Little Traverse Conservancy Summer 2024 Newsletter

Team LTC

Our members and volunteers

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Cedric A. “Rick” Richner, III, Chair

Phil Porter, Vice Chair

Jon Lyons, Treasurer

Karie Slavik, Secretary

Josh Baker

Lisa Blanchard

Richard M. Bolton

George M. Covington

Mary Faculak

Jeffrey S. Ford

Gregg K. Garver

John Griffin

Eric Hemenway

Dave Kring

Darrell Lawson

Tom Litzner

Glen Matthews

Harriet McGraw

John Merrill

Emerson Meyer

Maureen Nicholson

Consie Pierrepont

Bill Roney

Tom Rowland

Susan I. Stewart

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Mary Faculak, Land Protection

Gregg K. Garver, Stewardship

John Merrill, Education

Phil Porter, Nominating

Jon Lyons, Investment

STEWARDSHIP

Derek Shiels, Director

Keegan Butler

Charles Dawley

Nate Dionne

Cacia Lesh

Amy Lipson

Mike Lynch

Quinn Sommer

Brendan Sommer

Brad Von Blon

LAND PROTECTION

Caitlin Donnelly, Director

Joe Graham, Chief Financial Officer

Melissa Hansen, Director of Easements

Dirk Ruff

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Sarah Mayhew, Director

Sarah Koetje

Taylor Sobczak

COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH

Anne Fleming, Director

DEVELOPMENT

Emily Hughes, Chief Development Officer

Lindsay Hall

Kyle Volp

ADMINISTRATION

Kieran Fleming, Executive Director

Thomas Lagerstom

Sarah Gurney

AND A TRIBUTE TO OUR FOUNDERS

John Fischer

Dave Irish

Ed Koza

Earl Larson

Chaos Season

by Kieran Fleming, Executive Director

As I write this, Quinn Sommer is outside my door getting acclimated to LTC. Quinn is one of our summer seasonal employees so he, along with Brendan Sommer (no relation, what are the odds?), will be part of our team for several months and they just arrived. I love it when the seasonal employees show up and they have been some of my favorite characters over the years. Their arrival signifies the beginning of what I have come to refer to as “Chaos Season.”

Don’t get me wrong; this is a good thing. It means we are meeting with more of you, and as our team swells to take advantage of the field season, a lot happens starting now. Hence, Chaos Season is officially underway.

We spent much of last year contemplating exactly what we want to accomplish and what it’s going to take to get there as we prepared our new five-year strategic plan. We will be unveiling more of that soon, but some important moves are already underway. Our new plan starts with recognizing the need to “magnify the core.” In basic terms, this means that we want to accelerate the primary mission of land conservation and stewardship. To do that, we need to “right-size our resources” and build the capacity needed to do our work: our people, the infrastructure to empower them, and our financial resources.

Magnify the core and right-size the resources. Catchy phrases that have deep meaning inside the walls at the LTC office. We started by filling some staffing needs. In January, we hired Nate Dionne to a new position of Recreation Field Supervisor thanks to a gift from Anne Melvin that funds the first three years of this key role. Nate’s position reflects LTC’s firm commitment to ensuring that our most popular preserves and reserves are properly cared for. Our team and hundreds of volunteers have always been amazing, and I am proud of the more than 115 miles of trails, parking areas, and signs that make your experience on these lands more enjoyable. But in case you haven’t noticed, we are upping our game and offering more amazing opportunities: mountain bike trails, a labyrinth, nature megaphones, universal accessibility, low barrier opportunities; the list goes on. We need to stay ahead of this and Nate is the man for that job, already fitting seamlessly into our staff. We also brought on Dirk Ruff in January to help Melissa stay on top of our ever-growing conservation easement portfolio. We protect more land through conservation easements than any other way, and Dirk is greatly helping us lift that load.

But that’s not all we are accelerating in the Stewardship department. Brad Von Blon is now one year into the Ecological Conditions and Response (ECAR) program that emphasizes getting a better understanding of our lands and the ecosystems on them so we can make sound management decisions in the future.

Another recent hire was for our Development team. Kyle Volp was hired in May as our new Donor Relations Specialist. Like me, Kyle is a Wisconsin native and (as if it were a choice) a Packers fan. Things are looking up around here for me personally anyway.

Seberon “Boo” Litzenburger

Frank Pierce

John Tanton

The mission of the Little Traverse Conservancy is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of northern Michigan by preserving significant land and scenic areas, and fostering appreciation and understanding of the environment.

So yeah, there is a lot going on and you will start to see even more of LTC in the coming years. It is important that you know that what looks like chaos is really a wellcoordinated orchestration intricately designed to have efficient forward motion. Ok, writing that made me laugh. Perhaps a more accurate statement is that it may be a little chaotic, but we do have a plan, and we are very good at staying focused. Since our founding this has been our hallmark: being mission driven and efficient.

Enjoy all the exciting things you are about to read in these pages and enjoy the exhilaration that comes with Chaos Season!

RIVER’S DELIGHT

T

he first nature preserve on Harwood Lake

“I can’t think of anything I can give the future better than land.” - Margaret Brindel

This story has so many ways to begin, from the history of 56 acres and how it was cared for as a homestead to the lack of public access to Harwood Lake. Today, we will begin with a golden retriever named River. Gerry and Margaret Brindel adopted this sweet, energetic, intelligent dog as a pup. She was the flower girl and ring bearer at their wedding on an island in Lake Superior. She was their everything and did almost everything with them.

Gerry and Margaret were avid outdoors people by the time River came into their lives. Although she enjoyed all their activities from biking to camping, her favorite was sea kayaking. River enjoyed it so much that Gerry and Margaret even had a special tandem kayak built with a cockpit in the center for her. So, when they say she was always with them, she was ALWAYS with them. For almost 14 years, she made them into a pack, a family. With her, their life was filled with joy and endless love.

