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More than just open space

Caleb Grant, Environmental Studies ‘16 Kyle James, Sport Studies & Integrated Marketing Communications ‘16

Karen Klosson, Writing ‘16 Nicole Maturo, Cinema & Photography ‘15

Spring 2015

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Table of Contents

Internal Documents Literature Review…………………………………………………………………………4 Organizational SWOT Analysis…………………………………………………………11

Project Funding Plan…………………………………………………………………….15 Funding Goals

Plan of Action Project Funding Search……………………………………………………………….....18 External Documents

Letter of Inquiry………………………………………………………………………….21 Cover Letter………………………………………………………………………….......23 Cover Sheet……………………………………………………………………………...24 Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………..25 Organizational History………………………………………………………………......27 Proposed Initiative Statement…………………………………………………………...30 Statement of Need/Opportunity………………………………………………………....31 Plan of Action…………………………………………………………………………..33 Goals and Objectives Methods: Timeline and Impact Statement

Key Personnel & Staffing Evaluation Plan Dissemination Plan Future Funding Statement

Conclusion.…………………………………………………………………………...40 Budget Summary……………………………………………………………………..41

Budget Narrative……………………………………………………………………..42

Addendum Material Abstract……………………………………………………………………………...46

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Internal Documents

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Literature Review

Ithaca College Natural lands (ICNL) is committed to “Preservation, Education, Research, Production, and Recreation” within the 560 acres of land for both students and the greater Ithaca community. Managed by students and faculty, this organization has compiled all of their relevant information into a management plan for Ithaca College, but approximately half of the recommendations put forth by ICNL in the 2011 Management Plan have not been met. With this literature review, an examination of the global environmental trends is completed while seeking a model of preservation and sustainability for ICNL.

The Importance of Land Preservation Globally, a startling amount of land has been disturbed, mined for resources, or otherwise harmed by over-use. In the Amazon basin, one of the most renowned natural areas in the world, 14 percent has been altered by human, mostly through deforestation.1 This sort of land use has continued historically throughout the world and in North America, it can be seen in Massachusetts where “less than 30 percent of the original forest cover existed by the mid-1800s.”2 Part of the Ithaca College Natural Lands commitment is combating this trend of land alteration by humans. Sitting next to a growing college and bustling town, the potential for the lands to be cleared, damaged and fragmented is high. Land fragmentation offers serious consequences for the ecosystems currently harbored on South Hill, as well as in the other two preserves. The phrase “habitat fragmentation” refers to division of land through use and change in pieces.3 While habitat fragmentation has come to encompass a wide array of human-induced activities, one of the most important is isolation. By breaking up a landscape, pieces of an ecosystem can be isolated from one another creating resource-deprived areas. This can lead to a decline in species, local extinctions, and ecosystem health degradation.4 While Ithaca College will want to expand their campus at some, ICNL was established to prevent the use of the surrounding lands in that manner. Preservation of the ecosystem surrounding the college protects species from facing the challenges of habitat fragmentation and general overuse. Today more than ever, this is necessary, with reports of a 52 percent species decline from 1970 to 2010.5 ICNL offers a unique approach: preserving land while using it to educate students – the younger generation that will be taking a role in how land is treated in coming years. Sustainability Climate change on a global scale is more serious than ever, with little action being taken in the United States government despite calls for more environmentally friendly practices by ecological professionals and scientists. ICNL fits into this sustainable vision, as told by Ithaca College’s guiding principle, “We commit to the responsible and sustainable management of natural, human, and financial resources.” Throughout the years many efforts have been made to create an environmentally supportive campus – with green roofs, LEED certified buildings, and advances in environmental monitoring technology. The campus has also committed to the carefully designed Ithaca College Climate Action Plan, which kicks off a 40-year program to be carbon-neutral by the year 2050.6 ICNL is a shining example of a sustainable program that has a positive impact for both the community and the environment, which other colleges can model. While students enjoy and learn from the vast range of woods both on and off campus, the tracts of

1 David B Lindenmayer and Joem Fischer, Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change: An Ecological and Conservation Synthesis (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2006), 15. 2 Lindenmayer Fischer, Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change: An Ecological and Conservation Synthesis, 22. 3 Sharon K Collinge, and Richard T. Forman, Ecology of Fragmented Landscapes (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009), 3. 4 Lindenmayer Fischer, Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change: An Ecological and Conservation Synthesis, 3. 5 Richard McLellan, "Living Planet Report 2014," WWF. World Wide Fund For Nature, 30 Dec. 2014. 8. 6 "History of Sustainability at Ithaca." Ithaca College. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.

