On the Trail with ILPA at Bushnell’s North Star Woods

Some of the best conversations about conservation happen outside the meeting room. That was certainly true during a recent visit, where OLC board members spent the morning with our friends from the Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA) at Bushnell’s North Star Woods.

ILPA staff Andrea, Sarah, and Connor enjoyed their first visit to our newest nature preserve. The visit was part of ILPA’s ongoing effort to connect with member land trusts across the state, introduce newer staff, and learn more about the places and projects we’re working to protect.

There was plenty to discover along the trail. The group spotted multiple box turtles and even found a couple species of slime mold that one OLC board member said he had never encountered in this part of Indiana.

The hike also gave us an opportunity to share how much Bushnell’s North Star Woods has changed since OLC acquired the property. The group explored a trail that OLC volunteers and the Hoosier Hikers Council have spent months developing and visited some of the preserve’s ecologically significant areas.

Along the way, we shared some of the less glamorous—but essential—work involved in turning a newly acquired property into a place that can be cared for and enjoyed for years to come. Since acquiring Bushnell’s North Star Woods, OLC has installed a parking area and new signage, repaired the roof on the existing shelter, removed an old gate, and continued improving access and infrastructure throughout the property.

After the hike, everyone gathered beneath the shelter for lunch generously provided by ILPA. Over sandwiches, we had a chance to trade stories, talk conservation, and simply enjoy one another’s company.

Those conversations may have been informal, but they're an important part of the work. Indiana’s land conservation organizations share many of the same opportunities and challenges, and there is tremendous value in getting out from behind our computers and spending time together on the land. Every opportunity to share what we’ve learned, hear what others are working on, and strengthen relationships within our conservation community makes all of us better at protecting the places we care about.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for a memorable morning at Bushnell’s North Star Woods. Between discoveries along the trail, conversations over lunch, and the chance to share the progress being made at the preserve, it was time well spent.