When River passed, Margaret knew that she wanted to find a way to honor her and all living things, which she fondly calls “critter kids.” Gerry and Margaret always had a deep connection, love, respect, and appreciation for the natural world. Experiencing life through the eyes of another fellow living thing made them much more sensitive. Knowing that she wanted to protect land forever, she and Gerry visited LTC to talk about leaving a planned gift. The conversation naturally moved to protecting land now as well. They decided that 56 acres on Harwood Lake was perfect in every way – especially because it created the first public access to the lake. After one visit, it became clear that this land, so long cared for and loved by others, would become River’s Delight Nature Preserve, free for all to enjoy.

Margaret, a firm believer in LTC’s work, acknowledges that there are aspects she may not personally favor such as hunting, fishing, and timber management. However, she trusts that LTC, with its expertise and commitment, is best suited to make decisions about the land’s use and recreational enjoyment. This trust is a testament to the organization’s dedication to protecting the North Country we all love.

Located on Beck Road, east of US-31 and eight miles south of Charlevoix, River’s Delight Nature Preserve is a hidden gem. Existing trails will be improved this summer, leading you from the road to the lake. The property also features a farmstead from the 1950s, now a mixed forest, and is surrounded by wetlands along Inwood Creek, providing a diverse habitat for wildlife and waterfowl.

Can you see the frog? River does! Open your mind, heart, and senses to what’s around you and experience the magic nature has to offer!

EXTRA PROTECTION FOR MAY WOODS

A beautiful 100-acre woods that was gifted to the Mackinaw Area Historical Society now has an added layer of protection, thanks to a conservation easement donated to Little Traverse Conservancy this past spring.

Donated by Virginia May in 2014, the May Woods Nature Preserve is adjacent to Mackinaw City’s Heritage Village with its 1880-1917 historic buildings. The completion of the easement fulfills a vision held by Heritage Village’s current president Sandy Planisek and former president Larry Flynn, who passed away unexpectedly in 2023. “Larry and I understood how special this preserve was and wanted to make sure nothing could happen to it in the future,” Sandy said, adding that Heritage Village and May Woods are managed entirely by volunteers.

Located just east of The Headlands – a county-owned property that is home to the International Dark Sky Park – May Woods is also close to the Conservancy’s Hathaway Regina Caeli Nature Preserve, connected by a segment of Mackinaw’s Crosstown Trail. May Woods includes 3½ miles of its own nature trails which connect to the North Country Trail and to several miles of trails at The Headlands. “Mackinaw’s nearly-completed Crosstown Trail passes through May Woods and connects the May Woods trails to the North Central State Trail and the North Western State Trail,” Sandy added.

The diminutive May Woods Nature Center is a refurbished Mackinac Island ticket booth Sandy recovered several years ago. She created a Bingo card designed to encourage families to explore the preserve. “This side of Mackinaw is where people can relax more deeply into nature with all of these outdoor resources now available,” Sandy added.

The Conservancy has been working in partnership with the Village of Mackinaw City, Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, and Sandy (who wears numerous hats for the Village) to continue improving outdoor education and recreation opportunities for the spectacular tip of the Lower Peninsula.

Sandy Planisek points to the number corresponding with an interactive Bingo card she designed that can be used while exploring May Woods.

EXPANDING THEIR MISSION & protecting land forever

In late 2023, the Greenwood Foundation expanded its reach and furthered its mission of “Preserving Land, Protecting Wildlife” by purchasing a 238-acre property located a few miles away from Greenwood’s primary Cheboygan County property. The new land, known as Elk Ridge: A Wildlife Haven, is located close to the Wolverine I-75 exit, making it easily accessible to the public and to local schools. Now, Elk Ridge is protected with a conservation easement donated to LTC by Greenwood Foundation.

Just three miles east of the new property, Greenwood Foundation’s original land spans over 1,700 acres with three lakes, the Little Pigeon River running through, and trees so tall you feel you have entered a different world. In 2008 and 2014, Greenwood’s founder George Jury and Trustees placed conservation easements on much of these lands. By doing the same for Elk Ridge, an incredible legacy of almost 2,000 acres protected through conservation easements has been accomplished.

On a warm April afternoon, Ty Ratliff – Vice President/Director of Major Programs of Greenwood Foundation – met LTC staff at Elk Ridge. Stepping onto the trail, bull elk tracks were seen immediately underfoot. Passing the pond (pictured above), turtles sunbathed on a floating log on a warm April afternoon while mergansers drifted by. “Earlier today I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes that I believe are nesting here,” Ty said. In a matter of minutes, an abundance of species had been identified as tenants of this land. And

when you travel the property, you understand why as you encounter frequent elevation changes, a flowing stream, a pond, and a wide mix of habitats.

The terms of the Elk Ridge Conservation Easement allow the foundation to provide trails for light public use and enhance existing wildlife environments. Future plans include an environmental assessment to help Greenwood prioritize areas for habitat restoration. Greenwood also hopes to engage area schools in environmental programming at Elk Ridge. “We hope to give the students a better understanding of why this property is so special and why habitat preservation is so important,” Ratliff added.

“Acquiring this unique land, and then protecting it with a conservation easement, was the perfect scenario to further and enhance the Greenwood Foundation’s mission.”

- Ty Ratliff, Greenwood Foundation

“The conservation easement provides an extra level of protection. It legally defines that the property cannot be subdivided, plus it contains additional important restrictions that help preserve the land and protect the wildlife habitat,” added Jack Findlay, President of Greenwood Foundation. “This helps govern the property for future generations to ensure that the objectives of preserving the land and protecting the wildlife habitat are maintained.”

George and Jo-Ann Jury’s legacy of land and wildlife conservation not only continues, it continues to grow, and the Conservancy is pleased to partner with Greenwood Foundation in this work.

