The Year in Review

2023 was a year of meaningful impact for the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, and we’re grateful for our generous donors, partners, and Indiana DNR for joining us in celebrating and preserving Indiana’s natural legacy. This year we grew Indiana’s public lands by hundreds of acres, gave thousands of students the chance to explore the outdoors, continued to expand Indiana’s forests, and so much more.

One special project in northeast Indiana showcases the year’s success. At Mallard Roost Wetland Conservation Area (WCA), the acquisition of 158 acres of wetland and upland prairie habitat saw the INRF make a long-term impact on Indiana’s public lands. The project was made possible through the dedication of our partners, including Northeast Indiana Conservation Partnership & Preservation.

“Those of us who formed the Northeast Indiana Partnership years ago could not have imagined a better opportunity than Mallard Roost. The speed with which we were able to move and the amount we were able to pledge is exactly why we began this journey over 10 years ago. Making a lasting impact for Hoosiers that enjoy our great outdoors for years to come is what we are all about.” – Tom Kelley, Northeast Indiana Partnership co-chair

The Buchanan Unit was dedicated as part of Mallard Roost WCA in November and will open to the public in the spring.

By connecting students to Indiana’s natural legacy, the Discover the Outdoors field trip grant program continued to inspire the next generation of conservationists this year. An estimated 3,432 students from 44 different schools will spend a day exploring an Indiana State Park during the 2023-24 school year. Since the program began in 2013, more than 20,000 students have discovered Indiana’s special outdoors, including a group from Washington High School who spent a day at Spring Mill State Park in May.

“Discover the Outdoors field trips give kids an opportunity to see what a wonderful diversity of natural resources Indiana has to offer. Every field trip is an opportunity to spur curiosity and inspire the kids to be park users as adults.” – Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for Indiana State Parks.

Thanks to the continued dedication of donors, partners, and the DNR Division of Forestry, it was another successful year for the Indiana Tree Project. Plantings with Clif Bar and Huston Solar added 8,500 more trees to Indiana’s public lands. The Indiana Tree Project has also played a role in helping the Division of Forestry near its goal of planting 1 million trees, which surpassed 900,000 trees in June.

Your support makes each of these projects and programs possible, and there’s still time to make an impact in 2023. Join us in expanding Indiana’s public lands, creating and restoring habitat, and educating Hoosiers about the importance of conservation by donating today.

The year in photos: