Construction begins on our Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center

• August 3, 2026

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA  August 4, 2026 — Construction has begun on the first phase of Sycamore Land Trust’s Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center in northwest Monroe County. After more than 20 years of providing environmental education across southern Indiana, Sycamore Land Trust is creating its first permanent, fully ADA-accessible home for environmental education, where visitors […]

Why land protection matters to wetlands

• August 1, 2026

by Tom Swinford, Land Preservation Director Wetlands cannot protect themselves. No matter how rich in birds, orchids, salamanders, dragonflies, or quiet beauty a marsh may be, its future depends on the surrounding land and whether people choose to protect it permanently. For much of Indiana’s history, wetlands were treated as places to drain, fill, straighten, […]

Over 160 bird species recorded in the restored habitat at Sam Shine Foundation Preserve

• July 13, 2026

by Wyatt Downey, Land Stewardship Assistant Fog continues to blanket the wetlands, the sky still twinkles with stars, and my only company for now are the two great horned owls calling back and forth across the ridge. Over the horizon, the first rays of light are starting to poke through, and soon, the chorus of […]

Join us on June 25 to learn about our new Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center

• June 25, 2026

Construction has begun on the first phase of our new Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center near Dolan, and we’re hosting a Neighbor Meeting to share project updates and answer questions. Join us on Thursday, June 25, at Butler Winery & Vineyards to learn more about the construction timeline, future plans for public access, expanded […]

Our Spring Plant Sale raised over $17,500 for habitat restoration

• May 11, 2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Sycamore Land Trust’s fifth annual Spring Plant Sale! Thanks to your incredible support, this year’s sale raised more than $17,500 to help restore and care for wildlife habitat across southern Indiana. Every spring, our community comes together at Bloomingfoods East to shop from dozens of species of […]

Sycamore will give away over 800 free native trees at our “Arbor Day Tree Giveaway” sponsored by IU Health

• April 25, 2026

Celebrate Arbor Day with Sycamore Land Trust by planting a free native tree! Sycamore is giving away more than 800 free native tree seedlings during its annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Bloomingfoods East and Bloomingfoods Near West in Bloomington. The event is sponsored by IU Health. Sycamore is a […]

A Call to Shine: A Reintroduction Project of the Endangered Crawfish Frog

• April 2, 2026

by Ben Sebastian, Land Steward No one on the crew that day was a stranger to being wet in a wetland, but this particular late summer day was sodden to the point you could wring out the air like a soaked headband. Sweat dripped off the tip of my nose as I scanned the ground […]

Stormwater resilience at the Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center

• March 14, 2026

Green infrastructure mimics Indiana’s natural landscapes by Saige Sentell, Education Director Beneath our feet, the Mitchell Karst Plain’s soluble limestone bedrock has slowly dissolved over thousands of years, creating sinkholes, shallow depressions, and underground channels. After heavy rains or snowmelt, these features collect water in ephemeral wetlands and temporary pools that appear, linger, and gradually […]

Demonstrating wetland restoration at Oliver Preserve

• March 14, 2026

By Kate Hammel, Communications Director In January, stewardship interns from Indiana University walked onto the newly created shallow pools at Oliver Preserve in Monroe County, which had frozen solid enough to stand on. These fields look entirely different than they did just a year earlier. Now part of a restored landscape designed to hold water, […]

A stream runs through it (literally, through our parking lot): Streambank restoration at Powell Preserve funded by the Indiana DNR LARE Program

• March 14, 2026

By Chris Fox, Land Stewardship Director, and David Heilman, Flatland Resources As I rounded the bend on Brighton Road, the preserve came into view, and I noticed something didn’t look quite right. I kept squinting my eyes, thinking that might help, but I still couldn’t figure out what was amiss. Suddenly, I realized the entrance […]

Amazing journey: From sinkholes to the sea

• March 14, 2026

by Tom Swinford, Land Preservation Director Sycamore Land Trust’s work is focused on saving one of Indiana’s most important and increasingly valuable ecological assets: water. Water is the magical substance upon which all life depends. It is what makes planet Earth unique in our little universe—and, until we know better, beyond it. From something as […]

Freshwater mussels: Ancient inhabitants of Indiana’s rivers

• March 11, 2026

By Tom Swinford, Land Preservation Director Land Preservation Director Tom Swinford and Indiana DNR’s Brant Fisher look for mussels in Beanblossom Creek. Photo by Chris Fox Parking our trucks at the edge of a recent tree planting, staff from Sycamore Land Trust and the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife walked through tall late-summer […]

