Thank you, Chairman Richner.
In the almost 25 years of working at LTC, some of the finest people I have met have been our trustees. I like to think it’s an honor to serve LTC this way, but it does require a willingness to lean into our mission and no one puts more time in than the Board Chair. With term limits, there is a little dance that happens between the staff lead (me) and the Board lead (the Chair) when a new Chair is elected every other year. Right away we begin to navigate our communication style, expectations, and figuring out how deep into the weeds they are willing to go. We have been very lucky in that it seems the Chairs who served during my tenure as Executive Director have been the perfect fit for the moment. Marta Olson had the right combination of leadership, intelligence, patience, and support that I needed more of at that time. She was also able to be fierce in my corner when needed. I appreciated that immensely because it is such an honor and privilege to lead this organization, sometimes you take things personally. Joe Kimmell came after Marta and by then, I felt like I had my foundation. Joe played a role more as a personal/ professional coach at a time when the organization was growing, and I was facing new and challenging problems. He also lacked fear when confronting hard issues. Again, Joe was a perfect fit.
And then came Cedric.
Anne and I first met Cedric Richner and his wife Mori over 20 years ago having dinner at Ian and Sally Bund’s farm. Even back then I remember them having a deep connection to this place and a clear passion for protecting it. Cedric and I are alike in that we both prefer and thrive in an atmosphere of frank conversation. When there is mutual respect, and people are willing to talk openly not only about the good things, but also the opportunities to improve in the gaps, you both become better professionals, better people. And for me, that defines Cedric.
A word from the Executive Director Kieran Fleming
You should also know that he and Mori built a business and a career around helping non-profits become better at what they do. It was clear that LTC was where Cedric’s professional and personal passions collided. And LTC was about to reap the rewards of that little collision. He loves this stuff and if you saw him speak at our annual meeting, you know what I mean. His passion inspired our whole staff and the 100 others in the room.
So, two years ago, the timing was right. We were ready for someone like Cedric because we were also ready to accelerate the mission. Our staff culture was strong, and filled with brilliant, dedicated, and fun people (it still is). We had been well on our way to building more and stronger relationships with you, our supporters. I was ready.
And he did not disappoint us. Cedric offered the genesis of our new strategic plan which is an aspirational road map for our beloved organization. I will always be grateful to him for these reasons: his energy and dedication inspire me at a point in my career when I want to run from complacency. He taught me about making sure the right people are involved in the conversation and that every interaction with someone is an opportunity to mutually benefit. While he may have strong and educated opinions, they are always couched with genuine humility. This point really shows up when talking about industry norms and where LTC’s character may not “fit” those. His ability to flex his thoughts will always impress me.
I’m grateful for all of those who sacrifice time and expertise when their name goes on our letterhead but in this moment, I could not be more grateful that Cedric came along when he did. And, while we all play a role in what LTC will become and what it will accomplish, in 50 years, some will know that Cedric’s fingerprints are all over it.
Cedric Richner
WILD SHORES INITIATIVE
Joining Together to Make A Difference
The Wild Shores Initiative is a new LTC program pioneering the protection of Great Lakes shorelines. These lands are beautiful, sensitive, and irreplaceable habitats for migratory birds and unique essential species in our area. We are working to protect large, natural Great Lakes shoreline properties that have significant conservation value at attainable prices.
This program is different from most. Typically, LTC fundraises for one property at a time with the hopes of finding a lead gift. Within the Wild Shores Initiative, resources are pooled in order to fund a growing portfolio of properties. This allows the goal to grow in alignment with
the land we are able to acquire. Many have already stepped forward to support this initiative with gifts ranging from $25 to $125,000. This approach creates a sense of community in those who have chosen to donate to protect our Great Lakes. As you read some of the donor quotes below, you will see how each donor gave for varying reasons, but all want the same outcome: to protect northern Michigan’s wild shores.
If you would like to donate to the Wild Shores Initiative or learn more about LTC’s current projects, visit landtrust.org or contact Emily Hughes, Chief Development Officer, at 231.347.0991 or emily@landtrust.org.
Wild Shores Initiative Donors
“I was all excited about it! We must keep these places wild, sacred, and untouched.”
- Alex Green
“We want to see these places preserved for future generations. With the amount of uninterrupted shoreline decreasing due to mounting pressure from development, the need to protect what is left has become more urgent. Land in the Upper Peninsula is still relatively affordable, providing an ideal opportunity for LTC.”
- Drs. Vaughn and Harriet McGraw
“My family’s connection here now spans six generations. The natural beauty and pristine shoreline of the Great Lakes is a gift to all of us who know and love this area of the world.”
- Betsy Taggart
“Nesting and migration stopover sites are among the most critically altered natural habitats due to recreation, urban expansion, dredging and filling, industrial activities, and changing water levels.”
- Dr. Bill Scharf
MONITORING 28,630 ACRES OF EASEMENTS
Did you know that the Conservancy protects more land through conservation easements than through nature preserves and reserves? Conservation easements (CEs) are a powerful land protection tool.
A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement that allows a landowner to limit the type or amount of development on their property while retaining private ownership of the land. Easements protect land containing scenic views, shorelines, wetlands, forest habitats, farmland, and much more. LTC assists landowners in safeguarding property for the long term, carefully crafting language that protects the land while allowing some uses. Once the land has an easement placed on it and the documentation is recorded, it becomes a part of the Conservancy’s annual monitoring portfolio.
Annual monitoring is a large part of the conservation easement team’s workload with every single easement requiring an annual check. Monitoring ensures that uses are consistent with easement terms, changes are documented, and follow-up with landowners are completed as necessary.
Technology has started to play an increasingly important role in improving the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring. What used to exclusively involve foot travel and later monitoring via plane, has morphed into a combination of previous methods plus satellite imagery and drone footage. This transition has been especially beneficial for large, remote, and often very wet parcels. With the increasing number of easements, LTC has added a seasonal Conservation Easement Technician. Some LTC staff have acquired the necessary licensing from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to operate drones. This expansion of technologies and the staff’s ability to use them has greatly increased the productivity and efficiency of monitoring conservation easements.
