Introducing Barbara Simpson ■■ By
Steve Cecil When John Goss told me in August that he was considering accepting a position to assist with the control of the Asian carp in the Great Lakes basin, I was thrilled for him… and anxious for IWF. John had spent the last few years rebuilding membership, strengthening relationships, and putting IWF back on top as one of Indiana’s premier nonprofit organizations. I was asked by the board to serve as acting executive director and to lead the search for John’s replacement—not an easy task considering John’s credentials and accomplishments. It always is difficult to keep a ship on course when the rudder has fallen off, but, as expected, the staff welcomed board leadership on their projects, and my responsibility was reduced to signing documents and dropping in for visits. Thanks for all the support. To choose a new director, the executive
board served as the selection committee. We met regularly to define the process, create an advertising strategy, review resumes and conduct interviews. After interviewing six outstanding applicants, the committee was excited to choose IWF’s new executive director, Barbara Simpson. Barb has so much to offer our organization. Besides having both private sector and public sector experience, she is an outdoor enthusiast, fly fisherwoman, fundraiser and manager. I know she will bring a fresh new approach to the office, and we are thrilled she has joined the team. All of us need to take the time to get to know Barb and to stand ready to assist her as she writes a new chapter for IWF. Welcome, Barb.
Greetings from the new executive director ■■ By
Barbara Simpson I am beyond happy to be part of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, an amazing grassroots coalition of people who care about wildlife and conservation. The diversity of interests and the variety of approaches you all bring have helped build the strength it takes to last over seven decades as a respected and influential voice for wildlife. Our motto is deceptively simple. While our members understand the phrase “Common Sense Conservation,” it is complex and sometimes difficult to communicate. I have learned quickly we need to speak up as a group and as individuals to make our voices heard and message understood. Luckily, IWF excels at forming strong partnerships. We are over 50 affiliated conservation groups and 1,600 individuals from all across Indiana. And, we have developed solid connections with other organizations focused on the wise use and conservation of our natural resources. I want to visit as many of our conservation clubs and affiliates as I can to get to know our organization from the affiliate’s side, to better understand how we can grow
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IWF, and to broaden our influence as advocates and educators for wildlife and wildlife habitat. A few key IWF priorities for this year are creating conservation corridors for wildlife and addressing water resource issues. Whether it’s providing more public land for wildlife habitat, or cleaning up our waters so we don’t have to worry about letting our children and grandchildren wade in a stream, we must highlight these issues and take action to address them. We must also get young people outdoors and teach them about nature and simply how to be “An Outdoor Kid.” Future generations depend on our current work for conservation. Please stop by or give me a call. I look forward to meeting you and sharing ideas individually or at your club meetings. Working together as an IWF team, we can have a meaningful impact on Indiana’s great outdoors. Thanks to all of you for making IWF what it is. I’m proud to be a part.
President Steve Cecil First Vice-President Glenn Lange Second Vice-President Doug Allman Secretary Kay O’Callaghan Treasurer Adam McLane National Wildlife Federation Representative Dr. Dave Hoffman Immediate Past President Shaena Reinhart Executive Director Barbara Simpson Editor Stephen Sellers Graphic Design/Layout Julie Kirkendoll Printing The Papers, Incorporated Milford, Indiana Please address all advertising and editorial inquires to: Editor 4715 W. 106th Street Zionsville, IN 46077 Phone: 317-875-9453 Email: editor@indianawildlife.org The Indiana Wildlife Federation is considered a non-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service VOICE OF THE INDIANA WILDLIFE FEDERATION Hoosier Conservation (155N NO. 0199.6894) is published quarterly by Indiana Wildlife Federation, an independent statewide organization of affiliated conservation clubs and concerned citizens of Indiana. IWF is the Indiana affiliate of the National Wildlife Federations, and is incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana as a non-profit corporation. Hoosier Conservation is a membership periodical available only to the various classes of IWF members and is not sold by subscription. Periodical Office: The Papers, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542. Periodical postage paid at Milford, IN. Editorial Office: Manuscripts, news releases, and correspondence directed specifically to the Editor should be addressed to: H.C. Editor, 4715 W. 106th Street, Zionsville, IN. Manuscripts, photographs, or artwork should be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with return postage. However, Hoosier Conservation assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited materials. Material appearing in Hoosier Conservation may be reproduced with the appropriate credit lines unless designated a ©. Membership and Business Office: Correspondence about membership, delivery of Hoosier Conservation, or general business should be addressed to 4715 W. 106th Street, Zionsville, IN 46077. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Hoosier Conservation, 4715 W. 106th Street, Zionsville, IN 46077.