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land keep the area largely untouched from major use. Lands such as this have a multitude of benefits for the environment. One of these benefits is the control of carbon dioxide, a major driver of climate change, which is sequestered in the trees, plants, and soil. As the human population grows, urban areas increase at a rapid rate, which decreases natural space –7 now nearly 83 percent of the US population lives in urban areas.8 By protecting land, ICNL provides an area where soil and plant biomass is largely undisturbed. Initially, the lands were supposed to be logged, and the establishment of ICNL reverted this potential loss of forest. Natural environments, such as ICNL, provide benefits for the earth, including cleaning the air and water, maintaining water levels, and promoting healthy soil. These are all services that are important not just to ecosystems and the organisms living in them – but to us. They help us support ourselves, our friends and family, and our loved ones. Natural Land – A Human Benefactor What is it about “untouched land” or “wilderness” that humans love so much? The natural environment plays a bigger role in our lives than we might expect. Being in nature doesn’t just improve people physically, it also has important psychological benefits. Time spent among nature and green areas has the power to reduce stress and worry, provide therapeutic relief for ADHD afflicted children, and even help people recover from difficult experiences or emotional trauma.9 At its core, having natural land to immerse oneself in has lasting positive effects on well-being. The benefit of ICNL is its proximity to the town as well as the Ithaca College campus. For students, it’s a short walk away and it provides a place to interact and enjoy the natural landscape, helping to decrease the high levels of stress many college students experience in a time of such compressed change. The wide array of trail systems throughout make it easy and accessible for anyone to experience the land. Because the natural lands are so close to the city, they create an opportunity for people living downtown to escape the more urban environment to a nearby, natural environment. With proper accessibility, ICNL could be sharing their environment and have a large positive impact on the lives of members of the greater Ithaca community. When people have a positive experience in nature, it often increases conservation habits and awareness in those people.10 In the end, ICNL has the potential to be beneficial for both the community and the environment. Best Practices in Higher Education and Land Preservation Many higher education institutions have sustainability and land preservation issues. When universities were first built, many ecosystems were destroyed without a second thought. Now an increasing number of universities and colleges are working on sustainable practices, and this includes preserving the land and areas surrounding their institutions. For Ithaca College, this is ICNL. There are two institutions in particular which offer models in the practices of preserving natural lands. Binghamton University and Cornell University, both located in central New York, have aspects to learn from. Binghamton University has about 900 acres of land directly adjacent to their campus, which is home to many diverse species. It is used as “a valuable resource for teaching and learning, ecology, arts,

7 Kefeli, Valentin, and Blum, Winfried, Mechanisms of Landscape Rehabilitation and Sustainability (UAE: Bentham Science Publishers, 2011), 1-2. 8 Meg Calkins, Sustainable Sites Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Principles, Strategies, and Best Practices for Sustainable Landscapes (NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2011), 1. 9 Elizabeth Nisbet, John Zelenski, and Steven Murphy, "Happiness Is In Our Nature: Exploring Nature Relatedness As A Contributor To Subjective Well-Being." Journal Of Happiness Studies 12.2 (2011): 303-322. 304-306. 10 Calkins, Sustainable Sites Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Principles, Strategies, and Best Practices for Sustainable Landscapes, 10.

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literature, and outdoor recreation.”11 It has an organization, the “Friends of the Nature Preserve” which is made up of faculty, staff, students, and community members to help fund the preserve. Some of Cornell University’s natural lands are adjacent to the Ithaca College Natural Lands. These lands are encompassed in the larger entity of Cornell Plantations, which focuses on the mantra “Cultivation, Preservation, Education.”12 Their goals can be seen in extensive community education opportunities; ranging from food and flavor cooking classes, outdoor photography, gardening, and guided tours and walks. These courses cost money for community members, as do the youth programs they provide: garden programs, and teen education programs such as Plantations Environmental Education Program for Sustainability. As an Ivy League university with a large pool of resources, Cornell Plantations has full time staff devoted to program planning, membership organization, and stewardship. Cornell Plantations supplements their costs with membership fees. A primary goal of ICNL is to “reduce the financial reliance on the IC administration.”13 ICNL can learn from other higher education institutions with a similar dedication to sustainability. Ultimately, the best ways to reduce reliance on the college are to develop a “friends of” or membership organization to financially support ICNL, create more inviting community outreach programs or opportunities to bridge the gap between Ithaca College and the greater Ithaca Community, and most importantly, maintain a full time permanent staff to focus on the issues at hand. Practices of Other Tompkins County Parks and Trails A total of 11 complete or partially complete trails, 4 planned trails, 7 parks, and several other identified “nature walks” are in the geographic makeup of the greater Ithaca community.14 These trails provide residents access to nature and also act as alternative routes of transportation for the many walkers, joggers, and bicyclists in the Tompkins county area. While these trails provide some key insights on how trails are built, managed, and funded, they also act as direct competitors to the ICNL. The Black Diamond Trail, a trail spanning from Taughannock Falls State Park to Treman State Park, is one of the largest construction projects in recent Tompkins county trail history. The trail had been funded by local and state sources prior to the completion of its Master Plan in 2007.15 By looking at the Master Plan for the Black Diamond Trail, a few things can be taken away from how the trial is constructed. The funding for the trail mainly comes through grants and donations from interested parties, an approach that will be similar to what ICNL intends to accomplish. These grants largely come from government sources, on both a state and national level. Not all of the grants apply to ICNL but several, such as the Environmental Protection Fund of New York State, State Legislative Initiatives from the New York State Legislature, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program do. The Master Plan also outlines a few partners that could be potentially useful for ICNL such as the City of Ithaca, the Town of Ithaca, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Following the practice of thinking of additional external partners based on location and a sense of involvement, ICNL should also consider partnerships with the Town of Newfield, Whitman Partners LLC (urban planners developing lands around the natural lands),

11 “Nature Preserve,” Binghamton University accessed February 25, 2015 http://www.binghamton.edu/nature-preserve/ 12 “Cornell Plantations,” Cornell University accessed February 25, 2015 http://www.cornellplantations.org/ 13 Amber Zadrozny and Jake Brenner, Ithaca College Natural Lands Management Plan (Ithaca: 2011) http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/docs/Management_Plan.pdf 14 “Hiking in Tomkpins County” CNY Hiking accessed February 27 2015, http://www.cnyhiking.com/TompkinsCounty.htm 15 Black Diamond Trail Master Plan

