Respite

Six Rivers’ is so grateful to our donors for their support in helping us create places of respite for future generations. Join us in giving the gift of respite by helping protect these natural areas for years to come. If you would like to know more about how you can support Six Rivers or to donate visit https://sixriverslandconservancy-bloom.kindful.com/ or contact Ashley Everhart, aeverhart@sixriversrlc.org.

Respite

By Chris Bunch, Executive Director

On a recent sunny fall morning, I was privileged to take a walk with a few Six Rivers members on a property we are working to protect. Partway into our journey one of them stopped, raised his hand and said “Listen! Do you hear that? Nothing. What a glorious thing”. Fading into the woods, drifting off on the water. The breeze, the leaves rattling in the trees, waves lapping, birds and critters going about their business. When the color of water merges into the leaden color of the sky with the wind whipping the tops off the waves, skin tingling and numbing in the cold. These are the places I find respite—outdoors, in nature, in the wild. Respite. From the onslaught of information, demands, obligations, and the clamoring for attention across every forum of our connected world. Respite is essential in this world full of demands, productivity and doing. Much is said about the healing power of immersion in the natural world. I know it from experience, starting from as early as I have memory. At Six Rivers Land Conservancy, we work to conserve, sustain and connect natural areas, lands and waters – protecting the places that provide respite. For people, for nature, for all its inhabitants. It is my great desire and privilege to share this fundamental part of me— to give something back to the natural world I reside in. To honor the lessons learned from elders and share them with generations to come, so others may find respite in the world we inhabit. Your contribution to Six Rivers is a gift to the future. The land we protect provides respite for our fellow travelers now and yet to come. I invite you to join me on this journey—to share in the intimate experience of respite in nature, and to help ensure it is there for future generations.

A Season of Thanks

Six Rivers’ Board President, Amy O’Leary, shares a personal thank you for your continued support. Amy O’Leary is the Executive Director of SEMCOG and has been on the board of Six Rivers since 2014 sharing her knowledge and passion for the preservation of nature. She has recently been announced as Crain’s 2024 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders. If you would like to know more about how you can support Six Rivers, please contact Ashley Everhart, aeverhart@sixriversrlc.org.

A Heartfelt Thanksgiving: Honoring Our Donors & Celebrating the Power of Nature

By Amy O’Leary, Board President

As Thanksgiving approaches, all of us at Six Rivers want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to you—our incredible supporters. This year, we’ve made remarkable strides in our mission, and your generosity has been at the heart of it all. Thanks to you, “Nature Near You” is transforming not just the physical landscape of Southeast Michigan but also the well-being of everyone who calls this region home.

We know that nature isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential. Countless studies confirm what many of us feel intuitively: separation from nature is harmful to our health and happiness, while regular connection with the natural world fosters mental and physical well-being. That’s the power of nature, and it’s why we’re so passionate about protecting and preserving it.

Finding Connection Through Nature—For All of Us

Science backs what many of us have experienced firsthand: nature heals. Studies in the Netherlands reveal that residents of greener neighborhoods have a 44% lower rate of anxiety disorders compared to those in areas with less green space. People who live near trails are 50% more likely to meet recommended physical activity levels. And even something as simple as a 20-minute walk in a park can help children with ADHD focus better.

It doesn’t matter where you live or what stage of life you’re in—nature is there, offering calm, clarity, and connection.

I can relate to this deeply. For me, time in nature isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Whether it’s a hike in the woods after a long workweek or a quick walk through my local park between back-to-back meetings, being outdoors helps me reset. Even my 20-minute power walks around the neighborhood have become a cherished ritual during busy days.

And when I travel, I seek out nature, too. A few weeks ago, I explored the stunning landscapes of Arizona—Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Grand Canyon by helicopter. It was breathtaking and reminded me once again why connecting with nature is so vital. (By the way, if you haven’t looked up Antelope Canyon yet, I highly recommend it—it was my screensaver before I finally visited in person!)

The Impact of your Generosity

While these sites are truly inspiring, it’s the nature near me that provides the daily support that I need.