Barnebey Woods approved to become a state dedicated nature preserve

• February 6, 2026

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has approved the dedication of Sycamore Land Trust’s Barnebey Woods in Owen County as a nature preserve. This will be the ninth state-dedicated nature preserve that Sycamore owns and manages, adding an additional level of recognition and permanent protection to the property. Sycamore Land Trust protects a total of […]

Meet the new director of the Sycamore Land Trust: Alex Sienkiewicz

• January 28, 2026

By Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times   This article was published in The Herald-Times on Jan. 28, 2026. In 2025, Bloomington-based Sycamore Land Trust sought a new executive director after John Lawrence stepped down. Lawrence was the land trust’s second leader, following after Christian Freitag, the nonprofit’s first executive director. Late in 2025, Sycamore Land Trust […]

Sycamore Land Trust welcomes new Executive Director, Alex Sienkiewicz

• January 15, 2026

Sycamore Land Trust is delighted to welcome Alex Sienkiewicz as its new executive director, effective January 2026, ushering in a new era of leadership dedicated to protecting southern Indiana’s natural heritage for future generations. Building on Sycamore’s strong conservation legacy, Alex will guide the organization’s continued growth in land protection, habitat restoration, and environmental education […]

Media Coverage

• January 1, 2026

Read the latest media coverage of Sycamore’s work, including new preserves and trails, environmental education, events, wildlife, partnerships, and more. If you are a member of the media looking for information, an interview, or photos, contact Kate Hammel, Communications Director, at kate@sycamorelandtrust.org or 812-336-5382 ext. 101. For monthly updates on everything related to Sycamore and conservation […]

Illegal dumping spurs parking lot closure at Eagle Slough Natural Area to protect sensitive wetland

• December 19, 2025

Sycamore Land Trust has temporarily closed the parking lot at Eagle Slough Natural Area south of Evansville to protect its sensitive wetland ecosystem following a recent increase in illegal dumping and vandalism. The nature preserve and its hiking trail remain open from dawn to dusk, and visitors are encouraged to continue enjoying the area respectfully […]

Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program Celebrates 20 Years

• December 11, 2025

By Kate Hammel, Communications Director Our new video “Inspiring a Lifelong Appreciation for Nature” celebrates the 20th anniversary of our Environmental Education program with a look back on the inspiring work of its founders.  Developing a love for nature is the first step toward embracing a lifelong conservation ethic. Sycamore believes that meaningful outdoor experiences […]

Science-Guided Stewardship: Eastern Box Turtle Radio Telemetry Pilot Project

• November 20, 2025

By Lauren McDonald, Communications & Development Fellow At Sycamore’s Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill, an eastern box turtle, affectionately nicknamed Walden, rests in a debris pile. He is one of several turtles being tracked as a part of Sycamore’s pilot project to monitor eastern box turtles using radio telemetry. Land Stewardship Interns Wyatt […]

Sycamore launches Martin Dune Forest conservation project

• November 17, 2025

By Tom Swinford, Land Preservation Director Sycamore Land Trust is pursuing a major new conservation project—Martin Dune Forest, a 195-acre property in Monroe County with the potential to expand our Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area to more than 2,600 acres of protected land. The site lies near the confluence of the White River and Beanblossom Creek […]

Free Sycamore Land Trust Nature Coloring Books

• November 11, 2025

Birds of Southern Indiana” Coloring Book Our free, printable “Birds of Southern Indiana” coloring book illustrated by Mary Connors, B.S. K-12 Education, M.A. Art Education, features 23 bird species that depend on the habitats we protect. At birding hotspots like our Eagle Slough Natural Area near Evansville, over 240 bird species have been documented by […]

Citizen Science: We all have the power to help

• November 1, 2025

A citizen scientist is a community member who helps to advance science by keeping track of what they see in nature— joining in scientific projects like counting birds, attracting moths, or testing water. Citizen scientists help expand the reach of research projects that guide our conservation priorities, making it possible to gather information on a […]

Where bluebirds fly: How to be a responsible bluebird box landlord

• November 1, 2025

by Saige Sentell, Education Director “Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly…” from The Wizard of Oz has been sung for nearly a century, carrying with it an image of beauty, freedom, and hope. For generations, the sight of a bluebird perched on a fence post or gliding over an open field has been a simple […]