Ground monitoring is still an important way to monitor, and seven volunteers currently assist with ground monitoring 25 conservation easements. In some cases, a combination of methods are used, depending on a property’s location, natural features, and recent changes. Properties cannot be monitored more than five years in a row via remote image, per industry standards.
A conservation easement is a voluntary land protection tool that stays with a property forever, regardless of who owns the land in the future.
But how does LTC visit each of the 334 easement properties, covering 28,630 acres over a five-county service area? How do landowners know what to expect when LTC shows up? CE landowners are reminded via a letter each spring that LTC will be monitoring their property sometime during the calendar year. Landowners are welcome to schedule monitoring site visits if they wish to attend.
Monitoring will always remain an integral part of conservation easement stewardship and we will continually strive to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. Whatever the monitoring method, LTC remains committed to the responsibility it shares with property owners and the north country we all love. We look forward to placing more land under the protection of conservation easements and having the personnel and technology to back up our commitments.
If you are wondering if a conservation easement might work for you, please contact us at 231.347.0991 for more about this creative tool that can protect your own piece of northern Michigan now and for future generations.
Both satellite (left) and drone (right) imagery are used to monitor LTC CEs.
CONSERVATION INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Buy. Preserve. Sell.
The Little Traverse Conservancy’s Conservation Investment Program (CIP) is another tool LTC uses for land protection. Instead of buying the land and continuing to own it and manage it in perpetuity, the CIP program allows the Conservancy to buy land with significant conservation value, protect it with a conservation easement, and sell the property (rest assured, we never sell our nature preserves and working forest reserves). CIP lands are acquired specifically for this program and approved by our board for this purpose. LTC’s work is all about balance, and CIPs provide an opportunity to protect working lands where LTC ownership is not ideal. In the last five years, LTC has successfully bought, preserved, and sold twelve CIP properties.
CIP Success:
Kirk Sanders, a born and raised northern Michigan resident, recently bought a CIP property. Kirk bought the property after meeting with LTC staff member Joe Graham to tailor the easement to what worked best for him. When Kirk saw the easement draft along with the price tag for the property, he asked if he could make the easement more restrictive in order to lower the price. He requested for the easement to only allow an off-grid cabin instead of a building envelope for a house. LTC was happy to do this for him because it meant that the property would maintain a more natural state and the conservation value would not be diminished by all the things that come along with building a house.
When asked how he felt about the process of creating the easement Kirk replied, “Great. I told [Joe] what I had in mind and appreciated that there could be that flexibility with lots of thoughts and ideas.” Now Kirk visits his new property as a place to enjoy the outdoors with his family and friends and to just get away. Kirk also knows the value that the conservation easement gives his property. “It keeps this place as natural as possible.”
How does it work? LTC acquires properties through donor fundraising which meet various conservation criteria. Staff then work with local realtors to outline the terms of a conservation easement and list the property for sale. Once the property is under contract with a buyer, the easement is modified to suit the buyer’s goals while protecting the conservation values. This might mean a larger or smaller building envelope or the ability to have food plots. The conservation easement is finalized and the beginning of a cooperative partnership is created with the new owner to ensure conservation of the property.
Current CIP Project:
Joe Graham also had nothing but appreciation for the new easement owner and the process. “It is cool to see the easement worked out in a usable way with hardly any impact conservation wise,” Graham said.
Located in the Maple River Watershed is a CIP opportunity that was previously protected and is now for sale. LTC acquired this 160-acre property that has now been split in half. The back 80 acres is a current naming opportunity looking for a lead donor. This property is connected to the Sims Moffat Reserve. If you would like more information about this project, please contact Emily Hughes, Chief Development Officer, at 231.347.0991 or emily@landtrust.org.
The front 80 acres is currently on the market. It consists primarily of wooded forest that adjoins the reserves, and a pole barn and hunting cabin sit in an open area near the road. For more information about this property or the Conservancy’s CIP program, please contact Caitlin Donnelly, Director of Land Protection, at 231.347.0991 or caitlin@landtrust.org.
Magnifying Core Island Protection
EXPANDING PROTECTION WITH PARTNERS
ON SUGAR ISLAND
When times were simpler, a family offered a man $400 for 40 acres on Sugar Island and he responded “Well, okay,” and went out to buy his family a color TV with the proceeds. Michael Dodyk recalls this memory of his family as he reminisced about his younger years visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by ferry boat in the early 1950s before the Mackinac Bridge was originally constructed.
ON BEAVER ISLAND
After Michael’s dad passed away in 2009, he inherited the property. Unsure what to do with it as he had not been back since 1993, Michael and his wife, Bonnie, decided to visit the property in 2019 and weigh their options.
They decided to sell 20 acres. After receiving much more for their land than they originally thought, they chose to donate the rest after a real estate agent mentioned LTC. It gave them a nice tax break and they could see their family’s land protected forever. Even though Michael and Bonnie now live in Texas enjoying the heat, a piece of their family still lives on Sugar Island forever as the “Michael and Bonnie Dodyk Working Forest Reserve”.
When a neighbor to our 106-acre Sarah A. Martin Nature Preserve asked if we would like to protect 40 more acres, we said, “Yes!” The land connects to another 80 acres to the west owned by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB), protected in partnership with LTC. The opportunity to protect land adjacent to our preserve and to LTBB land was a win-win. In these unique situations the key is to secure funding. In this case, a neighbor saw the value of this cooperative effort and pledged a lead gift.
Soon after, the Conservancy was given the opportunity to protect an additional 20 acres to the north of the Martin Preserve. This addition lies along Mrs. Redding Trail and will greatly improve access to the nature preserve.
