore Land Trust.
Forever is a long time. Supporters of Syc-amore Land Trust have the special pleasure of knowing their contributions have already made a lasting impact. As this movement grows, just think how many acres will be added to the public trust, and how many children will have life-shaping experiences in nature.
“every founder will tell you it has succeeded beyond their dreams.”
—Tom Zeller, one of Sycamore’s founders
Sycamore celebrates its first 25 years
By Katrina Folsom, CommuniCations DireCtor
Indiana’s sycamores rivaled sequoias in their majesty. This huge sycamore tree, photographed in the Gibson County Wabash River Bottom by Robert Ridgway in 1928, was 15 feet across and almost 15 stories tall.
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FARMbloomington, 108 E. Kirkwood Ave., BloomingtonFeaturing: Peach and lavender “Preserves for Preserves”
and specialty cocktails: “The Woodsman” and “orangeville Rise”10 percent of gift basket sales and 25 percent
of specialty cocktail sales will be donated to Sycamore
Cardinal Spirits, 922 S. Morton St. (on the B-Line), Bloomingtonoffering a special edition spirit: Trevlac, an earthy herbal spirit
Available beginning in February 2015
Bloomingfoods Market and DeliSpecial edition sandwiches
A portion of proceeds to go to Sycamore
Hopscotch Coffee235 W. Dodds St. (B-Line Station), Bloomington
$1 per bag of beans donated to Sycamore
Mt. Pilot BBQ, Indiana-style sauceBloomingfoods East, 3220 E. 3rd St.
Upland Brewing Company, 350 W. 11th St.Coasters with a game and PRIZES!
At the Bloomington brewpub and various bars serving Upland beer throughout southern Indiana
Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor329 Washington St., Columbus
Table tents honoring Sycamore’s 25th Anniversary
Soma Coffeehouse, Kirkwood and E. 3rd St. stores, Bloomington$1 per cold brew growler will be donated to Sycamore
Celebrate with us! Signature food and beverages
look for these products all year from our 25th Anniversary partners!
By Katrina Folsom, CommuniCations DireCtor
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Upcoming Activities & Volunteer OpportunitiesWoodPecKerS in WinTer Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve Saturday, February 14, 8:30 a.m. Sassafras Audubon Society invites Sycamore supporters to join Julia
Ferguson and Jonathan Bauer for a birding outing focused on the woodpeckers that inhabit Beanblossom Bottoms. All birds will be recorded to add to the data being collected nationally as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count. No need to register, just meet at the Marsh parking lot on Kinser Pike at 8:30 a.m. to caravan. Contact Julia at [email protected] with questions.
li’l hiKerS: nuMberS in naTure The Cedars Preserve Sunday, February 15, 2 – 4 p.m. It’s the Great Backyard Bird Count weekend! Join David Rupp for a hike to tally the birds at this
beautiful preserve in southwest Monroe County. However, we won’t stop with the birds. We can learn a lot from the close examination of nature. How many seeds are left on last year’s flowers? How many beech trees are in the understory? How many different creatures are under that log? Dress for the weather. A snack will be provided.
Li’l Hikers outings welcome families with children age 12 and under. Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $10 per family. open to the first 28 people who respond. rSvP by February 12. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
cliMaTe ride inForMaTion SeSSion/SlideShoWEvansville Central Library, Browning Event Room BWednesday, February 25, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Come learn about Climate Ride Midwest, a four-day, 300-mile
fundraising bike ride from Grand Rapids to Chicago. See photos from the 2014 ride and find out how you can join Team Sycamore in 2015 for this remarkable adventure. The ride is a great opportunity to make close friends, get in shape, protect land in southern Indiana, and have a really fun time. (See the story, page 9.)
If you are interested in learning more about Climate Ride but cannot attend the Evansville session, email [email protected] for more information. You can also find her at Green Drinks Bloomington in April for another presentation.
cedar creST naTive Shrub PlanTing4898 E. Heritage Woods Rd., BloomingtonThursday, February 26, 1 – 4 p.m.We will plant native shrubs at Sycamore’s office, Cedar Crest, on Bloomington’s east side, filling in
an area where invasive plants have been removed. The native species will improve wildlife habitat and beautify the office grounds. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Directions available at sycamorelandtrust.org/staff-directory or when you RSVP. volunTeer by February 24. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x105.
Trevlac bluFFS Trail clearing State Road 45 in western Brown County Friday, March 6, 1 – 5 p.m. Enjoy the view of rare hemlock trees and Beanblossom Creek from
the top of the mighty Trevlac bluff. We will clear a new trail along the bluff and enjoy the scenery. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at Sycamore’s Cedar Crest office to carpool from Bloomington at 1 p.m., or meet at the preserve at 1:30 p.m.; directions available when you RSVP. volunTeer by March 4. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x105.