SILVER CREEK Conservation Easement

During his more than 40 years in real estate, Dave Watson has seen some wonderful land around the Little Traverse Bay region, and in 1983 one property really caught his eye. Located only seven miles from Petoskey in Springvale Township, Dave and his wife Suezanne hold deep gratitude for the beautiful land that has been their permanent home for 40 years. Because of their love for it, the Watsons recently donated a conservation easement that will give 120 acres permanent protection.

A lifelong outdoorsman who grew up in Grand Ledge, Dave spends much of his free time hunting and fishing. Sue grew up in Alma, yet her great-grandparents had roots in northern Michigan, so she had visited the region as a child. In the 1970s, the couple felt it was time to do something completely new, so they moved north and have never looked back. Sue was a muchloved elementary teacher in Petoskey for decades and still volunteers in the classroom, teaching through the art of living history. She used to bring her classes to their land showing students how to make maple syrup, a hobby that she and Dave learned from their neighbor, and still enjoy today.

The headwaters of Silver Creek are found in one corner of the Watson land. Silver Creek drains into Minnehaha Creek which empties into Crooked Lake and the Inland Waterway. Approximately 14 acres are maintained as open fields, but most of the land is forested, predominantly by sugar maple and American beech.

The rolling topography offers spectacular views in the spring and fall, and one corner touches the Tanton Family Working Forest Reserve.

Dave and Sue would like to express many thanks to the staff at Little Traverse Conservancy for guiding them through the process of protecting the land they so deeply care about and are preserving for future generations.

“The Watson property is truly a gem,” said LTC Director of Land Protection, Caitlin Donnelly. “I would say it has it all: rolling upland hardwoods, beautiful open fields, and the headwaters of Silver Creek through intact wetlands. We are so grateful for their love and care for this special land.”

UPDATE: WILD SHORES INITIATIVE

You read in our last issue that we are working to protect Great Lakes shoreline, and we currently have four key properties targeted. Thanks to a matching gift from LTC members, we recently protected our first property in the Initiative: Botsford Island!

Botsford Island is on Whitney Bay, tucked into the southwest corner of Drummond Island. This yet-to-be-named preserve consists of 11 acres of woods with 2,331 feet on Lake Huron, a meaningful buffer to LTC’s recently acquired 93-acre Whitney Bay Nature Preserve.

If naming a preserve is of interest to you, please contact Emily Hughes at emily@landtrust.org.

Suezanne and Dave Watson

Gunderson Heeschen Wetlands Nature Preserve

It’s 1974 and Reigh Gunderson is enjoying the best of northern Michigan with his family. The sun gently sets as he sails his Sunfish off the Charlevoix city beach. Like so many of us, northern Michigan held a special place in the hearts of Reigh and June Gunderson. They shared that love with their daughter, Judy, coming north every summer. Judy and family (husband, Bill Heeschen, and daughter, Maggie) carry on the tradition and head right to the LaCroft condo that she grew up visiting.

Judy and Bill were high school sweethearts. Bill recalls sharing his slide rule with Judy when she forgot hers in chemistry class. They later got their Doctorates in Chemistry from the University of Utah and even worked side by side at Dow Chemical in technology development. Judy’s focus in the later years of her career at Dow was to work with The Nature Conservancy to use wetlands for wastewater treatment. It would be an understatement to say that Judy and Bill understand the significance of wetlands.

Now retired, the Gundersons take pride in visiting every mainland LTC property with trails in Charlevoix County.

Their journey with LTC began when they spotted a map of LTC properties at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve. Here, they discovered that the land had been donated accompanied by an endowment gift to help ensure the Conservancy’s long-term sustainability. Inspired by this, they set out to visit as many properties as possible, eventually deciding they wanted to leave their own conservation legacy.

When the opportunity to protect and name a property arose in LTC’s Annual Report, it resonated deeply with Judy and Bill. For the Gunderson-Heeschens, this naming opportunity offered both practical and emotional significance. They preserved precious wetlands (identified as a top protection priority by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council) as a heartfelt commitment to the land they love. The practical significance was that giving allowed them to donate appreciated stock. Judy and Bill emulated the Thorne Swift gift by including an extra gift to LTC’s endowment to ensure our ability to care for this land forever – a very meaningful legacy gift.

The new 111-acre Gunderson · Heeschen Wetlands Nature Preserve (pictured right) is located on Falls Park Road and Tomkins Road in Wilson Township. This land is considered an ecological preserve with no existing or planned trails.

From left: Luke (Maggie’s husband), Maggie, Judy, and Bill.

From left: June, Reigh, Judy, Bill, and Maggie.

DON & EILEEN KLEIN NATURE TRAIL

A Universally Accessible Trail in East Jordan

A longtime dream for East Jordan came to fruition this spring! The new Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail from Sportsman’s Park to the Rogers Family Homestead Nature Preserve is now complete. The universally accessible trail takes you along the beautiful Jordan River providing for a continuous walkable off-road route from downtown East Jordan to the north end of the Rogers Preserve trail, a total of two miles one way. You can hop onto the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail at Sportsman’s Park, the Friends of the Jordan Watershed Center, or from the two parking areas of the Rogers Preserve. The trail crosses the wetlands of two additional LTC nature preserves and another preserve lies on the opposite (east) side of the river. The trail itself is now owned and maintained by the City of East Jordan.

Eileen Klein Nature Trail.

Completion of this trail was made possible by a lead donation from Don Klein, 152 additional donors, and a partnership between the City of East Jordan, Little Traverse Conservancy, Friends of the Jordan Watershed Center, the East Jordan Chamber, and the East Jordan Trails Committee.

Thank you, Mark

“This is the Conservancy’s first partnership project to complete a universally accessible trail of this caliber,” said Conservancy Executive Director Kieran Fleming. “We are confident that the local community and many visitors will enjoy all that it brings for decades to come.”

