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Events Calendar

Join us for a hike, workday, or special event!  Guided hikes and virtual lectures are free for Sycamore members, suggested donation for non-members is $5/person or $10/family unless otherwise specified. Volunteer days are always free. For questions about guided hikes and stewardship days, please contact Mary Welz, Education Director, at mary@sycamorelandtrust.org.

To become a member, click here.

 

May 20

Sycamore Land Trust’s Spring Native Plant Sale

Sycamore Land Trust is delighted to announce our Spring Native Plant Sale!  Proceeds from the sale will be used to support our Native Plant Nursery where we grow native plants for our many land restoration projects in South Central Indiana. We will offer native plants that thrive in a garden setting and that provide
vital habitat and food for our pollinators, birds and small mammals. Please stop by and chat with us about adding more native plants to your backyard in support of wildlife.

The sale will be held at Bloomingfoods East Parking Lot, Saturday, May 20th, 8a – 2p or until we are sold out. A pot return area will be available through June at Bloomingfoods East so that the pots can be reused.

Apr 29

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway – Bloomington

  • Saturday, April 29, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Sycamore Land Trust has expanded our annual “Arbor Day Tree Giveaway” to distribute more than 800 native tree saplings for free in southern Indiana! On Saturday, April 29, 2023, visit Bloomingfoods East & Near West to pick up a free native tree seedling, get planting advice, renew your membership, and celebrate everything that makes trees amazing!  The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway in Bloomington starts at 10am and will end at 1pm or when supplies run out. Follow us on social media for updates.

Apr 28

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway – Evansville

  • Friday, April 28, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Celebrate everything that makes trees amazing by picking up a free native tree seedling and planting advice from Sycamore Land Trust at our Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Old National Bank atrium on Friday, April 28, 2023, 11am to 2pm. Wild Birds Unlimited and Ancient Roots Native Nursery will also be present with free giveaways. Information will be available from Evansville Audubon Society and Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. The event will begin at 11am Central time (10am Eastern) and end when supplies run out. Follow us on social media for updates!

Apr 15

Online Auction of Rare Decoys and Audubon Books and Prints to Benefit Sycamore Land Trust

Don’t miss the online auction of Rare Duck Decoys and Audubon Books and Prints to Benefit Sycamore Land Trust on Saturday, April 15th!

An online auction of a very fine collection of 500 duck decoys, rare Audubon First Edition books, and original Audubon prints will be held on Saturday, April 15th starting at 10 am EST. Auction proceeds will be donated to Sycamore Land Trust to create an Environmental and Conservation Education Center above a wetland property near Bloomington, Indiana. The collection was created by the late Steve Weller, a noted outdoor educator, conservation leader and owner of a wetland restoration firm. Steve and Kathy Weller are long-term supporters of Sycamore Land Trust, and Kathy selected Sycamore to receive the proceeds from the sale of Steve’s collection. You can learn about Steve and his collection here.

On March 27th, Auctioneers, Inc. will post the collection catalogue and link to bid on their website, and you can then also contact the auction house for assistance in signing up at 231-651-9099 or auctioneersinc@gmail.com.

Apr 14

Queer Indiana Spring Pride Hike

Join Queer Indiana for a free spring flora and fauna guided hike with Sycamore Land Trust. Queer Indiana is a community organization devoted to growing and cultivating safe spaces in nature for the Queer community. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/Queerindiana

Apr 13

“Geology of Canyon Forest Nature Preserve & Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve” with Russell Boulding

  • Thursday, April 13, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

In Part 2 of his virtual lecture “Geology of Sycamore Nature Preserves,” Geologist Russell Boulding will share a general overview of the physiography and bedrock geology of two of Sycamore nature preserves with significant geological features: Canyon Forest Nature Preserve in Greene County and Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve in Monroe County. This virtual Zoom lecture will be followed by a Q&A. Our Conservation Conversation virtual lectures are free for Sycamore members and a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Canyon Forest Nature Preserve photo by Mark Curry

Apr 12

Spring Wildflower & Fungi Guided Hike at Porter West Preserve

Join native plant and fungi guru David Mow for a guided tour of Porter West Preserve in Monroe County to celebrate the emerging diversity of life along the forest floor. This preserve features oak-hickory forested upland areas with carpets of wildflowers as well as sinkholes and interesting rock outcroppings.

This hike is free for Sycamore members. The suggested donation for non-members is $5/individual and $10/family. If you’re already a Sycamore Land Trust member, thank you! If you are not a member, you may make the suggested donation of $5 ($10 per family) via cash or check at the start of the hike. Or become a member and your hike is free!

Apr 07

“Sky Dance” & Twilight Hike at Beanblossom Bottoms

Join guest hike leader and naturalist Cathy Meyer for an evening of exploration along the boardwalk trails at Beanblossom Bottoms. As spring approaches in the wetlands, a flurry of activity begins, including migration, courtship, and rising waters. The chorus of amphibians during this twilight hike will be the backdrop as we search the sky for the woodcock’s famous mating ritual, the “sky dance.”

Mar 30

‘Frog and Toad’ Chorus Wetland Walk with Monroe County Public Library

Join Sycamore Land Trust for a guided evening hike through the wetlands of Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve (N. Woodall Road, Ellettsville). Ages 7–12 with their caregivers. Please register here.

Mar 20

2023 Regional Interpreters’ Workshop: “Common Ground, Interpreting a Shared Landscape”

  • Monday, March 20

Sycamore Land Trust is working with local partners to help host the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Great Lakes Region 2023 Regional Interpreters’ Workshop: “Common Ground, Interpreting a Shared Landscape,” held from Monday, March 20th, through Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Brown County State Park in Nashville, IN. Learn more about this event at nairegion4.weebly.com/regional-interpreters-workshop.html.

Feb 09

A Conversation with Russell Boulding: “Geology of Sycamore Nature Preserves”

  • Thursday, February 9, 7:00 pm

Geologist Russell Boulding will share a general overview of the physiography, bedrock geology, and, where present, the glacial geology of eleven of Sycamore’s public preserves in south central Indiana. This virtual lecture will be followed by a Q&A. Conservation Conversation lecture series is free for Sycamore members and a suggested donation of $5 for non-members. Sign up to attend at sycamorelandtrust.org/conversations 

Feb 04

“Leave No Trace” Volunteer and Hike at Tangeman Woods

Join us on February 4th at Tangeman Woods in Bartholomew County to learn more about the Principles of Leave No Trace and volunteer to clean up our preserve. We will conclude with a short hike to experience the beauty of Tangeman Woods trails in winter. Leave No Trace is a movement that protects the outdoors by teaching people how to enjoy it responsibly. Our guest leader Anne Barnhorst is a Leave No Trace Master Educator, Wilderness First Aid certified, and Volunteer Preserve Steward at Tangeman Woods.  Photo: Tangeman Woods, Chris Fox, Land Stewardship Director

Feb 02

Celebrate World Wetlands Day Hike

 

Wetland restoration is the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2023, since well-restored wetlands offer many of the benefits and services provided by the original natural wetland. Celebrate by joining Sycamore Land Trust for a guided hike through Beanblossom Bottoms on World Wetlands Day, Thursday, Feb. 2, and learn about our ongoing wetlands’ restoration efforts and experience the glory of the wetland in winter.  RSVP required, limited space is available. Guided hikes are free for Sycamore members and a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Photo: Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, Kate Hammel, Communications Director

Jan 07

Sycamore Saturdays First Week Hike

Join Sycamore for a guided nature hike at our lovely Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill in Brown County to welcome the New Year.

Dec 12

“How to Survive The Future” Podcast Listening Party

Join Indiana Humanities for a community listening party of the “McCormick’s Creek State Park” episode of How to Survive the Future, followed by a discussion of the episode. Led by scholar Alex Chambers, ecologist Ellen Jacquart, and Mary Welz, Sycamore’s Education Director, the discussion will help us further understand Indiana’s biodiversity and why it is worth saving.

How to Survive the Future is a podcast created by Alex Chambers and Allison Quantz in partnership with Indiana Humanities. In How to Survive the Future, everyday people are asked to imagine a world where they have made it through the challenges of the present and faced the pain of the past and then tell us what life is like after that. Farmers, poets, parents, organizers and others imagine how their lives, and the landscapes around them, will be different than they are now—hopefully for the better, though it’s never that simple. 

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Ellen retired from her work as an ecologist decades ago, but she still walks in her favorite state park. One spring day, she takes Alex along trails that keep getting wider to search for disappearing spring ephemerals: among others, guyandotte beauty, great waterleaf, and the puttyroot orchid, which can be hard to find.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:  

Alex Chambers: Alex Chambers runs WFIU’s arts desk, and produces and hosts WFIU’s Inner States, a weekly podcast and radio show about arts, culture, and ideas from southern Indiana and beyond. He’s the co-creator of How to Survive the Future, a podcast about the present, produced in partnership with Indiana Humanities. He has a PhD in American Studies, with a dissertation called Climate Violence and the Poetics of Refuge, and a book of poems called Bindings: A Preparation, about domestic life and empire. In his spare time, he teaches audio storytelling at the IU Media School. When he’s not in the woods gathering sound, you might see him out for a run on the streets of Bloomington.

Ellen Jacquart: Ellen spent a career managing natural areas in Indiana, working for the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service and the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy before retiring in 2016. A major focus of her work was to address the threat of invasive plants to forests, prairies, and wetlands. When the Indiana Invasive Species Council created the Invasive Plant Advisory Committee in 2010, she led it until she retired in 2016. She now chairs Monroe County – Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS) which works to reduce the impact of invasive plants in Monroe County and was president of the Indiana Native Plant Society from 2018 to 2022. She is the winner of the 2022 Carl N. Becker Stewardship Award from the Natural Areas Association.