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WeeKday WalKerS: habiTaT diScovery Porter West Preserve Tuesday, March 10, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. The beauty of Porter West Preserve lies in its diversity.
Wetland ponds, overgrown fields, and upland forest are all found in close proximity to each other. Join David Rupp and other nature lovers on a discovery hike where everyone can contribute with questions and answers. Bring your favorite field guide and your best observation skills!
Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $5/person or $10/family. open to the first 25 people who respond. rSvP by March 9. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
oliver TracT clean-uPBeanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in northern Monroe CountySaturday, March 28, 1 – 4 p.m.We will clean up debris left by a tornado in 2002 in the woods at the oliver Tract, the brand-new
addition to the Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve. This is a special opportunity to visit a part of the preserve that is difficult to access, so be prepared to work on steep slopes and rugged terrain. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at the Beanblossom trail parking lot. Directions available at sycamorelandtrust.org/beanblossom-bottoms or when you RSVP. volunTeer by March 26. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x105.
li’l hiKerS: SalaMander Sally Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve Saturday, april 11, 2 – 4 p.m. It’s spring! The longer days and warmer nights encourage the local
amphibians to sally forth—and so will we! Children should dress for exploring under rocks and logs and in and around wet places. Leader David Rupp will help to identify our finds and explain some of the reasons for declines in amphibian populations. We’ll be excited if the weather is rainy, because that’s how the salamanders like it! A snack will be provided.
Li’l Hikers outings welcome families with children age 12 and under. Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $10 per family. open to the first 28 people who respond. rSvP by February 12. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
dilcher-Turner canyon ForeST Trail clearing and invaSiveSMeet at Bloomington Sam’s Club to carpool; preserve is near County Line Road in Greene Co. Thursday, april 16, 1 – 5 p.m. We’ll continue work on a trail through preserve’s spectacular ravines, and control autumn olive
and multiflora rose that are invading the forest. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at the Sam’s Club parking lot at 1 p.m. to carpool; there is limited parking at the preserve. open to the first 10 volunteers. volunTeer by april 14. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x105.
arbor day Tree giveaWayBloomingfoods East and WestFriday, april 24, 4 – 7 p.m.Stop by Bloomingfoods East (3220 E. 3rd St.) or West (316 W. 6th St.) and
pick up a free tree seedling from Sycamore volunteers! Be a seedling wrapper on April 23 at 6 p.m. or a seedling distributor on April 24. volunTeer by april 17. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382, x102.
For more information, visit www.sycamorelandtrust.org and click on “Events” or call 812-336-5382, x100. Please include your phone number, email, and mailing address when you respond.
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Field and ForeST: birding WalK Touch the Earth Natural Area, near Columbus Saturday, april 25, 9 – 11 a.m. Biologists Dawn and Ryan Slack will guide you through the diverse habitats of Touch the Earth
Natural Area in search of a variety of interesting birds. Yellow-rumped warblers are common in the cedar woodlot. You’ll listen for the squeaky wheel sound of the black-and-white warbler in the forested area, and other warblers will be flittering in the edge habitat. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $5/person or $10/family. open to the first 25 people who respond. rSvP by april 23. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
WeeKday WalKerS: birdS and blooMS Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve Thursday, april 30, 9 – 11 a.m. Look up, or look down? That will be the challenge as David Rupp guides a hike looking for both
spring wildflowers and migrating songbirds. Trevlac Bluffs, in northwest Brown County, offers two paths: one through a young floodplain forest and the other through mature oaks up to the hemlocks on the bluff. There will be much diversity of birds and flowers, so bring your field guides and binoculars. Specific directions for the meeting place will be given upon registration.
Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $5/person or $10/family. open to the first 25 people who respond. rSvP by april 28. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
Frog choruS and SKy dance hiKeBeanblossom Bottoms Nature PreserveFriday, May 1, 7-9 p.m.Do you know which frog sounds like two metal marbles
clicking together, and which one like a banjo string twang? And have you seen the American woodcock do its sky dance at dusk? Stroll on the boardwalk across this fascinating wetland ecosystem as Prof. Vicky Meretsky of IU-SPEA helps us identify frog songs and Sycamore Assistant Director John Lawrence guides us in listening for the woodcock—and possibly rails—secretive marsh birds that occasionally make an appearance. Carpool leaves at 6:30 p.m. from the Marsh parking lot on Kinser Pike. Parking at Beanblossom Bottoms is limited so carpooling is encouraged.
Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, suggested donation $5 per adult or $10 per family. rSvP by April 29. Open to the first 25 people who respond. Email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
volunTeer aPPreciaTion cooKouTCedar Crest, 4898 E. Heritage Woods Rd., BloomingtonSaturday, May 2, 12 – 2 p.m.Sycamore’s volunteers are invited to come to our headquarters for a cookout
on the patio! Volunteers make our work possible, and we’d like to pay tribute. Food and beverages will be provided. rSvP by april 29. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382, x102.
Touch The earTh garlic MuSTard PullCountry Club Road in Bartholomew County, near ColumbusSunday, May 3, 1 – 4 p.m.Help pull the invasive garlic mustard weed that threatens this scenic preserve just west of
Columbus. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at the preserve parking lot. Directions available at sycamorelandtrust.org/touch-the-earth or when you RSVP. volunTeer by april 30. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
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Trevlac bluFFS garlic MuSTard Pull State Road 45 in western Brown County Friday, May 8, 1 – 5 p.m. Garlic mustard also needs to be pulled at this state-dedicated nature preserve, one of the most
important natural areas in the state. There will be time to walk a new trail to the view at the summit of the bluff. Bring work gloves and dress for the outdoors. Meet at Sycamore’s Cedar Crest office to carpool from Bloomington at 1 p.m., or meet at the preserve at 1:30 p.m. Directions available when you RSVP. volunTeer by May 6. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x105.
li’l hiKerS: FriendS oF The ForeST Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill Sunday, May 17, 2 – 4 p.m. Explore this 600-acre preserve in eastern Brown County with David
Rupp. This preserve is part of the largest block of contiguous forest in Indiana. The children will discover what kinds of plants and animals thrive in this ecosystem and why it’s important. Bring your little environmentalist for an afternoon of learning how each person, no matter what age, can make a difference in protecting our woods. A snack will be provided.
Li’l Hikers outings welcome families with children age 12 and under. Free for Sycamore members. For non-members, the suggested donation is $10 per family. open to the first 28 people who respond. rSvP by May 14. email [email protected] or call 812-336-5382 x100.
birding hiKeS Eagle Slough Natural Area Weekly during april and May Birder Tim Griffith hosts weekly bird hikes at Eagle Slough during spring migration. Check www.wbu.com/evansville for dates and come see the colorful warblers!
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anSel adaMS FilM and recePTionIU Art MuseumMarch 1, 2 – 4 p.m .
Although Ansel Adams is best known for his grand, sweeping views of Yosemite National Park, he also produced many “macro” photographs of smaller details found in the natural world. A collection of these intimate works will be exhibited at the IU Art Museum in celebration of Sycamore’s 25th Anniversary. Join us for the film “The Incisive Art: Ansel Adams,” followed by a reception highlighting our 25th Anniversary signature food and beverages.
leaderShiP SocieTy 25Th anniverSary gala Deer Park Manor May 14, 6 – 9 p.m.
Sycamore is hosting a special 1940s-era themed evening for all Leadership Society members with alfresco dining and dancing to the music of Sarah’s Swing Set. See www.sycamorelandtrust.org/leadership-society for more information about the Leadership Society.
25th Anniversary Special Events
1March
annual celebraTion Bloomington-Monroe County Convention Center october 23, 2015
14May
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Thank YouThis list includes donations received from 8/21/2014 through 12/31/2014. Donations made near the end of this date range may appear in the next issue of The Twig. If you believe we have omitted your name in error, please contact us at 812-336-5382.