For a map of the trail, visit www.landtrust.org/explore.

by Anne Fleming, Director of Communications & Community Outreach

Mark Paddock had the warmest smile. Whenever he walked into the Conservancy office, he was greeted with hugs from all of us who loved to hear his stories, his latest take on the state of the world, and who simply enjoyed learning from a man who walked his talk. “Hello Anne,” he would say with that gentle smile that belied a fiercely protective love of the natural world.

From his perspective, Mark had lived a charmed life and indeed with a marriage of more than 60 years to his beloved Ruth, he surely did. He lived with passion and purpose and was so proud of his time at the University of Michigan Biological Station, a place he couldn’t fully leave behind. After retirement, he and Ruth lived around the corner from the station until their last days.

We felt much camaraderie, and Mark often remarked how his and Ruth’s path had many similarities to mine and Kieran’s with our backgrounds in environmental work and our interests in homesteading. On my last visit to his home late last fall, he shared some corn on the cob from his garden. At 95! May we all be so fortunate.

The world is not as bright without your light, Mark. But you set a loving, humble example of how one can be in the world, and for many of us you will remain a role model for the rest of our own lives.

Longtime Conservancy board member, committee member, and LTC supporter Mark Paddock.

A grant through the Charlevoix County Community Foundation funded the construction of two bumpout sections and an overlook at the new Don &

Photo by John Doskoch.

Starting a Forever Gift with Little Traverse Conservancy

PLANNED GIVING SPOTLIGHT: DON WALLER, DRUMMOND ISLAND

For Don Waller, a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) with LTC means a lot of things: connection to the land, a gift to an organization he values, relationships with staff he trusts, and income for the rest of his life.

Since he was a child, Don has been visiting Drummond Island. Even now after his kids have moved away, they all feel the need to get back to northern Michigan every summer. As many of us can relate, there’s something special about this area. For Don, “These forests and shorelines awakened my interests in nature as well as my awareness of how these areas change under the slow but relentless pressure to build and develop more,” Don said.

“It’s

LTC had the same love for northern Michigan that he did.

hard to think of any better investment.”

-

Don Waller

Don chose to start a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) with LTC to protect the natural world for the long term while at the same time providing secure income for retirement. His legacy gift took advantage of a new tax law allowing him to use a Qualified Charitable Distribution from his IRA to begin the annuity. Transferring appreciated stocks also helps make a CGA a wise investment and giving tool. “It feels great to be a part of this collective effort to protect places that would otherwise disappear or lose value,” Don said. “The lands we protect now will grow in natural and recreational value far into the future.”

After seeing LTC’s stewardship team at work in 2010 Don says, “I became aware of their skills at working with others to protect natural lands and landscapes, and the value of the lands they oversee.” This encounter created trust, and Don now knew that

A Forever Gift and Income for Life

Is it possible to give a legacy gift that will also provide a fixed income for life? With LTC, it is! You can make a gift today to create a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) that will help secure your retirement by receiving reliable annual income and support the future of land protection in northern Michigan.

Today, up to $53,000 can be transferred as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA to establish a charitable gift annuity.

Would you like to learn more about CGAs with the Conservancy? Visit landtrust.org or contact Emily Hughes at emily@landtrust.org or 231.347.0991.

The Allen-Waller family from left: Don Waller, Jeff Allen, Caitilyn Allen, Cora Allen-Savietta, and Lulu Allen-Waller.

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL

OFFICIALLY OPENS

Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails

On April 26, the new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee were officially opened! The trails are the first professionally-designed and built trails for Cheboygan County giving mountain biking enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful hills and woods between Burt and Mullett lakes.

“This project has been an exceptionally fast and high-quality experience thanks to the motivation and support of the Melvin family and many local donors who made it all happen,” said Kieran Fleming, the Conservancy’s executive director.

Generations of the Melvin family have loved Burt Lake and the work of Little Traverse Conservancy. When Mark Melvin discovered the 150-acre parcel tucked in between Burt and Mullett lakes for sale, he had a vision of creating mountain bike trails there. His daughter Kathleen had recently introduced him to mountain biking, and he realized that this part of northeastern Lower Michigan could benefit from this type of trail. His vision was to not only protect land, but to include enhanced outdoor recreation for the community. A total of 128 donors joined Mark to make the vision come true!

More than eight miles of trails were designed and constructed by Rock Solid Contracting, LLC. Rock Solid has built miles of trails across the country, including the nationally-renowned Copper Harbor Trails and LTC’s own Tanton Family Working Forest Reserve Mountain Bike Trails in Emmet County. The Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails include opportunities for all skill levels with unique trail features such as gravity trails, sidewinder segments, skills features, rollers, berms, and more. The trails highlight the natural beauty and character of the landscape and topography. Separate hiking trails follow old logging roads and also provide emergency vehicle access.

Trailhead address: 3151 Bennett Road, Topinabee

A big thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its support of our ECAR program through the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act program. Thanks to this support and other private donors, we will be completing our system-wide habitat condition analysis with our partner, the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, throughout this year.

ONE YEAR of ECAR

10,000 Acres

Inventoried

LTC’s Ecological Conditions and Response (ECAR) program is examining all LTC lands to identify, quantify, and evaluate their habitat types, health, and status. Equipped with that information, LTC staff will formulate response actions and then implement them to maintain high quality sites and improve degraded areas.

Bull Elk at Jack and Tucker Harris WFR

Brook Strippleback Lichen at Elizabeth B. Hoffmann Nature Preserve

Badger at Jack and Tucker Harris WFR

Woodcock chicks at Offield Family WFR

Rabbits at Keubler-Trippe Nature Preserve

Spotted salamander at Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails

Coyote at L. John and Helen Bishop WFR

Great Blue Heron at Jack and Tucker Harris WFR

Raccoon kits at Round Lake Nature Preserve

Dichelyma pallescens at Chaboiganing Nature Preserve

You Asked - We Delivered!

