45 Stories for 45 Years
Forty-five years of protecting land leaves a lot of stories in the soil. This year, we're digging them up. Through our 45 Stories for 45 Years series, we will be sharing the history of our organization, the people who make our work possible, and of course, the land itself. Understanding where we've been shapes our path forward, and there is still so much to protect.
All of the stories will live here, growing throughout the year. We hope you'll read along.
45 Stories for 45 Years: What Is a Land Trust? (9/9/2026) Many of you reading this blog have volunteered at Shirley Heinze Land Trust preserves, have walked our trails, or have attended our events, without knowing much about what we are and what we do. This post is for you! As our name suggests, Shirley Heinze is a land trust. Land… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: Festival of Banners (9/3/2026) Shirley Heinze Land Trust is proud to have participated in the 2026 Festival of Banners, hosted by the South Bend Museum of Art. This year’s theme, “Our Ecosytem,” featured 89 artist-designed banners that lined the streets of downtown South Bend from mid-July through mid-September. Shirley Heinze helped to judge the… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: A Lifetime Spent Walking the Conservation Trail (8/28/2026) Valued partners of Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Kevin & Claudia Wood serve as part of the Volunteer Water Quality Program and as Preserve Stewards of Ambler Flatwoods. These two LaPorte County residents have contributed vital support to conservation efforts in northwestern Indiana. However, their lifelong dedication to the natural world… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: Growing Roots — A Full-Circle Moment at Meadowbrook (8/28/2026) Each year, Shirley Heinze Land Trust hosts a summer Student Experiences in Conservation program for college students interested in pursuing careers in conservation. The program has increased steadily in size and scope over time, this year to a record of fifteen interns. As part of their summer experience, a few… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: The Lady of the Lake (8/20/2026) Our dear friend, the late Leila "Lee" Botts, was one of the leading environmentalists of the Indiana Dunes and Great Lakes region. Lee passed away in 2019 at the age of 91. Over a remarkable 60-year career, she worked tirelessly and relentlessly for the cause of conservation and environmental education.… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: Take a Walk with Shirley (8/12/2026) Eleven years ago, Shirley Heinze Land Trust launched the public phase of its first-ever Capital Campaign, with the theme "Take a Walk with Shirley." The goal of the Campaign was to raise $3.5 million to advance our mission of protecting important habitats and ecosystems across Northwest Indiana, with funds being… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: Boot Jack Farm (8/10/2026) The Shirley Heinze Land Trust property that is now known as Meadowbrook Nature Preserve has had a storied past. Many remember it as the old Camp Meadowbrook, a Girl Scout campsite until the property was acquired by Shirley Heinze Land Trust in 2012. But before that, it was a family… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: 2018–A Year of Recognition (8/6/2026) 2018 was a remarkable year in the history of Shirley Heinze Land Trust, a year in which we were honored to receive both the Indiana Governor's Award of Environmental Excellence and the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) National Excellence Award. Reprinted below is an article published in the Chesterton Tribune about… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: The Story of Dale B. Engquist, As Told By Shirley Heinze Land Trust Executive Director Kris Krouse (8/4/2026) Dale Engquist is one of those rare individuals who comes along only once in a great while. He was a dear friend, a role model, and a guiding light for both Shirley Heinze Land Trust and the broader cause of conservation in northwestern Indiana. This is his story. After earning… Continue Reading
45 Stories for 45 Years: An Interview with Kris Krouse (7/29/2026) Well-known local artist and podcaster Suzy Vance first met Executive Director Kris Krouse in his early days at Shirley Heinze Land Trust. Seventeen years later, in her series Creating from the Heart: The Artistry of Living, Suzy interviewed Kris about his journey and path from college to leading one of… Continue Reading