Mary Welz: Mary is the Education Director for Sycamore Land Trust and member of Monroe County – Identify & Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS). Over the course of her career in conservation, she has worked in environmental education, land stewardship, communications, and the native plant nursery trade. Prior to coming to Sycamore, she served as Regional Specialist for State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) in support of the Indiana Invasives Initiative. She studied Biology at Indiana University and Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia in Athens. Mary is dedicated to the protection of our biodiversity and helping others experience and reconnect with the natural world. In her free-time (albeit limited), Mary enjoys landscaping with native plants, “wrangling” invasive plants, nature illustration, and exploring natural areas, near and far.

Dec 10

Holiday Celebration for Members

  • Saturday, December 10, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Sycamore members are invited to join us for a holiday party to celebrate all we have accomplished together this year! We’ll have tasty appetizers, drinks donated by Upland Brewing Co. and Oliver Winery, a free raffle, and good company. This event is sponsored by an anonymous Sycamore board member in honor of our extraordinary volunteers. Members will receive a postcard invitation in the mail.

Dec 06

Judah Bridge Hike

  • Tuesday, December 6, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Join Jill Vance, Interpretive Naturalist for Monroe Lake with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, for a guided hike to the location where the 1884 Judah Covered Bridge once spanned Salt Creek before being dismantled in 1947. Participants will learn about the history of the bridge, visit the quarry where they got the stone to build the bridge abutments, and also discuss the Judah mill that gave the bridge its name. Recommended for ages 14 and up. Registration required by December 4. 60 minutes (plus travel time)

Location: Due to limited onsite parking, attendees will meet at Paynetown SRA (4850 S. State Road 446, Bloomington) and carpool to the hike starting point (about a 5-minute drive).

For more information, contact:
Jill Vance, Interpretive Naturalist for Monroe Lake, C.I.G.
Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks
jvance@dnr.IN.gov; 812-837-9967 (Paynetown Activity Center)

Nov 28

Forest Friday: Guided Tree ID Hike with Carroll Ritter

Join us for a guided hike with Carroll D. Ritter, author of Magnificent Trees of Indiana, to identify trees, note their associated flora in the understory and mid-story, and understand the dynamic roles of trees in the environment.

Oct 22

Sycamore Saturdays: Half Earth Day Weed Wrangle at Tangeman Woods

Join Mary Welz, Education Director, for an invasive species control work day to control woody vegetation in observation of Half Earth Day.

Oct 20

Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursdays

  • Thursday, October 20, 9:00 am

Help Sycamore’s Land Stewardship staff and fellow volunteers take care of the land by pitching in during our monthly Land Stewardship workdays! Location is still TBD, check back here for updates.

Oct 09

October Big Day Wetland Walk & Bird Count with Cathy Meyer at Beanblossom Bottoms

Join expert naturalist Cathy Meyer for a guided wetland walk and bird count at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve on October 9, 2022, hosted by Indiana Audubon Society and the Indiana Land Protection Alliance.  Contribute to citizen science!  Space is limited and RSVP is required at htttps://indianaaudubon.org/event/october-big-day-hikes-with-ilpa/

It’s October Big Day and Indiana Audubon Society wants YOU to join them on a birding hike! In partnership with the Indiana Land Protection Alliance, Indiana Audubon Society is hosting free guided bird walks across the state at properties that are owned by Indiana land trusts. Explore a new hotspot near you while birding and contributing to citizen science!

**All hikes begin at 9am in their location’s time zone!**

Take part in a bird walk at one of these participating properties:

  • Amber Flatwoods (Michigan City) – Guide: Cookie Ferguson
  • Atherton Island Natural Area (Clinton) – Guide: Marty Jones
  • Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve (Ellettsville) – Guide: Cathy Meyer
  • Clear Lake Nature Preserve & Brennan Woods (Clear Lake) – Guide: Fred Wooley
  • Eagle Marsh (Fort Wayne) – Guide: Lorenzo Kleine
  • Hilltop Farm Nature Preserve (West Harrison) – Guide: TBA
  • LC Nature Park (Fort Wayne) – Guides: Ed & Cynthia Powers
  • Lydick Bog (South Bend) – Guide: Kristen Sweinhart
  • McVey Memorial Forest (Farmland) – Guide: TBA
  • Oliver’s Woods (Indianapolis) – Guide: Tina Rosier
  • Oxbow Nature Conservancy (Lawrenceburg) – Guide: Jay Stenger
  • Sargent Road Nature Park (Indianapolis) – Guide: Wes Homoya
  • Seidner Dune & Swale (Hammond) – Guide: Matt Kalwasinski
  • Shawnee Karst Preserve (Mitchell) – Guide: David Rupp
  • Wing Haven (Angola) – Guide: Annie Aguirre
Oct 05

Weed Wrangle Wednesdays: Woody Invasives Control at Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves and in our communities.

Oct 29

Birdwatching Hike with Indigo Birding at Touch the Earth Natural Area

Join us for a guided birding tour led by David Rupp with Indigo Birding Tours.  More details coming soon!

Sep 17

Porter West Weed Wrangle Workshop

Join Sycamore for this special Weed Wrangle for landowners hosted in partnership with Monroe County – Identify & Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS) and Eco Logic LLC.  

 

Sep 15

Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursdays

  • Thursday, September 15, 9:00 am

Help Sycamore’s Land Stewardship staff and fellow volunteers take care of the land by pitching in during our monthly Land Stewardship workdays!  The location of this event is still TBD.

Sep 09

Conservation Connection Field Day 2022 Beanblossom Creek

  • Friday, September 9

Sycamore is partnering with Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and local landowners to host a conservation field event for landowners. Participants will visit various non-public properties to learn more about forest stand improvement, invasive plant control, wetland restoration, and tree and shrub planting.

Sep 07

Weed Wrangle Wednesdays: Woody Invasive Control at Canyon Forest Nature Preserve

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves and our communities. Join Sycamore’s Education Director May Welz to control woody invasive plants at Canyon Forest Nature Preserve in Greene County.

Sep 01

A Conversation with Allisyn-Marie Gillet: “It Takes a Village to Raise a Chick”

  • Thursday, September 1, 7:00 pm

Join us at 7pm on Thursday, September 1, 2022, for a “It Takes a Village to Raise a Chick,” a virtual lecture and Q&A with Allisyn-Marie Gillet, Ornithologist at Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Indiana DNR monitors and manages more than 50 at-risk bird species, each facing their own unique suite of threats. Alli will talk about the state’s nongame bird program, taking a deep dive into two conservation projects – Shrubs for Shrikes and Motus. Learn how you can get involved and contribute to the conservation of our state’s beautiful avifauna.

Conservation Conversations virtual lectures are free for Sycamore Land Trust members and a suggested $5 donation for non-members.  Sign up to attend at sycamorelandtrust.org/conversations.

Aug 18

Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursday

Help Sycamore’s Land Stewardship staff and fellow volunteers take care of the land by pitching in during our monthly Land Stewardship workdays!

Aug 13

Sycamore Saturdays: Japanese Stiltgrass Control

Join us for a land stewardship volunteer activity to control invasive Japanese stiltgrass with Mary Welz, Sycamore’s Education Director.

Aug 03

Weed Wrangle Wednesdays: Japanese Stiltgrass Control at Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves and our communities. 

Aug 30

Sycamore Saturdays: Japanese Stiltgrass Control at Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve

Join us for a land stewardship volunteer activity to control invasive Japanese stiltgrass with Mary Welz, Sycamore’s Education Director.

Jul 21

Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursday

Help Sycamore’s Land Stewardship staff and fellow volunteers take care of the land by pitching in during our monthly Land Stewardship workdays!  This event will begin around 9-10am, contact us for details.

Jul 09

Wild Birds Unlimited (Bloomington) Grand Opening Party

  • Saturday, July 9, 10:00 am

Sycamore will help kick off the grand opening of the new Wild Birds Unlimited store in Bloomington (1301 S. College Mall Rd). Come celebrate the new store and hear Education Director, Mary Welz, talk about adding native plants to our home landscapes to support birds and other wildlife. Learn more at https://bloomington.wbu.com/grand-opening-events

Jul 07

Conservation Conversation with John C. Robinson: “Discover the Awe of Birdwatching”

  • Thursday, July 7, 7:00 pm

A virtual lecture and Q&A with John C. Robinson, author of Birding for Everyone: Encouraging People of Color to Become Birdwatchers. 

Jul 06

Weed Wrangle Wednesday: Woody Vegetation Control at Canyon Forest Nature Preserve

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves. 

Jun 23

Conservation Conversation: Carroll Ritter, author of Magnificent Trees of Indiana

  • Thursday, June 23, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

On June 23, 2022 at 7pm, Carroll D. Ritter will join our Conservation Conversation virtual lecture series to discuss his new book Magnificent Trees of Indiana and how it can be an inspiration to appreciate our grand forest heritage. Featuring the fascinating history of Indiana’s trees, remaining old-growth forest pieces and the state champions, along with trees of stunning beauty and unique forms stimulated the creation of this book. The objective was to create not another field guide, but an enjoyable, educational read, complimented by beautiful photography.

His role as the founder of Sycamore Land Trust’s Environmental Education program and a former Board member contributed to his desire to feature some of Sycamore’s properties and photographs in this book.

Carroll Ritter inherited a sense of wonder about trees from his father, who taught him so much about them in the woods. As a science educator, he built in lessons about forests and took many students to the woods to learn about their importance in the natural world. Having nominated seven state champion trees himself, he realized how a fascinating book could be created around Indiana’s largest specimens and how some old-growth tracts still exist here in our state. The book focuses on these remarkable places in a fashion intended to be enjoyable reading, educational, and superbly illustrated with fine photography.

Morgenstern’s Books, Indiana’s largest independent book store, will host an Author Talk and Reading with Carroll Ritter followed by a book signing on Saturday June 25th at 3pm. Morgenstern’s is generously donating 20% of the proceeds from every book purchased (online or in person) to Sycamore Land Trust!