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Coming IWF attractions This winter, we have been busy planning and getting involved in lots of great events for this spring. Some are new. Some are IWF standards. All of them will be fun and educational. Mark your calendars now.
IWF Water Workshop series (March-May 2011, several locations)
How healthy is Indiana’s water? Do you know what environmental problems jeopardize your watershed? Or how excess nutrients affect wildlife and water quality? IWF is taking its Phosphorus Free lawn campaign on the road this spring, bringing series of forums on water quality issues to all parts of the state. Each forum will boast an impressive lineup of water experts who will give audience members useful information about how to improve local water quality. How you treat your watershed can affect ecosystems hundreds of miles away. Take this opportunity to learn about the issues influencing water quality that endanger native wildlife populations. Get the tools you need to help revive healthy streams through sustainable landscaping and conservation practices. RSVP at indianawildlife.org #1 NW Indiana: March 15, 6-9 p.m. (RSVP by March 8), Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission office, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, Ind. 46368 #2 SW Indiana: March 29, 6-9 p.m. (RSVP by March 22),Wesselman Woods Nature Center, 551 N. Boeke Road, Evansville, Ind., 47711 #3 SE Indiana: April 12, 6-9 p.m. (RSVP by April 5), Hanover College, Science Center/Goodrich Hall, Room 137, Hanover, Ind., 47243 #4 W Indiana: April 26, 6-9 p.m. (RSVP by April 19), Dobbs Park Nature Center, 5170 E. Poplar St., Terre Haute, Ind., 47803
IWF Volunteers help kids build bird houses at Earth Day Indiana 2010.
#5 Central Indiana: May 10, 5:308:30 p.m. (RSVP by May 3), Minnetrista Cultural Center, 1200 North Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie, Ind., 47303 #6 West Lafayette, May 24, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (RSVP by May 17),Tippecanoe Public Library, Klondike Branch, 3062 Lindberg Road, West Lafayette, Ind., 47906
What’s In Your Wild Backyard online contest (March 14-April 22)
Studies show kids are spending half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago. Today’s kids spend 6 1/2 hours a day plugged into electronic media. In a typical week, only six percent of children ages nine to 13 play outside by themselves. To inspire kids to get outdoors, we are bringing back our online kids contest. Students in grades one through five can win great outdoors prizes by going to our website and answering questions about wildlife and habitat. Kids who complete the contest will learn about habitat basics and how to provide for wildlife in their backyards. Visit www.indianawildlife.org/ wildbackyard.htm on or after March 14.
Earth Day Indiana Festival (April 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., White River State Park, Indianapolis)
Join us for the 22nd annual Earth Day Indiana Festival. IWF will have a booth at the event and make birdfeeders with kids. We need volunteers to help build feeders. Please contact our office to get involved. Find more details online: www.earthdayindiana.org.