Nature is the Teacher

• November 1, 2025

By Carroll Ritter, Sycamore’s Environmental Education Coordinator 2005-2014 The early morning sunlight filtered through a light fog lingering in the mighty oak grove. The almost magical scene was one to capture and retain. A link to the primeval makeup of the human brain was instinctive, as mankind has always been part of the natural system […]

Sycamore builds two new wetlands in Monroe County at Oliver Preserve and the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve complex

• October 26, 2025

Sycamore Land Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization protecting 11,727 acres in southern Indiana, has completed construction of two new wetlands in Monroe County, restoring vital wildlife habitat and improving water quality along Beanblossom Creek. New wetlands constructed at Sycamore’s Oliver Preserve connected to Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, and at our Dan Efroymson Preserve connected to […]

The Tale of Lyra

• September 10, 2025

by Wyatt Downey, Land Stewardship Assistant The Chasing Melody Project is an international effort involving several partner agencies and organizations, and it is dedicated to the study of wood thrush across their entire life cycles. During the summer of 2024, I had the pleasure of participating in this project as a volunteer alongside Sycamore Land […]

Sycamore Sightings

• September 10, 2025

Sycamore’s Land Stewardship Assistant and professional birder Wyatt Downey has observed over 130 bird species at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve in Monroe County during volunteer marsh bird surveys, point counts, and other observations. This special preserve has been the focus of Sycamore’s largest restoration project to date, with over 60 acres of wetland restored […]

Volunteer Spotlight: Wyatt Downey, Land Stewardship Assistant

• September 10, 2025

Before joining us as a part-time Land Stewardship Assistant, Wyatt Downey began his work at Sycamore as a volunteer intern in October 2023. A dual master’s student in Environmental Science and Public Affairs at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, with a background in child advocacy and EMT certification, Wyatt is combining […]

Sycamore Land Trust Adds 102 acres of Forested Hills to Beanblossom Corridor

• September 10, 2025

by Tom Swinford, Land Preservation Director Sycamore Land Trust recently closed on the purchase of the Bill and Janice Young Woods, adding a high-quality upland forest to the Beanblossom landscape in northeast Monroe County. This property has been a Sycamore protection priority for years due to its connectivity, frontage on Beanblossom Creek, and dense woodlands. […]

A Win for Prescribed Burns

• September 10, 2025

By Kate Hammel, Communications Director In a major step forward for conservation in Indiana, a new law was signed on April 30 to expand the state’s capacity for prescribed burning. The legislation establishes a certified training program through the Indiana DNR and clarifies liability protections for trained practitioners. These essential steps will make this land […]

The Future of Noah’s Ark: Using Seedbanks to Preserve a Genetic Savings Account

• September 10, 2025

by Ben Sebastian, Land Steward Long ago, all of us were stewards of this land, not just occupants. As a society, we had a greater harmony with nature so that by protecting ourselves, we secured nature with us. We cherished the plants that healed us, the animals that fed us, and we knew how to […]

Powered by Volunteers: Sycamore’s Native Plant Nursery

• September 10, 2025

by Ella Scheper, Land Stewardship Assistant When I first arrived at Sycamore Land Trust in January of 2023, the native plant nursery consisted of a collection of plants resting in either a rock wall garden or a small corner of space by the garden shed. My first day in the nursery was a cold morning […]

Come, Touch the Earth: 30 years of Volunteer Dedication at Touch the Earth Natural Area

• September 10, 2025

By Kate Hammel, Communications Director For thirty years, the trails at Touch the Earth Natural Area have been kept open thanks to the steady volunteer support of the Weisner family. Their house overlooking the preserve looks like a small castle built of Indiana limestone, surrounded by lovingly nurtured native plants and the butterflies they attract. […]

Mysterious Moths Night with Jeanette Jaskula

• June 23, 2025

Join Sycamore Land Trust and Jeanette Jaskula for an enchanting evening exploring the hidden world of moths at Touch the Earth Natural Area! Local naturalist Jeanette Jaskula will guide participants through the fascinating and often overlooked lives of these nocturnal pollinators. Using special lights and natural lures, we’ll attract and observe a variety of moth […]

Leadership transition: Executive Director John Lawrence resigns

• June 18, 2025

Our Executive Director, John Lawrence, recently resigned in order to concentrate on personal and family health issues. The staff and Board of Directors thank him for his many years of dedicated service and wish him well. Jenny Stephens, the current Board Chair, is serving as Interim Director in a part-time capacity. A national search for […]

Sycamore celebrates 30 years of Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve with trailhead enhancements funded by Duke Energy Foundation