For example, parks and recreation services do so much more than provide green spaces—they foster healthier eating, offer senior programs, and even support diabetes management. Walking in a natural setting, for instance, can reduce blood glucose levels more effectively than hours of indoor exercise.

The moments I treasure in nature—and the benefits so many others enjoy—are only possible because of you. Your generosity fuels Six Rivers’ mission, enabling us to protect natural spaces, host community hikes, and steward the land for future generations. Together, we’re ensuring that everyone has access to the healing power of nature.

A Season of Thanks

This Thanksgiving, as we gather with loved ones, we want to celebrate you—our supporters—as part of our Six Rivers family. Your belief in our mission inspires us every day, and we’re so grateful for the difference you make.

From all of us at Six Rivers, we wish you a season of peace, warmth, and gratitude. Thank you for helping us create a brighter, greener future—one step at a time.

Celebrate Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Day!

Donor-Advised Fund Day or DAF Day is October 10th: Six Rivers board member, Robert Ignasiak, is a Certified Public Accountant and has shared his knowledge on DAF’s in this article. If you would like to know more about leaving a charitable donation from your DAF, please contact Ashley Everhart at aeverhart@sixriversrlc.org.

Celebrate DAF Day 2024: Make a Lasting Impact on Land Conservation with Your Donor Advised Fund

By Robert Ignasiak, Board Trustee

As we approach DAF Day on October 10, 2024, we invite you to consider how your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) can make a meaningful difference in preserving the landscapes we cherish. DAF’s have become an increasingly popular way to give back, offering a flexible and tax-efficient method of charitable giving while ensuring that vital causes, like land conservation, continue to thrive.

What Is a Donor Advised Fund?

A Donor Advised Fund is a charitable giving vehicle that allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants from the fund over time to your favorite nonprofits, including land conservancies like ours. It’s a powerful tool for donors who want to maximize their impact without the complexities of managing a private foundation.

Why Choose a DAF for Land Conservation?

Land conservation is a long-term effort, requiring sustained funding to acquire, restore, and protect natural areas. Your contributions can support:

• Protecting Natural Habitats: Help us preserve critical habitats for wildlife and plant species by funding land acquisition and conservation easements.

• Restoration Projects: Your grant can go towards restoring degraded lands, ensuring they remain healthy and vibrant ecosystems for generations to come.

• Public Access to Nature: With your support, we can maintain trails, parks, and open spaces that offer everyone the chance to connect with nature.

By recommending a grant to Six Rivers Land Conservancy from your DAF, you are helping safeguard the future of our landscapes, ensuring that they remain protected for both wildlife and people.

How to Recommend a Grant from Your DAF

Recommending a grant from your DAF is simple:

1. Contact your DAF provider: This could be a financial institution, community foundation, or other sponsoring organization.

2. Provide our organization’s details: You’ll need to share Six Rivers Land Conservancy’s name, address, and tax identification number, which are available on our website.

3. Specify your grant amount: You can choose to make a one-time contribution or schedule recurring grants to provide ongoing support.

Why Now? DAF Day 2024

DAF Day is the perfect time to consider using your Donor Advised Fund to make a difference. Land conservation is at a critical juncture, and your support can help protect vital landscapes, mitigate climate change, and preserve biodiversity.

By making a grant recommendation on or before October 10, you’ll be joining thousands of other DAF donors in celebrating the power of philanthropy and helping to ensure that the places we love are protected for future generations.

Join Us on DAF Day 2024

On this DAF Day, your contributions can help us achieve our mission of preserving land for future generations. If you’re unsure how to start, our team is happy to guide you through the process of giving through your DAF. Let’s work together to protect the places that make our community special.

Learn more about how you can support Six Rivers Land Conservancy by visiting sixriversrlc.org.

Hit the Trails for Trails Week!

It’s Trails Week: Six Rivers board member, Andrea Lafontaine, is the Executive Director for Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance, a non-profit that serves as the voice for non-motorized trail users and has very generously agreed to share some of her knowledge and experience in this brief article.  If you would like to become a member of Six Rivers or make a donation, please contact Ashley Everhart, aeverhart@sixriversrlc.org.