“One of the Conservancy’s primary land protection goals is to expand protected land, magnifying the overall impact,” said LTC Director of Land Protection Caitlin Donnelly. “These two additions accomplish both expansion and connectivity deep in the heart of Beaver Island.”
The Conservancy is fundraising through December 31, 2024, to complete the protection of these lands. In addition to the lead gift, Charles and Kerry Wilson and Beaver Island realtor Ed Wojan have given substantial support to these projects. Please visit landtrust.org/beaverisland to learn more and to donate.
Michael Dodyk on Sugar Island
LEGACY SPOTLIGHT:
JOHN DEANE
You know that feeling of finally reaching your haven Up North? And the bittersweet but fond memories that tug at your heart when you leave? For John Deane, he has known this feeling since 1955. His summers were spent at Camp Charlevoix originally, then his family started summering at the Belvedere Club.
After this, John continued to visit with his late wife, Andrea, and their late son, Rob. They both loved and appreciated Up North as much as John did. Over the years he realized he wanted to be “preserving and enhancing the natural and wild character of this special place whenever possible.” With their passings, John wanted to find a way to remember them in this special place forever.
John chose to put LTC in his estate plans. Upon his passing, his gift will create “The Andrea A. and John C. Deane Family Endowment”. Creating an endowment makes the leaving time a little less bitter. He says, “I considered an endowment gift to support what has been Sacred Ground for me. An endowment allows me to provide more material support and to honor the memories of my late wife and son who treasured Up North as much as I do.” Thank you, John, for allowing LTC to create space for so many others enjoying their Up North summers and making memories together, forever.
Become A Little Traverse Conservancy Legacy Member
Our valued Legacy Members share in the mission of the Little Traverse Conservancy and have committed to making a future gift through estates, trusts, annuities, insurance policies, or other planned giving options. Legacy gifts have a profound impact on our ability to protect the north country we all love and help us fulfill our obligation to steward our conserved lands forever. The following individuals have included LTC in their estate plans. A complete list of our Legacy Members, past and present, will be included in the 2024 Annual Report.
LEGACY MEMBERS
Anonymous (6)
Mary J. Baird Family
Robyn and Dave Barrie
Catherine Bennett
Robert* and Anne Boch
Jim and Kathy* Bricker
David and Tracy Case
Fred* and Mary Clinton
Michael* and Joanne Cromley
Diane Curtis
John C. Deane
Jennifer Eis
Jerry and Eileen Fhaner
Lt. Col. Daniel French*, USAFR and Margaret French
Douglas R. Fuller and Martha E. Lancaster
Alex Green
Deborah Hindle and Ken Ross
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Hoster
James and Evelyn Howell
Emily Hughes and Joe Graham
Bruce and Jodie Janssen
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Kimmell II
Bob* and Gwen Kuehn
Marjorie Marks
R. Charles and Christi S. McLravy
Mr. David B. McVicker
Mark C. Melvin
John* and Carol Paulus
Colleen W. Platt
Chip Piper
Cedric A. “Rick” Richner III
Randel Richner and Eric Russell
Paul and Carol Rose
Oliver and Ana Schwab
Linda Tezak
Don Waller
Richard Warren and Tammey Kikta
Suzanne Wingate
No legacy gift is too big or too small. There is no minimum gift amount required to be a Legacy Member. To learn more about becoming a Legacy Member or to share that you have included the Little Traverse Conservancy in your estate plans, please contact Kyle Volp, Donor Relations Specialist, at 231.347.0991 or kyle@landtrust.org.
It is always the Conservancy’s goal to acknowledge all our supporters. Please accept our sincere apologies for errors and omissions – and let us know! *Denotes those who are no longer with us, but whose legacy lives on.
John Deane and his departed wife Andrea
Okee Dokee Brothers
The 2023-24 school year ended on a high note with a unique event. Education staff partnered with the Great Lakes Center for the Arts to create an event with the Grammy award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers (pictured right). This duo considers themselves to be writers of “adventure albums” taking inspiration from places they have traveled and experiences they have had. The music of the Okee Dokee Brothers is catered towards children, but is inspirational for all listeners. Their goal with making music is to encourage their listeners to explore the world and get outside to adventure more.
At this event, LTC educators invited Alanson High School and Lakeview Academy students to join the creativity with photography and inspirational writing to accompany each photo. Pictured below are some of their pieces that were displayed at the event.
CALLING ALL TEACHERS!
It is that time of year again! We love seeing your classes out at our preserves for education programs. It is a great way to meet curriculum standards while getting your students outside.
Little Traverse Conservancy offers two types of free education programs throughout the school year. One is our tried and true Direct Service programming. These programs run seasonally, with a variety of different options that meet curriculum standards in each grade. As a teacher you can sign up for each season or pick and choose what works best for you. The other option is a deeper touch within a whole school, called Forest School. Run as theme-by-grade programming, LTC educators will visit your classes once a month to talk about a new topic within the theme. Topics range from mammals to wilderness survival and everything in between.
The Andreae-Brown Family Environmental Education Endowment Fund helps make LTC’s free education programming possible. Support for busing and to learn more about LTC education programming please visit landtrust.org/ education. To register for LTC education programs please contact Director of Education Sarah Mayhew at 231.347.0991 or sarah@landtrust.org.
8 | Little Traverse Conservancy
THE MAGIC OF SUMMER EDUCATION
SUCCESSFUL FOR STEWARDSHIP
A new boardwalk was installed at the Wisser-Saworski Nature Preserve.
The Offield Family Viewlands Reserve has a new universally accessible fishing platform that is located a short distance from the lower parking area.
Little Traverse Conservancy’s team is ALWAYS in the field months. From boardwalks, maintenance, to plantings, MORE! This is the time of get the most done and we of our ability.
We are also so thankful and seasonal summer staff the ability to do even more. staff and volunteers who projects possible!