WELCOME 96 NEW MEMBERS!Jerry ArvesenJohn BaconeElizabeth and Damion BauderJohn BethellBloomingfoods Garden CenterCharlie BowmanBennett and Cynthia BrabsonBilly and Jaclyn BrizzardBrown County Parks and RecreationBill and Linda BrownCamp PalawopecTerry ClarkMary Ann ClineConcrete Tune-UpPatty and Jim CottomSharlee DavisWill DevittEmma DosseyMichael and Hannah DowneyTom and Cindy DuffyAllan and Ann EdmondsRobert EllisCamille and Ron EnnisDan FitzSimmonsDolores FrancisBarb and Bob GartonGather :handmade shoppe & Co:Global GiftsChris GoldenEitan Goldman and Sarah HurwitzAdam and Jennifer GreenDouglas GulickLauren HayesChristine HerringCarol and William HetrickHidden Hollows RetreatHoosier Eye DoctorHopscotch CoffeeIndiana Green BurialMatt and Julie KirrMichael and Christine KorytaJoan LauerMike LodatoBill Lozowski and Sarah BaumgartThe Lucky CupcakeJim ManionMarcy Neiditz Ceramic ArtKarin and Tom MasonMike and Debby McDanielRodney McLeanDella and Jerad MendenhallMoon Magic CreationsAlexia MorrisonGary MorrisonMother Bear’s PizzaMt. Gilead Friends RetreatOsmon Chiropractic CenterOwen Valley WineryDavid Scott OwensPersimmon InnRoger PfingstonRich PhillipsDeborah Piston-HatlenSteve and Jill PopolizioQuaff On! Bloomington TapSandra RampleyRectify, LLCRevolution Bike and BeanJennifer Robinson
Frank A. RogersPaul RothrockRobin RuppJoe RyanS.K. Cornwell DesignsSara Steffy McQueen StudioJeffrey SchemmerSenoj SalonPaul and Alice SharpShine Insurance AgencyJulia and Bill SlaymakerBret and Ellee SpierDiane SpoffordDanielle SteeleJack SternfeldMona and Rob SternfeldJeff and Kris SullivanJason Tennessen and Laura KnudsonThomas and Maryanne ThickstunTivoli TheatreDoug and Kristin VarellaCaroline VerdierJeffrey and Dawn WhaleyJerald WhiteLinda WilliamsonChristina and Dale WrayZaharakos Ice Cream Parlor
THANK YOu, DONORS!
$370,000Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
$40,000+Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County
$20,000Raymond Foundation
$5,000Ropchan Foundation
$1,000+Anonymous (2)Dorothy DanakMark and Rebecca EwingLynton K. and Helen W. Caldwell Fund of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe CountyRick MaladMarkey’s Rental & StagingOld National BankKaren Pitkin, RE/MAX RealtyDon and Betsy WhiteheadJennifer Witzke Graphic Design
$500-999Bob Agranoff and Susan KleinBluespring Caverns ParkBloom MagazineTal and Betsy BosinCapriole, Inc.Culver Family FoundationEco LogicCarmen and Linda FelicettiFowler Tree Services, Inc.GM Powertrain
Harrison County Community FoundationHidden Hollows RetreatJohn Kyle III and Marcia Dunne-KyleRick MaladPatty and Tony PizzoRon Remak, Bill C. Brown AssociatesRaymond and Rita Rust Jr.Jeffrey SchemmerS.K. Cornwell DesignsMelinda Swenson and Carol McCordTom Tarzian and Cathy SteeleSusan and Mack ThomasJohn and Sue West
$250-$499Paul and Linda AndersonA. James BarnesJohn BethellJoe BuehlerCarlota GardensBill ClemensFrank and Barbara DyeEvansville Audubon SocietyDarlene GersterHenry GrayJim and Angela HauckJulia Heiman and Johan VerhulstHank Huffman and Ellen JacquartLaughing Planet Cafe, Village Deli, and SomaLester MasonTony Moore and Joanne ShaverAlexia MorrisonJudge Edward W. Najam Jr.Joe and Joyce PedenRoger PfingstonJim and Sheryl RichardsEdward and Claire RobertsonGary and Ann SchepperJack SchererRichard SchutteDanielle SteeleMelinda Swenson and Carol McCordTwin H Tree Farm and NurseryHelen WieslerJack Wittman and Rita PaschkeMarcin and Namrata Zalewski
$100 -$249Geoffrey AdamsKathy and Charles AikenAndrew Davis MenswearAnonymousJan ArmstrongKathy Avers and Dan DeBardStephen and Candace BaileyKeith and Ruth BarnhardtDonald and Rosanne BatemaJacqui Bauer and Tom EvansBe Hair NowDavid and Ingrid BeeryBikesmithsBloomingfoods Market & DeliBloomington Playwrights ProjectTim Boeglin and Cynthia ReichardPatrick BrantlingerPeter Burkholder and Doug McKinneyJohn ByersCardinal SpiritsComedy Attic