For more information on Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance visit: https://michigantrails.org/

Six Rivers Land Conservancy & Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance: Celebrating Trails Week

By Andrea LaFontaine, Board Trustee

Michigan, a state renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty, boasts a vast network of non-motorized trails that offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, exploration, and connection with nature. The Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance (MTGA) plays a vital role in promoting, protecting, and enhancing these valuable resources. This week we are joining forces with Six Rivers Land Conservancy to celebrate Trails Week in Michigan. September 21-28, we will delve into the significance of non-motorized trails and the importance of conservation efforts to preserve our state's natural heritage.

A Natural Connection

Non-motorized trails serve as gateways to Michigan's diverse ecosystems, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities. Whether you're traversing a serene forest path, exploring a scenic shoreline, or venturing into a bustling urban greenway, these trails offer a chance to immerse yourself in nature's beauty. From the towering pines of the Upper Peninsula to the rolling hills of the Lower Peninsula, Michigan's trails showcase the state's natural diversity and provide a sense of tranquility and connection to the land.

Conservation: A Critical Component

Preserving Michigan's trails and greenways is essential for maintaining the health of our ecosystems and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our outdoor recreation opportunities. Conservation efforts play a crucial role in protecting wildlife habitats, safeguarding water quality, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. By supporting land conservation initiatives and promoting responsible trail use, we can help to preserve Michigan's natural beauty for generations to come.

How You Can Support Trails and Land Conservation

There are many ways to contribute to the conservation of land and preservation of Michigan's trails and greenways. Consider becoming a member of Six Rivers Land Conservancy or MTGA or make a donation to support their efforts. Volunteer your time to participate in stewardship days or community engagement sessions. And most importantly, be a responsible trail user by following Leave No Trace principles and respecting the natural environment. By taking these steps, we can all play a part in ensuring that our beloved open spaces and local trails remain vibrant and accessible for future generations to enjoy.

Giving to the Future

It’s “Make-a-Will” month: Six Rivers Executive Director, Chris Bunch, shares a personal story about how the power of planned giving impacts the nature near you. If you would like to know more about leaving a legacy to Six Rivers through your will, trust, or estate plan, please contact Ashley Everhart, aeverhart@sixriversrlc.org.

Giving to the Future

By Chris Bunch, Executive Director

**Click on the name of the bird to hear the call**

On a late summer afternoon, we were on a hike on a preserve, bordered by farmland and residential neighborhoods, much of it also former farmland but with a substantial woodlot.  The hike was led by one of our volunteers.  An avid birder and well known naturalist, she kept us enthralled with her knowledge of the habitats and all the different wildlife we encountered.  

Off in the distance, somewhere on the preserve, I heard an ethereal call that stopped me in my tracks, completely stunned.  I thought it was a hermit thrush, which I had only ever heard in the deep recesses of remote forests—never in the much more urbanized region of southeast Michigan.  Ruth Glass, our guide, corrected me and noted it was a wood thrush.  Still rare, but not completely uncommon in this region. The call is very similar to a hermit thrush.  She told us this kind of habitat—a forest, with its leaf litter, food sources and nesting habitat, is critical to the wood thrush—they are not backyard feeder birds.  Our work was ensuring this fellow creature had a home.

Ruth passed away unexpectedly a couple of years ago.  We were truly shocked and saddened to hear of her passing.  This story of the wood thrush is a cherished memory and tremendous legacy.  It will carry on for generations because she also made an extraordinary gift through her estate.  That gift is helping us to ensure the wood thrush will have a place to sing in the future, and that mere mortals like me will be treated to their other-worldly song if we take the time to seek and to listen.

Our work—land conservation—is all about the future.  For people, wildlife, wetlands, forests and fields, rivers, lakes and streams, the planet.  Our members, donors, supporters and investors all share our vision of sustaining the character and quality of the natural world we inhabit for generations to come.  Legacy gifts—through an estate, by will, trust or memorial gifts are all an important part of the resources necessary to translate those values into lasting, tangible outcomes for the wood thrush, the people, and all the other denizens of our region.