Jun 11

Ecology Hike at Canyon Forest Nature Preserve: June 11

Join Education Director Mary Welz for a guided hike at Canyon Forest Nature Preserve, an Indiana state dedicated Nature Preserve. Explore the ecology of the high quality forest areas and scenic ravines with large sandstone outcrops, intermittent creeks, and several waterfalls.

Jun 01

Weed Wrangle Wednesday: Tangeman Woods

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves and in your community. 

 

May 19

Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursday

Help Sycamore’s Land Stewardship staff and fellow volunteers take care of the land by pitching in during our monthly Land Stewardship workdays!

May 14

Flora Hike at Porter West Preserve: May 14

Join Mary Welz, Education Director, for a “Sycamore Saturday” guided hike to identify spring wildflowers on Saturday, May 14. RSVP here.

May 12

Conservation Conversation with Nate Engbrecht

  • Thursday, May 12, 7:00 pm

Join us for our next virtual Conversation Conversation: “Amphibians and Reptiles of the Beanblossom Creek Valley,” with Nate Engbrecht on Thursday, May 12, at 7pm.  Sign up to attend this virtual Zoom lecture and Q&A at sycamorelandtrust.org/conversations.  This event is free for Sycamore members and a suggested $5 donation for non-members.

On May 12th, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Herpetologist Nate Engbrecht will join our Conservation Conversation to discuss the results of amphibian and reptile surveys conducted at Sycamore Land Trust properties along the Beanblossom Creek Corridor. He will highlight the discovery of a new State Endangered Kirtland’s snake population (Clonophis kirtlandii) and the significance of the Beanblossom Valley as a distinct habitat corridor for the region’s herpetofauna.

May 11

Weed Wrangle Wednesday: Eagle Slough Natural Area

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves and other green spaces in our community.

May 04

Weed Wrangle Wednesday: “May the Forest Be With You Edition”

Weed Wrangle events are fun and educational opportunities to learn how to identify and control the invasive plants that are negatively impacting our preserves and other green spaces in our community.

May 01

Wetland Birding Walk at Beanblossom Bottoms: May 1

Join guest hike leader Cathy Meyer for a wetland birding adventure along the boardwalk and other trails at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve. RSVP here.

May 30

Round Up With Bloomingfoods Positive Change Program

  • Saturday, April 30

During the month of April, support Sycamore Land Trust by rounding up your purchase at Bloomingfoods in Bloomington through the Positive Change Program. Learn more at bloomingfoods.coop/positive-change.

May 30

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Bloomingfoods

  • Saturday, April 30, 10:00 am

This year marks the 150th anniversary of National Arbor Day.  As a proud member of the Alliance for Community Trees, an Arbor Tree Foundation program, Sycamore Land Trust will celebrate by expanding our annual “Arbor Day Tree Giveaway” to distribute more than 800 native tree saplings for free in southern Indiana.

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, visit Bloomingfoods Market & Deli (both East & Near West locations) to pick up a free native tree seedling, get planting advice, buy Sycamore merchandise, renew your membership, and celebrate everything that makes trees amazing!  The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway in Bloomington starts at 10am and will end when supplies run out. Follow us on social media for updates.

May 29

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway – Evansville

  • Friday, April 29, 11:00 am

Celebrate everything that makes trees amazing by picking up a free native tree seedling and getting planting advice from Sycamore Land Trust at our Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Old National Bank atrium on Friday, April 30, 2022, starting at 11am.  Wild Birds Unlimited and Ancient Roots Native Nursery will also be present with free giveaways.  Information will be available from Evansville Audubon Society and Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. The event will begin at 11am Central time (10am Eastern) and end when supplies run out. Follow us on social media for updates!

Apr 24

Eagle Slough Natural Area Birding Hike

Join Evansville Audubon Society for an early morning birding walk through this 127-acre property at 7 A.M Central time. Expect to see a variety of warblers, thrushes, tanagers, vireos and wrens. Wood ducks and some late shorebirds are also likely.  This is an easy, flat walk along an old railroad bed. Meet at the Eagle Slough Entrance parking area on Waterworks Road, just north of Ellis Park in Evansville, Indiana. The hike will last approximately 2 hours. For more information about the Ohio Valley Birding Festival and other birding opportunities visit https://www.evvaudubon.org/copy-of-programs-1

Apr 22

Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge Birding Hike

  • Friday, April 22, 7:00 am

Join Evansville Audubon Society for a birding walk through Boyd Woods in search of warblers and other migratory songbirds, continuing the hike past Snakey Point Marsh for possible views of waterfowl and marsh birds, and ending at a little-visited portion of the Columbia Mine Preserve to look for grassland sparrows. Meet at 7 A.M. Central time at Boyd Woods* on the Refuge, Oakland City, Indiana. The hike will last approximately 2-3 hours. **Sturdy Shoes Recommended** For more information about the Ohio Valley Birding Festival and other birding opportunities visit https://www.evvaudubon.org/copy-of-programs-1

Directions: East on SR 64 out of Oakland City one mile from SR 357 (Main Street) to CR 1275E (look for refuge sign).  Turn left and follow signs to Snakey Point Marsh. Continue on the gravel road to the parking lot on the left at Boyd Woods.

Apr 22

37th Annual Wildflower Foray Weekend: April 22–25

  • Friday, April 22

Experience hikes, nature and flowers during this three-day, co-operative event throughout Brown and Monroe Counties from April 22–25, 2022. Visit wildflowerforay.com to register.

Venture out on wildflower and bird walks, take a wetland hike, explore nature photography and more at T.C. Steele State Historic Site and other locations throughout the area.

Historic building tours are not included in this event but can be purchased with site admission. Other locations may have gate fees. Pre-registration required for some Wildflower Foray activities.

Presented with assistance from Brown County State Park, Hoosier National Forest, Indiana University Research & Teaching Preserves, Indiana Division of Nature Preserves, Monroe Lake, Stone Head Conservancy, Sycamore Land Trust, and T.C. Steele State Historic Site & Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.

Apr 21

Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursday: Earth Day Edition

Celebrate Earth Day by helping Sycamore Land Trust preserve the land in our care! Join us for a special Earth Day edition of our “Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursday” volunteer workdays to pull invasive garlic mustard on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve.

Sycamore’s “Preserve-a-Preserve Third Thursday” workdays are an opportunity to get involved in habitat restoration and learn how to identify and remove invasive plants that threaten our natural areas with Education Director Mary Welz. RSVP is required, sign up here.

Mar 19

“Sky Dance” & Twilight Hike at Beanblossom Bottoms

***This hike has been postponed due to unfavorable weather, contact mary@sycamorelandtrust.org for the rescheduled date.*** 

As spring approaches in the wetlands, a flurry of activity begins, including migration, mating, and rising waters. The chorus of amphibians during this twilight hike will be the backdrop as we search the sky for the woodcock’s famous mating ritual, the “sky dance.”

Mar 10

“Dam It: How Beavers Can Save the Planet,” A Conversation with Ben Goldfarb

  • Thursday, March 10, 7:00 pm - 8:30 am

On March 10, Sycamore Land Trust’s Land Stewardship team hosted a virtual lecture with environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.  A recording of the lecture is now available to watch at sycamorelandtrust.org/conversations.

In Eager: The Suprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern conception of a healthy ecosystem is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America’s waterways. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: ponds drained, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier than those without them. From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish highlands, Believers are hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts. In his talk, Ben will discuss the history of this world-changing species; how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, and climate change; and how we can coexist with this challenging but vital rodent.

Ben Goldfarb is the author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His work has appeared in publications including the Atlantic, Science, Orion Magazine, and the Washington Post. He lives with his wife, Elise, and his dog, Kit — which is, of course, what you call a baby beaver.

Feb 27

“Nature’s Best Hope,” a Conversation with Doug Tallamy

  • Thursday, January 27, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Join Sycamore Land Trust for a conversation with Doug Tallamy, entomologist and author of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. In this virtual Zoom lecture and Q&A, Doug Tallamy discusses simple steps that each of us can take to reverse declining biodiversity and will explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.

Recent headlines about global insect declines, the impending extinction of one million species worldwide, and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. Such losses are not an option if we wish to continue our current standard of living on Planet Earth. The good news is that none of this is inevitable. Doug Tallamy will discuss simple steps that each of us can- and must- take to reverse declining biodiversity and will explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.

Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 104 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014; Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, was released in February 2020, and his latest book The Nature of Oaks was released by Timber press in March 2021. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B.Y. Morrison Communication Award and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.

Jan 15
Dec 04

Canceled: Holiday Celebration

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Gather together with fellow Sycamore members and our staff for a wintry celebration. Our annual Holiday Open House has been moved to a new location because this party has outgrown our office space! Enjoy appetizers provided by Sycamore and local drinks donated by Upland Brewing Co and others as you have good conversations, listen to carolers, and warm up by the fire at this festive Bloomington venue. Sycamore merchandise will be available for sale, just in time for your holiday gift shopping.

This free event is open to all Sycamore members and their guests! No need to RSVP.

Oct 03

Kids’ Nature Discovery Art Contest

  • Sunday, October 3

Sycamore invites all young artists and nature lovers to submit their artwork for our Kids’ Nature Discovery Art Contest!  Create a picture of something you can discover in nature and submit it by October 3, 2021, for a chance to be featured in our beautiful 2022 Kid’s Nature Discovery Calendar.  This new, limited-edition calendar will help kids learn about what to look for each month in nature including seasonal changes affecting plant and animal life in southern Indiana.

Twelve winners will have their art featured in this engaging calendar, receive a free early copy, and have their work on display at the new Arts Alliance Center in College Mall near Foot Locker, an extension of the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington.  The winners will also be spotlighted in Sycamore’s Virtual Annual Celebration on October 21, 2021.