ANOTHER NATURE MEGAPHONE IS IN THE WOODS

by Keegan Butler, Stewardship Technician

A second nature megaphone is available for your discovery, and this one can be found at the Robert L. Bytwerk Forest Reserve in Charlevoix County!

With the popularity of the nature megaphone at the Boyd B. Banwell Nature Preserve, it was only a matter of time until another came along. Unlike the Banwell megaphone which was built off-site in one piece, LTC staff found a way to create the Bytwerk megaphone in a modularized design. Built in pieces, this one could be assembled on site, reducing the number of people needed to move it. The installment required three volunteers (huge shoutout to Larry Liebler, Richard Jenkins, and John Baker) and three staff members to get the new megaphone into place.

Some of the many sounds you may experience while sitting inside the narrow opening include grouse drumming, woodcock peenting, aspen leaves quaking in the wind, and acorns falling from the red oaks, a sound reminiscent of rain rapping. But sometimes, the forest is still, allowing you to sit in quiet contemplation.

The new Bytwerk nature megaphone is a perfect place to practice the Bytwerk family’s philosophy: get outside and experience the outdoors in new ways. Thank you Randall and Sharon Bytwerk for making this new trail possible!

Robert L. Bytwerk Forest Reserve

Address: 8065 Grange Road, Charlevoix.

Flowing with Nature: A NATURAL WAY TO BUILD TRAILS

For Dave McVicker, building a trail is less construction and more tending. An environmental designer and planner, Dave first worked with LTC to build a new trail at the Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve. This past year, he created a trail at the Robert L. Bytwerk Working Forest Reserve. Watching Dave in action is like watching an artist at their easel.

Any good trail will be well thought out and designed for sustainability, but Dave takes his trail building philosophy to deeper levels. Well, not deeper literally. In fact in some places of the trail, he does not like to disturb the ground at all, instead using the leaf litter which is then ground into the soil from trampling feet. This method helps prevent sandier soils from eroding away.

Dave’s trails flow with what nature provides. He seeks to work with nature versus plow through it. His trail designs highlight, oftentimes subtly, the power or intricacy of nature. When laying out a trail, his aim is to guide people alongside aspects of the forest that are fascinating, wonderinspiring or often overlooked, such as a neat moss-covered rock or a large and impressive tree.

To build a trail, he simply “organizes” or “slightly nudges” what nature has already provided. If a large tree blows down, he sees an excellent opportunity to route the trail alongside it. He seeks out arching and bending trees, not as obstacles but as opportunities for interesting trail features. He takes pride in using a chainsaw as little as possible. Hand tools to move saplings or realign fallen logs are used with the goal to have the trail blend in with nature, yet still guide you on the path.

Of course not all LTC trails are or will be built this way. If you like an intimate nature trail where the human elements seem to disappear, then we encourage you to visit the Hoffius west trail in Cheboygan County or the Bytwerk Valley Trail in Charlevoix County for new trail experiences!

Phew, we did it!

Dave McVicker

SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Knee HigH naturalists Ages 3-5

Tuesdays & Thursdays

July 2 - August 1 / 10-11:30am

Seberon “Boo” Litzenburger Nature Preserve

Programs include Butterfly Bonanza, All About Amphibians, and Exploring our Senses!

YoutH explorer series (YES!) Ages 6-12

Mondays & Wednesdays

July 1 - July 31 times and locations vary

Program offerings include Mountain Bike Adventure at the new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails, Fishing Friends, and Five Mile Creek Crawl!

We are excited to explore and adventure with your little ones again this summer! Registration is required. To see a full list of offerings or to sign up for summer education programs, please visit our website landtrust.org/summer or call Sarah Mayhew at 231.347.0991.

THAT’S A WRAP! Spring Programs Close Out School Year

From the eastern Upper Peninsula to Charlevoix County, young people of all ages got outside this spring with Conservancy educators. Their smiling faces tell it all!

LTC education programs are free thanks to funding from the Andreae-Brown Family Environmental Education Endowment Fund and the annual gifts from our members. On behalf of kids who love getting outside with us, thank you!

Thank you, John!

LONGTIME THORNE SWIFT CARETAKER RETIRES

In 1982, Elizabeth Kennedy donated the 30-acre Thorne Swift Nature Preserve to Little Traverse Conservancy, and in 1987 the gates to the nature center and trails were opened to the public. Management of Thorne Swift is administered by West Traverse Township with a full-time caretaker living onsite. This year marked a changing of the guards at this beloved Lake Michigan preserve as John Riggs retired on April 1 after 27 years in the caretaker role.

On a March day, Thorne Swift is still in its hibernation mode, but rumbles of activity are beginning. A large doe walks toward us as we head to the trail. John smiles, noting that this deer is the granddaughter of Sasha, a very special deer that would come when John would whistle. He speaks of how the deer would literally play tag with him on the trails, so comfortable at this place where all creatures have been valued and protected. “I don’t hunt anymore,” John grins.

In 1997, John took over from previous caretakers Steve and Joanna Maniaci. The job had been converted from part to full-time, devoting more resources to an increasingly popular destination. While winter provides a few months of quiet and recovery, the shoulder months are spent on repairs, construction, and refreshing. Once tourism season begins, the job becomes primarily about greeting and managing the visitors from sunup to sundown.

“Since 2017, we have seen unprecedented visitation at Thorne Swift,” John remarked. “There are 27 parking places and on some days in the summer and fall, we have had 90 people at the preserve at one time with 300 over the course of a day. We really noticed a difference when the Pure Michigan campaign started to promote it.” Despite the hectic schedule, John reflects on his years at Thorne Swift with pride. “I used to always tell people that one of the best parts of what I do is never going to sleep wondering if my

life has meaning.” John took the protection of the preserve and safety of the visitors very seriously. “The township and Conservancy were fortunate to employ him for decades and everyone thanks John for his service and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” said West Traverse Township Supervisor and former LTC board chair Jim Bartlett.