Electric vehicles forum (May 23, IUPUI University Place Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis)
IWF and the National Wildlife Federation are partnering with the Lugar Center for Renewable Energy and others to sponsor a public forum on electric vehicles. Panels of experts will discuss public policy, technology, and business developments and opportunities. A preliminary program agenda and list of speakers will be available soon. more attractions page 11 ➲
On the cover: The rugged hills, deep gorges and Canada yew of Pine Hills are but three of the outstanding features of the 480-acre nature preserve in Shades State Park. Photo courtesy IDNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine
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IWF presses conservation legislation With a Republican majority in both houses and an extremely tight budget, wildlife and natural resources will need an especially vocal advocate at the statehouse this session. Though severe weather cancelled INCA’s annual Conservation Day, all INCA groups are pressing legislators to consider conservation in their voting decisions. The Indiana Conservation Alliance, led by IWF and other prominent conservation organizations, has outlined five priorities this year: 1) Funding for the Indiana Heritage Trust at $750,000/year in the biennial budget (HB 1001). The Indiana Heritage Trust is the state’s only dedicated land acquisition program for conservation. This visionary program sets aside important lands for state and local parks,
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fish and wildlife areas, nature preserves, state recreation areas and historic sites. 2) Reinstatement of the $500,000 cut in dedicated funding for Clean Water Indiana. The program was created to protect and enhance the water quality of Indiana’s lakes, rivers, and streams by reducing the amount of polluted storm water runoff from urban and rural areas entering surface and ground water. The program assists Indiana farmers and other property owners with technical expertise to complete projects to conserve soil and water. 3) Passage of legislation to create a sustainable natural resources task force (SB 375 and HB 1392). The task force will complete a programmatic and funding needs assessment of natural resources and will report to the natural resources study committee.
4) Passage of legislation to restrict the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers (HB 1425). The bill bans the application of fertilizers containing phosphorus on lawns unless a person determines a phosphorus deficiency through a soil test. HB 1425 also requires distributors and licensed applicators to prepare consumer education information. 5) Passage of legislation to authorize local governments to issue PACE bonds (SB 260 and HB 1457), which are an innovative mechanism for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Property owners who use a PACE program to finance these projects agree to an incremental charge on their property taxes over an extended term. PACE financing is an improvement on traditional lending because no upfront costs are incurred, and the property owners’ annual energy savings typically exceed the annual additional property tax assessment charge. In addition to INCA’s priorities, IWF is tracking the progress of numerous bills covering a variety of topics. We have focused most of our attention on legislation related to hunting and fishing, water quality, and natural resources management with a few energy-related policies. All of our work at the statehouse complements our common sense conservation approach as we evaluate which bills have the potentially greatest impact on Indiana’s wildlife and natural resources. Please use our website to stay updated on wildlife legislation. We regularly update www.indianawildlife.org/billwatch.htm and post action items when we need help making our opinions heard. We also send out weekly Bill Watch updates to members. If you do not receive our e-mails, please contact our office as soon as possible to update your contact information. Thank you for your support during this legislative session. Indiana’s wildlife and natural resources depend on IWF’s dedicated members.
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Photo courtesy Chuck Brinkman
Rule is proposed to protect ■■ By
Chuck Brinkman, IWF board member mallmouth bass are the main statewide, river sport fish. Anyone who has caught them knows smallies put up an exciting fight and are a hoot to catch and release. For a number of years, anglers could keep five bass over 12 inches. To provide more protection for the species a number of organizations and folks, led by Rick Cochrum and the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable, pushed a 14-inch limit for black bass in Indiana rivers. In December, the DNR proposed a slot limit to the Natural Resource Commission advisory council as an alternative to the 14-inch limit for black bass in rivers. This slot limit would allow anglers on 10 streams to take three black bass that are less than 12 inches, and two black
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bass greater than 15 inches. After some discussion with the advisory board, the DNR agreed to extend this slot limit statewide. In January, the NRC adopted the preliminary slot limit rule for black bass size limits on rivers and streams in Indiana. The proposed rule needs to be vetted by the state budget agency before it is published and adopted. The proposed rule reads: Amends 312 IAC 9-7-6 to replace the minimum size limit of 12 inches for black bass taken from rivers or streams with a statewide requirement that black bass taken from rivers and streams must be less than twelve inches long or greater than 15 inches long, with not more than two black bass being greater than 15 inches long. The new rule should help the smallie population by protecting large fish and strong spawners.
No matter what protections the Natural Resources Commission enacts, the key to preserving black bass populations in Indiana is maintaining habitat. Sediment, chemicals, nutrients, E coli, and pharmaceuticals threaten the health of moving water habitat. Legislation to eliminate phosphorous in lawn fertilizer (House Bill 1425) should reduce the amount of nutrients entering our waterways and is a start at improving our river and stream habitat. Visit www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm to provide your feedback on the proposed regulation. Scroll down in the small rules box to the next to the last regulation entitled “Smallmouth Bass (Black Bass”, then click “comment on this rule.” That will take you to a page where you can leave your comments.