• June 6, 2025

Sycamore Land Trust is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in Monroe County with a new educational kiosk funded by the Duke Energy Foundation. This funding also enabled Sycamore to expand and enhance the parking lot, add benches at the trailhead, and improve the preserve’s hiking trail. On June 6, a dedication […]

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

• March 18, 2025

Get a free native tree seedling and celebrate everything that makes trees amazing! At our “Arbor Day Tree Giveaway” sponsored by IU Health, we will distribute over 600 free tree seedlings to help our community create beneficial native habitat at home. Choose one of 14 native species from from the Indiana DNR’s Vallonia Nursery. The […]

Sycamore Sightings

• March 1, 2025

In 2021, we installed the first 15 cameras at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve and other preserves along Beanblossom Creek for our Wildlife Camera Project. So far we have recorded over 100 species, including bobcat kittens meowing as they cross the beaver dam and this beaver kit helping make repairs to the beaver lodge. In 2008, […]

Giving to the Land I Love: Sedges, Cattails, and Dragonflies

• March 1, 2025

By Christina Marshall, Membership Coordinator My family and I arrive at the Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve trailhead on an overcast Saturday in August to participate in the Sycamore Land Trust “Little Hikers” hike. After a long drive, my children are bubbling with anticipation to get out of their carseats and stretch their legs. We scramble […]

An Outdoor Classroom for Wetland Education

• March 1, 2025

By Taryn Schermer, Environmental Education Fellow When I moved to the Bloomington area five years ago to attend Indiana University, Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve was the first trail I visited. Since my first visit, it has remained one of my favorite places due to the limitless opportunities to view wildlife and learn more about wetland […]

The Cypress Firefly: The Flashiest New Species Recently Discovered at Beanblossom Bottoms

• March 1, 2025

By Wyatt Downey, Stewardship Intern Fireflies are beloved by many for the way in which they ignite the sky after the sun has fallen and many of the other creatures have returned to their resting quarters for the night. Their fantastic nighttime performances have led these insects to become ingrained in everything from literature to […]

The Work of the Beavers

• March 1, 2025

By Chris Fox, Land Stewardship Director As we pulled the carts loaded with tools and lumber through the flooded wetlands at Beanblossom Bottoms, we counted the beaver chew sticks floating on the surface of the water. The chiseled sticks appeared to have been carved by a woodworker and indeed were, but not by one with […]

Habitat for Herons: Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve celebrates its 30th anniversary this year

• March 1, 2025

By Kate Hammel, Communications Director In the Winter 1995 issue of The Twig, Sycamore Land Trust—then only five years old and still an all-volunteer organization—  announced an ambitious new project called “Habitat for Herons.” The goal was to purchase a 94-acre wetland in Monroe County that had come up for sale. The property had been […]

Our 2024 Impact

• February 26, 2025

2024 was a BIG year for conservation at Sycamore Land Trust! Thanks to our incredible supporters, volunteers, and partners, we made meaningful progress in 2024 to protect southern Indiana’s natural areas for future generations. Look at all we accomplished together… 325 more acres protected forever We permanently protected over 325 more acres in 2024, including […]

Great Backyard Bird Count with State Ornithologist Allisyn Gillet

• January 10, 2025

Join us for a special day of birdwatching at our stunning Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve. As part of the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Sycamore Land Trust is hosting an exciting event where you’ll have the chance to observe and count local bird species in one of Indiana’s most biodiverse wetland habitats. This event will […]

Welcome Land Preservation Director Tom Swinford

• November 1, 2024

A warm welcome to Tom Swinford, our new Land Preservation Director! Tom may be a familiar face to some, having had a long career in conservation in Indiana. He has worked at the state, federal and non-profit level in protecting, restoring, and growing support for our natural places. Tom is honored and energized to join […]

From Disturbance Comes Resilience

• November 1, 2024

By Ben Sebastian, Land Steward In late June, a massive storm swept through Bloomington, leaving Monroe County to declare a state of emergency due to fallen debris, power outages, and infrastructure damage. The sudden and intense winds caused several tangles of tree blowdowns at multiple Sycamore Land Trust properties comparable to damage caused by previous […]

Sycamore Sightings

• October 1, 2024

This tiny weft fern (Crepidomanes intricatum) was found this summer in the sandstone outcrops along the trail at our Canyon Forest Nature Preserve in Greene County by Wyatt Williams of the Indiana DNR. This is a county record, meaning it is the first time it has been recorded in Greene County. Unlike conventional ferns, it […]