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the Ithaca College Honors Program, the Ithaca College Park Scholars program, and the parks, trails, and natural areas that surround ICNL, including the Cornell Plantations. Although detailed Master Plans such as the Black Diamond Trail Master Plan are hard to find for other trails in this area, it can be inferred that the Master Plans for the other trails, parks, and natural areas are similar in nature and composition. Should any specific questions arise about specific features of these plans, a more focused literature review will be conducted on these selected areas. Educational Benefits and Uses of the IC Natural Lands One of the main benefits of ICNL is that the lands act as an outdoor classroom for many professors, students, and researchers. Through many initiatives and partnerships with Ithaca College, the City of Ithaca, and the greater Tompkins County area, ICNL acts as a resource for many different people with a variety of different uses.16 One of the main relationships Ithaca College has with education is the Finger Lakes Project (FLP). The FLP is a cohort of educators that is dedicated to incorporating sustainability practices into all aspects of education. The FLP uses ICNL as a resource for sustainability education and practice. Ithaca College partners with the EcoVillage of Ithaca to fund this project and to provide different types of sustainability education in a hodgepodge of different settings. Stemming from a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Committed to Change Program (C2C) at Ithaca College is dedicated to teaching sustainability within the classroom and applying what is learned through partnerships in the Ithaca Community. The current community partners are the Ithaca EcoVillage and the Building Bridges program in Ithaca. ICNL also supports the Finger Lakes Land Trust and their Emerald Necklace Initiative. Research is also being done in ICNL, and a database is currently being compiled of all of the projects that have been conducted, or are currently being conducted, in ICNL. This research has an international effect as the results of these studies are being shared with scientists in the environmental science industry all over the world. As a result of this research done in ICNL, Ithaca College has gained recognition as a leading institution in environmental research and will continue to establish itself as more research projects are completed. In addition to these research projects, at least 12 Ithaca College classes use ICNL regularly. ICNL serves as a vehicle to connect Ithaca College to other communities, ranging from local to global, due to their innovative partnerships and groundbreaking research. The land allows students to become ready to enter the world of environmental science by fostering hands-on experience that is difficult to get elsewhere. By doing so, Ithaca College is becoming a model for other institutions to replicate and is viewed as leader in its field. Getting to Know the Community Inviting Ithaca’s residents to explore the Natural Lands will promote a positive relationship upon which ICNL can begin to strategically build upon. Since the college privately owns ICNL, they can draw on personal relationships to assess the priorities of Ithacans as a whole rather than relying on assumption. In a similar effort, the Department of Parks and Recreation of Seminole County, Florida, mapped out their intended community outreach techniques that reflect an easily executed plan to break down priorities and 16 Ithaca College – Sustainability at Ithaca

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interests. Seminole County’s Trails Master Plan17 integrated an Online Citizen Survey which could be accessed by the general public. Though the idea of a survey is rather basic, it does define where the program is not meeting the needs of the community and where the organization could improve. Another component takes into account the concerns of the stakeholders. Stakeholder interviews confirm or refute the speculations community leaders and associations might have. For ICNL, this strategy can be applied to the community leaders of Ithaca and possibly the Ithaca City School District whom we share an academic atmosphere with on South Hill. Though they are not our sponsors, these leaders do represent the larger Ithaca community. Volunteer Opportunities In addition to the Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE) program, the Stewards program and Primitive Pursuits engages and expands ICNLs interaction with the Ithaca community. Creating more volunteer opportunities and implementing extensive training programs is both an effective and resourceful way to make use of the pre-existing volunteer platforms. As a model, the Wild Basin Creative Research Center in Austin, Texas, provides Trail Guide Training18 through their Creative Research Center. Considering the content of some Environmental Studies courses offered at IC, it would be beneficial for the students to get a hands on experience as trail guides and teachers while attending IC without the constraints of having an internship. Farming the Forest19 is an example of one really effective course that instructs students on how to produce non-timber forest products, such as honey, maple syrup, and edible mushrooms. To further this skill, students could apply their knowledge through training exercises with local non-timber enthusiasts interested in picking up the craft. Conclusion Ithaca College Natural Lands has effectively established itself as a branch of Ithaca College’s sustainability initiative, but its full potential has yet to be realized. The values of ICNL run deep in the organization’s roots, and there are many passionate students, faculty, and staff to show for it. The research, current programs, and courses are the mere buds to the developing canopy that ICNL is aspiring to. With this process still in motion, the organization anticipates further support from both the surrounding community and Ithaca College. By creating specialized, positive and meaningful experiences in nature, ICNL contributes to the livelihood of students and community members. Communication and affiliation between privately managed land and the locality assures that shared goals are met and efficient organizational brainstorming is implemented. Initiating that relationship and maintaining harmonization will drive ICNL in the direction of its long-term goals and ultimately represent a stable model for land preservation as a whole. 17 Seminole County Parks + Recreation + Natural Lands + Trails, Community Needs and Priorities, Executive Summary (Wild Basin Creative Research Center, St. Edward’s: 2013) 18 “Community Outreach”, (Wild Basin Creative Research Center, St. Edward’s University) http://think.stedwards.edu/wildbasin/community-outreach-0, accessed February 24, 2015.

19"Priorities & Projects." Ithaca College. Accessed 27 Feb. 2015. <http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/management_priorities/education/>.