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Chris and Teresa CraftRay CrittendenMary DammMichael S. and Betty B. DavisBob and Joann DoddEleanore DodgeDavid Duffee and Donna EderKeith DunlapMichael and Sally DunnJohn and Sybil EakinRobert and Candice EnoJames FergusonJohn Fischer and Juan SanchezFlower Lane Garden ClubSharon Frank and Gene EliasSara FrommerEd Furia and Kathryn PropstGather :handmade shoppe & Co:James Glen and Constance Cook GlenEitan Goldman and Sarah HurwitzGP Strategies CorporationThe Green NurseryStephen and Vera GrubbsJess Gwinn and Maureen ForrestElizabeth Gwynn and Leroy MysliwiecCharles and Sandra HainzStephen and Jo Ellen HamJohn Hamilton and Dawn JohnsenSusan HathawayCharles and Doris HazelSusan and Jim HengeveldThe Herald-TimesCarol and William HetrickDavid Hillman, O. D.Bill and LuAnne HolladayJanet Hollis and Ron SelbyRobert and Joan HongenHoosier HeightsKatherine HopkinsThe Irish LionIU AuditoriumSamuel and Phyllis KazdanJohn and Leah KetchamKarisha Kirk, Jack Urrutia, and Keith WegnerDonald KnottsDiana Lambdin and Frank LesterJudy LawrenceTed and Diann LockJames and Marybeth LodatoDan and Beth Lodge-RigalGuy and Connie LoftmanBill Lozowski and Sarah BaumgartThe Lucky CupcakeMalibu GrillKathy and Patrick McManusPatrick MedlandJennifer MiersGary MorrisonThomas and Rosalie MosleyJames and Rowena MountKimberly Munroe and Edward ComentalePatrick and Glenda MurrayDavid and Martha NordHarold and Denise OgrenRobert and Donna OrmistonMary Lu OrrMarie Otteson-JonesDavid Scott OwensPaoli Peaks—Ski...Ride...TubeDave and Beth PerneyPersimmon InnPersonal Financial Services, LLCEdward and Darlene PeyronninHarriet Pfister
Charles and Sandra PorterPatricia PowellQuaff ON! Bloomington TapThomas Rampley and Briana LoftinJames and Barbara RandallRectify, LLCEric ReekRevolution Bike and BeanBonnie RigginsNora Roggeveen-Sams and Weldon SamsMary Runnells and Robert PriceLouise SchlesingerScholars Inn BakehousePeter Schwandt and Dixie WelchNathan and Patricia ShierLinda Simon and David SabbaghRyan and Dawn SlackShine Insurance AgencyGordon and Judy SmithJanet and Jeff StakeGary and Anne SteigerwaldMona and Rob SternfeldJudy Stewart and Michael FultonPaula SundermanJo Throckmorton and Jillian KinzieTivoli TheatreDan and Karen TuleyUnitarian Universalist Congregation of ColumbusUpland Brewing Co.Martha WailesPaul WeilandMary Beth WertJeffrey and Dawn WhaleyDon and Betsy WhiteheadLinda WilliamsonRichard and Pamela WinegardenWorld Wide AutomotiveDebbie WozniakMandy and Jonathan YatesRichard and Laura Weinland Young
$40-$99Ben and Jamie AckermanJim and Julie AkardAnonymousBill and Kathy ArmstrongJonathan Atwell and Mandy BrothersAver’s PizzaJohn BaconeElizabeth and Damion BauderMegan BickelLeslie Bishop and Jeff HymanDouglass and Ruth BoshkoffJack and Sue BowmanEmily BowmanBennett and Cynthia BrabsonJudith BrennanAnne and Jim BrightBilly and Jaclyn BrizzardJames Brooks and Megan AbbottRobert BurkartButler Winery & VineyardsThe Butterfly RoadLee and Pat CasebereJim CaseyGeorge CesnikMary Ann ClineJoe CollinsConcrete Tune-UpRalph CooleyPatty and Jim CottomChristina CourtrightJohn and Susan CronkhiteMary Damm