The boardwalk at the Naas, Mauger, Raunecker, and Leslie Nature Preserve Complex was completely rebuilt. Funding for this project was made possible by Charles and Kerry Wilson.
Amy Lipson hosted a workday at the Woollam Family Nature Preserve planting beach grass.
STEWARDSHIP
Conservancy’s stewardship field in the summer boardwalks, to benches, to trail plantings, and SO MUCH of year when they can we utilize it to the best
to all our volunteers staff who give us more. Three cheers to who made these
New boardwalk was installed at Goodhart Farms Nature Preserve.
Significant trail enhancements were made at Charles M. Taylor III / Olstrom Family Nature Preserve Complex including a new boardwalk, wood chips, and a new parking area.
A second crossing of the Little Pigeon River at the L. John and Helen Bishop Reserve has been added and visitors can now enjoy a long trail loop. The crossing consists of a bridge, boardwalk and stairs. Helical piers were used to keep the structures above any beaver flooding.
Eagle Scout Sawyer Zink made six new benches and a picnic table for the Tanton Family Working Forest Reserve.
AN UPDATE FROM ECAR
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
This summer Quinn Sommer assisted Brad Von Blon in the continuing quest to map every habitat stand on all of LTC’s lands. These two great naturalists continue to find significant species and take amazing photos. Thanks to the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act for helping fund this crucial work.
When you visit LTC’s website, almost every preserve page has a link to iNaturalist. This is a great tool for inventory our preserves by using citizen science data. The Conservancy also has an overarching parent page with iNaturalist. Here you can see all our “Life” that we have tracked with the iNaturalist website. Follow the steps below to easily access our page on iNaturalist and start cataloging species right along with us!
You will be redirected to our “Rules” page. Please select “Yes” to “Trust this project with hidden coordinates?” LTC staff are the only ones who will be able to see your hidden coordinates.
&
Zigzag Darner (Aeshna sitchensis)
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta)
Sphagnum Sprite (Nehalennia gracilis)
Luna Moth (Actias luna)
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
A NEW FLOW: Offield Family Viewlands Mountain Bike Trail
THE PLACE
The Offield Family Viewlands is a reserve like no other. Where else can you find fields of wildflowers, forests of giants and saplings, 5.5 miles of winding walking trails, a fishing platform, and a barrier-free labyrinth all in one place? The Viewlands offers something for everyone and now it has something even more.
Five miles of new, flow track mountain bike optimized trails are now open to you! Flow tracks are mountain trails that consist of a primarily downhill orientation and have smooth features. Winding through the high-quality forest that previous golfers didn’t experience unless they lost a ball, you will find beginner and intermediate loops starting at the upper parking area. Every trail has optional features to help grow your skills including rollers, tables, drops, and jumps. You can start with the three-mile loop and add more miles each time you ride, or walk. The system was designed for safety with walkers and bikers traveling in opposite directions.
This trail aimed to fill a gap in mountain bike trail flow track between Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Riders can travel south to the Tanton Family Reserve trails or Boyne Forest trails. With the new Melvin Family trails in Topinabee and the Viewlands trails in Harbor Springs, there is now much more for riders of all levels to discover.
TRAIL STORY
When LTC purchased the Offield Family Viewlands Reserve on Earth Day 2020 (the retired Little Traverse Bay Golf Club), our Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association (TOMMBA) partners immediately reached out. The rolling hills of the reserve made it ideal for a mountain bike trail. As forever stewards of the land, we took our time to determine what was best for the property. In the first years, we connected existing cart paths to create the trail system you know today. We also planted thousands of trees and shrubs to reforest retired golfing fairways. Last year, we partnered with Bluestem Meadow to create a barrier-free trail around the pond and a barrier-free labyrinth.
In 2023, we were ready to work with TOMMBA to make these new mountain bike optimized trails a reality. Peter and Quin Curran of Harbor Springs provided the lead gift as ignition energy for fundraising. Daniel Clarke and First Community Bank quickly stepped up to give, along with the Huckle Family Foundation (Martha Huckle Bowman as Trustee), the Frey Foundation, and the Offield Family Foundation. We are grateful for the 47 donors who made this special trail possible.
*Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on these mountain bikes trails.
IN HONOR OF
Sally Bund
Anne Fleming
George Covington
Ms. Sarah Covington
Keegan and Anne Hitz
Catherine Bennett
Peter Jonker
Ted and Nancy Haddad
Helene Norcross
Peter and Sarah Gurney
Phil Porter
Mr. Scott R. Rausch
Beth Rahaley
Mr. and Mrs. Ross DeFries
Jack D. Regan
Amie and Tony James
Place Tegland
Joan Smalley
Cathy and David Frazee
IN MEMORY OF
Luke Thomas Balstad
Sophia Putman
Peter Barends
John and Martha Barlow
John Beam
Margaret and Bill Stude
Tricia and Frank Tallman
Edward Bicsok
East Burt Lake Association
Michael Cameron
Ken and Claire Perry
Micheal Cromley
Kieran and Anne Fleming
Walter Davison
Mr. Gary Davison
Marilyn Dickinson
Margaret and Bill Stude
HONORARIUMS & MEMORIALS
May 8 - August 8, 2024
David FitzSimons
Peter and Anne Askew
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Barnes
Ben and Carolyn Benjamin
Scott Benjamin
Dr. and Mrs. William W. Blackburn
Holly and Norm Brown
Stephen and Jonne Bush
Mrs. Thomas H. Carruthers IV
Mrs. C. Howard Crane II
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald H. Cromack II
Margaret and Ted Dawson
Edward Dayton
Ned and Laura Evans
Gayle and Chip Everest
Christy and Jim Everest
Mr. Lawrence P. Fisher II
Larry Fisher
W.B. Fisher
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. FitzSimons
John Fix
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner W. Garrard Jr.