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Protecting an important Hoosier heritage Senate Joint Resolution No. 9 has inspired a healthy reflection upon the hunting and fishing heritage in Indiana. The original draft of the amendment would add the following to Article 1, Section 38 of the Indiana Constitution: “The people have a right to hunt, fish, or harvest game which is a valued part of our heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject to laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the General Assembly.” The Indiana Wildlife Federation supports this resolution… proudly. We are closely watching amendments to the resolution to ensure they do not detract from the clear support of our hunting and fishing heritage. Regardless of the outcome of this particular resolution, however, it seems an appropriate time for reflection on these activities and why they are worthy of such constitutional protection. First – the value to the individual. Well before “organic” and “grass-fed” were buzzwords of the day, hunting and fishing have been a source of healthy nutrition for
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Hoosier families. The deer harvest alone in Indiana provides an estimated 6 million pounds of lean protein annually. Beyond the nutrition, hunting and fishing are leading outdoor recreational activities that keep Hoosiers active and connected to our natural world. Time in the outdoors, no matter the reason, is a treasured pastime. Second – the value to the resource. Game and non-game species of wildlife can benefit from our hunting and fishing heritage. Fees taken from hunting and fishing licenses not only generate direct
dollars to fish and wildlife management in Indiana, they also leverage matching funds from the federal government. Indiana receives an estimated $8 million annually as a federal match to our license fees. License sales only represent a portion of the equation. Sportsmen and women often spearhead habitat improvements, vote in support of protecting the resource and donate generously to expand statewide conservation efforts. Finally – the value to our state economy. The last national survey in 2006 of fishing, hunting & wildlife-associated recreation estimated 822,000 Hoosier hunters and anglers spent nearly $3 million per day for a total of $1 billion. In that same year, hunting and fishing were responsible for 19,000 jobs, and sportsmen and women paid $106 million in state and local taxes. In short, hunters and anglers are powerful and important contributors to Indiana’s economy. The state constitution is not a document to amend lightly, and though we will closely monitor changes to the resolution, few things deserve protection and appreciation more than this important Hoosier heritage.
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(Sylvilagus floridanus)
Species Profile: Eastern ■■ By Travis
Stoelting very December the silence of a frosty landscape is broken by the familiar chorus of beagles on track, confirming that winter has once again arrived in Indiana. The object of this annual pursuit is the eastern cottontail rabbit. As a time-honored traditional game species and a significant component of native communities, the eastern cottontail has a much deeper legacy in the eastern U.S. than most of us would realize. Cottontails are among the most widely distributed mammals in Indiana, primarily due to their generalist life history and ability to utilize limited amounts of various habitat types. Historically, it was very common to find this species inhabiting overgrown fencerows, windbreaks, and residual patches of brush found along woodland edges and old fields. Rabbit numbers in Indiana have declined over the last few decades, likely due to the loss of these types of early-successional areas. Ideal cottontail habitat in Indiana can be described as a maturing grassland community containing an abundance of broad-leaved plants and an interspersion
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of dense, woody escape cover. Habitat requirements for this species vary with the season and are not typically limited by food resources, but rather by cover. During the spring and summer, rabbits will raise their young and forage in patches of herbaceous vegetation usually less than eight to ten inches tall and situated no more than 70 yards away from heavy escape cover. In fall and winter, areas woven with dense brambles, shrubs, and evergreens provide protection from predators and harsh weather. Providing a mosaic of these habitat types is ultimately the best way to accommodate for this species. The cottontail’s life history and widespread distribution make it a very important game species and member of natural communities across many states. According to a recent small game harvest survey, an estimate of nearly 70,000 rabbit hunters harvested about 198,700 cottontails in Indiana during the 2008-2009 season. Rabbits have a high reproductive capacity, generating up to five litters per year, with each litter producing three to seven offspring. Naturally, this high level of productivity is met with an equally high level of annual mortality.