“John loved to pass along his deep understanding and fascination for the Thorne Swift environment. This love and respect made every visit a memorable one.”

-Jim Bartlett

As of April 1, Keith Hammond (below right) has been appointed as the new Thorne Swift Manager. Hammond, a longtime summer staffer at the preserve, brings with him a wealth of knowledge about the facility, the preserve, and its importance to the area. Keith said he is excited to add his own artistic touch to Thorne Swift by adding murals to the building and offering nature watercolor classes this summer.

Keith said of his new job, “I am loving interacting with folks and geeking out about nature.”

Thorne Swift Summer Schedule

Saturday, June 15 11am-2pm: History of quillwork with Native American quillwork artist Odeimin Gesis Walker.

Tuesday, July 9 6:30pm-9pm Traditional Irish jam session with special guest Hanna Harris.

Wednesday, July 10 5-7pm Learn about Weather sticks and get your own! Registration required.

Tuesday, July 23 5-9pm Water color landscape painting with Keith Hammond. $15 dollars charge. Registration required.

Thursday, July 25 9-11am Birding with naturalist Jacob Van Patten.

Saturday, August 3 Noon-2pm Storytelling with Odawa elder Sheila Chingwa.

Tuesday, August 6 5-7pm Shiitake Log workshop. $20 dollar charge. Registration required.

Monday, August 19 5-8pm Gathering basket workshop. $15 dollar charge. Registration required. For more

John Riggs

Keith Hammond

Welcome NEW STAFF MEMBERS

KYLE VOLP

DONOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Growing up in a small farming town in Omro, Wisconsin where the Fox River flows, Kyle spent his childhood fishing the river, exploring the forests and fields as an avid amateur entomologist, and enjoying all the other comforts rural Wisconsin has to offer. Big family excursions solidified his love for the outdoors. One memorable trip in particular involved an RV tour of every state west of the Mississippi, an experience which included whitewater rafting, a grizzly bear encounter, bison-induced traffic jams, and a snowball fight in Colorado on the Fourth of July, all of which helped embolden Kyle to become the explorer and traveler he is today.

Later in life, his career took him to metro areas around the country, further away from how he grew up, further away from his love for being outside surrounded by what the natural world has to offer. That is part of the reason he was compelled to join the LTC Team. “I knew I would feel more at home here and I was overjoyed when I had the opportunity to not only live in this area, but work with a great organization like LTC to help preserve my new stomping grounds in this beautiful part of the country!” he said.

Kyle is making the move to Petoskey with his beloved charcoal lab Monona, named after a city and lake in Wisconsin, a nod to his home state. His work will be directly with you, our members, facilitating transformative gifts to our mission. “As I discover more of the area, I look forward to meeting people who are familiar with and have connections to the land, the history, and what I can look forward to appreciating most as Monona and I go exploring on our own and with all of you!”

DIRK RUFF

CONSERVATION EASEMENT TECHNICIAN

Dirk is originally from the Grand Traverse region and grew up near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. His love for the outdoors and conservation grew as he attended Northern Michigan University while pursuing a Paralegal degree. There he joined an organization that held roadside trash clean-ups and realized the need for active conservation efforts and continual land stewardship.

After working in financial compliance and office management, he decided on a career change that aligned with his interests and values. Narrowing down what he was passionate about led him to jobs building and inventorying trails with non-profits and the US Forest Service. He loves whitewater kayaking, backpacking, and canoe tripping with his wife Anna and their pup Goose. Dirk has spent many afternoons kayaking the Bear River rapids in Petoskey and looks forward to the spring runoff every year for some exciting wave surfing and eddy lines.

“I’m thrilled to use my legal background and outdoor experience to assist the Little Traverse Conservancy with their easement program. I feel extremely lucky to work with such exceptional people, towards a cause for good that will far outlast us. The work of preserving the land for future generations is near and dear to me. I could think of no better way to spend my time and efforts,” he said.