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Works Cited Brenner, Jake, and Amber Zadrozny. Ithaca College Natural Lands Management Plan (2011). Web. 24 Feb. 2015. "Cornell Plantations." Cornell Plantations. Cornell University, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.

"History of Sustainability at Ithaca." Ithaca College. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2015. “Ithaca College - Finger Lakes Project,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,

http://www.ithaca.edu/fingerlakes_project/. “Ithaca College - Committed to Change Program,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,

http://www.ithaca.edu/committedtochange/. “Ithaca College – Natural Lands,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,

http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/ “Ithaca College - Sustainability at Ithaca,” Ithaca College, accessed March 1, 2015,

http://www.ithaca.edu/sustainability/. “Ithaca/Tompkins County (NY) Hiking Site,” John Pool, accessed March 1, 2015.

http://www.johnpool.net/hiking/tcmap.html. “Map of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor,” National Parks Service, accessed March 1,

2015, http://www.nps.gov/erie/planyourvisit/upload/ERCA_brochure_large_2007.pdf. "Nature Preserve." Binghamton University. Binghamton University, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.

"Priorities & Projects." Ithaca College: Natural Lands. Ithaca College, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015. <http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/management_priorities/education/>.

Calkins, Meg. Sustainable Sites Handbook : A Complete Guide to the Principles, Strategies, and

Best Practices for Sustainable Landscapes. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 28 February 2015.

Collinge, Sharon K., and Forman, Richard T. T.. Ecology of Fragmented Landscapes. Baltimore,

MD, USA: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 28 February 2015.

Community Needs and Priorities, Executive Summary, Seminole County Parks + Recreation +

Natural Lands + Trails. AECOM Technical Services, 2013. PDF File. Community Outreach, Wild Basin Creative Research Center, St. Edward’s

Kefeli, Valentin, and Blum, Winfried. Mechanisms of Landscape Rehabilitation and

Sustainability. Sharjah, UAE: Bentham Science Publishers, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 28 February 2015.

Kjellgren, Anette, and Hanne Buhrkall. "A Comparison Of The Restorative Effect Of A Natural

Environment With That Of A Simulated Natural Environment." Journal Of Environmental Psychology 30.4 (2010): 464-472. PsycINFO. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.

Lindenmayer, David B., and Fischer, Joem. Habitat Fragmentation and Landscape Change : An

Ecological and Conservation Synthesis. Washington, DC, USA: Island Press, 2006. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 28 February 2015.

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McLellan, Richard. "Living Planet Report 2014." WWF. World Wide Fund For Nature, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.

Nisbet, Elizabeth, John Zelenski, and Steven Murphy. "Happiness Is In Our Nature: Exploring

Nature Relatedness As A Contributor To Subjective Well-Being." Journal Of Happiness Studies 12.2 (2011): 303-322. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2015.

Paterson, David and Carol Ash, Black Diamond Trail Final Master Plan and Final

Environmental Impact Statement (2008), V-103 - V-111. University, http://think.stedwards.edu/wildbasin/community-outreach-0, accessed February 24,

2015.

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IC Natural Lands: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Strengths

The Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) are a unique feature of the college, as well as the town of Ithaca. The lands are an excellent example of how a college or university can manage a piece of land and preserve it, while getting students and the greater Ithaca community involved in creating diverse educational and recreational opportunities. There are many aspects of ICNL that make it a strong organization and one worth supporting. A Wide Area of Learning ICNL is no small land area; currently the college owns over 500 acres of land, in 4 separate reserves: South Hill East and West, Bob-Robinson, and Newfield. In the South Hill lands (the 365 acres which are directly adjacent to campus), there are five miles of public access trails. Ithaca College is not only preserving a large area of land from environmentally unsustainable practices, but also providing a place for students, faculty, staff and community members to easily engage in the outdoors and learn new valuable survival and environmental skills and information. Learning While Preserving One of the greatest strengths of ICNL is the number of opportunities it provides for students, faculty, staff, and the Ithaca community as a whole. The lands are often described as an “outdoor classroom” or an “educational working landscape.” It’s a place where students and the greater community can learn together. Currently, the lands are being utilized by an on campus group called Non Timber Forest Products. What can only be described as part learning, part business, this group learns how to make products such as maple syrup using resources found in the natural lands. They then sell their products at Ithaca College and in other areas in town. Primitive Pursuits, a group that teaches young children essential survival skills, is another engaged example of community use of the natural lands. Passionate Members Those who run ICNL have very clear and tangible expectations for use of any additional funding. They know what they want to do to improve the lands, and have their priorities already sorted out. Furthermore, they are very driven to bring new opportunities and ideas to the natural lands, because they believe strongly in the value of the natural environment. All the people working on the team are well organized and excited about what they are doing, creating a strong support system for moving forward with funding a proposal. Student Management Part of what makes the natural lands so unique is the level of student involvement in both its use and management. ICNL depends as much on the students as it does on the faculty to manage the land. During the summer an intern is hired to do extensive management and upkeep work. An intern is also hired to help the faculty manager during the academic year. Throughout the academic year many students act as stewards, maintaining areas of land throughout the reserves. For class credit, students can also be trained to be an intern, taking the lead on projects such as Chestnut Reintroduction, Event Planning, and Invasive Species Cleanup. The lands are also used by faculty (especially in the Environmental Studies department)

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as a teaching lab. This collaborative use facilitates real job experience for students, and those involved in programs with the natural lands are incredibly passionate about what they’re doing. As a whole, ICNL is a unique program that has many benefits for the Ithaca College and greater Ithaca community. It has a strong mission, and many passionate people backing it.