Approximately 85 percent of the year’s peak population will not make it through to the following year. Predatory species such as foxes, bobcats, and various raptors rely very heavily on cottontails as a food resource. Where predation does not reduce populations, other factors make up the difference. Mortality from weather, disease and parasites is common due to social interaction and high population density, which can sometimes reach up to eight individuals per acre. An individual’s home range typically averages between four and seven acres depending on season, gender, age and habitat characteristics. Many features make the eastern cottontail of ecological and historical importance to upland habitats of Indiana. As an abundant herbivore and a vital prey species, cottontails play an undoubtedly influential role in every natural community they inhabit. Furthermore, rabbit hunters of several generations go afield every year to introduce someone to hunting, watch some great dog work and bring back good memories. So this winter, when you see rabbit tracks in the snow, appreciate it as the sign of something pretty special.
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New members in 2010 IWF is proud to have one of the largest memberships of Indiana’s environmental and conservation groups. IWF is proud to welcome its new individual, business, and affiliate members from the past year.
Lifetime Members
Steven Bush Ellen K. Cook, DVM Steve Downey Drs. John and Wendy Kindig Konrady Plastics, Inc. Don Mulligan Philip and Janna Pirkle Road Tested Saabs Eric Simpson Mike Surak Warren and Becky Waymire
New Individual Members Gary Armstrong Tracy Beall Phyllis Boyd Monica Brase Pam Burt Linda Byer Braden Catt Joshua Chappelow Scott Clabaugh Bob & Pam Clark Kristin Compton Geoffrey Conrad Lynn Cooper Andrew Davies Bob Durkalski Patrick & Elizabeth Ewbank
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Ann Foster Stuart Franzen Pam Frazee Larry and Susan Goshorn Judy & Bill Grogg Jim Halik Barbara Harcourt Kelly Haza Nancy Hazlewood Eric Herbst Family Priscilla Herochik Jim Horton Steve Hudson Patricia Irwin Jesse James Angela Jones Marty Jones Kenneth and Rebecca Klabunde Gerry & Sue Lafollette John Lilovich Nyssa Lilovich David Llewellyn Sue Loudermilk Jim Makowsky Zeb McCandless Mary McCullough David McMahon Tilden & Cathy Mendelson Jeff Miller & Margot Van Dis Jilie Milliser Delma Mindel Brad Molaski Teri Moore Santos Carol Mund
John Mundell Katherine Murray Matthew Newell Scott Parmele Amy Perry Kristen Perry Bill Ringer Dave Robinson Paul Russell Mary Rynard Kyle Sefchek Laura Sexson James Sides Marilyn Smith Juanita Speicher Krysta Stacey Tom Stayton Patricia Strasburger Paula Sunderman Diana Urban Rex Vangundy Dick Whicker Peggy Wolfe Kirk Yoder Steve & Anne Young
New Business Members Crossroads of America Council Indiana Urban Forest Council Twin Bridges RDF
New Affiliate Members Cold Springs Environmental School Teachers Wabash Valley Audubon Society
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Thank you to our 2010 donors The Indiana Wildlife Federation would not succeed without broad grassroots support, especially from those who contribute funds to the cause. IWF would like to thank its outstanding donors from 2010. Your generous contributions have helped sustain Common Sense Conservation.