Gregg and Debra Garver
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glass
Mrs. Robert P. Green
Anne and Herb Gullquist
Pamela and Godfrey Hammel Family
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Hightower
Jeaninne and Robert Honstein
Mrs. William K. Howenstein
Emily Hughes and Joe, Ember, and Ada Graham
Roger and Jean Hull
Marcee and Grant James
Jeff James
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jennings Jr.
The Paul and Jill Kaneb
Family Charitable Foundation
Peggy and Peter Kross
Deirdre Laveran
Legacy Wealth Management
Bill and Susie MacDonald
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Mackell
William and Langdon Mannion
Gloria and Michael Masterson
Alex and Franklin McCann
Mr. and Mrs. John B. McCoy
Ms. Virginia McCoy
Janet McCoy
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Mitchell
JoAnn and Bill Morandini
Suzanne and Michael Nelson
Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Parker
Dr. David Parrish III
Wendy Parrish
Mrs. Elizabeth and Mr. Morton Payne
Robin and Howdy Perkins
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Petzold
Randall Rogers
Rusticus Garden Club
Pamela and Arnold Sheiffer
Mike Shields
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Smith
Sally and Bill Soter
Deborah and Jon Stanley
Mr. and Mrs. William Tobin Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Turnbull
Charles and Nancy Van Dyke
Mr. and Mrs. Michael VanLokeren
Ms. Anne Wallace
Mr. and Mrs. Byron L. West
Dan and Wendy Wheeler
Mrs. Allen W. Whittemore
Robert and Sandra Wolf
David Frey
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. FitzSimons
Delia Fritz
John and Martha Barlow
Ronald Haas
East Burt Lake Association
Edward Hake
Edward and Jane Terrill
Tobey Hansen
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Mitchell
Ms. Anne Wallace
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Webster
Robert and Eunice Hendrix
Scott and Anne Fitzgerald
Susan Howbert
Nancy Smith
Bill Kmet
Rock and Nancy Ringold
DeDe Lambert
Mrs. A. Council Darling III
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. FitzSimons
Henry Laveran
Holly and Norm Brown
Deacon Donald and Denise DeCarlo
Gayle and Chip Everest
Christy and Jim Everest
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. FitzSimons
Mr. and Mrs. William FitzSimons
The Fosnocht Family
Mrs. William K. Howenstein
Katharine and Bobby Joyce
Elizabeth Kenan
Jay and Katie Kern
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Mackell
John and Rita Picton
The Hall Family
Merritt and Jay Weber
Bill Martin
Ms. Bergin
James McIntyre
Mrs. James McIntyre
Richard Moore
David R. Hubbard
Robert Nickodemus
Nancy Nickodemus
Mark Paddock
Kieran and Anne Fleming
Tom Lagerstrom and Mary Anne Griffin
Dianne Litzenburger
Marta and Peter Olson
C. David Patterson
Gina and Bill Keough
Thomas Pointner
Thomas Bailey and Heidi Marshall
Ric A. Rentfro
Timothy and Virginia Greene
Franklin Ronan
Dr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Frock
Taljit Singh Sandhu
Timothy and Virginia Greene
Barbara Schirmer
Kieran and Anne Fleming
Emily Hughes and Joe, Ember, and Ada Graham
Drs. Vaughn and Harriet McGraw
Paul Seehaver
East Burt Lake Association
John Still
Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac
Jane Thompson Morgan and Chris Huggett Family
The Malloy Family
Jackie Malloy
Diana Throckmorton
Ms. Judith Cummings
Michael and Karen Donnelly
Kenneth and Lynn Larson
Mr. Jim Peery
Dr. and Mrs. Barton H. Reutlinger
Roznowski Family
Ms. Sara E. Smith
John and Jean Wickett
Susan Turner
Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Sellers
WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS WHO GENEROUSLY JOINED BETWEEN
May 8 - August 8, 2024
Bruce and Karen Bethards
Mrs. Catherine A. Brady
Haley Breniser
Rosine Cassidy
Evie Clare
Andrea Coronado
Mary Lou and Kelly Croff
Peter K. and Roxanne M. Faber
Emily Reynolds Fiorilli and Paul Fiorilli
Beth and Tom Granger
Ms. Jackie Blizzard
William Guarino
James and Dorothy Guyot
Judith and Richard Hitz
Jacob Huntman
Mark Jackson
Lori Jones
Robert and Shelly Julius
Nate Kaufman
Corbin and Alexandra Kennelly
Terrance and Sara Koch
Jeff and Debbie Lambrecht
Ty and Lisa LaPrairie
Kim and Rob Larson
David Lawrence
Jacquelyn Malloy
Brandyn Garlitz-Malpass
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Mathers
Kenneth McCardel
Sharon McDonald
Ms. Melanie Miller
Alec and Jiayl Misra
Janey Newton
Bob and Kris Niemi
Michael Ouellette
Margaret and Richard Patmos
Kari Phillips
Lloyd and Christine Pont
Kay Young-oh Poulter
Ms. Dawn D. Pumford
Mark Ringholz and Colin Stevens
Chrystianna Roisen
Matthew and Kelly Ryder
Taylor and Tyler Sobczak
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Stanbrough
Lizzie, Ira and Jude Stewart
Richard and Joanne Stewart
William and Kathleen Blondin-Stone
Joe and Carol Strong
Wendy Warren
Timothy and Amy Wenger
Bill Williams
Brad Williams
Lisa Wood
Mark and Kali Worley
Thomas and Deborah Zukowski
SAVE THE TREES & ROCK THE FOREST
PHOTOS BY CHARLIE BAKER
Over 400 people gathered on a gorgeous summer night in July for our annual fundraiser, Save the Trees. This was our most successful year with over $250,000 raised! Funds raised from this event and Rock the Forest directly support what you love and value most about LTC: protecting land in northern Michigan, building and maintaining trails, and getting children outdoors. Thank you for making this a monumental year!
What is Rock the Forest?