Weaknesses Gaps in Funding The $5,000 in funding ICNL receives from H&S has some debilitating strings attached. Programs funded by the school must be within the educational programming and development guidelines, which leaves a lot of very real, and unattended issues such as ADA accessibility, and general upkeep. Staffing Support The ICNL management team comprises both Ithaca College students and faculty. Currently, there aren’t any full-time ICNL staff members. Introducing paid full-time staff members would increase the organization’s credibility and potential and lessen the workload on the current team, which is primarily volunteer-oriented. Accessibility Unfortunately community-wide participation has been limited due to the accessibility of the trails, or lack thereof. The funding ICNL currently receives does not attend to the needs of disabled retirees, let alone provide adequate accessibility for community members in respect to hiking trails such as the Backcountry Rim Trail. One of the community outreach partnerships ICNL has is with the Gerontology Institute, in which the Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE) program was inaugurated. This program invites retired members of the Ithaca community to learn about environmental challenges, and connect with the Natural Lands through training exercises/nature walks. It is particularly difficult for the retirees to make full use of the natural lands after they have hiked up to the natural lands from the visitors parking lot. Recognizability Students are initially introduced to the Natural Lands through the First Year Experience program, but there isn’t much encouragement to explore what the Natural Lands can offer after this first trek into the woods. ICNL competes with a number of other programs to be included in IC 20/20: the initiative to transform and influence student experiences within Ithaca College. What students, faculty and greater Ithaca community aren’t aware of is all of the specialized learning experiences just a little ways up into the woods, which can entirely transform their view of the campus they live on from a concrete jungle to a beautiful sanctuary on the hill. ICNL would benefit from a marketing campaign to spread awareness of the organization. Community Outreach and Integration There are mainly three programs that engage the community with Ithaca College through the Natural Lands. The RISE Program, the Stewards Program, and Primitive Pursuits invite community members of all ages to explore the Natural Lands and learn about what it has to offer. ICNL also has a strong educational relationship with the Finger Lakes Project (FLP). FLP is a group of teachers that are committed to bringing sustainability into all parts of education. FLP uses ICNL as a place to practice sustainable education. Though these programs have a lot of value, they are relatively exclusive and tied to

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the private institution of Ithaca College. What needs to be addressed is what makes ICNL unique from the surrounding natural lands like NYS Parks & Recreation or Cornell’s Plantations.

Opportunities The ICNL Vision This is a unique opportunity for Ithaca College Natural Lands to become the premiere model for colleges with natural lands. Since incorporating ICNL into Ithaca College’s core curriculum (part of the IC 20/20), there are many opportunities for students to use the natural lands as a classroom. They can also intern over the summer, or volunteer to help maintain the trails in our Steward Program. ICNL has been extremely successful in utilizing the natural lands as an educational space, but the land could be more effectively used for community involvement. General and American Disabilities Act Accessibility A factor that prohibits the general Ithaca community from taking advantage of ICNL is accessibility. With a small parking lot, the trails could be easily accessible to broader Ithaca community. Another related opportunity is ICNL’s commitment to ADA accessibility, since some of our visitors are elderly it is important that we make as many of the trails ADA accessible. We’d like to see even more of the elderly population use the trails, which can only be realized if this trail is built. By inviting a more diverse population to visit the natural lands, we are increasing our involvement in the greater Ithaca community. ICNL believes that this is a place for all of Tompkins County to enjoy, and it all begins with making the lands easy to access for all. South Hill Forest Products South Hill Forest Products is a student-run business dedicated to providing high quality, all natural non-timber forest products. Ithaca College students enrolled in several of the environmental science department courses make up this entrepreneurial team. What if marketing and public relations, and photography students also collaborated to help build this business? They could potentially accumulate a little more income, perhaps even enough to cover the cost of a kiosk. Ropes Course, Balancing Risk and Opportunity The Office of Risk Management at Ithaca College recently approved a ropes course in ICNL; now it’s time to consider where to place the course and what the environmental impact of the construction and maintenance of the ropes course would be on the lands. The main advantage of having a ropes course on ICNL is that which is vital to any college town: student and community building. Here students and community members can access a ropes course, exercise, and interact in a space built and maintained by ICNL.

Threats Current Funding on Shaky Ground Currently, the school of Humanities and Sciences gives ICNL $5,000 to use for educational programming in the Natural Lands. While this money has been given consistently every year, there is some sign that this may be changing. There has been much discussion, both this semester and last, about whether or not

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the Resource and Environmental Management Program (REMP) interns, who are funded similarly to ICNL, will be funded in the upcoming academic year. The impending result does not seem positive for REMP, and the fallout effect could mean that ICNL may lose part or all of its funding in the near future. Contingency plans and strong justification will be required, should ICNL not want to lose any of its current funding. Maintenance and Accessibility Issues Associated with Growth If the use of ICNL continues to grow, questions will emerge as to who is responsible for the maintenance of the land. Currently the Office of Facilities at Ithaca College, along with the ICNL Stewards program, monitors the trails and performs “light maintenance.” If the trails continue to grow, the ICNL may grow out of the “light maintenance” phase and become dependent on a more constant maintenance schedule to remain accessible to students and those with physical disabilities throughout all times of the year. Should our grant fund grow, a plan should be made for how maintenance will be improved. Ithaca is Gorges, but so is all of Central New York Being located in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, there are many beautiful parks, trails, and natural areas that are available for residents and visitors alike. These areas all require funding for improvement and maintenance and will likely be requesting funds from many of the same sources that we do. In order to be competitive and justify why the ICNL deserves the funding, we will have to find our unique selling points and make sure they are explicitly stressed in our documents. Proving Worthiness