Welcome Land Steward Noah Johnson

• October 1, 2024

Noah Johnson, Land Steward Noah is transitioning to a full-time position, expanding our Stew Crew to three full-time employees. “I grew up exploring the woods and hills of Brown County, Indiana, where I developed a deep love for the outdoors. This love for nature led to me pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs […]

Welcome Communications and Development Fellow Lauren McDonald

• October 1, 2024

Lauren McDonald, Communications and Development Fellow Lauren joined our team in October through the O’Neill Service Corps with Indiana University. “I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where my love for nature developed from watching dolphins and fishing by the beach. The Deepwater Horizon spill deeply inspired my commitment to environmental protection. I earned […]

Lights Out: The Effects of Light Pollution on Pollinators, the Indiana Bat, and other Threatened Species

• October 1, 2024

By Saige Sentell, Education Director Dust filled the air one evening in June as cars entered the Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve parking lot. Dressed in various shades of brown and green, the Native Plant Nursery volunteers, Sycamore staff, and a few board members gathered for an enchanting night chasing fireflies. Dr. Sérgio Henriques, the invertebrate […]

More Stories of Recovery

• October 1, 2024

Bald Eagle Nest at Beanblossom Bottoms Bald eagle populations had declined dramatically by the 1960s. Bans on hunting and the insecticide DDT followed by reintroduction programs helped reestablish healthy and self-sustaining populations in Indiana and across the U.S. Bald eagles are now a common sight at many of our preserves, including Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve […]

Endangered Indiana bats show signs of recovery

• October 1, 2024

by Kate Hammel, Communications Director High in a snag rising out of the swamp at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in Monroe County, a mother Indiana bat snuggles her pup and leans into the warmth of her neighbors. All around her are the shoulders of her fellow mothers, clustered tightly in cozy camaraderie in a cavity […]

Sycamore acquires Barnebey Woods with funding from the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust and a gift from the landowners

• September 4, 2024

Sycamore Land Trust has purchased 160 acres in Owen County to establish a new nature preserve, thanks to a gift from landowners Karl Barnebey and Laura Fredendall and support from the Indiana DNR’s President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust. The new preserve is named Barnebey Woods in honor of the Barnebey family. Karl Barnebey and Laura […]

A Mark of Distinction: Sycamore receives renewed Land Trust Accreditation

• September 4, 2024

Sycamore Land Trust is proud to announce that we have earned renewed 5-year accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction awarded to land trusts that meet the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. Each accredited land trust completes a rigorous review process to join a […]

Hoot Woods: 60 years of research at Indiana’s 301st State Nature Preserve

• September 1, 2024

by John Lawrence, Executive Director Sycamore Land Trust’s Hoot Woods in Owen County protects one of the very few old-growth forest stands remaining in Indiana. This year, Hoot Woods was dedicated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as Indiana’s 301st state nature preserve, recognizing it as one of the most significant natural areas in […]

Tracking the Mysteries of Migration: The Motus Wildlife Tracking System & The Chasing Melody Project

• September 1, 2024

by Chris Fox, Land Stewardship Director As the sun slowly peeks over the horizon, the orange and pink rays of light illuminate the wooded hills that surround the Beanblossom Creek valley at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve. A layer of fog that had formed over the fields and wetlands is slowly beginning to lift as […]

Sycamore Sightings in our New Wetlands at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve

• September 1, 2024

It has been an exciting first year in our new wetlands. Last October, Sycamore completed the construction of over 60 acres of restored wetland habitat at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve in Monroe County and the adjacent Fix-Stoelting Preserve. This new wetland habitat is already full of life – including more than 14 great egrets, […]

Habitat Corridors in the Beanblossom Creek Valley and Your Own Backyard

• September 1, 2024

by Daniel Layton, Land Preservation Director I vividly recall the wonder I felt the first time I visited Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in Monroe County. I think most people who visit this special preserve have a similar sense of surprise at the vibrant bayou-like habitat hidden amidst the typical corn and bean fields. It’s no […]

Sycamore Land Trust Annual Celebration

• June 24, 2024

Join us as we celebrate another year of protecting vital southern Indiana habitat for Forever. Our Annual Celebration is Sycamore’s biggest event of the year, raising funds that enable us to preserve more land, build more trails, and continue our free education programs. This year, our celebration will be held on October 12, 2024, at […]

Two New Nature Preserves in Monroe County Expand Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve

• June 23, 2024

Sycamore Land Trust has acquired two new nature preserves along Beanblossom Creek in Monroe County that expand Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve to 824 protected acres! We will restore wetlands and other important habitats on the preserves through the Wetland Reserve Easement program. A new 61-acre nature preserve adjacent to Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve was donated […]

Reading the Landscape

• June 22, 2024

Join us for a captivating two-hour guided hike through the serene trails of Downey Hill. Led by Jack Cathcart of Oiko Environmental, this immersive experience delves into the art of reading landscapes, highlighting the delicate balance of ecological stewardship and the interplay of human and natural influences. Along the way, discover the diversity of native […]

Mysterious Moths Night

• June 5, 2024

In celebration of National Moth Week, Sycamore Land Trust is thrilled to offer this nighttime ‘mothing’ opportunity led by expert naturalist Jeanette Jaskula. We will delight in the mystery of moths using light and other lures to attract them for observation. Witness their patterns, colors, and behaviors, as well as learn about the essential role […]

Meet Saige Sentell, Sycamore’s new Education Director

• May 29, 2024

Howdy, y’all! As a little girl growing up in the rolling hills of Madison, Indiana, nature was where I felt most at home. Whether I was stomping through the creek with my dog or watching the trees sway during a storm, these experiences sparked my sense of curiosity and awe for the natural world. As […]

The Wildlife Camera Project: Motion Triggered Cameras and Habitat Restoration

• April 1, 2024

by Madeline Thompson, Communications and Development Fellow What is wildlife? Is it the bobcat that wanders the woods in some remote area? Or is it a squirrel you see outside your window, maybe even the little fly that buzzes in your house? Regardless of size, wildlife can be found all around us. Protecting these creatures […]

Ecosystem Engineers: Burrowing Crawfish Create Vital Habitat

• April 1, 2024

by Zach Truelock, Herpetologist A painted-hand mudbug in its burrow on a wetland preserve owned by Sycamore. Photo by Zach Truelock While walking through a field, perhaps near a stream, pond, lake, or ditch, you may have seen tall muddy chimneys, clustered and towering over the ground. They’re unique and eye-catching on the landscape—and can […]

In Science Lies the Answers and the Questions

• April 1, 2024

By Chris Fox, Land Stewardship Director Indiana DNR herpetologists Jason Mirtl and Nate Engbrecht use coverboards to monitor reptiles and amphibians at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve. Chris Fox Using science to help guide our land management activities has become a key component of Sycamore’s land stewardship program. Aldo Leopold said it well, when he […]

Spring Plant Sale to benefit Sycamore’s Native Plant Nursery

• March 26, 2024

We’re delighted to announce our second annual Spring Native Plant Sale! The sale will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 9am to 2pm (while supplies last) at Bloomingfoods East located at 3220 E 3rd Street in Bloomington. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support Sycamore’s Native Plant Nursery, where we grow […]

2024 Eclipse Information & Preserve Closures

• February 20, 2024

Where will you be on April 8th? A once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse will be visible across most of southern and central Indiana, with totality beginning shortly after 3pm EDT. Sycamore Land Trust is not hosting any viewing events for the eclipse, due to the extreme traffic issues expected during the day. Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula […]

‘Sky Dance’ & Twilight Hike

• February 8, 2024

As spring approaches, a flurry of activity begins in the wetlands, including migration, courtship, and rising waters. The chorus of amphibians during this twilight hike will be the soundtrack as we search the sky for the woodcock’s famous mating ritual, the ‘sky dance.’ Join expert naturalist Cathy Meyer and Sycamore Land Trust for an evening […]

• Beanblossom Bottoms,

Celebrate World Wetlands Day Hike

• January 4, 2024

‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ is the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2024 to spotlight the connection between wetlands and human life and emphasize the critical need for human stewardship of these essential ecosystems. Celebrate by joining Sycamore Land Trust for a guided hike through Beanblossom Bottoms on World Wetlands Day to experience the majesty […]

“Shine”

• December 8, 2023

 Watch our stewardship in action at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve. by Kate Hammel, Communications Director In September, Sycamore began construction at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve in Monroe County to restore over 60 acres of fallow farm fields back to thriving wetland habitat. This is part of Sycamore’s largest series of habitat restoration […]

Undoing the Ingenuity of Wetland Destruction

• December 8, 2023

By Daniel Layton, Land Steward Not long after starting as a land steward at Sycamore, I managed to get our all terrain vehicle stuck in a deep hole at our Sam Shine Foundation Preserve. After coming to my senses and being thankful that I hadn’t flipped the thing over, I began to wonder why there […]

