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 trusts are not-for-profit organizations formed […]
45 Stories for 45 Years: What Is a Land Trust? Read More »
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 award competition. Shirley Heinze Board
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Summer 2026 has come and gone, but the positive impact made by each student intern is here to stay at Shirley Heinze Land Trust. With the support of generous donors, foundations, and university partners, Shirley Heinze hosted 14 college students from 7 universities in its 2026 summer cohort. Over a 10-week period, these students worked on a variety of projects, offering valuable support to Shirley Heinze staff. Alongside staff mentors and volunteers, students honed their skills in conservation planning, stewardship
Student Experiences in Conservation Branches into New Fields Read More »
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 started long before their time
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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. Shirley Heinze Land Trust is
45 Stories for 45 Years: The Lady of the Lake Read More »
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 a master’s degree in botany
This summer, Shirley Heinze Land Trust proudly welcomed its largest-ever cohort of summer interns–twelve college students representing a wide range of academic disciplines and interests. As part of our broader Student Experiences in Conservation program, these internships provided hands-on, real-world experience in fields like ecological restoration, environmental science, and community outreach. Thanks to the generous
Student Experiences in Conservation: 2025 Recap Read More »
This summer, Shirley Heinze Land Trust is excited to welcome our largest group of summer interns yet–12 passionate and curious college students who make up the 2025 Student Experiences in Conservation cohort. These internships are part of our broader Student Experiences in Conservation program, which creates hands-on learning opportunities for both high school and college
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