For the third year in a row, LTC partnered with Caroline and Gardiner Garrard to bring back Rock the Forest, a concert benefiting conservation immediately following Save the Trees. $50 from every concert ticket was donated directly to LTC. This year’s featured artists, The Castellows, put on a phenomenal performance. It was a magical evening of live music overlooking the Offield Family Viewlands as the sun set on Little Traverse Bay.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SAVE THE TREES 2024 SPONSORS
Save the Trees Committee Chairs: Emily Everest and Kelsey Offield
*Denotes Committee Members
SILVER MAPLE $30,000
Everest Family*
Kelsey Lee Offield and Cole Sternberg*
CEDAR $20,000
Amy and George Joseph Pierrepont Family*
BLACK CHERRY $10,000
Little Juice
Chase and Jena Offield
RED OAK $5,000
Anonymous Frey Family
Woody Gardner
Ms. Audie Otto
Joseph J. Schott Foundation
WHITE PINE $2,500
Mrs. Ann R. Baruch
Christy and Jim Everest
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner W. Garrard Jr.
Katie and Rob Holton*
Diana and Jim Huckle
Hollye and Jeff Jacobs*
Elizabeth Kenan
Mr. and Mrs. John B. McCoy
Susan Offield
Rogan and Dunne Saal
Teddy and Molly Schiff*
Dr. David Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Michael VanLokeren
EASTERN HEMLOCK $1,000
Baiardi Family Foundation, Inc.
David and Robyn Barrie
Rick and Linda Bolton
Martha and Andrew Bowman*
Kevin and Heather Byer
John and Donna Carruthers
Mrs. Thomas H. Carruthers IV*
Tom and Katie Carruthers
Kathleen Cavanagh
Neil Coleman
Brynne and Bob Coletti
Michael and Karen Donnelly
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Donovan
Mrs. Walter W. Fisher
Yvonne Fisher
Mr. and Mrs. Colin FitzSimons
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. FitzSimons
Chris Ford and Ali Hill
Paul and Olga Friedman
Brian and Gretchen Grad
Bonnie and Beeb Graham
Robert and Pat Hemingway Hall
Platt and Barbara Hill
Rick and Lotsie Holton
Stephen and Molly Kircher
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Kost*
Dave and Doreen Kresnak
Mr. and Mrs. Mason H. Lampton
Michael N. Lynch
Chad and Paige Meuse
Steve and Anne Murray
John and Sharon Neighbours
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Nolan
Ms. Linda Orlans
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Petzold
John C. Richter
Bill Roney and Joanne Kelley
Running Water
Mrs. Jeanette D. Schouweiler
Maureen and Dan Shaheen*
Deborah Shaw and Steve Marquardt
Karla Sherman
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Simons
Bob Solt and Anne Couture
Stephanie and Austin Stephens
Summers Foundation
Deborah R. Taggart
John and Laura Tanton de Olazarra
Place Tegland
Caroline and Ed Thomas
Don and Mary Trout
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Walkowiak
Dr. and Mrs. John A. Woollam
BALSAM FIR $500
Peggy Abood*
Mr. and Mrs. J. Hord Armstrong III
Caroline Bacon
Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Baun
Robert and Christy Berry
Mr. George Peter Block, Jr.
Sally and Ian Bund
Howard and Jeannie Canada
Walter and Jane Enterline*
Dr. David and Heidi Finley
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fisher
Elise Fisher
Paul and Claire Forney
Mrs. Robert W. Greene III
Patrick and Kathleen Haas
Jeff and Cindy Hall
Mrs. Ann K. Irish
Marcee and Grant James
Mr. P. Abbott McCartney
John and Mary Merrill
Midge Miller
Christopher and Kate Mitchell
Nub’s Nob Ski Area
Jill Patterson
Thomas and Sarah Post*
Peter and Lisa Schiff
Holly and Stuart Seltman
Constantinos and Robin Skiadas
Leigh Spicer and Edward Blake
Bill and Carolyn Stark
Susan and Gary Stewart
Stephen and Laurie-Jo Straty
Rob Suess and Sharon Mathison Suess
Ms. Anne Wallace
Wells Wallace and Michael Dulfer*
TAMARACK - $250
Neil W. and Elizabeth Ahrens
Anonymous
Dale and Kayla Briggs
Mrs. Reynold Brinker
Ellen Byrne and John Richert
Carolyn Candler and Charles Leahy
Amy and Scott Carbeck
Sara Charles
Charles and Mary Beth Clark
Crooked Tree Arts Center
Douglas and Ellen Depodesta
Bert and Tina Donovan
David Egger and Julie Cullman
Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Eide, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Pete Everest
Mr. and Mrs. John N. Failey
Patrick and Kelly Finn
Andrew and Eileen Fisher
Ms. Lee Ford
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Ford
Peter and Sarah Ford
Christopher and Ann McCarthy-Garland
Brion Gopigian
Patti and Balky Grannis
Dr. William and Tira Hightower
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Hightower
Mark and Mary Hramiec Hoffman*
Joslin Family Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Kimmell II
Kenneth and Susan Kirchner
Jacob and Maggie Kloss
Sandra and Chet Kowal
Martin Letts
Terry Long and Karen Graham
Scott and Eva MacDonald
Will and Kathleen Macomber
Mr. David B. McVicker
Lawre and Cullen Morrow
Ellie and Matt Nader
Tyler and Jennifer Neal
Dan and Kelly Ann O’Hare
Marta and Peter Olson
Steve and Anthy Paddock
John and Grace Pantlind
Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Parker
Meredith and Peter Perkins
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Plawecki, Jr.