All entries will be displayed in a Kids’ Nature Discovery Art Gallery at Sycamore’s Cedar Crest office and shared publicly in a virtual gallery tour.  Every entry will receive a Sycamore Land Trust bookmark in the mail.

To enter the Kid’s Nature Discovery Art Contest: 

  • All ages welcome.  Winners will be chosen from four age groups: 0-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13 or older.
  • Submit a scan or photo of the artwork to events@sycamorelandtrust.org. Include a name for the artwork (for example “Cat Clouds”), the name and age of the artist, contact information for notifying winners, and an address to mail the bookmark.
  • To fit the calendar, artwork should be 8.5 x 11 inches in landscape orientation (wider than it is tall).
  • Attach a short video of the child explaining what they created and why it is important to protect nature (optional).  If chosen as a winner, the artwork will be featured with this video in our Virtual Annual Celebration on October 21, 2021.
  • Questions?  Email us at info@sycamorelandtrust.org.
Sep 20

Thank You “Sponsor a Preserve” 2021 Sponsors

Sycamore Land Trust is grateful to the generous sponsors of our “Sponsor a Preserve” Summer 2021 Campaign. These passionate, dedicated supporters and lovers of nature have committed to help us continue our important stewardship work this summer by sponsoring their favorite nature preserve. Caring for nature preserves takes dedication and hard work but the rewards are many: more acres protected, more habitat for endangered species, more miles of trails. Thanks to Sycamore members and volunteers, we are accomplishing so much together!

Sponsors will be recognized with prominent signage at the trailheads of the nature preserves they’re sponsoring to show their commitment to protect nature, restore habitat, maintain hiking trails, and care for southern Indiana’s special natural areas.

Each year many thousands of people visit Sycamore preserves. This year there has been a tremendous increase in visitors to all of our preserves, showing it is more important than ever that we continue to protect and restore our beautiful natural areas.

Please join us in thanking our generous sponsors. Learn more at https://sycamorelandtrust.org/explore/

Thank you from all of us at Sycamore Land Trust for taking action to take care of nature.

May 01

Arbor Day 2021 Native Tree Seedling Giveaway sponsored by IU Health

Help wildlife and beautify your yard with a native tree seedling!

To celebrate Arbor Day 2021, Sycamore Land Trust and our generous sponsor IU Health will provide free native tree seedlings on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Bloomingfoods East (3220 E 3rd St.) and Bloomingfoods Near West (316 W 6th St.) starting a 10am while supplies last.  Limit one free tree seedling per person.

Learn about tree species and planting information below. Please be aware that the type you want might run out before you get there.

For updates as trees run out, visit our Facebook event page. Thanks to Bloomingfoods for co-hosting this event and to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for supplying the seedlings.

Take a photo with your tree and share it on our Facebook or Instagram page or email it to kate@sycamorelandtrust.org if you’d like Sycamore to use it in the future! It’s fun to see these Arbor Day Tree Giveaway trees grow over the years.

PLANTING AND CARE

PDF of planting instructions (with images and explanations)

The following tips and species suggestions come from the City of Bloomington’s fantastic Tree Care Manual. When you pick the right tree, be sure to read up on tips for planting and care to help your seedling grow. Check out the manual for details, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Lay down plenty of mulch at the base of the tree, and form it into a donut rather than a volcano shape to direct water toward the tree.
  • For the first three years, water it with 10 gallons per week if there hasn’t been rain.
  • When planting a bare-rooted seedling, don’t bend the root. Dig the hole deep enough to fit the root.
  • Staking might be necessary to provide support for the first two or three years.
  • A tube around the tree seedling in its early years can help protect against deer, rabbits, and mowers/string trimmers.
  • Be sure to plant your seedling with plenty of clearance so when it reaches its full size, it won’t interfere with any structures or pavement.

AVAILABLE TREE SPECIES

Red oak: With beautiful red fall foliage, this fast-growing native grows 50-100’ tall, prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and supports a myriad of native insects, which attracts birds. Small mammals enjoy the acorns.

Tulip poplar: Our state tree with bright gold fall foliage, this deciduous native attracts birds and butterflies and grows very straight and tall up to 75-150’. It prefers part shade to full sun and rich, moist soils.

Hazelnut: An important native conservation shrub that attracts birds and squirrels with its edible nuts, it grows 6-12’ tall and prefers part shade to shade and well-drained soils.

Buttonbush: This native shrub is suited for wet areas and provides a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Its fruits attract more than 24 species of birds. It grows 6-12’ tall, prefers part sun/shade, enjoys moist soil, and is a good choice along ponds.

 

May 30

Arbor Day 2021: Virtual Nature Identification Hike with John Lawrence

  • Friday, April 30, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Tune in on Facebook at 2pm on Friday, April 30, for a live plant identification hike with John Lawrence, Executive Director, to honor Arbor Day 2021. John has 15 years of experience working for Sycamore Land Trust and will share his knowledge of local, native plants, animals, and insects you can find on our public hiking trails.

Mar 14

MCPL Hiking Club at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve

It’s cold, but nature is still beckoning! This winter, spend some time in the great outdoors by yourself or with others in your quarantine pod, then gather with others virtually on Zoom to share your observations and experiences from each hike with the Monroe County Public Library Hiking Club. Photos, sketches, and recordings are welcome additions to the shared conversation. While specific trails at varying nature areas are suggested below, feel free to choose any trail that is right for you. Please register once for all sessions, but feel free to attend only the sessions that you want. A Zoom link for all sessions will be emailed to you upon registration. Age 16 and up.

January 10: Hoosier National Forest Pate Hollow Short Loop (3 miles) or Pate Hollow Trail (6.1 miles)
February 28: Sycamore Land Trust’s Porter West Preserve (1–4 miles)
March 14: Sycamore Land Trust’s Bean Blossom Nature Preserve (2.5 miles)
April 18: Green’s Bluff (1.5 miles) or Bluebird Trail Trailhead (1.7 miles)

On February 28, Sycamore Land Trust’s Environmental Education Director Shane Gibson will join the conversation to answer any questions you have about Porter West Preserve.

Register for Monroe County Public Library’s free virtual Zoom event here: https://mcpl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=72293&nomobile=1&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2021/02/19

Mar 28

MCPL Hiking Club at Porter West Preserve

It’s cold, but nature is still beckoning! This winter, spend some time in the great outdoors by yourself or with others in your quarantine pod, then gather with others virtually on Zoom to share your observations and experiences from each hike with the Monroe County Public Library Hiking Club. Photos, sketches, and recordings are welcome additions to the shared conversation. While specific trails at varying nature areas are suggested below, feel free to choose any trail that is right for you. Please register once for all sessions, but feel free to attend only the sessions that you want. A Zoom link for all sessions will be emailed to you upon registration. Age 16 and up.

January 10: Hoosier National Forest Pate Hollow Short Loop (3 miles) or Pate Hollow Trail (6.1 miles)
February 28: Sycamore Land Trust’s Porter West Preserve (1–4 miles)
March 14: Sycamore Land Trust’s Bean Blossom Nature Preserve (2.5 miles)
April 18: Green’s Bluff (1.5 miles) or Bluebird Trail Trailhead (1.7 miles)

On February 28, Sycamore Land Trust’s Environmental Education Director Shane Gibson will join the conversation to answer any questions you have about Porter West Preserve.

Register for Monroe County Public Library’s free virtual Zoom event here: https://mcpl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=72293&nomobile=1&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2021/02/19

Oct 24

Sycamore’s 30th Birthday Party

  • Saturday, October 24, 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm

Join your Sycamore Land Trust community for a fun online celebration of conservation and environmental education in southern Indiana! Instead of our usual Annual Celebration, we’re throwing a birthday party — and there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Tickets: contribute online at sycamorelandtrust.org/birthday
Sliding scale: $5-$50 or more (it’s all a donation; every bit supports Sycamore’s work to transform habitat!)

Featuring: new video footage, Staff Stories, hosts John and Linda Whikehart, updates from our Stewardship and Environmental Education staff, cupcakes from local bakeries in your area, and more

When you get your tickets for your household, you’ll receive email updates and instructions for how to watch the event on the 24th. You’ll also get a link to buy cupcakes to celebrate with together at the end of the party!

Curious about what to expect? Check out this blog post that will answer a lot of questions: https://sycamorelandtrust.org/2020/09/birthday-party-what-to-expect/

If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch! info@sycamorelandtrust.org

Oct 02

CANCELED | Columbus Hike and Brew

This event has been canceled due to the pandemic.

Join Sycamore for an educational hike, lunch with the group at Upland’s historic Pumphouse restaurant, a guided tour of the Bartholomew Co History Museum, and if we have enough gusto, we may finish the day with a stroll through Tangeman Woods. Participants will buy their own lunches.

RSVPs are required at this RSVP form.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever.

Changes and cancellations related to the pandemic will be posted here.

Oct 30

September: Round Up at Bloomingfoods

For the month of September, you can round up your total to the nearest dollar at Bloomingfoods and they’ll donate the extra change to Sycamore. You might think 20 cents here and there doesn’t make a difference — but last year, Bloomingfoods shoppers raised $9,400 for Sycamore!

To participate, simply ask your cashier to Round Up every time you check out at any Bloomingfoods location. Thanks for your support!

Aug 21

CANCELED | Little Hikers: Nature’s Teas and Treats

  • Cedar Crest
  • Friday, August 21, 10:00 am - 11:30 am

This event has been canceled due to the pandemic.

Many plants in your yard are edible and delicious. Learn all about them as we hike the prairie and woods around Sycamore’s office, and then make food and drink to try.

RSVPs are required at this RSVP form.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever.

Changes and cancellations related to the pandemic will be posted here.

Aug 08

CANCELED: Early American History Hike

This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Explore our region’s Native past and present with historian and IU PhD candidate Amy Ransford. We’ll acknowledge the land’s traditional indigenous stewards, then discuss Native American history and culture as we hike the beautiful trail.