Eagle Patrons ($500+) Jason Dinsmore Will Ditzler Jim Engledow Heather Hills Elementary School Kyle Hupfer Elizabeth Mueller Michael Surak Stephen Van Zant
Blue Heron ($251-500)
Steven Bush Ellen K. Cook, DVM Steve Downey Stephen Haines David Isaacs Drs. John and Wendy Kindig Konrady Plastics, Inc. Glenn Lange
Max Mason Don Mulligan Philip and Janna Pirkle Tom Roller Jim & Becky Scheibelhut Pat Sheehan Eric Simpson Lee & Ann Thompson Warren & Becky Waymire
Supporting Members ($100-250) Chris & Christa Adkins C. Philip Andorfer Dan & Nila Armstrong Jeffrey Arnold Terry and Allison Bailey Glenn & Nora Baker Bob & Charlene Bell Calvin Bellamy Charles Bowman Lee Botts Chuck Brinkman Geoffrey Conrad Crossorads of America Council Michael Dault Ron Dixon James Dora David Dornberg Gary & Cindy Doxtater Linda & Jack Fahrenbach
Dean Farr Phil Eicher Empower Results LLC Daniel Engel First State Bank of Porter Co. Dick & Betty Garrison Max & Jacqueline Gibson Foundation William & Martha Ginn Judy Hagan Hand Family Foundation Jane Hardisty Stephen Hedderick Stan Hess Fred & Carolyn Hibbeln, MD David Hoffman, Ph.D Dr. Kathryn Hutchens Indiana Urban Forest Council Bill & Lisa James Nicole Kamins Lori Kaplan Thomas Kelly Ralph Lewis Jim Lothary Larry Macklin Charles Marshall Boris Meditch Harvey Miller Nunn Milling Co. Edwin Mueller Gregory Napier
Judy Nelsen Anne Painter Perfecto Tool & Engineering Glenn & Susan Pratt Paul Reising Jennifer Roberts David & Jane Savage Steve & Lori Schwartz Spence Restoration Nursery John Shekell Carole Smith Dan Smith Bill Spatta William Staruszkeiwic Tarpenning-Lafollette Co. Beverly Walls Madelon Wells Charitable Leed Trust Marjorie Zeigler IWF sends its sincere condolences to the families of conservationists we lost in 2010, and we thank you for your donations on their behalf: Greg Andres Jack Apple Guy Bolin William Large Eric Bradley Pierce
Mention this ad when you join online and receive a free gift! Visit www.indianawildlife.org today.
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Spotlight on giving Adam McLane, IWF treasurer This past holiday season, we highlighted the idea of “planned giving” and the impact that such life estate gifts have had on our organization. We also asked members to consider such gifts in their financial planning. Bequests, wills and estate planning are topics that have not been traditionally covered in Hoosier Conservation, and the topic always was a bit awkward for us. We were thrilled, then, to receive such positive feedback from members about our previous communication and about our focused efforts on building an endowment for the future health of the organization. Thank you for your encouragement and support of the “Legacy Fund.” Building on that discussion, it seems appropriate to use this column to recognize one gift that IWF received recently. IWF was notified last fall of an estate gift from Joseph R. Postrack of Fortville, Ind. Mr. Postrack was born in Fort Wayne in 1923 and was a U.S. Army WWII veteran. Mr. Postrack left a legacy of generosity for causes that meant a great deal to his wife and him. The Indiana Wildlife Federation was one of those groups. A member of the Barbee Lake Property Owners Association, Joe had an affinity for nature, wildlife, wetlands and clean water. Though Mr. Postrack made no restrictions on the use of his generous gift to our organization, we will take care to honor his affinities in the use of those funds. Thank you, Mr. Postrack, and thanks to all of you who make gifts of any kind to IWF. The success of our mission depends on them. Adam McLane is the IWF board treasurer. His enthusiasm for the protection of wildlife and wild places stems from a lifelong love of the outdoors and the recreation and enjoyment it has provided him and his family.