With existing yearly funding and no clear “desperate need” for immediate additional funding, the ICNL’s justification for many of the grants that they will apply for may fall short when juxtaposed against proposals that have a more dire situation. To give ICNL a chance to be awarded these grants, the cases that are built must be data-driven and, most of all, convincing. This is not to say ICNL isn’t a strong candidate. The funding ICNL receives yearly is not large, and as a whole the organization and lands have an enormous opportunity in front of them. ICNL has the chance to bridge the gap between the college and the community, teach and increase awareness of sustainable practices, and serve as a model for colleges/institutions. Without properly conveying this, it may be harder to obtain grants.

Mission Statement

For eleven years Ithaca College Natural Lands has worked towards promoting environmental awareness and student engagement across the Ithaca College (IC) campus. The organization has successfully developed a Stewards Program and serves as an outdoor classroom across disciplines. ICNL’s mission of Bridging the Relationship between the Environment, Education, and Community aims to enhance this relationship by providing better public access to the trails, programming community outreach projects, increasing student engagement via internships, and hiring full-time staff. This project strives to rebuild the essential connection between nature and the human psyche while fostering an educational environment that encourages sustainability and preservation.

Assessment of Project Funding Needs The lands are an excellent example of how a college or university can manage a piece of land and preserve it, while getting students involved and creating educational opportunities. There are many

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aspects of Ithaca College Natural Lands that make it a strong organization and one worth backing. Even as a young organization, ICNL has rooted itself in its values and successfully worked towards developing a network consisting of students, faculty, and volunteers. But like any budding organization, there is a need for upgrades and improvements. ICNL cultivates a learning environment by: offering hands-on experience with sustainable non-timber forest products; providing the option of self-guided nature trails; and protecting endangered species and medicinal and edible plants. Encouraging exploration atop a quiet and peaceful hill that is “not just open space” is not an easy task, but ICNL is determined to reach out into the community and accommodate physical limitations so everybody can enjoy the natural lands. ICNL is a space that provides a personalized experience, where joggers, runners, birdwatchers and the like can immerse themselves in a carefree environment. Additional funding will make the trails easier to navigate and more inviting for people who come to visit ICNL.

ICNL currently receives $5,000 from Ithaca College’s School of Humanities and Sciences, but this annual budget has guidelines that restrict some of the pertinent costs of land management, community outreach, and organizational support. One drawback of the natural lands is the difficulty of getting there, and this is especially true for local community members who have to park far away from trail entrances. Building adequate parking near the trails would cost around $3,000 to install and would bring visitors directly in front of the Boothroyd Trailhead or Terraces Trailhead. Accessibility should not end here – people of all ages and abilities to be able to use the lands there must be ADA accessibility. This would require a structural transformation along the Towers Rim Trail and cost $65,820.00 for a boardwalk and labor. ICNL does not believe that any one person should be prevented from appreciating nature. Furthermore, caring for and learning from the environment is everyone’s responsibility and right. Delineating a relationship between ICNL and the greater Ithaca community has proven to be a challenge for the organization in the past. Retirees in Service to the Environment (RISE), and the Stewards Program are two outreach programs ICNL has developed. One of which, the RISE program, has been operating for only two seasons and is organized by Ithaca College’s Gerontology Institute and Department of Environmental Sciences. There is potential in initiating a “Friends of ICNL” program and marketing an unaffiliated with Ithaca College program that extends an invitation of engagement to community members who may be interested in learning the recreational opportunities mentioned earlier. The program would be vital to sustaining ICNL by working to secure donations for the organization. Strategic and dedicated planning for community involvement requires funding for full time staff and paid interns, a budget requiring roughly $62,000 per year. Overall, ICNL’s program needs outside funding, separate from IC, to support the plan to strengthen a bond between the community, the natural lands, and the student body. While the ADA accessible trail, community outreach programs, and staffing support are important, there are also components within the general upkeep and management of the land that require short-term funding and immediate attention. ICNL would like to build two new kiosks, one at the Boothroyd trailhead and the other at the East entrance behind the Tower’s parking lot. These kiosks would display useful information, maps, brochures and sign-in sheets for guests. Each kiosk would cost around $5,000 to construct. An additional five to twenty-five signs along the Boothroyd Woods for general signage and educational purposes would cost $900. Two larger, museum-grade signs located at the Raponi Wetlands and the Terraces Turn-Around can help people identify their location and the direction they want to choose next. These two signs combined would amount to $4,000. One of the most important characteristics of the trails is the material used for trail surfacing. Wood-chips are necessary to keep

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the trail bed raised and accessible even during muddy months, costing $500. Finally, the Towers Rim trail entrance is remarkably steep without steps, and only a single chain serves as a railing up the hill. During winter months this entrance is extremely dangerous, and in the spring the hill turns into a big mudslide whenever there is rain. Constructing stairs out of stone which can withstand all conditions not only ensures safety but also convenience. For $31,537 this trailhead would be another enhanced access point for students hiking up from campus. Collectively, these improvements would make the natural lands more inviting and user-friendly throughout the seasons. Some of the larger funds mentioned above are one-time expenditures that will have a positive influence on the usage of the trails for people of the greater Ithaca community.