IN HONOR OF

Ellen and Scott Evans

Kimberly Kihnke-Bay North Realty

Joan Smalley

Cathy and Dave Frazee

Carlin Smith

Jon and Christy Lyons

Mr. and Mrs. David I. Meyer

IN MEMORY OF

Jeannie Barends

Mark and Michelle Melvin

Peter Barends

Mark and Michelle Melvin

Michael Cameron

Gina and Bill Keough

Dennis Clare

Mark and Michelle Melvin

Audra Zobus Dickey

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Zobus

Rosemary DeCamp

Mr. and Mrs. Quinton L. Kuebler

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas L. Schneck

Andi and Ron Shafer

Jennie Esman

Cindy and Verne Mills

Tom Fairbairn

Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac

HONORARIUM & MEMORIAL GIFTS

The following gifts were received between February 10 - May 9, 2024

Dan French

Mark and Michelle Melvin

John Frey

Thomas Bailey and Heidi Marshall

Delia Fritz

Mark and Michelle Melvin

Joan Hoggard

Jessica and Jeremy Fettig

Ken and Nancy Freeman

Brenda and Sam Harren

The Daniel Hoggard Family

Kevin and Debbie Knox

Beth Ann (Draves) Koeplinger

Jeremy and Jaime McGuiness

Genee McNier, Patricia McNier, Michele Shafer

Marie Skrobak

Mark and Penny Hierholzer Staudacher

Drs. Mark and Susan Weiss

Steve Jakeway

Meredith and Rick Neumann

Mike Johnson

Nancy Busch

Katie Koffman

Mrs. Valerie Hendricks

Erin and Jillian Hendricks

Henry Laveran

Mr. and Mrs. Peter H. Askew

Tom and Lisa Austin

Mr. and Mrs. James K. Dobbs, III

Scott and Reid Fisher

The Flinn Family

Dr. and Mrs. Terence

Gallagher

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Gobern

The Goncher Family

The Hall Family

Lankanau Medical CenterAPC Unit

Lankenau Medical Center

Class of 2025 Residents: Eunjae, Shelby, Ally, Holly and Sharmeen

Barbara LaPenta

Deirdre Laveran

Betty Anne Mazanek

Robert and Mary Otto

Dorren and Sean

McDermott

Dana and Michael Schafer

Jackie Shapiro

Jennifer Evans Stacey and Jacob Stacey

John Stroud

Carter and Ginny Williams

Skip McDonough

Kevin Beuret

James McIntyre

Mrs. Margaret McIntyre

William Millar

Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac

Richard Moore

Mr. and Mrs. David R. Hubbard

Don Osborne

Mrs. Barbara Bohls Graham

Mark Paddock

Thomas Bailey and Heidi

Marshall

Kieran and Anne Fleming

Martha Lancaster and Doug Fuller

Emily Hughes and Joe, Ember, and Ada Graham

Dianne Litzenburger

Marta and Peter Olson

C. David Patterson

Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Guy

Homer Philips

Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Sellers

Marilyn Reeves

Ty and Sarah Ratliff

Barbara Rosevear

Dave Kring Chevrolet

Cadillac

Dianne Litzenburger

Michael Schirmer

Philip Lemessurier

Barbara St. Amand

Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac

Whitelaw Terry

Ann and Steve Desloge

Diana Throckmorton

Barbara and David Buzzelli

Cole Kelley

Sandra and Chet Kowal

MSU Institute of Water Research

Dr. William R. Todd

Mrs. William R. Todd

Joanne Turrell

David L. and Diane L. Steele

Photo by Jeff Moyer

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

Nathan Fairbanks for grooming trails at the Offield Family Working Forest Reserve.

Bruce and Jodie Janssen for donating two pairs of snowshoes to our education programs.

Dr. Mac MacDonald for donating fly fishing gear for our educational programs.

Jay Neff, Forrest Neff, Margot Sutton and friend for clearing downed trees at Goodhart Farms Nature Preserve.

Toby Dawson for clearing trails as part of his volunteer service for the National Honor Society.

Brady Lyons for cleaning up trash on preserves as part of his volunteer service for the National Honor Society.

Greg Fuller, Perry Irish Hodgson, Rich Hodgson, Peri McGuiness, Lisa Morris, Greg Putalik, Mary Reilly and Stan Royalty for planting trees for Earth Day at the David H. Irish Preserve and Consuelo Diane and Charles L. Wilson Jr. Working Forest Reserve. And thank you to the two families who also helped but we did not get your names!

Trail clearing volunteers Pat Alguire, John Baker, Julie and Pat Dougherty, Dan Dueweke, Doug Engler, Andrew Hanna, Richard Jenkins, Jerri LaCount, Mike McNamara, John and Mary Merrill, Brad Moffatt, Chris and Elaine Nesbitt, Bill Reed, Jennifer and Geoffrey Reynolds, Tom and Kimberly Rowland, and Craig Williams for clearing trails after wind storms this spring.

Richard Jenkins, Pat Alguire and John Baker for help with various woodworking projects from bird houses to staircases.

John Baker, Spencer Bednar, Jenna Corbin, John McClain, Peri McGuiness, Tim Morley, Christopher Nesbitt, and Mike Schwedt for help getting the Melvin Family Hiking and Biking trails ready for opening.

Dan Finkbeiner, Mackenzie Fowler, Doug Fuller, Jennifer Reynolds and Stan Royalty for removing invasive garlic mustard from the Naas, Mauger, Raunecker Nature Preserve.

Dan Dueweke, Richard Jenkins, Shelley Koteskey, Stan Royalty, Todd Warner, and Greg Zimmerman for removing invasives at the Elizabeth B. Hoffmann Preserve.

Pat Alguire and Richard Jenkins for helping with renovations at the Vermilion Point Nature Preserve.

North Central Michigan College intern Michael Kendzierski for kicking off the citizen science Wildlife Hotspot Survey training for EcoStewards volunteers.

Larry Liebler and John Baker for installing signs at Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails.

Josh Baker and The Outfitter of Harbor Springs crew for helping with a special order at discounted cost.

Glen Matthews for cleaning out bird houses and other wildlife conservation tasks.

Amy Borde and Ian Sinks at the Columbia Land Trust for hosting Derek and facilitating a learning opportunity.

Doug Craven and Jackie Pilette for consultations on trail and preserve design at the new nature preserve in Pellston.

Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians and Diamond Detection Dogs for their assistance surveying the Maple River for wood turtles.

Dave Firman and Firman Irrigation & Tree Service for donating their time and expertise to conduct a chainsaw training for our volunteers and staff.

Mark and Michelle Melvin for donating LTC-branded YETI mugs to share with staff and members.

Planting trees at Consuelo Diane and Charles L. Wilson Jr. Working Forest Reserve.

TREES 6:00 - 7:30pm Come for one or come for both

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

The Boathouse, East Jordan

Join us as we recap LTC’s 52nd year and visit the first universally-accessible trail across an LTC preserve. Located at the junction of the Jordan River and Lake Charlevoix, you will want to discover what is new in East Jordan!

9:00 am Coffee meet and greet

10-11:30 am Meeting & Community Roundtable

11:45 am Optional lunch for purchase

July 25, 2024 Name your own Gurney’s sandwich· ·Maple River kayak· ·Custom cocktail cruise·

12:30 pm Field Trip to the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail along the Jordan River This event is open to the public! Members will be receiving an invitation in the mail. Call 231.347.0991 for more information. OFFIELD FAMILY VIEWLANDS HARBOR SPRINGS

·Nub’s Nob season pass and locker· Tickets: landtrust.org/trees

Great Blue Heron on the Jordan River/John Doskoch

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Mailing Volunteers

At least twice a year, we round up our beloved indoor volunteers for mailings. Just to give you an idea of how much we ask them to do, our membership mailing normally consists of folding, stuffing, sealing, and stamping about 15,000 three-piece letters, twice a year. Without volunteers, this process would take weeks, but with them we can finish this tall task in under a week. Our volunteers make work light, bring fun conversation, and allow us to make deeper connections with our community. An email was forwarded around the office from Karen Knapp, pictured right, after an LTC mailing. We are so grateful to make connections like these with our volunteers!

