Please volunteer with the Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) on April 4th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, as we plant 400 native black and white oak seedlings to support our local ecosystem.  Seedlings will be planted in openings created from a recent forest stand improvement project funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Services’ EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program).  

This opportunity will be at OLC’s 250-acre Atherton Island Natural Area, 6540 W County Rd. 800 S, Rosedale, IN (near Lyford, seventh-tenths of a mile east of US Hwy 41).

Participants are encouraged to bring tree planting shovels/bars, dress appropriate for the weather and wear long pants, boots, and work gloves.  No previous tree planting experience is required as training and additional tree planting tools will be provided as needed.  Registration is requested by contacting ouabachelandconservancy@gmail.com by April 1st.

If you want to help protect land and nature in the Wabash Valley, please join us at our Board meeting on Tuesday, April 7th at 5:30 p.m. at the Vigo County Public Library in the basement's Meeting Room A, 680 Poplar St, Terre Haute, IN.

Please join OLC as we host Henry Loope, Research Geologist, Indiana Geological & Water Survey, Indiana University, as we learn about the glaciation and geology of Atherton Island on April 11, 10 am – Noon.  Participants will meet at Atherton Island Natural Area, 6540 W County Rd. 800 S, Rosedale, IN (near Lyford, seventh-tenths of a mile east of US Hwy 41). 

This hike will traverse area covered by the last two ice sheets to reach Indiana. We’ll start at the terminal moraine of the most recent glaciation (Wisconsin glaciation) at the parking area and then hike the Gift of the Glacier and Edge of the Island trails to see an exposure of glacial sediment and discuss the geologic history of the Wabash River valley. The total hike length is around 1.5 miles over rugged terrain. It will very likely be wet along the creek and the exposure, so please bring study hiking boots and/or waterproof boots if you want to see the glacial sediments up close! Reservations are not required.

In collaboration with the Vigo Co. Public Library’s Big Read of “Bite by Bite” please join Ouabache Land Conservancy to walk the woods at Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve (3635 West Concannon Ave., W. Terre Haute, IN 47885) and learn how to spot Indiana’s native trees and plants by their bark, leaves , and growth habits. Along the way, you’ll hear memorable stories about how these plants were used through history. Expect an easy walk and a deeper appreciation for what’s growing around you right now.

The Vermillion Co. Soil & Water Conservation District, State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM), and Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be hosting this event.

The first half of the day will be a lecture based educational session at the Vermillion Co. Health Dept. (700 S Main St., Clinton, IN 47842), followed by lunch and a hands on hike at Atherton Island Natural Area to learn more about invasive species and timber stand improvement with Amber Slaughterbeck, SICIM Regional Specialist and Jerimiah Lemmons, IDNR District Forester. Registration required at vp_resourcetech@iaswcd.org.

Everyone is invited to join the Ouabache Land Conservancy for a spring wildflower hike at John O. Whitaker Woods Nature Preserve west of Brazil. Carissa Lovett, Naturalist at John G. Dobbs Memorial Grove Nature Center (and OLC Advisory Board Member), will lead the hike from 10:00 – 11:30 am on May 2nd. The John O. Whitaker Woods Nature Preserve is at 3801 W County Rd. 950 N, Brazil, IN 47834; with a parking area on the east side of the preserve.  This is a free program; however, reservations are required by contacting Carissa at carissa.lovett@terrehaute.in.gov or 812-877-1095 by April 28th.

Attendees are encouraged to wear long pants, tick repellent, hiking boots, or good tennis shoes.

Please join the Ouabache Land Conservancy for a spring wildflower hike of Atherton Island Natural Area, 6540 W County Road 800 S, Rosedale, IN (near Lyford, seven-tenths of a mile east of US Hwy 41), on May 2, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. 

Rich Hull, SALIX Ecological Consulting & Restoration (founder/owner), will lead participants while exploring the beautiful spring wildflowers and many of the other 474 species of vascular plants that he documented during his 2025 survey of the preserve.

No reservations are required for this family-friendly free event and participants are encouraged to wear long pants and hiking boots for this moderately rugged hike.

If you want to help protect land and nature in the Wabash Valley, please join us at our Board meeting on Tuesday, May 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the Vigo County Public Library in the basement's Meeting Room A, 680 Poplar St, Terre Haute, IN.

Experience Otter Creek is a family-friendly event to share about what lives in the Otter Creek watershed and what conservation practices can be used to protect our watershed.

This event will be held at Markle Mill Park (4905 Mill Dam Rd., Terre Haute) and is sponsored by the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission with many local natural resources conservation organizations participating.

Highlights include:

11:00 Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management electrofishing demonstration

12:00 Providence Wildlife Rehabilitation live bird education program

In addition, free Tulip tree seedlings will be given away while supplies last!

Stay tuned for more details in March!

If you want to help protect land and nature in the Wabash Valley, please join us at our Board meeting on Tuesday, June 2nd at 5:30 p.m. at the Vigo County Public Library in the basement's Meeting Room A, 680 Poplar St, Terre Haute, IN.