RSVPs are required at this RSVP form.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever.

Changes and cancellations related to the pandemic will be posted here.

Jul 25

CANCELED: Native Plants Hike with Michael Homoya

This hike is canceled due to the coronavirus.

Join retired Indiana State Botanist Michael Homoya for an inspiring hike through these hilly Brown County woods. We’ll learn fascinating facts about native plants growing below the canopy and the ecosystem in which they live.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever.

Changes and cancellations related to the pandemic will be posted here.

Jul 16

Third Thursday Volunteer Stewardship Day

Join us for a volunteer workday! No experience necessary. Just be prepared to work hard and enjoy the great outdoors with other volunteers and Sycamore staff.

Our July work day will be at Tangeman Woods and Touch the Earth Natural Area. Help us tend to nature by picking up trash along the road and working on the trails at these beautiful Columbus-area preserves.

Carpool leaves from Cedar Crest. For questions about workdays, contact rob@sycamorelandtrust.org.

RSVPs are required at this RSVP form.

Changes and cancellations related to the pandemic will be posted here.

Jun 18

Third Thursday Volunteer Stewardship Day

Join us for a volunteer workday! No experience necessary. Just be prepared to work hard and enjoy the great outdoors with other volunteers and Sycamore staff.

For our June workday, we’ll be pulling invasive garlic mustard at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in Ellettsville. Meet in the parking lot on Woodall Rd.

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Jun 09

POSTPONED: Beginning Bird Watching

This event has been postponed. Stay tuned for updates.

This class is for anyone who is interested in birdwatching but doesn’t know where to begin, including the young and the young at heart. We’ll begin with a short presentation on the basics of bird identification and suggestions on equipment you might need. Then we’ll take a walk through the forest, meadow, creek, and gardens around our office to put your new skills to use.

If you already have some, bring your binoculars!

RSVPs required at the link below.

Sycamore hikes are free for members; for non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person, $10 per family. Become a member at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate. Thank you!

May 21

CANCELED: Third Thursday Volunteer Stewardship Day

This event has been canceled due to COVID-19.

Join us for a volunteer workday! No experience necessary. Just be prepared to work hard and enjoy the great outdoors with other volunteers and Sycamore staff.

For our May workday, we’ll be at the Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve (Monroe County) to pull invasive garlic mustard. We’ve made significant progress in the past and are excited to build on this work!

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Meet at Cedar Crest (Sycamore’s office) to carpool: 4898 E Heritage Woods Rd, Bloomington

May 16

CANCELED Early American History Hike

Explore our region’s native past and present. We will begin by acknowledging the land’s original indigenous stewards, then discuss Native American history, culture, and practices as we hike this beautiful trail. Hike leader Amy Ransford is a historian whose research centers on Native and European peoples in the colonial Hudson River Watershed.

Come learn more about these aspects of indigenous history here in southern Indiana while experiencing the beautiful outdoors.

Parking is limited. Carpooling and meeting location TBA a week prior to event.

RSVPs are required: sycamorelandtrust.org/hike-rsvp

Sycamore hikes are free for members; for non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person, $10 per family. Become a member at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate. Thank you!

May 29

CANCELED: Little Hikers: What’s in a Watershed?

CANCELED: This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Where does water come from? Where does it go? And how do wetlands help people and animals? Join us at Beanblossom Bottoms to conduct a watershed experiment and search for animal life living in the water of the preserve!

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever: sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

May 29

CANCELED: Sky Dance & Twilight Hike

CANCELED: This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Come celebrate spring with a twilight hike! Spring brings a flurry of activity including migration, mating, and rising waters in the wetlands. Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve provides excellent habitat for many species of frogs and toads and is also home to nesting woodcocks.

The chorus of amphibians during this twilight hike will be the backdrop as we search the sky for the woodcock’s famous mating ritual, the “sky dance.”

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever: sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Apr 24

CANCELED: Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Pick up a free native tree seedling, get planting advice, and celebrate everything that makes trees amazing! We’ll also be signing up new and renewing memberships, selling Sycamore swag, and answering your conservation questions. The giveaway will end when supplies run out; stay tuned to our Facebook event for updates.

TREE SPECIES

Based on the most popular species and tree types from previous years, we’ve picked four wonderful, wildlife-friendly tree species for 2020. We’re so grateful to the Indiana Department of Nature Resources for donating the seedlings!

     

VOLUNTEER

Interested in volunteering? We have opportunities on Thursday, April 23 prepping trees from 9am-noon, and on Friday (various times) handing out trees and answering people’s questions. Contact abby@sycamorelandtrust.org for more info.

Apr 24

Arbor Day 2020: Long-Distance Celebration

  • Friday, April 24, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

While our annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway had to be canceled, we’re still excited to celebrate trees with you! We’ve got a day full of activities to connect with nature-lovers across southern Indiana and beyond. Spread the word by inviting your friends and encouraging them to plant trees!

For the latest updates, visit the Facebook event page.

TREE SPECIES FOR YOUR YARD

Normally on Arbor Day, we hand out hundreds of free native tree seedlings. But another component of the day is helping people learn more about the trees they’re planting. Check out our Arbor Day page with suggested tree species, planting tips, and more.

SYCAMORE SWAG DAY

Show your love for Sycamore by wearing your shirt or hat, or using your Sycamore mug or tote bag! Take a pic, post it on your social media, and share it in a post on our page (look here for the link that morning). We’ll gather all the photos and create a Facebook album to remember the communal Sycamore love from all corners of Indiana.

 

SURPRISE MEMBERSHIP PROMO: all weekend

We’ll be offering a special opportunity for new and renewing memberships at 9:00 am, so if you want to help Sycamore continue to protect trees and restore habitat in southern Indiana, be sure to check it out and tell your friends. Visit the Facebook event page for the announcement.

TREE ID CONTEST: 12:00 noon eastern

Right at noon, we’ll post a link to our Tree ID Contest on our Facebook page and on the Facebook event page. Complete the form by 1:00 pm for a chance to win a prize (please follow the honor system and don’t cheat). All participants who complete the form will be entered to win a native plant tote bag, and one person who gets all the answers correct will win our For Forever t-shirt. Winners will be randomly selected from eligible participants; must live in the continental US to receive a prize (via mail).

LIVE PLANT HIKE WITH JOHN LAWRENCE: 1:30 pm

Join our Executive Director for a live video hike through one of his favorite Monroe County forests on Facebook Live. He’ll be identifying cool trees and wildflowers, plus other plants, bird calls, and geographical features. The livestream link will be on the Facebook event page.

Apr 21

CANCELED: Woodland Wildflowers Hike

This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Before the canopy leafs out and shades the sun, spring wildflowers are emerging in the warming woods. Enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds and learn how to use the Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide to identify flowers.

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever: sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Apr 16

CANCELED: Third Thursday Volunteer Stewardship Day

This workday has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Join us for a volunteer workday! No experience necessary. Just be prepared to work hard and enjoy the great outdoors with other volunteers and Sycamore staff.

For our April workday, we’ll travel to the Columbia Mine Preserve for a day of trail maintenance with folks from the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to Columbia Mine, so plan on spending a full day. This will be a great opportunity to check out one of Sycamore’s largest preserves! Bring binoculars if you have them.

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Meet at Cedar Crest (Sycamore’s office) to carpool: 4898 E Heritage Woods Rd, Bloomington

Apr 03

CANCELED: Columbus Hike & Brew

This event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Join us for a day of educational hikes at Sycamore’s two public nature preserves near Columbus, plus lunch with the group at Upland’s historic Pumphouse restaurant in Columbus. We’ll start at Touch the Earth Natural Area, visit Upland for lunch, then do an afternoon hike at Tangeman Woods.

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Sycamore events are free for members (but lunch is on you)! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever: sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Mar 19

Third Thursday Volunteer Stewardship Day

UPDATE: Stay tuned for potential changes to this event due to the coronavirus.

Join us for a volunteer workday! No experience necessary. Just be prepared to work hard and enjoy the great outdoors with other volunteers and Sycamore staff. For our March workday, first we’ll head to Tangeman Woods in Bartholomew County to work on the trails and pick up trash along the road. If we have time we’ll head over to Touch the Earth for some more trail clean-up.

Meet at Cedar Crest (Sycamore’s office) to carpool: 4898 E Heritage Woods Rd, Bloomington

Mar 18

Take Control: Invasive Plant Workshop (FULL)

  • Cedar Crest
  • Wednesday, March 18, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

This workshop is now full and registration is closed. Due to the coronavirus, this workshop will take place via video, not in person at the office.

If you know the basics but want to go deeper on identifying and controlling invasive plants, this class is for you. Monroe County Identify Invasive Species (MC-IRIS) expert Ellen Jacquart will teach you to identify many of the invasive plants in our county and how to use deer-resistant native plants in landscaping. After the talk there will be a one-hour hands-on workshop on methods to control invasive plants. Attendees should wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and sturdy closed shoes. Space is limited; registrations will be accepted until full.

Sycamore events are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever: sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Mar 28

Little Hikers: Nature’s Teas & Treats

  • Cedar Crest
  • Friday, February 28, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Many plants in your yard are edible and delicious. Learn all about them as we hike the prairie and woods around Sycamore Land Trust’s office, and then make food and drink around a campfire.

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Sycamore hikes are free for members! For non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Not yet a member? You can join today with a donation of just $40 or more, and help us protect and restore nature forever: sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Mar 26

Sycamore Social and Shirt Launch

Our For Forever shirts are back by popular demand, now on organic cotton! Come to our first Sycamore Social of the year to buy a shirt ($25) and other merch, hang out with Sycamore members, and enjoy a tasty beverage. Switchyard will donate $1 from every pint of their Orange Blossom Blonde (made with local honey) sold during the event to Sycamore!

Kids and dogs are welcome at Switchyard. They have a small menu of delicious local snacks, and guests are welcome to bring in outside food.

