BLOOMINGTON — Construction is officially underway on the first phase of Sycamore Land Trust’s Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center in northwest Monroe County.
After more than two decades of delivering environmental education across southern Indiana, the non-profit organization is establishing its first permanent, fully ADA-accessible center. The facility will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about vital ecosystems indoors before stepping outside to explore them.
Slated to open in spring 2027, the center will unite habitat restoration, public recreation, and environmental education within a restored wetland landscape along Beanblossom Creek. Located roughly 10 minutes north of Bloomington near Dolan, the project sits on a 113-acre nature preserve within Sycamore’s 2,400-acre Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area.
Transforming the Property
Phase one of the development focuses on renovating an existing ranch-style house into an accessible education center. Features will include:
- Indoor and outdoor classrooms
- Community meeting spaces
- A dedicated bird observation room equipped with spotting scopes overlooking the wetlands
The design and construction project team includes Strauser Construction, Casseaux Architecture & Design, and Abram-Moss Design Group, LLC.
“The Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center represents the next chapter in Sycamore’s commitment to protecting land while helping people connect with it,” said Alex Sienkiewicz, Executive Director of Sycamore Land Trust. “By bringing together wetland restoration, environmental education, and public access in one place, we’re creating opportunities for people to experience conservation firsthand and understand why these landscapes matter.”
A Thriving Birding Sanctuary & Habitat Restoration
Even before its public opening, the preserve has gained recognition as a premier birding location. Observers monitoring the site from a pull-off along Old State Road 37 have documented over 150 species on eBird. Notable sightings include state-endangered species such as the American bittern and northern harrier, alongside species of special concern like the solitary sandpiper.
Sycamore is actively expanding habitat restoration on-site in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The efforts build upon initial restoration started decades ago by previous property owners and will focus on:
- Expanding existing wetland areas
- Planting native forests and pollinator habitats
- Improving stormwater management
Future visitors will also be able to explore a new seasonal hiking trail and wildlife observation points. The trail will feature a “Bird Box Trail,” created in partnership with Bird Magic LLC, designed to show how nest boxes support cavity-nesting species such as barn owls, prothonotary warblers, wood ducks, tree swallows, and American kestrels.
Empowering Future Conservationists
Since 2005, Sycamore’s environmental education program has reached hundreds of thousands of participants. The new facility will serve as the hub for these expanding initiatives, offering school field trips, guided hikes, water quality testing, birding workshops, and hands-on restoration programs.
“The best way to inspire conservation is to help people experience it for themselves,” said Saige Sentell, Sycamore Land Trust’s Education Director. “Nestled along Beanblossom Creek, the Carl Ziegler Wetlands and Education Center will provide an opportunity for others to explore Indiana’s natural heritage… We hope this facility will inspire the next generation of conservationists who want to protect and advocate for Indiana and beyond.”
Community Partnerships and Support
Sycamore acquired the 113-acre parcel in 2022 through crucial financial contributions from the Sam Shine Foundation, the Raymond Foundation, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Next Level Conservation Trust, the Namaste Foundation, and private donors Nancy Ralston, Jim and Bobbi Diehl, and Tom Mayer.
Major funding for the construction of the center comes from a gift from the estate of Dr. Carl H. Ziegler, a lifelong educator and Bloomington community member for whom the facility is named.
Early project funding was provided by the Raymond Foundation and Alexandra “Sandy” Lynch and Jack Shelton in memory of Bill and Cookie Lynch. Additional financial backing for future improvements comes from:
- Steve and Kathy Weller
- Kathleen and Fred Henney
- The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County
- Virginia Metzger
- Randy and Jeanie Scofield
- David and Julie Zersen
Timeline and Public Access
The preserve remains closed to the public during active construction.
Upon completion of the first phase, the education center will begin hosting reservation-based group visits and educational programs. Public access to the new hiking trail is expected to open in Spring 2027. Subsequent development phases—including extra accessible trails, boardwalks, outdoor learning spaces, and elevated observation platforms—will be added as future funding allows.
To learn more about the project or explore ways to support the center, visit sycamorelandtrust.org/ziegler.