Project Funding Goals and Objectives

ICNL is situated in a strong position because the organization knows what it wants and what improvements will be most beneficial for the lands and greater Ithaca community. In order for these projects to be funded through grants, it’s important that the organization is active and engaged in requesting funding. Below, goals outline when grants should be applied for to ensure funding is secured and projects are completed. Goal 1: To receive funding from private foundations for one or all of the structural upgrade projects. Projected Cost: $10,400 for two kiosks, signage, and wood-chips. Objectives:

● In the fall of 2015, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal to secure funding for $10,400 for the kiosks, signage, and wood-chips.

Goal 2: To receive funding from private foundations for one or all of the accessibility projects. Projected Cost: $100,357 for an ADA boardwalk trail, parking, and stone steps. Objectives: Seeking funding in separate phases will increase the likelihood of receiving grants.

● In the fall of 2015, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal to secure funding for $33,500 to start working on the ADA trail and parking spaces.

● By the winter of 2015, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal for $33,500 to start working on the stone steps.

● By the spring of 2016, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal for the last $33,357 to finish work on the stone steps.

Goal 3: Receive funding from private foundations for personnel positions. Project Cost: $62,000 Objectives:

● In the fall 2015, ICNL will resubmit a letter of inquiry/proposal for $62,000 to secure funding for the intern and staff positions.

Goal 4: If funding for personnel is not secured from private foundations, then ICNL will look to receive funding from national foundations for one or all of the personnel positions. If funding is secured, attain additional funds for another one-year cycle of personnel. Projected Cost: $62,000 for full-time staff and intern positions. Objectives:

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● In the fall of 2016, ICNL will submit at least one letter of inquiry/proposal for $62,000 to secure funding for an intern and the staff position.

Funding Action Plan

Objective 1: ICNL is seeking $78,820 for non-personnel costs from the John Ben Snow Foundation. This financial assistance will fund the expansion and increased accessibility of ICNL by the end of fall 2016.

Outcome: With the addition of an ADA accessible trail the IC Natural Lands will take a significant step in making the project accessible to all parties. Outcome: By building a parking lot and drive entrance to ICNL, people with physical disabilities will be able to access the lands more easily. This contributes to the overall accessibility of the trail and allows more Tompkins county residents and visitors to access it. Outcome: By making a part of the natural lands ADA compliant, ICNL is committed to making the area available for everyone to use. It’s commonly said that there is something for everyone in nature, and now ICNL would allow those previously unable to access it.

Objective 2: ICNL is requesting $26,537 in grant funding from the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County for non-personnel costs. These funds will permit the expansion and increased accessibility of ICNL by the end of fall 2016.

Outcome: By supplying ICNL with the funds needed for kiosks, information about how to best enjoy the lands and use them safely will be placed at each trailhead, increasing the overall community experience. Outcome: The marketing initiative of ICNL will be further strengthened through these material costs, and will increase support and usage of the lands. Outcome: The current chain entrance to the Towers trailhead is hazardous, providing money for stone stairs is a safe and sustainable solution. Outcome: By funding these two projects, there will be a significant increase in both the safety and overall enjoyment when using the lands.

Objective 3: ICNL is requesting $5,400 in grant funding from The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. to establish further-reaching signage for the ICNL trail system and provide wood chips for the trails. In doing so, the lands will benefit immediately beginning in the fall of 2014.

Outcome: Through the funding of this critical signage, people will be able to navigate the trails within the lands and learn more about the ecosystems they are experiencing. Outcome: By allotting funds for wood chips, people will be able to walk on trails that are safe and not covered in mud, puddles, ditches, and other potential tripping hazards. Wood chips also help prevent the erosion of the trails.

Objective 4: ICNL is soliciting $62,000 from the Park Foundation to fund a ICNL land manager ($52,000) and student interns ($10,000). Funding this personnel cost will boost ICNL’s ability to grow the natural lands with increased staff support and skill by the end of fall 2016.

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Outcome: By funding a full time land manager, ICNL will be able to provide increased maintenance to the lands while developing more programs for the Tompkins County community. Outcome: By providing funds for interns, students at Ithaca College will be able to learn in the outdoor classroom the natural lands provide while preparing for their future. Outcome: The existing ICNL staff, the requested land manager, and interns will be able offer the most sustainable growth internally, while offering the best programs regarding sustainability to the community.

Evaluation of Funding Objectives There are several methods in place to monitor and evaluate ICNL’s funding objectives. One approach is to create an expenditure document that lists all items purchased in an itemized order. Adaptation of this monitoring system will allow ICNL’s financial expenditures to be monitored and recorded, should an audit be requested. Because ICNL is a branch of Ithaca College, the lands should be able to receive sufficient support from the college in creating this recording system. Another tool that we intend to use is the existing budget management system in place at Ithaca College. As a private university of higher education and a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Ithaca College already has a budget management and monitoring system in place. Should ICNL not currently use that system, we recommend they begin the necessary conversations about how to implement it or adapt their current system to be in compliance with the college’s system.

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Project Funding Search

Local Funding The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.