Switchyard: 419 N Walnut St, Bloomington

 

Feb 20

Evansville Sycamore Social

Please join us for a fun and illuminating reception to celebrate another year of Sycamore’s conservation and education achievements, thanks to the support of our members! Enjoy light refreshments, a free raffle, a bird ID contest, and exciting updates from Sycamore leaders.

This event is free and open to the public thanks to our event sponsor, Wild Birds Unlimited of Evansville. No need to RSVP; all are welcome!

Location: Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Central branch
200 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Evansville, IN

Jan 04

New Year’s Hike: Fresh Air and Fitness

Kick off the new year with a vigorous hike in the rolling hills of Brown County. The past two New Year’s Hikes have varied from below freezing in 2018 to 50+ degrees in 2019, and were equally enjoyable for all!

Dec 22

Volunteer holiday gift wrapping for Sycamore

Here’s a fun way to volunteer, celebrate the holidays, and raise funds for Sycamore’s local conservation and environmental education work. Sign up for a shift to wrap presents for shoppers at JL Waters, and the proceeds will be donated to Sycamore and Wild Care! PLUS, volunteers get a 10% store discount the day of your shift!

Shifts are four hours (flexible if you can’t do the full shift), with lots of options between Thanksgiving Christmas. Sign up with a friend or come on your own and make new friends while supporting good causes. If you can’t work the exact hours of a shift, email Laine at laine@jlwaters.com.

Sign up on this Google sheet, where you’ll find more information on specific dates and times. Dates run from Nov 29 through Dec 22, with shifts from 10am-2pm and 3pm-7pm.

Our popular owl t-shirts are available for purchase at JL Waters. Only $20 for a hand-lettered shirt featuring our most popular nature preserves, and all proceeds go to Sycamore.

And if you’re shopping at JL Waters this holiday season, we encourage you to select Sycamore as your nonprofit of choice when you have your gifts wrapped! Thank you!

Dec 05

Owling Hike

UPDATE: This event is full

As the sun sets and the last crow caws, the night comes to life. With a waxing moon at 72% full, we will navigate the renovated pathways of the Bottoms and tune our senses to the creatures of the night. As Jane Yolen writes in her book Owl Moon, “Sometimes there’s an owl and sometimes there isn’t.” But you never know what you might encounter when you immerse yourself in nature.

This takes place at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, a 733-acre hardwood wetland preserve in Monroe County, protected forever by Sycamore Land Trust. The newly renovated, elevated boardwalk trail is accessible to those with many types of mobility needs. Click here for driving directions and more info, including accessibility specs.

RSVPs are required at the link below. The time will begin at dusk, so timing on here is approximate and will be updated as the date gets closer. On average, sunset on Dec 5 is approximately 5:23 pm.

Hikes are free for Sycamore members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family. You can become a Sycamore member today with a donation of $40 or more! Learn more and donate online at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Nov 03

REEL ROCK Film Tour

The REEL ROCK Film Tour is an annual traveling film festival, each year highlighting a new compilation of incredible rock climbing and outdoor adventure films from Big Up Productions and Sender Films.

Lovers of climbing, adventure, nature, conservation, documentary film, and exciting stories all love REEL ROCK!

Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students w/ID or under 18
Purchase tickets online or at the BCT Box Office (at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater)

Watch the trailer:

Sycamore Land Trust is hosting REEL ROCK here in Bloomington for the third year in a row, along with title sponsors Loren Wood Builders and Hoosier Heights Bloomington, El Capitan sponsors Visit Bloomington and J.L. Waters and Company, and Half Dome sponsor Indiana University Outdoor Adventures. All proceeds support Sycamore’s work to preserve land, restore native habitat, and connect people to nature in southern Indiana. REEL ROCK is also supported by the BCT Movie Partner Program through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Nov 03

Liking Lichen Hike

UPDATE: This event is full.

Join botanical illustrator and naturalist Gillian Harris to discover the wonderful world of lichens and explore these questions: What exactly is a lichen? Where and how do they grow? How do other organisms benefit from lichens?

This takes place at the Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill, a 593-acre forested preserve in Brown County, protected forever by Sycamore Land Trust.

RSVPs are required at the link below.

Hikes are free for Sycamore members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family. You can become a Sycamore member today with a donation of $40 or more! Learn more and donate online at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Oct 09

Dendrology 101

Dendrology is the scientific study of trees. Josh Wagner of Wagner Forestry will take us through the basics of tree identification and the nuances of distinguishing similar species. We will also be “reading” the forest to make educated guesses about its history. Has fire impacted this woods? How was this land used 100 years ago? How old are these oaks?

RSVPs are required at the link below. This takes place at Scarlet Oak Woods, a 66-acre forest on the northeast side of Bloomington, protected forever by Sycamore Land Trust.

Hikes are free for Sycamore members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family. You can become a Sycamore member today with a donation of $40 or more! Learn more and donate online at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

Oct 04

Annual Celebration

SOLD OUT: tickets are now sold out, and we have started a waiting list. In past years, we have been able to accommodate many people on this list due to guest cancellations. If you wish to be added to the waiting list please contact Susan Haislip Daleke at 812-336-5382 ext. 100 or susan@sycamorelandtrust.org.

Visit our event website for more details about the Annual Celebration, including engaging speakers, a fun silent auction, live auction of a new painting of Beanblossom Bottoms by Dawn Adams, delicious food and local drinks, live music, and more.

Tickets are $85 per person or $600 for a table of 8.

Coming from out of town? The Courtyard by Marriott, which is connected to the Monroe Convention Center, is offering our guests a reduced hotel rate of just $155 on October 4. You must book the room by September 3 to take advantage of this rate. Book your room online using this special link, or make a reservation over the phone (812-335-8000) and mention that you are part of the Sycamore Land Trust event.

To donate an item or service for our silent auction, contact events@sycamorelandtrust.org.

See photos of last year’s Annual Celebration, taken by Robert Stoffer Photography.

Sep 28

National Public Lands Day Hike

Celebrate National Public Lands Day with a group hike at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve! Anne Barnhorst will lead this hike in conjunction with Sycamore Land Trust and Women Who Hike. All are welcome!

We will be navigating this splendid nature preserve using the brand new boardwalk completed in 2019. This will be an easy, 2.5-mile hike with the opportunity to really take in this unique wetland that’s home to many endangered and threatened animal and plant species.

Please be prepared with water, snacks, and sun protection/proper clothing for being in the outdoors. A good portion of the trail is open to the sun. While dogs are allowed at this preserve, we ask that for this event they remain at home due to the number of people in attendance.

The hike is free to Sycamore members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person ($10 per family). Donations will be collected at the trailhead before the hike. We invite you to become a member now and help Sycamore restore native habitat in southern Indiana with a donation of $40 or more at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate. Thank you!

The new boardwalk is more accessible to those with limited mobility. Details here.

Click here for driving directions. Parking is limited, so please consider carpooling with someone else attending the hike. Thanks!

Sep 27

Birding & Forestry Hike

Late summer and fall bring many changes to the natural world. Birds are beginning migration or prepping for the journey while the forest still clings to its green leaves providing cover and important food for wildlife. Join Cris Hochwender, Professor of Biology at the University of Evansville, and Steve Heeger, Board member and past President of the Evansville Audubon Society, as they lead you on a hike at Eagle Slough Natural Area to learn about the forest and the birds that depend on this habitat.

Eagle Slough Natural Area is a 127-acre forested wetland in Evansville, protected and maintained by Sycamore Land Trust. Please note that Evansville is on Central Time.

This is a level, one-mile hike free to Sycamore members (suggested donation for non-members is $5), co-sponsored by Sycamore Land Trust and Wild Birds Unlimited of Evansville. RSVPs are required at the link below.

Please note that due to construction on US 41, access to Waterworks Rd via US 41 south is closed. From Evansville, Eagle Slough can be reached via Weinbach Rd south to Waterworks Rd, then proceed west for 3/4 of a mile. The Eagle Slough parking area will be on the right. Access is also available via US 41 north – take US 41 south to the Ellis Park Main entrance, then north on US 41 to Waterworks Rd. Take a right onto Waterworks Rd and the parking area will be on your left within a quarter mile.

Aug 17

Sycamore Social

All are welcome at this free event connecting Sycamore Land Trust members and other lovers of nature! Come hang out with Sycamore staff and volunteers, buy the FINAL BAGS of our custom Sycamore Coffee Blend, chat with fellow conservationists, and buy cool Sycamore merch!

No need to be a Sycamore member to attend, but we encourage you to become a member to help us preserve land, restore habitat, and connect people to nature in southern Indiana! Join/renew with a donation of just $40 or more at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate or at the Sycamore Social. Thank you!

Aug 15

Third Thursday Preserve-a-Preserve Day

  • Cedar Crest
  • Thursday, August 15, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

You can help Sycamore and fellow volunteers take care of the land by pitching in a few hours at our monthly workday! For our August workday, we’ll be removing invasive woody species from the Brunning-Gerster Prairie in front of our office, Cedar Crest. If we have time, we’ll also lay down mulch.

No experience or equipment is necessary; we’ll provide the training and the tools! Just come dressed and ready for working outdoors.

RSVP here

Aug 03

Butterflies and Blooms Hike

Enjoy the beauty of butterflies and flowers in bloom as you stroll the broad trails of Touch the Earth Natural Area with nature enthusiast Doug Johnson. Doug will help you identify common insects and the plants upon which they rely. The hike will cover two miles.

Hikes are free for members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family.

RSVPs are required: https://sycamorelandtrust.org/hike-rsvp

Touch the Earth Natural Area is a 98-acre nature preserve located near Columbus, IN. It is the largest tract of protected land in Bartholomew County, and is an excellent spot for hiking and bird watching.