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Affiliate Corner
Magnet school gets students in touch with nature ■■ By
hiking on school trails, fishing in the Kristin Compton creek, and sledding down the hills. old Spring Environmental Magnet In art, students create sculptures that provides a unique opportunity for reflect nature; they use recycled materistudents interested in environmental als in some of their projects; and they education to learn about the human are also exposed to landscape painting impacts on nature and how to preserve of campus areas. In music, students sing what we depend on most: our Earth. about environmental concepts and have Environmental studies spiral throughperformances that reflect environmental out all curricular areas. Students read, issues. write, and solve real world problems Community partners, such as INwhile learning about the environment. PAWS, Master Gardeners, Marian Throughout the year, students spend University, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, time outdoors investigating the woods, Audubon Society, and creek, wetlands, greenmost importantly the house, and various themed gardens on the Students read, write, and Indiana Wildlife Federation, provide our staff 39 acres that make up solve real world problems and students with inCold Spring Enviwhile learning about formation about current ronmental Campus. the environment. environmental concerns Students coming into and concepts. They also the program will get help teachers integrate involved in environthe current information into lessons. mental issues and various service learnOur partners enjoy volunteering at ing projects. our three Partners in the Environment Every day, students are exposed to enDays that occur throughout the year. vironmental issues, such as conservation, These are days where volunteers and stusustainability and the appreciation of dents have a chance to share the excitenature on the Cold Spring campus. Stument and joy of being outdoors. dents have lots of hands-on experiences The staff of Cold Spring is excited composting, planting, and maintaining to be the first public elementary school the campus’s gardens, nature areas and to be affiliated with Indiana Wildlife grounds. Through observation and reFederation. We are proud to say that 100 search, students learn about the biodiverpercent of our staff members have besity, flora and fauna of the campus. come IWF members. In addition, several Students also receive lessons on enviteachers have become official Habitat ronmental economics as they learn about Stewards by attending classes offered the supply and demand of resources and through IWF. have a chance to grow, nurture, and sell We are very proud of this affiliation plants to family and the community. and look forward to growing this partCold Spring teachers help students exnership for years to come. plore ways to enjoy the outdoors through physical education, art and music. In Kristin Compton teaches second grade at P.E., students get fit through outdoor Cold Spring Environmental Magnet experiences such as mountain biking and
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Habitat Steward Program a Success ■■ By Travis
Stoelting After seven weeks of training, IWF’s most recent delivery of the Habitat Stewards™ program concluded in December. The preparation and coordinated effort paid off in the end, with the rejuvenation of this great educational program. Program participants attended a series of weekly seminars covering several subjects related to Indiana’s natural resources, their management and conservation. In addition to the informative classroom sessions, our stewards are given the chance to spend some time in the field. This provides an opportunity to see and apply concepts they have learned through the program. One demonstration field day already has taken place, with others sure to follow. Application of knowledge and volunteer work are central themes for this program. To become certified as Habitat Stewards by the National Wildlife Federation, participants of the program must complete 30 hours of volunteer work in their community. This requirement provides additional resources for organizations and agencies working on habitat improvement projects and also facilitates the development of a network of experienced volunteers. IWF was very fortunate to receive
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Conservation Awards Banquet and IWF Annual Meeting (June 3-4, Pokagon State Park, Angola)
Make plans now to join us at Pokagon on Friday June 3 from 7-10 p.m. for our annual banquet honoring our 2011 Conservation Awards recipients. The evening will start with a meet and greet and silent auction at 7 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.
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Three of our Habitat Stewards pause for a picture in a regenerating timber harvest area at Morgan-Monroe State Forest on the Field Day portion of the program. (From left: Matthew Newell, Amy Perry, Colleen Butler)
a tremendous amount of support from speakers with different areas of expertise. Many thanks go out to our contributors including Purdue University, Ball State University, the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society, Hamilton County SWCD, Marion County SWCD, Hoosier Aquatic Management, Myrene’s
Garden Service, Cold Spring School, and the IWF board and staff. IWF looks forward to providing more Habitat Stewards training. If you know of a community, school, or business that would be interested in the program contact us at (317) 875-9453 or at info@ indianawildlife.org.
The evening will wind up with a rousing live auction. Don’t miss your chance to bid on a variety of items donated by IWF supporters from around the state. Stay overnight at the inn, and attend the annual business meeting Saturday from 9-noon. This is your chance to affect the direction IWF will take in the future. Any proposed resolutions must be submitted by April 4. IWF has a block of rooms reserved at Potawatomi Inn under group code 0603IW. Call the inn at 877 563-4371 or reserve your room online at www.
indianainns.com before May 20 in order to take advantage of our group rates. Know a deserving award recipient? Contact the office for nomination information.
Inaugural IWF Summer Concert for Conservation (July 9, West Park, Carmel)
Join us on July 9 for the inaugural Summer Concert for Conservation featuring Indy favorite Jennie DeVoe. Learn more on the back cover and mark your calendars now for evening of fun and friends.
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4715 W. 106th Street Zionsville, IN 46077