22 Things ACRES Supporters Made Possible in 2022
Thanks to ACRES supporters — members, volunteers, land donors and many others — we were able to achieve so much in 2022! As this year comes to an end, we want to share 22 things our supporters made possible in 2022.
1. We protected and cared for over 7,400 acres of natural and working lands in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio, including a NEW ACRES preserve in DeKalb County!
2. You helped us celebrate the Grand Reopening of our headquarters at the Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve in Huntertown. Recent improvements make the ACRES headquarters more accessible to visitors and increase our capacity to protect more local land.
3. Interns and ACRES staff conducted invasive species management on 400 acres between June and September — a record-breaking summer for stewardship.
4. Volunteers maintained trails, provided event support, archived records, digitized paperwork and so much more. We hosted 18 volunteer workdays where volunteers bagged litter, removed non-native invasive plants, collected native seeds and planted trees.
5. We hosted scientists on ACRES properties to conduct botanical surveys, search for bumble bees, survey fish in Cedar Creek and more!
6. We planted over 25,000 trees and installed over 100 acres of native habitat.
7. ACRES offered fun and inspiring programs, hosting 32 events this year to inspire people to value, appreciate and support the land we protect.
8. Volunteers built an observation deck that overlooks Cedar Creek at the Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve.
9. We learned about rare, threatened and endangered species that live in the places we protect, including Kirtland’s snake and purple twayblade orchid.
10. The stewardship staff expanded parking areas, replaced old signs and improved trail maintenance at nine nature preserves this year.
11. We hosted our very first Lifetime Member Cookout. We enjoyed meeting new and longtime members who have made a lifelong commitment to protecting land. Would you like to become a Lifetime Member of ACRES? Click here to join!
12. We opened the first phase of an accessible trail system at the Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve.
13. ACRES staff explored our service area during four seasonal staff outings. We spent these days getting to know the communities we serve, building relationships and having fun.
14. We expanded our native garden at the ACRES office. We planted more than 1,000 Indiana natives, including 29 different native species!
15. We released a new Trail Guide, featuring 31 protected places to explore. Get your copy here!
16. ACRES preserve and trailhead signs got a makeover. We also added an exit sign encouraging visitors to join.
17. We added 243 new members. Welcome!
18. Volunteer preserve stewards and trail monitors maintained 60 miles of trails.
19. ACRES preserves served as venues for partner programs, including a plein air painting workshop and forest preschool.
20. We helped the National Park Service celebrate 60 years of recognizing and encouraging the conservation of America’s natural heritage through the National Natural Landmarks Program by making a short video about Hanging Rock that was shared nationally.
21. As part of our 200-year Ecological Reflections project, artist Matt Mabis created artwork about Wing Haven.
22. ACRES was awarded funding from Indiana’s Next Level Conservation Trust to protect more land in the region.
You can help ACRES achieve even more in 2023 by making an end-of-year gift. Thank you for supporting ACRES!