Paul and MK Quinlan
Craig Rapin
William and Cynthia Rohde
Thomas and Kimberly Rowland
Mike and Sara Schmidt
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan M. Swift
Mr. and Mrs. Leighton Tegland Jr.*
Trevor and Kari VandenBrink
Trigg and Ellen Waller
Patsy Warner
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Werner II
Gill Whitman*
BUSINESS SPONSORS
Belle Aquatic
Decka Digital
Evening Star Joinery
Fischer Insurance
Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac
Little Juice
Petoskey Plastics
IN KIND DONORS
Drost Landscape
Chip and Emily Everest
Fisher Family
Gurney’s Harbor Bottle Shop
Kelsey Lee Offield and Cole Sternberg
Robbie and Lindsay Everest
Jane and Reed Eberly
Ms. Tricia L. Everest
Gary and Denise Fate
Mr. and Mrs. Gunby J. Garrard
Karen Glorio and Mike Green
Dr. and Mrs. Dwayne Griffin
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU!
Les Arnold, Gary High, Bill Hodges, Nils Lindwall, Aaron Maltby, Bill Olstrom, Bill Reed, and Scott Smith for mowing our trails all summer.
Katie Allen and the Michigan Vernal Pool Partnership for donating reptile and amphibian field guides, and for watering flowers at the Offield Family Viewlands mountain bike trailhead.
Pat Brennan, Mary Kraemer, and Tina Smith for refinishing the trailside benches at the Rogers Family Homestead Nature Preserve.
John Baker, Spencer Bednar, Patrick Dougherty, Michael Duff, Jim Ehrnst, Richard Jenkins, Renee McDuffee, Ken Neihsl, Ted Newcomb, Mark Pachla, Rose Pyant, Sarah Raunecker, Ed Tenkel, Trigg Waller, and Charles Wilson for replacing boardwalk at the Naas, Mauger, Raunecker Nature Preserve.
Sawyer Zink and Scout Troop 5 for building and installing six benches and a picnic table at the Tanton Family Reserve for Sawyer’s Eagle Scout project.
Neely Buntin for interning with us in July.
John Baker and Richard Jenkins for taking an entire day out of their schedules to install an office divider.
John Baker, Julie and Pat Dougherty, and Richard Jenkins for trail maintenance at Goodhart Farms Preserve.
John Baker for help installing signs at Melvin Family Reserve, paint blazing the trails, building kiosks, and much, much more!
Vedya Boikess and Chris and Elaine Nesbitt for helping with trail maintenance at The Hill Nature Preserve.
Spencer Bednar, Pat Dougherty, Richard Jenkins, Peri McGuiness for planting beach grass at the Woollam Family Nature Preserve.
Pat Alguire and Stan Royalty for removing invasive plants at the Charles A. Ransom Nature Preserve.
Larry Liebler for help with the second nature megaphone at the Robert L. Bytwerk Forest Reserve and building beautiful flower boxes for the Offield Family Viewlands mountain bike trailhead.
Toby Dawson, Mattias Jerman, Danny Murphy, and Josie Peterman for removing invasive plants at the Offield Family Viewlands Working Forest Reserve.
Pat Alguire, Bob and Sheridan Haack, Debbie Hindle, Glen and Diane Matthews, Peri McGuniess and her sister Lindy, Sharyl Rambo, Andi Shafer and Pam Tyler, as well as Matt Buza, Zach Ernst and Tamara Weidlich from Northland Self Storage for pulling invasive spotted knapweed at Woollam Family Preserve.
Richard Jenkins for helping install memorial benches, clearing trails, and much, much more!
Jerri LaCount and Mike McNamara for help with miscellaneous tasks at preserves in and around Harbor Springs.
Ed Pike for consultation on, and participation in, the American Kestrel volunteer monitoring project.
Pat Alguire for going above and beyond as a volunteer Land Steward and helping build a boardwalk at Wisser-Saworski Nature Preserve.
Pat Alguire, Eric Andersen, John Baker, Spencer Bednar, Jim Ehrnst, Richard Jenkins, Glen Matthews, Peri McGuiness, and Stan Royalty for building boardwalks and a bridge at the L. John and Helen Bishop Working Forest Reserve.
Pat Alguire, Peri McGuniess, Mary Merrill, Diane Morand, Chris Reyes, and Ellen Waller for removing invasive spotted knapweed at the Fisher Family Nature Preserve.
JoAnn Astolfi, Barb Bechhold, Annee Bollinger, Sandy Bollinger, Michaleen and Nick Karay, Karen Knapp, Peri McGuiness, and Peggy Swenor for help with our summer membership mailing.
Chris Ford, Sharyl Rambo, and Andi Shafer for habitat restoration on the Maple River.
Richard Lord and Stan Royalty for removing invasive plants at the UhNi-Nah-Tig Ziibing Preserve.
Glen Matthews for ecological consultation and drafting management plans for new preserves.
Spencer Bednar and Richard Jenkins for removing invasive garlic mustard from the Naas, Mauger, Raunecker Nature Preserve.
Tarji Rodriguez and Erik Sephansen for a boat ride to preserves on Marquette Island in the Les Cheneaux.
Emily Everest and Kelsey Offield for serving as Save the Trees cochairs. Also, thanks to Claire Fleming and Lisa Morris for volunteering and Drost Landscape for donating a beautiful landscape display.
Dave and Nancy Cluley, Barbara Hill, Marc and Kathy Lame, Peri McGuiness, Ed Tenkel, and Kathy Wassmann for pulling invasive spotted knapweed at the Kalman Nature Preserve.
Volunteer trail blazer Jon Royle with TOMMBA for clearing trees at Tanton Family Reserve.
Bill Olstrom for removing trees and helping with trail and parking area improvements at the Charles M. Taylor III- Olstrom Family Preserve complex, and Pat Alguire, John Baker, Richard Jenkins, Marc Lame, Mark Pachla, Stan Royalty and Dan and Kathy Wassmann for helping with trail maintenance there.
Brian Paul for clearing trees at the Round Lake Nature Preserve.
Nick Liebler for donating architectural drawings for a pavilion at the Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails.