Jeff and D’arcy DanielsonDoug and Susan DavisDeep Blue GearBernadette de LeonDesignscape Horticultural ServicesCharles and Judy DeweyPhilip and Regina DiLavoreTom and Cindy DuffySteve DunbarTim and MaryAnn DunfeeLance DyeEagle Pointe Golf ResortEarth Drops SoapsAllan and Ann EdmondsBen and Carol EdmondsAllen and Marian EnglandCamille and Ron EnnisJames and Sara FarmerLeslie FasoneSusan Fernandes and Michael HoffJacqueline Fernette and David PeselLissa and Greg FischerPatricia FosterAnne FrakerDavid FrancisMatthew and Julia GadlageThe Game PreserveBarb and Bob GartonSpencer GoehlAmy and Rod GoforthMarnell Gorman and Kris KimmellAdam and Jennifer GreenEdwin Greenebaum and Joan CaultonDouglas GulickGary Hafner and Jane ClayLawrie HamiltonHeath and Emily HamiltonElsa Marston HarikLD and Cristie HarryRamon HassLauren HayesPhil and Jane HensonLuella HolcombHoliday World and Splashin’ SafariJames HollandErin HollindenMartha Hollis and Pat DucharmeHopscotch CoffeeDave and Mary HudakIndiana Green BurialIndianapolis ZooIU Art MuseumSteve JasperJ. L. Waters and CompanyCherie JoJane JorgensenMarsha Keith and Gene SnipesBob and Bonnie KinkleJanine and Mehmet KocakulahGretchen LaemmerLaura LambJoan LauerRichard, Ann, and Elizabeth LeDucMarcia LloydBill and Pat LloydMike LodatoTerry LoucksPatrick and Valeri LuzadderSkip and Sherry MakelyMorton MarcusMarcy Neiditz Ceramic ArtJim and Edrie MartinKarin and Tom MasonThomas M. McGlassonRodney McLeanDella and Jerad Mendenhall
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Cathy MeyerGreg and Sue MeyerDavid M. and Rhonda MillerMarsha MintonMoe’s Ache StudioMoon Magic CreationsRobert MossMt. Gilead Friends RetreatCraig E. Nelson and Mitzi StreepeyDennis OrwinJames and Janice PetersonHarriet PfisterJoe PhillipsPictura GalleryIsabel Piedmont-Smith and David SmithMatt PierceAlison PittFiora PizzoTed PolleySteve and Jill PopolizioDiane and Robert PortPatricia PowellFrona and Ron PowellKay RegleinDon and Jean RhoadsDoug RiceCarol and Jim RiceCarroll and Martha RitterFrank A. RogersSteve and Jennifer Roll Mary Beth RoskaMary Kay RothertJerard and Nancy RuffRobin RuppDavid and Beth RuppJoe RyanSara Steffy McQueen StudioSare Associates, P. C.David and Jane SavageSusan, Richard, and Doris ScottDon and Melinda SeaderKaren ShackletteJoanne ShankJohn SharpnackJoanne ShaverDavid M. ShawNathan and Patricia ShierJohn Gibb SimpsonJulia and Bill SlaymakerMona and Rob SternfeldR. Stephen StroupRod SuthersJaime SweanyThomas TalbertJason Tennessen and Laura KnudsonJames TermanThomas and Maryanne ThickstunUptown CafeDoug and Kristin VarellaCaroline VerdierRichard and Sue VernierLoretta VinsonRonald VitelloMartha WailesDottie WarmbierMaryann WatsonWeaver Fine Furniture and Cabinets, Inc.Anna WeiserJennifer Weiss and Scott LarsonJerald WhiteLinda WillisTom and Sara WoodShari WoodburyChristina and Dale WrayBetty and Dick YoderLori YoungZaharakos Ice Cream Parlor
Judy ZimmermanKatie Zukof and Eric Schedler
IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH BOIKEJoan ten Hoor and James Dobson
In honoR of RAy CRITTEnDEnJames Crittenden
IN HONOR OF DEBBIE GILLETTEKia Gillette
In honoR of SAnDRA hERnShAWSigrid Gentile-Chambers and Dave Chambers
IN MEMORY OF FREDERICK AND MARY JAnE LoREnzLorenz Family Charitable Trust
In MEMoRy of JIM MITChELLDavid and Sally CrouchJohn and Sybil EakinPenn Jensen and Monica KindrakaBonita MartinThe Myers FamilyBarbara and Michael Stiglitz
In honoR of PATRICIA nEWfoRThBill and LuAnne Holladay
IN HONOR OF ANNE AND GARY PALMERBill and LuAnne Holladay
SuSTAINING MEMBERSMark AdamsLydia Barbash-Riley and Matthew MausJim and Maria BrownNatalie and Tim ColvinBob Flynn and Yvonne WittmannShelley HahnDell HarmsenPat HastingsSteve and Cassie HowardWerner Jorck and Barbara Watt JorckPadraic and Izabela KenneyMichael and Christine KorytaWilliam LonnbergGeorge MankowskiDan and Linda McNabbJustin NaabPatrick and Jenny PetroMark and Kathy SheehanMarion SinclairEliot and Pamela SmithBen SwansonMaria and Paul Viterisi
LEADERShIP SoCIETy MEMBERS
VISIONARY ($25,000+ ANNuALLY)AnonymousSam Shine Foundation
CHAMPION ($10,000-$24,999)Namaste FoundationBarbara RestleRobert and Judy WargelWylie Foundation, Inc.
