No one has been more committed to Shirley Heinze Land Trust than our dear friend and Life Board Member, Myrna Newgent. The following article about her appeared in the Spring 2026 Annual Report Edition of the Porter County Community Foundation newsletter. It is a fitting tribute to a wonderful and talented woman who has been […]
45 Stories for 45 Years: Myrna Newgent Read More »
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 »
By Billie Kerner; Jibek Mbwakawen, Inc. After the arrival of the sandhill cranes signaling spring in my Potawatomi culture, we wait for the third thunder to communicate that it is time to plant our corn. For many Indigenous peoples, including the Potawatomi, the Three Sisters garden is more than a method of agriculture. It
This article was originally written by Thaddeus Lipinski and published on February 17, 2025, by the South Bend Tribune. It’s 8:45 p.m. on a warm spring night at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, seven miles west of South Bend. As darkness creeps over the pond, a concealed orchestra comes to life, and the bog begins to
Indiana’s Disappearing Frogs Read More »
We are excited to announce a new initiative funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund! The project, slated to begin in the spring of 2025 and continue through the spring of 2028, will focus on enhancing climate resilience in the Calumet Region, which spans the Indiana-Illinois border. We will
$1M Grant Awarded! Read More »
The Student Experiences in Conservation summer internship program at Shirley Heinze Land Trust is over, and it was fantastic. It’s truly amazing what these students were able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time. While it would be far too exhausting to draft a comprehensive narrative capturing the full breadth of their experiences
Student Experiences in Conservation: Summer Internship Program Summary Read More »
We are excited to shares news of a 73-acre addition to Meadowbrook Nature Preserve and Conservation Center, located north of Valparaiso. The property contains SHLT’s organizational headquarters and serves as a regional conservation destination with over 300 protected acres, more than four miles of trails for passive recreation, and exceptional facilities that support educational programming.
Meadowbrook Nature Preserve Expanding by 73 Acres! Read More »
This summer Shirley Heinze Land Trust is hosting 11 interns–our largest summer internship cohort to date! Broadly speaking, summer internships are part of our Student Experiences in Conservation program, which encompasses a variety of student-centered engagements with young people in both high school and college. During the summer, these internships are awarded to college students
Student Experiences in Conservation: Welcome Summer Interns! Read More »
Over the last 2 years Porter County Farm Bureau’s partnership with Shirley Heinze Land Trust has flowered in ways we could have only imagined. Our most recent example is Shirley Heinze’s support for our “Take Care, We’re Farming Around Here” public safety initiative. 21 years ago, while serving as Trustee of Porter Township I championed
Nature in the Arts celebrated its third year with events at Meadowbrook, St. Francis, Ivanhoe South, and Lydick Bog Nature Preserves. Each event offered family-friendly activities and hiking opportunities that focused on the unique features of each site. Nature in the Arts at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve was a highlight this year, continuing our partnerships
The Value of Connecting to Nature through Art Read More »
