Chapters in Indiana

Matt Meersman, President of the Friends of the St. Joe River Association, will join us to talk about our local watershed!

Most people drive past the wildest places every day without knowing they're there. Matt Meersman found them through paddling — and in doing so, found a way to see his impact, his home, and his neighbors reflected in the water that connects us all. In this talk, he shares what two decades on the water have taught him about this remarkable watershed some call Michiana.

Matt Meersman grew up near the St. Joseph River and spent summers at his family's lake cottage in southern Michigan. He now lives along the river in downtown South Bend and works as Director of the St. Joseph River Basin Commission and President of the Friends of the St. Joe River Association. When he's not working on watershed projects, you'll likely find him paddling upstream — literally — in preparation for some of the longest and most demanding canoe races in the world. He'll tell you that his passion for conservation and his passion for canoe racing come from exactly the same place: a love of being in and on the water, and a deep appreciation for doing hard things.
 

Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, Goshen City Forester and  Environmental Resilience Department Lead, will join us to chat about Goshen's efforts to support community native trees. 

Wild Ones South Bend is hosting a free community screening of the 60 minute documentary The Extraordinary Caterpillar.  The film was made in partnership with entomologist Doug Tallamy of Homegrown National Park. The Extraordinary Caterpillar follows the scientists and community activists with a peek into the dazzling world of nature’s tiniest superheroes. Suitable for all ages.

Lindsey Spaulding will lead a drop in tour of Milkweed Commons's native garden. Milkweed Commons is an urban development project on the 500 block of South Michigan which includes rehabilitation of two historic mixed-use buildings and transformation of the adjacent vacant lots into community green spaces. The larger of the two lots will be a Pocket Park and the smaller will be a Micro Farm. The project is led by Herstoric Development, with their non-profit arm Milkweed Gardens Inc. stewarding the outdoor spaces.

Dr. Cortwright of Indiana University Northwest will join us to chat about our local amphibians.