Pat Alguire, John Baker, Patrick and Julie Dougherty, Dan Dueweke and Richard Jenkins for being on-call trail blazers when we need help clearing trees.
Joanne Biddick for donating flower arrangements for LTC’s Annual Meeting.
Todd Moyer for taking amazing photography of LTC properties.
Marty Amlin and Dianne Lirzenberger for editing expertise.
THANK YOU SUMMER STAFF!
Quinn Sommer was a Conservation Technician who assisted Brad Von Blon and Amy Lipson most days at LTC. This entailed helping with ECAR inventory and invasive species management.
Quinn’s highlight of the summer was a three day biological inventorying of Marquette Island, “It was an exciting and memorable experience. Despite the damp start, we had an extremely successful trip and documented several new species, including a county record Zig-zag Darner (dragonfly).”
Team LTC
Our members and volunteers
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Phil Porter, Chair
Susan I. Stewart, Vice Chair
Jon Lyons, Treasurer
Karie Slavik, Secretary
Josh Baker
Lisa Blanchard
Richard M. Bolton
Erin Burns
George M. Covington
Frank Ettawageshik
Mary Faculak
Jeffrey S. Ford
Gregg K. Garver
John Griffin
Eric Hemenway
Dave Kring
Kyle Nimon was our Austin College intern for the summer. He jumped in with stewardship staff as if he had always been a part of the team. He was enthusiastic about building boardwalks, doing trail maintenance, and anything else that was needed.
Kyle’s favorite part of working with LTC was kayaking the Maple River! “The weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful. I couldn’t have asked for better people to spend my summer with.”
Brendan Sommer was our Stewardship Trail Technician. He helped keep LTC trails clean for better user enjoyment and helped build new trails.
Brendan’s favorite part of the summer was “working along an amazing team to complete projects” and “making a positive impact not only in the community we are working in, but for generations to come.”
Darrell Lawson
Glen Matthews
R. Charlie McLravy
Anne T. Melvin
John Merrill
Emerson Meyer
Marta Olson
Consie Pierrepont
Cedric Richner
Bill Roney
Tom Rowland
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
COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH
Anne Fleming, Director
Taylor Sobczak
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
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.
Little Traverse Conservancy
3264 Powell Road Harbor Springs, MI 49740
www.landtrust.org
Address Service Requested
FALL 2024 EVENTS
TAP INTO TRAILS
Ride the North Central State Trail to the Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve
September 21 | 8:30am from Festival Square, Cheboygan
Join LTC and Top of Michigan Trails Council on a round-trip bike ride to the beautiful 600-acre Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve. The ride will depart from downtown Cheboygan and follow the North Central State Trail to the preserve. We will park our bikes along the trail to take a short walk down to Lake Huron at the preserve. This ride will be 15.5 miles total. While the trail is flat, riders should come prepared. It is not a ride for young children. The path to the shore of Lake Huron includes steps and uneven ground, so comfortable walking shoes are advised. Helmets and plenty of water are also encouraged!
Birding at the Duncan Bay Nature Preserve
September 21 | 9am
Join Michael Turisk, board member of the Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch, for an easy birding walk through the Duncan Bay Nature Preserve. Lying along the shore of Lake Huron and the Sunrise Coast Birding Trail, this preserve offers incredible habitat for both resident and migratory species. The focus will be various fall migrants that move through the Straits area in September. There is no charge, but attendance is limited to 15 participants. Please email mturisk@gmail.com to register.
Cranberry Picking at Vermilion Point Nature Preserve
September 28 | 11 am-2pm
Early fall can be one of the nicest times to visit Vermilion Point. With luck, there will be blue skies, no frost, warm water, fall color, and no bugs. Tom Allan, who lived at Vermilion Point for eight years, will lead a cranberry-picking field trip at this remote preserve. He’ll cover a little history on the old cranberry farm and the life-saving station, and a little bit of wetland and interdunal ecology. Bring your own bucket to fill!
Mountain Bike Experience at Offield Family Viewlands
October 4 | 4:30-6:30pm
Explore the brand new Offield Family Viewlands Mountain Bike Trail with staff members Nate and Taylor. Just finished this summer, this trail is ready to be broken in. With optional skills and tight switch back berms, this trail is a workout! Bring your own bike, helmet, and plenty of water.
Fall Wildlife Hike at Greenwood Foundation’s Elk Ridge
October 5 | 10am-12pm
Join Greenwood Foundation staff as you hike their newlyacquired, and conservation easement-protected, Elk Ridge: A Wildlife Haven. Enjoy the fall colors on Elk Ridge as you hike this rolling and diverse property - keeping your eyes and ears open for migratory birds, wild turkeys and bugling elk. Registration appreciated and please call 231.347.0991 for specific directions.
Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve Fall Hike
Fall Migratory Birding at Waldron Fen Nature Preserve September 24 | 8-10am
Summer staffer Quinn Sommer is an avid birder who spotted over 400 birds in 2023. He is excited to lead a birding event with LTC before his summer season with LTC is over. This hike will be at Waldron Fen Nature Preserve, a spectacular birding preserve of LTC’s. Please bring your own binoculars. Clothes and shoes to hike in wet, uneven terrain are recommended.
Mountain Bike Adventure at Melvin Family Reserve September 27 | 5-7pm
Join staff members Joe and Dirk for a mountain biking adventure at the new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails. This trail system was professionally created by Rock Solid with flowing tracks and skills loops throughout the trail. It’s bound to be a great ride. Bring your own bike, helmet, and plenty of water.
October 11 | 2-4pm
Once again Ecology Specialist Brad Von Blon will be leading an ecology hike! This fall he asks you to join him at the everpopular Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve. Dominated by hardwood forest, the property includes red pine plantations, a meadow, a creek, and a cedar swamp that provide excellent habitat for wildlife, making this a great property to explore and learn more about.
To register for events, visit landtrust.org/events.