Fall Tidings of the Banded Woollybear Caterpillar

• December 8, 2023

Written and illustrated by Mary Welz, Education Director On a lovely afternoon in mid-October, I had a first fall sighting for the year of a banded woollybear caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella), during a visit to the future site of Sycamore’s Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center north of Bloomington. Just as the leaves were beginning to […]

Backyard Biology: Sycamore Sightings in our Office Backyard

• December 7, 2023

In September, our Land Stewardship team built a flying squirrel nest box and put it a tree in the backyard of our Bloomington office. The native southern flying squirrel is nocturnal, elusive, and rarely seen, so the team didn’t get their hopes up too high. But when they checked the box in October, they were […]

Welcome Amy Osajima, Development Director!

• November 13, 2023

A warm welcome to Amy Osajima, who has joined the Sycamore team as Development Director. “I came to Bloomington in 2013 after 25 years in Southern California, where I first learned about the value of planting natives. After serving as Marketing Director for IU Theatre for 5 years, I joined WonderLab Museum as Development Director. […]

Holiday Party for Members

• November 13, 2023

Sycamore members, 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, cookies from Baked! of Bloomington, a free raffle with nature-related items donated by generous local businesses, and good company. Carroll Ritter will be with us to […]

Vote for Sycamore for Bloomingfoods Positive Change 2024

• October 6, 2023

Oct. 13 is the deadline to vote for Positive Change candidates at Bloomingfoods! If you are member-owner, please vote for Sycamore Land Trust to preserve land, restore habitat, and connect more people to nature here in beautiful southern Indiana. 🌳 The beautiful, health, and diversity of the land in our care depends on the support […]

October Big Day Wetland Birding Hike with Cathy Meyer

• October 2, 2023

Join naturalist Cathy Meyer for a morning of birding, citizen science, and discovery during an October Big Day hike in partnership with Indiana Audubon and the Indiana Land Protection Alliance. Sign up today to explore the rich biodiversity of Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve and help collect data on the preserve’s avian visitors. Join us on the […]

Nature-Based Climate Solutions in Indiana and Beyond

• September 28, 2023

On Thursday, Sept. 28, Sycamore Land Trust and Citizens’ Climate Lobby Indiana hosted a virtual lecture and Q&A with Dr. Kimberly Novick, Professor, Paul H. O’Neill Chair, Fischer Faculty Fellow, and Director of the Ph.D. Program in Environmental Sciences at Indiana University. Dr. Novick discussed the opportunities and pitfalls surrounding nature-based climate solutions in Indiana […]

Interns Help Sycamore Delineate Wetlands

• August 14, 2023

By Kayla Fenning, Summer 2023 Land Stewardship Intern Many of those who are members of Sycamore Land Trust, or just fans of the outdoors, probably know what a wetland is, their ecological importance, and why it is so vital to reestablish and protect these ecosystems. But how do we know where a wetland is located? […]

Sycamore Pursues Reaccreditation with the Land Trust Alliance

• June 6, 2023

For over three decades, Sycamore Land Trust has protected land, restored habitat, and encouraged people to experience the natural world. This work has only been possible because of the tremendous generosity and trust of our supporters. We take our responsibility to these donors and our communities very seriously, and always with careful consideration of Sycamore’s […]

Auction of Rare Duck Decoys & Audubon Books Benefits Sycamore Land Trust

• April 3, 2023

Featuring the Steve Weller Collection On April 15, 2023, a professional live webcast auction of a collection of 500 premier duck decoys, rare Audubon First Edition books, and original Audubon prints benefitted Sycamore Land Trust’s wetland restoration and outdoor education projects. A second auction was held on June 17. The amazing collection was created by […]

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

• February 24, 2023

Sycamore Land Trust has expanded our annual “Arbor Day Tree Giveaway” to distribute more than 1,000 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 […]

Clemens Place at Clifty Creek is now a designated State Nature Preserve

• January 20, 2023

Sycamore Land Trust protects some of Indiana’s most significant natural areas – including Clemens Place at Clifty Creek in Greene County, which was recently added to Indiana’s Nature Preserve system. Sycamore now protects five Nature Preserves with this special designation. Indiana’s 1967 Nature Preserves Act established this system to provide permanent protection for significant natural […]

A Message of Thanks from our Executive Director

• January 1, 2023

In this special thank you video message from all of us at Sycamore Land Trust, Executive Director John Lawrence brings his drone to Fix-Stoelting Preserve in Monroe County for this virtual tour of our newly-constructed wetland and native plantings. We also go behind-the-scenes at our wetland “BioBlitz” at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, a volunteer work day, […]

“Beanblossom Creek Wildlife Camera Project” Educational Video

• December 11, 2022

Our new Wildlife Camera Project video is now available for students of all ages.  This one-hour video features our favorite 2022 moments from motion-triggered wildlife cameras we set up on our nature preserves in the Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area north of Bloomington.  Five chapters educate about 40 species of local wildlife captured on our cameras […]

Construction is Complete on a New Wetland in Monroe County

• November 30, 2022

Construction is now complete on a new wetland at our Fix-Stoelting Preserve in Monroe County, where we are restoring farmland to thriving wetland habitat. Wetlands are critical to support threatened and endangered wildlife and keep our water, soils, and air clean, yet more than 85% of Indiana’s wetlands have been lost. How is a new wetland created?  With the […]

A “Prescription” for Burns: Two Burns Planned This Fall

• November 18, 2022

Sycamore is preparing to use prescribed fire for habitat restoration at two preserves this fall: Sam Shine Foundation Preserve with Habitat Solutions and Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Prescribed fire is called that for a reason – like with medication to heal a wound, planning for a burn involves […]

Branching Out

• November 11, 2022

By Ellen Bergan, Land Stewardship Assistant I crane my neck to look up the tree trunk rising above me. Pale furrows in the bark run in ski track patterns down the tree’s otherwise darker exterior. “Nope, definitely red oak.” I say, shaking my head. “The bark’s not scaly enough at the base to be a […]

Over 25,000 Trees Planted!

• October 1, 2022

This spring and summer we planted over 25,500 trees in our Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area to help restore native bottomland forest habitat at Sam Shine Foundation Preserve, Fix-Stoeling Preserve, and Skylar’s World Forest. Our Summer Intern Ben Sebastian, who helped by hand-planting areas the tractor couldn’t reach, wanted to know more about the impact such […]

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

• August 8, 2022

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 […]

Conservation Connection Field Day 2022 Beanblossom Creek

• August 8, 2022

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.

Wildlife Photos from Skylar’s World Forest by Toby Cheeseman

• August 1, 2022

Twenty-three acres of native trees were planted this spring to create Skylar’s World Forest at our Dan Efroymson Preserve. Toby Cheeseman lives next door and his beautiful backyard photography has been documenting the bald eagles and other wildlife who rely on this protected habitat. Below are just a few of Toby’s photos of the animals […]

“BioBlitz” at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve Highlights Wetland Biodiversity

• June 11, 2022

Our BioBlitz at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve on June 4 in partnership with Indiana Academy of Science was a great success, helping to document wetland biodiversity and guide future habitat restoration efforts at the preserve. More than 70 researchers from multiple universities, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service […]

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

• June 10, 2022

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 […]

Beanblossom Creek Wildlife Camera Project

• April 17, 2022

By Kate Hammel, Communications & Membership Director If you’ve ever hiked with a young child, you know the struggle of keeping boundless energy pointed in one direction. I never mind hiking slowly but with kids it can get ridiculous if you don’t go in with a plan. Luckily I am a storyteller, and as rough […]

“The Balancer”: A Snapshot of Local Conservation in the 1960s

• April 12, 2022

Three issues of the local conservation newspaper The Balancer were shared with us by Barbara Restle, who donated the first parcel of land to Sycamore Land Trust that would become our Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve.  The Balancer was produced in the mid-1960’s when she was one of the five Soil and Water Conservation Supervisors for […]

87 Bird Species Identified at Sam Shine Foundation Preserve

• March 19, 2022

A summary by Matthias Benko Matthias, a student at Indiana University, did some walking bird surveys at Sycamore’s Sam Shine Foundation Preserve in our Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area. “He didn’t start until May, so 87 species is really good,” said Chis Fox, Sycamore’s Land Stewardship Director. “Considering we missed most of the spring migration which […]

Mussels on Sycamore’s Preserves

• March 18, 2022

By Cassie Hauswald, former Indiana Freshwater Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy in Indiana While monitoring a remote property in Green County, Sycamore Land Trust’s Land Stewardship Director Chris Fox found two species of mussel shells on a hike through Clifty Creek. Mussels have a fascinating and odd life cycle and are very important to the […]