We are extraordinarily grateful to be the recipient of these gifts.  They result in lands that are permanently protected and habitats that are restored, improved and enhanced.  Whenever I hear a wood thrush or a hermit thrush now, I think of Ruth and her extraordinary gifts to conservation, both during her life as guide and interpreter of nature’s bounty and through her legacy gift that ensures these natural wonders will remain for generations to come.

Celebrate Make-A-Will Month

It’s “Make-a-Will” month: Six Rivers board member, Andy Zale, is a financial planning professional and has very generously agreed to share some of his knowledge and experience in this brief article.  If you would like to know more about leaving a gift to Six Rivers through your will, trust or estate plan, please contact Ashley Everhart, aeverhart@sixriversrlc.org.

The Vital Connection: Wills and Environmental Conservation

By Andy Zale, Board Trustee

When we think about leaving a legacy, our minds often drift to the tangible—homes, businesses, or financial assets. But there is a profound connection between estate planning and the preservation of our planet's future, a connection that's illuminated when we consider the work of conservation.

Why Making a Final Will Matters

Creating a final will is a critical step in ensuring that your wishes are honored after you’re gone. Without a will, the distribution of your estate is governed by the laws of your state, which might not align with your personal values or goals. A will allows you to specify who receives what, from your cherished family heirlooms to your financial assets. It is a tool for shaping your legacy and making a positive impact in areas that matter most to you.

The Power of Planned Giving

One impactful way to channel your values through your will is by including charitable donations. Many people don’t realize that their estate can support causes they care about long after they’ve passed. Environmental conservation non-profits, like Six Rivers Land Conservancy, which work tirelessly to protect our planet's ecosystems, wildlife, and natural resources, often rely on such contributions to continue their essential work. 

By making a planned gift through your will you can leave your legacy on the land, contributing to:

1. Preservation of Natural Habitats: Non-profits often focus on protecting endangered species and restoring critical habitats. Your support can ensure that these efforts continue, benefiting future generations.

2. Slowing Development and Suburban Sprawl: Besides the obvious benefit of preserving natural habitats, preserving land has the added benefit of curbing suburban sprawl.  By protecting land now, we are making a green belt for both people and animals for years to come.  Your bequest can play an enduring part in these efforts.

3. Education and Advocacy: Environmental organizations often engage in education and advocacy to promote sustainable practices. Your legacy can help fund programs that raise awareness and drive meaningful change.

Crafting a Will with Impact

To create a will that reflects your values and supports causes you care about, follow these steps:

1. Define Your Goals: Think about the causes that resonate with you. Is it wildlife conservation,  sustainable agriculture, or something more? Identifying your priorities will guide your choices.

2. Consult with Professionals: Work with an estate planner or attorney who can help you structure your will in a way that maximizes its impact and ensures it aligns with legal requirements.

3. Research Organizations: Investigate environmental non-profits to find those whose missions align with your values. Ensure they are reputable and efficient in their use of resources.

4. Specify Your Bequest: Decide whether you want to leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or residual assets after other bequests have been fulfilled. Clearly state these in your will to avoid any ambiguity.

5. Review and Update: Life changes, and so may your priorities. Periodically review your will to ensure it still reflects your current wishes and values.

Leaving a Legacy of Stewardship

By including environmental conservation non-profits in your final will, you’re not just distributing assets; you’re investing in the future health of our planet. This act of stewardship ensures that your commitment to environmental sustainability endures beyond your lifetime. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to the well-being of our world and leave a legacy that aligns with your values.

In essence, making a final will isn’t merely about managing your estate—it’s about shaping a legacy that reflects what you cherish. By supporting environmental causes through your will, you help to safeguard our planet’s future, demonstrating a commitment to both present and future generations. In this way, your final will becomes a powerful tool for continuing the vital work of environmental conservation long after you're gone.

For more information about the ways you can leave a lasting impact on Six Rivers Land Conservancy by making a Legacy/Planned Gift visit the link below.

https://www.sixriversrlc.org/legacy-giving

Andy Zale