Since 1981, Shirley Heinze Land Trust has been dedicated to the preservation and restoration of significant natural areas throughout northwestern Indiana. Today, more than 2,600 acres across Lake, Porter, LaPorte, and St. Joseph counties are permanently protected, and most of our nature preserves are open to the public to explore and enjoy.We invite you to explore our upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and ways to donate, and see how you can help us protect northwestern Indiana’s natural areas, bringing people and nature a little closer in the process.
Celebrating
40 Years of
Connecting
Communities
to Nature!
40 Years of
Connecting
Communities
to Nature!
Shirley Heinze Land Trust 40th Anniversary
Spring Benefit Celebration May 24 - 29, 2021
Celebrating
40 Years of
Connecting
Communities
to Nature!
40 Years of
Connecting
Communities
to Nature!
Shirley Heinze Land Trust 40th Anniversary
Spring Benefit Celebration May 24 - 29, 2021
April 18, 2021
We Are Water Protectors: StoryWalk at Ivanhoe South
Read a story along the trail at Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve from April 18 – May 9. This free outdoor pop-up exhibit is open to visit anytime dawn to dusk....
April 19, 2021
Earth Week - Cleanup at a nearby Nature Preserve
Spending even 15 minutes to pick up trash during your visit makes a big impact!...
April 19, 2021
Earth Week - Garlic Mustard Removal
Spending even 15 minutes to pull garlic during your visit makes a big impact! This project requires basic plant identification skills to correctly identify invasive garlic mustard. You should also have...
April 19, 2021
Red's Nature Adventure: StoryWalk at Meadowbrook
Visit Meadowbrook Nature Preserve from April 19 – May 10 to read Red's Nature Adventure as you explore the trails. This free outdoor pop-up exhibit is open to visit anytime dawn to dusk....
April 20, 2021
Climate Watch: Monitoring Changes in Bird Populations
National Audubon’s Climate Watch Surveys allows birders to contribute their sightings to studies of how birds are responding to climate change....
By: Jim Haniford A few scattered reports have come in from around the preserve about a small, furry creature, glimpsed for just a matter of seconds in each instance. One staff member saw it run out from the tall grass as she approached on a riding mower. Another encountered it running up a trail in...
Monitoring the American Mink: Part 1
October 22, 2020 Shirley Heinze Land Trust announces the completion of a new multipurpose pavilion at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, located at 25898 US 20, in South Bend, Indiana. The 56’ x 26’ open-air structure features a steel roof and a concrete floor. It will be used for various programming activities...
New Pavilion at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve
By: Mary Nell Murphy While driving on Hwy 12 near the Indiana Dunes parks last fall, I stopped at a wayside for a stretch break and looked across the road to a sea of watermelon pink under the forest canopy. Delightful? No! As I suspected, and as I confirmed “upon further review of the field” …...
Invasive Species Awareness Week: Burning Bush
The tenth season of our Bringing Nature Home Program was not to be deterred by a pandemic. The ability to spend time outdoors, tending to gardens and landscapes has become a great source of respite for many, and the applications came in. Plantings ranged from small city gardens to multi-acre rural landscapes....
Bringing Nature Home Garden Recognitions
Winter Hiking? Sure! By Evie Kirkwood Many avid warm weather hikers shun the chill of winter, but it’s a great time to be on the trails. If you’ve stayed away from winter hiking, wary of slippery or cold conditions, the right gear can improve the experience....
Winter Hiking? Sure!
3,500 Hours Volunteered in 2020
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Whether you’d like to spend a few hours in nature by helping to maintain our trails and preserves, or assist with workshops and workdays that bring people closer to nature, or contribute behind the scenes to help Shirley Heinze Land Trust run smoothly, we need your help.