News

Following Footsteps

Some conservation stories begin with a rare species discovery or a major land acquisition. Others begin with a walk in the woods.

More than 50 years ago, Susan and Ted Ulrich were searching for a place where they could build a life connected to nature. After moving to the Lafayette area so Ted could work at Purdue University, they explored several properties before arriving at a forested hillside along the Wabash River. Their visit happened during peak bloom of spring ephemeral wildflowers, and the land immediately captured their imagination. Beneath towering trees, wildflowers carpeted the forest floor. Streams cut through wooded ravines, and a sandstone waterfall tumbled down the hillside.

They knew they had found home.

Today, that same 86-acre property is becoming NICHES Land Trust's newest preserve: Footsteps

This summer, Susan (one of NICHES' founding members) is donating the property to NICHES through an extraordinarily generous bargain sale. In addition to transferring the land, she is making a significant contribution to NICHES' stewardship endowment to help ensure the preserve can be cared for and restored for generations to come.

The story of Footsteps is deeply intertwined with the history of NICHES itself.

Susan's love of nature began in childhood, when she noticed native plants along her walk to school and shared her observations with her mother, who helped identify them. That curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for ecology and conservation. Together, Susan and Ted spent decades learning from the land around them, removing invasive species, documenting native plants and wildlife, and observing the natural processes that shaped the property over time.

Their involvement with the local conservation community eventually led them to the Sycamore Audubon Society, where they found friendship, mentorship, and inspiration. Those connections would help spark a much larger vision: creating a local land trust dedicated to protecting the natural heritage of northern and west-central Indiana.

When NICHES Land Trust was incorporated in 1995, Susan was among the founding members. In fact, some of NICHES' earliest board meetings were held in the living room of the Ulrich home overlooking the very land that will now become Footsteps Preserve.

For decades, Susan planned to leave the property to NICHES through her estate. But she ultimately decided to make the transfer during her lifetime. By doing so, she can remain connected to the land she loves while helping guide its future and witnessing the impact of long-term conservation stewardship.

As Susan reflects on the decision, she recognizes that while one person can accomplish meaningful conservation work, a dedicated stewardship team can build upon those efforts and carry them forward. Through NICHES, the habitats she and Ted cared for will continue to be restored, studied, and protected far into the future.

She chose the name "Footsteps" to reflect that belief.

The name honors those who walked this land before her, the many volunteers and conservationists who helped care for it over the years, and the future generations of stewards who will continue the work. It is a reminder that conservation is not the achievement of a single person, but a shared responsibility passed from one generation to the next.

Footsteps is also an extraordinary conservation opportunity. Located between the Ross Hills and Black Rock natural areas, the property serves as a critical connection in an important wildlife corridor along the Wabash River. Its protection will help create a larger, more connected landscape where plants and wildlife can thrive.

The preserve includes three streams with high-quality floodplain habitats, rolling oak woodlands, sandstone outcrops, and two remarkable sandstone waterfalls, including a stunning 20-foot cascade. Spring wildflowers such as trillium and wild ginger flourish throughout the woods, alongside uncommon species including ginseng and goldenseal.

Protecting Footsteps ensures that these habitats – and the countless species that depend on them – will remain part of our region's natural heritage forever.

NICHES is deeply grateful to Susan for her trust, vision, and extraordinary generosity. We are also thankful to the Laura Hare Charitable Trust, the Whistler Foundation, and the many friends of conservation who have helped make this project possible through support of both the acquisition and stewardship endowment.

Susan and Ted's footsteps helped shape the story of NICHES. Now, thanks to their generosity, countless others will have the opportunity to follow them.

 

Help NICHES Take the Next Step

Footsteps is a powerful example of what can happen when a conservation-minded landowner chooses to invest in the future of a special place. Because Susan and Ted planned ahead, and because supporters stepped forward to help, this remarkable property will remain protected forever.

But opportunities like this do not come along on a predictable schedule. Landowners often approach NICHES when they are ready to make important decisions about the future of their property, and having resources available allows us to act when those moments arise.

Gifts to the NICHES Land Acquisition Fund help make conservation possible by providing the flexible funding needed to protect significant natural areas before they are lost to development or fragmentation. Whether it is a woodland like Footsteps, a rare prairie, or a critical stretch of river corridor, these funds help ensure that NICHES can respond when conservation opportunities emerge.

If Susan and Ted's story has inspired you, please consider making a gift to the Land Acquisition Fund.

Together, we can ensure that the next conservation success story is ready when the opportunity arrives.