Shirley Heinze Land Trust invites the public to an event highlighting a rare glacier-shaped landscape in northern Indiana. “Beyond the Bog: Celebrating Land Conservation with Shirley Heinze Land Trust,” is October 23, 2026, in South Bend. Ticket sales close October 9, 2026. The Valparaiso-based nonprofit says Lydick Bog, home to one of Indiana’s last remaining sphagnum bog habitats, attracts a wide variety of birdlife and serves as a haven for amphibians and reptiles. The land trust acquired the nature preserve in 2015 and the area was designated as a state-dedicated nature preserve in 2019. This year, Lydick Bog, located in South Bend, was expanded to add 93 acres of protected land and extend the preserve’s trail system.
“Lydick Bog is special not just to our team at Shirley Heinze, but also to the community in South Bend,” said Kris Krouse, Executive Director of Shirley Heinze Land Trust. “We always enjoy connecting with partners and community members for programs and volunteer workdays hosted at Lydick Bog, and we’re excited to engage with them in a new way through this event — one that will let us keep the focus on this beloved preserve and the people who support it.”
The organization says the event will highlight Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, outline how Shirley Heinze Land Trust is working beyond the bog to conserve land and water, and recognize the South Bend community’s efforts in conservation.
Shirley Heinze Land Trust has partnered with organizations throughout South Bend to engage people in nature and conservation, including South Bend Museum of Art; Community Foundation of St. Joseph County; Milkweed Gardens, Inc.; South Bend Regional Chamber; and University of Notre Dame.
“In the relatively short time that Lydick Bog has been open to visitors, it’s become a favorite hiking place for area residents,” said Evie Kirkwood, Board President of Shirley Heinze Land Trust and retired Director of St. Joseph County Parks. “In addition, programs like Nature in the Arts, bird walks, and winter tree workshops help people gain a better understanding and appreciation for nature and the role they can play in protecting it.”
Here’s a link for more details: https://heinzetrust.org/beyond-the-bog .
