ACRES Land Trust

10/05/2026

Thank you, volunteers! 💚

This past Saturday, we gathered at Fox Island County Park to celebrate the people who make ACRES work. There was good food, good company, and plenty of great conversation about the places we all care about.

Our volunteers clear trails, pull invasive plants, lead hikes, and show up in every other kind of way. So much of what happens on our preserves happens because of them. They truly are the backbone of ACRES.

To everyone who joined us Saturday, and to everyone who gives their time throughout the year, "thank you!" We're grateful to do this work alongside you.

Want to get involved?
Learn more about volunteering at https://acreslandtrust.org/participate/volunteer/

10/01/2026

Birds are on the move. Come see who's passing through. 🐦

Join us for , a global celebration of fall migration, with an expert guide for a morning of birding at an ACRES preserve. Every bird you find becomes part of a worldwide count that helps protect them. No experience needed, just curiosity!

📅 Sat, Oct 10 | 9 to 11 am ET
📍 Asherwood (Wabash County)
📍 Lloyd W. Bender Memorial Forest (Noble County)
🎟️ $5
🔎 Bring your own binoculars

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-october-big-day-hikes-with-ilpa-tickets-1993606052369

Together with Indiana Audubon and Indiana Land Protection Alliance - ILPA

10/01/2026

Great ways to get outdoors during this month in Noble County!

09/28/2026

These past few months have been full of water, in the best way!

We learned about stream health during a water quality monitoring demonstration at Fawn River Nature Preserve. Dodged raindrops during our native garden workday, with a big thank-you to the Libertarian Party of Indiana, District 3, for lending a hand. We celebrated the protection of The Mackel Family Nature Preserve and the water that flows through it. We waded into creeks and around ponds during hikes, and we even gathered by the water for a concert (Huge thanks to the Todd Harrold Band!)

Ready for what's next? Fall is one of the best seasons to be outside, and our calendar is filling up. Find your next event here: https://acreslandtrust.org/participate/events/

09/25/2026

To mark the Fall Equinox, the ACRES staff spent a day exploring Steuben County, a corner of our region full of lakes, woods, and people who care deeply about both.

📍 Lee Family Perfect Lake Nature Preserve → We started the morning by learning about the site's continued restoration plans.
📍 Brennan Woods → Our friends at Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy showed us the impressive work they're doing to protect the water around Clear Lake. Thank you for hosting us!
📍 Wing Haven → A quick stop to see Little Gentian Lake and the work being done on the north side.
📍 Beechwood Nature Preserve → We finished with a trek to see the monumental restoration efforts our stewardship crew has poured into this place by removing walls of invasive shrubs to let the prairie thrive once again.

09/24/2026

AUTUMN OUTDOORS IN DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA

Fall is a great time to get outside and explore DeKalb County, Indiana. From nature preserves and walking trails to rivers, wooded landscapes, prairies, and parks, there are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors in Northeast Indiana.

Whether you’re looking for a fall walk, bike ride, nature photography, birdwatching, kayaking, canoeing, or a quiet place to enjoy the changing leaves, DeKalb County offers outdoor experiences for every pace.

Explore local trails, discover protected natural areas, follow the river, and experience the colors of autumn throughout Auburn, Garrett, Butler, Spencerville, and communities across DeKalb County.

Plan a fall outdoor adventure in DeKalb County, Indiana.

https://visitdekalb.org/2025/10/reset-in-nature-discover-dekalb-countys-hidden-natural-retreats/

Your ongoing link to all the fun and excitement, entertainment, and attractions in DeKalb County, In

09/24/2026

JAMES P. COVELL NATURE PRESERVE | FALL IN DEKALB COUNTY

Experience the changing landscape of autumn at James P. Covell Nature Preserve in DeKalb County, Indiana.

This 96-acre nature preserve protects approximately 2,700 feet of Cedar Creek and features agricultural fields, emerging forests, wetlands, and mature floodplain trees. The preserve provides habitat for wildlife including wild turkeys, great blue herons, and otters.

Fall is an ideal time to experience the changing vegetation, mature trees, creek views, and natural landscape throughout the preserve.

For anyone looking for nature preserves, wildlife viewing, outdoor recreation, and scenic places to explore in Northeast Indiana, James P. Covell Nature Preserve is worth discovering.

📍 James P. Covell Nature Preserve
DeKalb County, Indiana

09/21/2026

Tomorrow marks the fall equinox, and we're marking it by getting outside together as a team, so the ACRES office will be closed.

Back to business as usual on Wednesday! 🍂

09/18/2026

If you want to know how healthy a place really is, look at its water.

That's exactly what ACRES members Eric and Pat do every week for much of the year — testing water quality for the LaGrange County Soil and Water Conservation District. Checking things like oxygen levels, clarity, and pH just takes someone willing to show up and pay attention.

Land protection and water monitoring go hand in hand. ACRES preserves the wetlands, streamside forests, and prairies that filter water before it ever reaches a creek. Groups like the LaGrange County SWCD track whether that water remains healthy.

Volunteer water monitoring programs are open to anyone willing to learn. You don't need a science background, just curiosity and a little patience.

Want to get involved in monitoring the water near you? Many county Soil and Water Conservation Districts run volunteer monitoring programs; check with yours to see what's available.

09/18/2026

We've got a variety of events coming up over the next few weeks!

Collect native seed for future restoration projects, hike a preserve and grab some local eats, be a citizen scientist and join a bird count in October, spend a relaxing afternoon with a picnic by a pond in a nature preserve, and so much more.

Whatever your interest, head over to this link, sign up (if required by the event) and enjoy some time connecting with the land this fall: https://acreslandtrust.org/participate/events/