Jul 29

Nature Lovers Night

  • Monday, July 29, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday, July 30 from 6-8pm at Switchyard Brewing Company (419 N Walnut St, Bloomington)

Nature Lovers Night is a night dedicated to networking with other nature lovers, photographers, and adventurers from Indiana. Andrea Morris and Chelsea Sanders are hosting this free event.

Indiana landscapes are full of wildlife to enjoy and photograph!

Join us for a night of networking amongst Indiana nature lovers as well as hearing from Shane Gibson, Sycamore’s Environmental Education Director, who will be a special guest speaker at the event. This night will be a chance to meet other nature lovers, share nature photography techniques, talk adventure and hear about the wildlife and plants housed within Sycamore Land Trust. Hosted at Switchyard Brewing Company in Bloomington, delicious beer and light appetizers will be available.

By attending this event, all photographers are welcome to enter the Nature Lovers CALL FOR ENTRIES for a 2020 art show at the Untitled Light at Dimension Mill. Nature photography prints by Andrea Marie Photography will be for sale at the event.

Join us for a night of celebrating nature lovers and be sure to bring a friend!

Jul 17

Member Mixer at Upland

  • Wednesday, July 17, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Looking for a way to kick back with fellow conservationists? Maybe enjoy a frothy beverage? Join us for our first Member Mixer of the summer! We’ll be on the patio at Upland Brewpub (350 W 11th St, Bloomington). Hang out with Sycamore members and staff, enjoy light snacks donated by Upland, buy Sycamore swag, and enjoy delicious Upland beer! No RSVP/ticket needed; all ages welcome.

Not a Sycamore member? Join today at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate

This summer only, donate $125 or more and we’ll send you our new, limited-edition Beanblossom Bottoms t-shirt for free!

Jul 10

Little Hikers: Insects Galore

  • Wednesday, July 10, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Explore this meadow habitat for butterflies, beetles, spiders, and more. We’ll use sweep nets to help us find what is hiding where our eyes can’t see. Meeting time and carpool time TBA. The Powell Preserve is a Sycamore Land Trust nature preserve in Monroe County.

RSVPs required: https://sycamorelandtrust.org/hike-rsvp

Events are free for Sycamore Land Trust members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family.

Jun 05

Little Hikers: Creek Stomp

  • Wednesday, June 5, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Explore this bottomland habitat that is home to critters big and small, protected forever by a Sycamore conservation easement. Wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting wet. Meeting time and carpool location TBA. Yellowwod Farm is a private preserve on the border of Monroe and Brown counties.

RSVP here

Events are free for Sycamore Land Trust members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family.

Questions? Contact Shane Gibson, Environmental Education Director: shane@sycamorelandtrust.org

May 18

Beanblossom Bottoms Grand Reopening

  • Saturday, May 18, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

You’ve been waiting patiently while Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve is closed during our boardwalk renovation project, and we’re so grateful! It’s been a tremendous amount of work, and we are so excited to open it to the public very soon. Please join us for the Grand Reopening, including a celebration to kick it off:

Saturday, May 18, 2019
Special celebration: 10am – 1pm

On opening day you can meet the crew, learn about the project and the nature preserve, sign up or renew your membership, and purchase brand-new Sycamore swag.

Be a Swamp Supporter

Taking care of Beanblossom Bottoms and all nature preserves requires dedicated, ongoing work. We need your help to continue our habitat restoration work and keep this beautiful boardwalk in its best shape!

Become a Swamp Supporter today and we’ll send you our new, limited-edition sticker. Anyone who donates $40 or more through the end of May will receive one! You’ll enjoy all our other membership benefits, too.

Tips for visiting Beanblossom Bottoms

– The preserve is still closed as we put on the final touches and make sure everything is safe. It will open to the public on May 18. We appreciate your patience until it’s open.
– Parking will be in high demand for a while; please be prepared to park SAFELY along Bottom Road and walk carefully to the preserve. We expect the lot to fill up fast.
– There are no restroom facilities at Beanblossom Bottoms (or any other Sycamore preserves)
– It’s a wetland! So even though this new boardwalk is sturdier and slip-resistant, always wear proper shoes and be prepared for mud/water. Always stay on the boardwalk; don’t step off onto the ground.

Learn more about the boardwalk renovation project

– The Twig, Winter 2019: this issue of our member newsletter was dedicated to stories about Beanblossom Bottoms.
– Video of the rebuild process
– Photos from the rebuild are on our Facebook and Instagram

May 01

Little Hikers: Wetland Walk

  • Wednesday, May 1, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Get your family out in the great outdoors and learn from Sycamore’s expert Environmental Education program! At our May event for kids and their caretakers, come explore the wonders hidden below the water’s surface, keep an eye to the sky for the residential bald eagle, and listen closely to the sounds of nature as we traverse the beautiful Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserves.

RSVP’s are required: sycamorelandtrust.org/hike-rsvp

Sycamore hikes are free for our members; for non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person, $10 per family. Become a member at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate. Thank you!

Apr 27

Pollinator Day – Purdue Extension Floyd County

  • Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Pollinator Day is a free, family-friendly event packed with hands-on activities for all ages. Activities include beehive tours, building your own hummingbird feeder, native bee nest, and butterfly feeder, planting for pollinators, crafts for the kids, and more. There will be classes on bumblebees, monarchs, and planting for birds and butterflies. Local vendors also will be present selling garden and nature related items. Attendees will receive a free t-shirt or tote, a native tree or shrub, and a complimentary lunch, while supplies last. More information on this flyer.

Pollinator Day will be hosted by the Purdue Extension Floyd County at the Purdue Research Park at 3000 Technology Ave., New Albany, IN on April 27, 2019 from 10 am-3pm. This isn’t a Sycamore event; we’re just happy to spread the word!

Apr 26

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

  • Friday, April 26, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Our annual native tree giveaway is back, and we can’t wait to help you build habitat in your yard! Join us on Friday, April 26 from 11am-5pm at Bloomingfoods East (3220 E 3rd St, Bloomington).

Pick up a free native tree seedling, get planting advice, and celebrate everything that makes trees amazing! We’ll also be signing up new and renewing memberships, selling Sycamore swag, and happy to answer all your conservation questions.

Tree species include: red oak, white oak, river birch, and American plum

The giveaway will end when supplies run out; we’ll post on the Facebook event page when that happens. Note that the start time is 11am, not 10am like we accidentally printed in The Twig!

Back for the second year, Upland Brewing Company will be donating $1 from every pitcher and pint of their delicious Campside pale ale to Sycamore, from April 19-26. Celebrate glorious trees and tasty, local beer at the same time.

Thanks to our fabulous event sponsors: Upland Brewing Company, Bloomingfoods, Underground Printing, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Apr 16

Conservation Field Day

  • Tuesday, April 16, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Curious about how conservation gets put into practice? Join the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District, Dan McGuckin of Habitat Solutions, and Sycamore staff for an up-close look at the conservation practices Sycamore uses to improve soil and water quality and wildlife habitat. We’ll meet a the bottomland trail for discussion, then hike up the upland train to the bluffs overlooking Beanblossom Creek.

This field day will include an overview and tour of an invasive species management project at Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve, a hike of the beautiful property, a picnic lunch at Yellowwood shelterhouse, and tree planting overview and tour in the afternoon.

Please note, moderate hiking and muddy conditions will be expected.

Please RSVP at the link below. Participants should pack a lunch, snacks, and water.

Apr 14

Eagle Slough Natural Area Birding Hike

  • Sunday, April 14, 7:00 am - 9:00 am

Join the Ohio Valley Birding Festival for an early morning birding walk through Sycamore’s 127-acre property in Evansville, IN. Expect to see a variety of warblers, migratory songbirds, and late shorebirds, including Wood Ducks, Winter Wrens, vireos, thrushes, tanagers, etc. Bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at the Eagle Slough entrance on Waterworks Rd, just north of Ellis Park. More information is at ohiovalleybirdingfestival.org.

RSVPs are not required for this free event. We encourage carpooling because of limited parking and to reduce emissions.

Photo by Steve Gifford

Apr 12

Patoka River NWR Birding Hike

  • Friday, April 12, 7:00 am - 10:00 am

Join the Evansville Audubon Society for a birding walk through Boyd Woods at the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, where Sycamore protects 1,200 acres at Columbia Mine Preserve. We’ll search for warblers and other migratory songbirds, continuing the hike past Snakey Point Marsh for possible views of waterfowl and marsh birds, and ending at a little-visited portion of Columbia Mine Preserve to look for grassland sparrows.

The event is free, and no registration is required.

Directions: East on SR 64 out of Oakland City 1 mile from SR 357 (Main) to CR 1275E (look for Refuge sign). Turn left and follow signs to Snakey Point Marsh and continue on to parking lot on left at Boyd Woods (Maxey Marsh on right).

Apr 06

Sycamore Branches: Hike & Brew

  • Saturday, April 6, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Join our young adults (and young at heart) group for a fun hike at this beautiful, secluded preserve, followed by drinks and good conversation at the café at Lucky’s Market. Free admission; drinks are on you. All ages are welcome!

Meet at Lucky’s Market Bloomington for the carpool that will leave at 1pm. We’ll head back around 3pm for drinks at the Lucky’s cafe.

This February through April, Sycamore is a beneficiary of Bags for Change at Lucky’s, so bring your reusable bags when you shop there and you can donate your wooden nickel to Sycamore! It really adds up; donations this year will help us plant a native prairie at one of our nature preserves.

Mar 23

Brown County Hike

  • Saturday, March 23, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Hike leader Anne Bornhorst, ambassador for Women Who Hike, says the terrain and seclusion make Downey Hill one of her favorite places to hike. Anne says “Sometimes you may be the only one there are Downey Hill to enjoy the peacefulness of the creeks and the sounds of the birds.” On this hike, you’ll be challenged by the ruggedness of the south and north loop trails, cross creeks, wander past a pond, and spot a few old wells that remind us of the past lives this area has experienced.

Sycamore hikes are free for members; for non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person, $10 per family. Become a member at sycamorelandtrust.org/donte. Thank you!

Mar 21

POSTPONED: Preserve-a-Preserve Day

  • Thursday, March 21

The Third Thursday Preserve-a-Preserve Day has been postponed, so we won’t hold one on March 21 but we will need volunteer help soon at Beanblossom Bottoms! Stay tuned, and email Chris Fox to be updated about the volunteer days: chris@sycamorelandtrust.org.

For updates on all upcoming events, sign up for our e-news.

Mar 16

Sycamore Coffee Launch

  • Saturday, March 16, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Needmore, a local woman-owned Bloomington roaster, is making a special coffee blend to raise money for Sycamore! Join us for the launch party, hang out with other Sycamore members, and purchase from a special brunch menu just for this occasion. No need to RSVP; bring a friend!

Location: Needmore Coffee Roasters, 104 N Pete Ellis Dr, Bloomington

Feb 24

Trees in Winter

  • Sunday, February 24, 1:00 pm

UPDATE: registration for this event is full

What is a terminal bud? Which trees have opposite branches? Join forester Josh Wagner of Wagner Forestry to learn how to identify trees in winter from bark to branch to bud.

Location is Scarlet Oak Woods: sycamorelandtrust.org/preserves/scarlet-oak-woods

Sycamore Hikes are free for members; for non-members, the suggested donation is $5 per person, $10 per family. Become a member at sycamorelandtrust.org/donate. Thank you!

Feb 21

Third Thursday Preserve-a-Preserve

  • Thursday, February 21, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

We’re in the home stretch of the boardwalk rebuild project at Beanblossom Bottoms, and we need your help! Our monthly volunteer day will be here for February, constructing a wooden portion of the boardwalk trail. Give us a hand, hang out with cool folks, and be one of the first people to see the new trail up close! No experience necessary. RSVPs required: https://sycamorelandtrust.org/2019/01/rsvp-for-a-volunteer-workday/

Feb 21

Intro to Winter Camping

  • Thursday, February 21, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Sycamore Branches, our young adults group, hosts this free and fun informational session led by Michael Waterford of Mountain Folk Adventures. Enjoy a complimentary beer provided by Upland Brewing Company! No RSVP or previous knowledge/experience required.

Location: Sycamore Land Trust headquarters, 4898 E Heritage Woods Rd, Bloomington

Feb 13

Little Hikers: Maple & Pine Nature Time

  • Wednesday, February 13, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Learn the basics of making maple syrup and other wild edibles. The fire will be warm and we’ll make nature crafts to take home. Geared toward children and their families.

Free for members; suggested donation for non-members is $5 per person or $10 per family.

Feb 13

Evansville Year in Review

  • Wednesday, February 13, 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center (1901 Lynch Rd, Evansville, IN)

4:30-7pm Central Time

This is our annual get-together for Sycamore members in the Evansville area. Come enjoy catered appetizers, chat with other Sycamore members, and hear a brief update on our latest activities!

Feb 08

Happy hour for John Lawrence

  • Friday, February 8, 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

We’re so excited to announce the appointment of John Lawrence as Sycamore’s new Executive Director, and we want to celebrate with you! Whether you’ve known John for years or want to meet/heckle him for the first time, all are welcome.

Join us for a happy hour at the Wood Shop (Upland’s sours facility, right next to the brewpub at 350 W 11th St, Bloomington) on February 8 for good conversations with fellow nature lovers, meeting friends new and old, complimentary appetizers, and delicious local beer (not complimentary, but totally worth it).

This event is free and open to all people ages 21 and up; the Wood Shop is not open to minors.

Feb 31

Nature Trivia

  • Thursday, January 31, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Sycamore Land Trust’s young adults group hosts another Nature Trivia night, this time at a new venue: Switchyard Brewing.

Question Master Austin Roach leads this fun, free evening full of questions on all things nature, for all levels of expertise. Bring a team of friends or join one when you arrive!

It’s free to play, but we encourage you to support our host and drink responsibly. Sweet prizes for the top teams!

Jan 27

Little Hikers: Who’s Been Here?

  • Sunday, January 27, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Is that a bobcat track? Why is this feather on the ground? What bird is making that “yank yank yank” sound? We’ll explore and investigate the sights and sounds of nature to help us make an educated guess about “who’s been here?”

RSVPs are required: sycamorelandtrust.org/hike-rsvp

Hikes are free for members; suggested donation for non-membersis $5 per person or $10 per family.

Jan 13

High Proof Laughs: comedy night at Cardinal Spirits

  • Sunday, January 13, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Limestone Comedy Festival and Cardinal Spirits present the return of High Proof Laughs: a live comedy series at the distillery featuring emcee Mat Alano-Martin! Because comedy + craft cocktails is something we could all use a little more of in 2019.

Sunday, January 13 at 7pm
Cardinal Spirits (922 S. Morton St., Bloomington)

Your $5 cash donation at the door will benefit Sycamore Land Trust. Doors open at 6pm and close at 7pm when the show starts! 21+ only.

The show will feature headliner Conor Delehanty, with Greg Welsh, Jan Gudaitis, and Emil Wakim

About headliner Conor Delehanty:
Conor Delehanty is a comic who grew up in Indianapolis and currently resides in New York. Delehanty started stand up while in college at Indiana University and has been giving it his all ever since while performing at clubs, colleges, and whatever rooms will have him. He has performed in festivals such as the Limestone Comedy Festival, Laugh Your Asheville Off, and San Francisco Sketchfest. Delehanty was a cast member on the Facebook watch show After After Party. On stage, he has a calm and welcoming demeanor that keeps audiences interested and engaged. His material ranges from personal material about his family to observational takes on common everyday happenings. Delehanty could always go for a sandwich and is generally happy to be there, wherever that may be.

Jan 06

New Year’s Hike

  • Sunday, January 6, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Start off 2019 right with a fun and healthy group hike through the beautiful hills of Brown County.

Dec 23

Gift wrapping at JL Waters Nov 30-Dec 23

  • Sunday, December 23, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Here’s a fun way to volunteer, celebrate the holidays, and raise funds for Sycamore. Sign up for a shift to wrap presents for shoppers at JL Waters, and the proceeds will be donated to Sycamore and Wild Care! Shifts are just two hours, with lots of options between Thanksgiving Christmas, plus you get a 10% store discount the day of your shift!! Sign up with a friend or come on your own and make new friends while supporting good causes.

Dates: every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 30 through December 23, 2018

Times: Two-hour shifts between 10am and 6pm

To sign up, just find an open time slot that works for you on this Google sheet, then email the shift(s) you’d like to work to Laine Ellison from JL Waters at laineellison1@gmail.com.

And if you’re shopping at JL Waters, we encourage you to select Sycamore as your nonprofit of choice when you have your gifts wrapped! Thank you!

Dec 07

Holiday Open House

  • Friday, December 7, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Sycamore members are invited to this free and festive open house at Cedar Crest, Sycamore headquarters (4898 E. Heritage Woods Rd, Bloomington). Our annual holiday party will have carolers, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a crackling fire, and plenty of merriment!

Nov 04

REEL ROCK Film Tour

  • Sunday, November 4, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Sycamore Branches presents the REEL ROCK Film Tour, a one-day climbing film event sponsored by Loren Wood Builders and Hoosier Heights Bloomington. Back for its second year, REEL ROCK connects folks in the climbing and outdoors communities while raising funds for Sycamore Land Trust’s conservation and environmental education work in southern Indiana.

Details: Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 6pm at the Buskirk Chumley Theater (114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington)

Check out the Facebook event.

Enjoy breathtaking new climbing films, watch Sycamore’s short film For Forever, and enter to win cool prizes from local and national businesses. Sycamore Branches is a group of 20- and 30-somethings that connects young adults to conservation and supports the work of Sycamore Land Trust.

Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 students (any ID, or 18 and under). Buy tickets here.

Sycamore is grateful to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for supporting this event through the BCT Movie Partner Program.

Title Sponsors ($1,000)

Hoosier Heights Bloomington and Loren Wood Builders, LLC

El Capitan ($750)

J.L. Waters and Company

Half Dome ($500)

Carmin Parker PC

Mt Watkins ($250)

Bikesmiths Bicycle Shop and B.A.Gear

Raffle donors

Salomon, Cardinal Stage, Cardinal Spirits, Function Brewing, B.A.Gear, Sycamore Land Trust

Jan 01

2021 Annual Celebration: “Taking Care”

Join us for a virtual celebration of habitat restoration in southern Indiana.  Once land is owned by Sycamore, we begin the important work of protecting it through consistent, capable stewardship. This 45-minute video celebration takes a closer look at our land stewardship and habitat restoration projects to take care of the land entrusted to us all.

Featuring:

  • Staff Stewardship Stories celebrating impactful habitat restoration and land stewardship projects this year, including supporting threatened eastern bluebird populations, constructing new wetlands, expanding public trails, and more.
  • A Virtual Tour of Hoot Woods, Sycamore’s nature preserve protecting one of the few remaining old-growth forests in Indiana.  This behind-the-scenes guided tour will highlight giant trees, including one dated to the 1600s.
  • Our “Dam Cam” Wildlife Camera Compilation Video will feature a first look at footage captured after we installed 12 cameras at nature preserves this year.  Meet the wildlife community that calls our preserves home!
  • 2021 Kids’ Nature Discovery Art Contest winners will be announced including pre-ordering options for the 2022 Kids’ Nature Discovery Calendar, featuring what to look for in nature each month and observing seasonal cycles in plant and animal life in southern Indiana.

 

Thank You Sponsors

Sugar Maple
Scott and Ruth Sanders

Luna Moth
Bluespring Caverns, Inc.
The Caldwell and the Emmi Families
Jay and Sally Peacock
Karen Pitkin and Kurt Larsen
Wylie Foundation