TRAIL BLAzER ($5,000-$9,999)AnonymousJim and Brenda DeCoursey
Rick and Alice JohnsonAnn NolanScott and Ruth Sanders
CONSERVATOR ($2,500-$4,999)Mike and Bev BakerHeather Blair and Craig ColeyBill and Linda BrownCarrie Newcomer and Robert MeitusMarcia VeldmanLarry and Carol WeingartnerJeff and Legene WhiteSheryl Woodhouse Keese and Brian Keese
NATuRALIST ($1,000-$2,499)Mark AdamsMatt and Eva AllenAnonymousMarian ArmstrongElaine Caldwell Emmi and Phil EmmiKate CruikshankBarbara Hanawalt and Ronald GiereWalter Hoffman and Ann JohnsonSteve and Cassie HowardJohn and Christina HurlowStephen IrishJenny JohnsonEllen KettersonDel and Letty NewkirkTim and Ann NiednagelCarol PettysJim and Kathy PickrellReza Pishgahi and Lois Hutter-PishgahiSarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation, Inc.Joan ten Hoor and James DobsonJudith and Maynard ThompsonTim Tilton and Joann AlexanderBill and Mary Weeks
LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERSPatricia Abplanalp†Mark AdamsAnonymous (2)Janet ArmstrongMike and Bev BakerSusan Hollis BassettPhil and Ruthann BerckHelen and Keith Caldwell†Edward Champa†Joseph CollinsJim and Bobbi DiehlBob and Joann DoddGeorge Ewing†Christian and Paige FreitagDarlene GersterHenry and Alice† GrayStephen and Vera GrubbsLawrie HamiltonDell Harmsen and William E. DavisWilliam H. Hays, IIISamuel P. and Barbara D. HaysJoyce Hendrix Dawn E. HewittRobert and Joan HongenGeorge Huntington, IIIRick and Alice JohnsonMarvin KeenanDonald E. and Linda L. KnottsGeorge and Cathy KorinekBill Lozowski and Sarah BaumgartVicky MeretskyGreg MeyerRobert and Donna OrmistonLois Hutter-Pishgahi and Reza PishgahiPatricia Murphy PizzoDavid Porter†
On the CoverHiker Benjamin Flood has fun fitting himself into a hollow sycamore tree on the Li’l Hikers Adventure at the Park, McCormick’s Creek State Park, in February 2014. Li’l Hikers outings welcome families with children age 12 and under. For a list of this year’s outings, see “Upcoming Activities” starting on page 14. Photo by Michiko Owaki
Charlotte Reeves†Barbara RestleMary Kay RothertElizabeth and Chuck RuhJudith A. Stewart and Michael P. FultonMelinda SwensonJoan ten Hoor and James DobsonMaria and Paul ViterisiCarolyn WaldronPatricia Walne†Bill and Mary WeeksMyriam and Jim† WoodSheryl Woodhouse Keese & Brian KeeseTom ZellerDeborah A. Zera
†Deceased
THANK YOu, VOLuNTEERS 8/21/2014 to 12/31/2014
25TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEEJennifer BassJonathan CargillBeth Fisher McKenzie May GoodrichCarol GulyasGeorge HuntingtonAbby NooroziJana WilsonR. Stephen StroupJaime Sweany
AuCTION COMMITTEELydia Barbash-RileyGeorge CesnikLindsay CrutchfieldShar FishErin HollindenChloe JacobsonAmanda KellyMark NorrisSteven Pickering Jodi PopeSaretta Pope
CEDAR CREST uPKEEPKeith BarnhardtDesignscapeHugh Hazelrigg
CLERICALMarti BlackPat and Duane HornickLeon and Judy McDougalDonna MichaelBetty and Paul SchoonmakerMurl and Jean Summerville
CLIMATE RIDE MIDWESTBill BrownBrian Keese & Sheryl Woodhouse KeeseRobert Meitus and Carrie Newcomer
Scott Russell Sanders Marcia Veldman Jeff and Legene White
ENVIRONMENTAL EDuCATION Leslie BishopDan McGuckin
EVEnTSTaylor BreckAngeline BicknerNick BradfordScott BreenPei Chin and Kuo-Chun KuLindsay CrutchfieldAmber DaySophia D’ElisoGrace DickeyKathie DurkelPaul FoglemanConney Freese-PosthumaAllen FulmerRoy and Holly HooperMarsha Keith and Gene SnipesLoraine MartinLauren MartinJeffrey MeekCathy MeyerMike NahasBrigitt NasbyCindy NeidhartSteven PickeringJodi PopeStephanie and Kenneth RichardsKyle RinneNora Roggeveen-Sams & Weldon SamsKatie SaurCally SchliserTylor SchmittMarion SinclairRebecca StanzeAllison TomuskKathy and Craig Truelove-BartonSusan WannamakerDottie WarmbierAimee WechslerMary WeeksMyriam WoodChris Worley
MuSIC AND ARTSharlee DavisWill DevittPatrick Petro