“I belong to a little writing group and we were asked to reminisce on one great compliment we received in 2023. Here’s what I wrote:

My favorite place to volunteer is the Little Traverse Conservancy. It involves help with the mailing, stuffing, and stamping. The last time I volunteered we sent out 4,400 letters. For some reason I love this office work and for some reason I am good at it. They sent me a card last year saying thank you and said I was a ‘rockstar’.

I thought, my gosh, finally, at age 83 years old, I am a rockstar!!!”

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!

The following new membership gifts were received February 10 - May 6, 2024

Howard and Pat Bingaman

Donald Brown

Josh Butzin

Chester Dawson

The Dionne Family

Mr. and Mrs. John Griffin

Lynn and Thomas Grimberg

Gary and Cheryl Grove

Jane and Glenn Kangas

David Leland

Amabel Liu

Carol Michael

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Newbury

Dan and Kelly Ann O’Hare

James and Stacey Pierce

Lizz Rhoads

Stephen Ryckman

April Sanders

Drs. James L. and Theresia L. Sobczak

Ed Taylor

Edward and Connie Tenkel

Marilyn and Jim Vutech

Tamara and Rob Weidlich

Vencent Woods

Thank you (clockwise, from left) Karen Knapp, Sally Bales, Nick Karay, Michaleen Karay, Rye Muir, Barb Bechhold and all our other amazing mailing volunteers! We could not do it without you!

CHECK IT OUT!

Flat & Friendly Trails Map

LTC’s new “Flat & Friendly Trails” is a map featuring trails in the Lower Peninsula with descriptive language to help those with mobility limitations determine what trails they can access more easily than others. All properties featured are Conservancy owned or transfer and assist projects.

Three categories are included in the map. The first are trails that are wheelchair/ADAaccessible paved trails. The second category are flat, barrier-free, smooth dirt trails with little to no roots or hills. Lastly, the Easy trails are a mix of narrow, gentle-grade trails that may have a few roots and lower grade hills.

As LTC continues to expand its trail offerings, our goal is to provide options for everyone. We hope that the Flat & Friendly Map will invite those who thought they may not have been able to visit LTC properties in the past can now give some of them a try. To get your copy, please call our office at 231.347.0991.

Offield Family Viewlands Working Forest Reserve is accessible for those with mobility limitations.

Little Traverse Conservancy

3264 Powell Road Harbor Springs, MI 49740

www.landtrust.org

Address Service Requested

Summer 2024 Events

The Fascinating History of the Vermilion Life Saving Station

Friday, June 28 1-3pm

We hope you can join us! Unless otherwise noted, pre-registration is requested at www.landtrust.org/events.

A special onsite opportunity to learn about the unique history of this Lake Superior nature preserve with Bruce Lynn of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Grace Truman of S.O.S. Vermilion. S.O.S. is also seeking volunteers for their workdays. Register for the walk at www.landtrust.org/events. Contact s.o.s.vermilion@gmail. com if you are interested in joining a word day!

Hike and Hops are Back!

Friday, July 12 5:30pm

Elizabeth B. Hoffmann Nature Preserve, Charlevoix

Join us for a hike at a beautiful Charlevoix County preserve followed by beer and pizza at Bier’s Inwood Brewery. The hilly trail traverses through a mix of orchards, woods, and farm fields and along Inwood Creek.

Save the Trees - Thursday, July 25 (see p. 18)

Mushroom Hike at Elmer Johnston

Sunday, July 28 Noon-2 pm

Join Amy Lipson and friends for a mushroom hunting adventure. If mushrooms are not readily found on this day, we will change to a regular nature walk. Come prepared to hike off trail on steep or soggy terrain.

Hindle-Ross Trail Experience

Private property near Cross Village

Saturday, August 3 10am-Noon

A unique opportunity to experience the trails of Debbie Hindle and Ken Ross’s property with LTC Ecology Specialist Brad Von Blon. These 80 acres have been lovingly cared for and restored by the owners who invite you to enjoy the beautiful views of the Waugoshance Peninsula, walk their unique sundial, and learn from Brad’s deep wealth of botanical knowledge.

LTC’s 52nd Annual Meeting - Tuesday, August 6 (see p. 18)

Clean Coast – Great Lakes Conservation Week

Walk the Coast of the Woollam Family Nature Preserve

Friday, August 9 10am-Noon

As part of this festival raising awareness about protecting our Lake Michigan coast, join Sarah Mayhew to learn about this unique ecosystem and how to be a valuable land steward while soaking in breathtaking lake views. For more about this three-day festival, visit unitedbywater.org.

Mushroom Hike at Chaboiganing

Sunday, September 15 Noon-2 pm

Join Amy Lipson for a mushroom hunting adventure. If mushrooms are not readily found on this day, we will change to a regular nature walk. Come prepared to hike off trail.

Tap Into The Trails in Cheboygan

Saturday, September 21 - all day

LTC is partnering with this Pure Michigan Trail Town as Cheboygan celebrates its multitude of trail opportunities. Activities this day include birding at Duncan Bay Nature Preserve, a 5K run with Top of Michigan Trails Council, a bike ride to the Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve, and more. Craft beer tasting will occur this afternoon along the river downtown and the day will end with a night hike at Cheboygan State Park. A trail challenge with prizes will also lead you to some new destinations! Registration for individual events, the trail challenge, and more is at: www.cheboygan.com/tap-into-the-trails.