Guest Contributor

45 Stories for 45 Years: Growing Roots — A Full-Circle Moment at Meadowbrook

45 Stories, Student Experiences in Conservation /

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 of this year’s interns were […]

45 Stories for 45 Years: Growing Roots — A Full-Circle Moment at Meadowbrook Read More »

45 Stories for 45 Years: Take a Walk with Shirley

45 Stories /

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 used to underwrite the acquisition

45 Stories for 45 Years: Take a Walk with Shirley Read More »

45 Stories for 45 Years: 2018–A Year of Recognition

45 Stories /

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 the Governor’s Award, followed by

45 Stories for 45 Years: 2018–A Year of Recognition Read More »

45 Stories for 45 Years: An Interview with Kris Krouse

45 Stories /

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 the strongest voices for conservation

45 Stories for 45 Years: An Interview with Kris Krouse Read More »

Planted in Purpose: An Unexpected Chapter in Conservation

Student Experiences in Conservation /

This blog was written by one of our 2026 Student Experiences in Conservation interns, Aria, and originally published by Valparaiso University’s Institute for Leadership and Service. I’d forgotten just how much I love nature. As a little girl, I spent a lot of time outdoors–looking for creeping bugs, playing in the dirt, and collecting flowers.

Planted in Purpose: An Unexpected Chapter in Conservation Read More »

45 Stories for 45 Years: The Barker House and Barker Woods

45 Stories /

The Barker House and Barker Woods figure prominently in the history of Shirley Heinze Land Trust and, together, are a testament to the spirit of not-for-profit conservation efforts in northwestern Indiana. Each has its own interesting story, but, first, here are a few words about the home’s original owner, Marjory Clark Barker, and her daughter,

45 Stories for 45 Years: The Barker House and Barker Woods Read More »

45 Stories for 45 Years: Conservation Destinations

45 Stories /

Shirley Heinze Land Trust likes to refer to three of our properties as “Conservation Destinations” because of the major access improvements we have made to them to support engagement with local communities. The following article, which appeared in the Indiana Land Protection Alliance publication, State of the Lands 2026, features those properties and improvements. Shirley

45 Stories for 45 Years: Conservation Destinations Read More »