STEWARDSHIP AND TRAIL BuILDINGMichael DavisSteven PickeringJoel PontiusSusan Snider Salmon Terry and Terrie Usrey
PHOTOGRAPHYJeff DanielsonSteve GiffordHugh HazelriggJohn D. ShearerMarcin Zalewski
THE TWIG DISTRIBuTIONShannon BegemanMarcia BrammerGreg MeyerElizabeth RuhJoan ten Hoor and James DobsonMaria ViterisiSusan WannamakerMyriam Wood
WRITING AND EDITING Cathy MeyerJoan ten HoorLegene White
YEAR-ROuND LAND STEWARDS Matt and Eva AllenBob BarberMarco BartholomewBill BausMark and Beth BishtonJoe BengeKeith and Julie BobayRussell BouldingJohn ByersAndrea and Jim FergusonRoxanne Flowers & Leigh GrundhoeferGary Grumbling and MaryAnn MartinJess Gwinn and Maureen ForrestJeff HilandMarvin KeenanChris LambdinKristina LindborgAndrea and Justin LutzTerry and Connie MarbachVicky MeretskyCathy MeyerColt MillerCynthia MorganChris Myers and Scott StephensonDennis OrwinKaren Pacific and David ShipleyNathan PateReza Pishgahi and Lois Hutter-PishgahiCarroll and Martha RitterElizabeth and Chuck RuhMarion SinclairLiny Smits and Michael PaidleBryan SosbeJerry and Anne SteeleAmy Thompson and Dionicio NunezK. Neill VaughanKurt and Lisa Weisner
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OuR BuSINESS PARTNERS
Thank you to our printer, World Arts!
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Staff & board
Board of DirectorsMark Adams Mike Baker, Vice PresidentDoug Dayhoff Jim DeCoursey Steve GiffordGeorge HuntingtonJenny JohnsonGeorge Korinek Terry Marbach, Treasurer Greg Meyer Patricia Pizzo Vi SimpsonJoan ten Hoor, Secretary Maria Viterisi, President W. William Weeks
Advisory BoardWilfred C. Bussing III Steve Ferguson Burney FischerKenneth R.R. Gros Louis Baron Hill Steve HowardJohn HurlowRick Johnson Mark Kruzan James Madison Vicky MeretskyEdward W. Najam, Jr.Del Newkirk Karen PitkinRonald F. Remak Scott Russell SandersRandall T. ShepardJudith Stewart Eric C. StolbergTom TarzianMaryrose Wampler Don Whitehead Todd Young
Executive Director: Christian FreitagAssistant Director: John LawrenceDevelopment Director: Sheryl Woodhouse Keese Communications Director: Katrina FolsomEnvironmental Education Coordinator: to be filledOutreach Event Coordinator: David RuppSPEA Fellow: Anna Archer
Committee ChairsAcquisitions: W. William WeeksEnvironmental Education: to be filledFinance: Terry Marbach Fund Development: Steve HowardStewardship: John Lawrence
Graphic Designer of The Twig: Jennifer L.WitzkeEditor of The Twig: Joan ten Hoor
HeadquartersCedar Crest 4898 E. Heritage Woods Rd., Bloomington
Mailing AddressP.O. Box 7801, Bloomington, IN 47407-7801
Visit our website: www.sycamorelandtrust.orgEmail: [email protected]
If you would like one of us to speak to your group or organization, please call 812-336-5382 x 100.
SyCAMORE SIGHTINGSAT THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION
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Carroll Ritter, right, accepts Sycamore’s Lifetime Conservation Award from Executive Director Christian freitag at the november 7, 2014 Annual Celebration. Ritter served on the Board of Directors from 2002 until 2014, and founded Sycamore’s nationally recognized Environmental Education Program.
David Banks, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Africa program, was the Annual Celebration’s featured speaker. Banks served Sycamore as its second president from 1996 to mid-1998. The 2014 Annual Celebration, “From the Knobstone to the Nile,” welcomed close to 400 Sycamore supporters and raised more than $24,000.
Joyce and Joe Peden, recipients of Sycamore’s Conservation Business of the Year Award. Joe,
son of popular nature writer Rachel Peden, with his wife Joyce, continue to host hundreds of area youngsters every year at the Monroe
County Children’s Farm Festival created by Joe’s parents.
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ster
s_1-
3.in
dd
110
/21/
14
9:38
PM