Name of Grant: Grants for the Environment Description: This environmentally focused grant is awarded to nonprofits, “dedicated to protecting the physical environment of the region.” The awards range from $2,000 to $20,000, and the average grant is $7,500. Although we lie outside the four identified counties of emphasis (Chemung, Southeast Steuben, Schuyler and Yates) they have given to organizations in Elmira, Corning, and Horseheads. Website: www.communityfund.org Application Due Date(s): “The Foundation accepts applications twice per year. Organizations submitting a proposal for $5,000 or more in funding must submit a letter explaining the program to be funded and the amount requested – a letter of intent – four weeks before the application deadline. The letter of intent is found within our online grant application system.” Contact: Randi Hewit (President)

Sara Palmer (Director of Grants and Communications) Phone: (607) 739-3900 Fax: (607) 739-3971 Email: rlh@communityfund.org Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County

Description: This foundations limits its giving to the Tompkins County, NY, area for organizations that promote the “arts, education, environment, and human services.” Past recipients include Friends of Stewart Park (2013) for “the construction of the Stewart Park Trailhead.” Website: www.tclegacy.org Application Due Date(s): Apr. 15 and Sept. 15 Contact: Janet Hewitt (Recreational Secretary) Email: jhewitt@tompkinsfinancial.com

Regional Funding John Ben Snow Foundation, Inc.

Description: With areas of focus education, disabilities, and the environment, the John Ben Snow Foundation has a “general policy to give preference to proposals seeking funds for new or enhanced programs, one-time, short-term grants to sustain a program until funding is stabilized.” ICNL fits nicely into the foundation’s mission: to enhance the quality of life in Central New York. Website: www.johnbensnow.com/jbsf Application Due Date(s): Jan. 1 for letters of inquiry; submit inquiry preferably from

July through Dec.; submit application by Apr. 1; submit either a final report after project is completed by Mar. 1 or a progress report by Mar. 1

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Contact: Jonathan L. Snow (President) Phone: (315) 471-5256 Email: johnbensnow@verizon.net Park Foundation, Inc.

Description: Housed in Ithaca, the Park Foundation’s giving is “limited to the eastern U.S., primarily in central NY…” In 2015, they gave Ithaca College $163,000 for Greening the Core: Integrating Media Literacy into Sustainability Education. What makes the Park Foundation a perfect sponsor for ICNL is that it “supports efforts to help Tompkins County become a fully sustainable community – environmentally, socially and economically. Priority is given to projects that incorporate a collaborative approach to reaching sustainability goals. Priority is also given to projects that utilize inclusive approaches to address racial, economic and other forms of inequality.” Through overcoming accessibility issues and providing a space for the greater Ithaca community to gather and learn about a more sustainable lifestyle, ICNL could be an integral part of a more sustainable Tompkins County.

Website: www.parkfoundation.org Application Due Date(s): Quarterly: Jan. 5, Mar. 27, July 6 and Sept. 25 Contact: Jon Jensen (Executive Director) Fax: (607) 272-6057

Email: info@parkfoundation.org

National Funding Natural Resources Conservation Service (United States Department of Agriculture)

Name of Grant: Conservation Innovation Grants Description: These grants are “intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection.” Website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/

Application Due Date(s): Feb 24 (preproposal), and Apr 30, 2015 (full proposal applications)

Contact: nrcscig@wdc.usda.gov

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External Documents

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LETTER OF INQUIRY COVER SHEET Organization: Ithaca College Natural Lands (As specified on the IRS determination letter.) (See next page for fiscally sponsored projects.) Mailing Address: 953 Danby Rd, Ithaca College City/State/Zip: Ithaca, NY, 14850 Street Address (if different): Phone: 607-274-3967 Website: http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/ Chief Executive Officer's Name/Title: Jake Brenner, Faculty Manager CEO E-mail Address: jbrenner@ithaca.edu Phone: 607-274-3967 Total Organizational Budget: $141,609 For Year: Academic Year 2014-2015 Endowment: $0 As of: May 2015

Primary Contact for Proposal/Title: Jake Brenner, Faculty Manager Primary Contact E-mail Address: jbrenner@ithaca.edu Phone: 607-274-3967 Project Title: Bridging the Relationship between the Local Environment, Experiential Learning, and the Greater Ithaca Community Amount Requested: $62,000 Duration: 1 year Project Budget: $172,757.00 Brief organizational background including the organization’s history, mission, programs and services: For eleven years Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) has worked towards promoting environmental awareness and student engagement across the Ithaca College campus. Originally started to prevent the adjacent natural areas from being logged, the organization has grown into a necesary educational and recreational tool for the community to utilize nature. ICNL has successfully developed a Stewards Program and serves as an outdoor classroom across disciplines, promoting the natural experiential learning revolution across campus and community alike.

Brief Summary of Proposal (100 words or less):

Bridging the Relationship between the Environment, Learning, and the Community Ithaca College Natural Lands aims to provide improved public access to the trails, programmed community outreach projects, increased student engagement via internships to create a more sustainable Ithaca. This project strives to rebuild the essential connection between nature and the human psyche while fostering an educational environment

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that encourages sustainability and preservation within the greater community. Specific areas that ICNL seeks funding for are: 1) ADA accessibility 2) trail maintenance 3) signage and the construction of two additional kiosks 4) one student intern and one full-time staff member. Mail materials to: Jon M. Jensen, Executive Director, Park Foundation, PO Box 550, Ithaca, NY 14851. Our street address is 140 Seneca Way, Suite 100, Ithaca, NY 14850. If you have questions, please visit www.parkfoundation.org or call us at (607) 272-9124.

Include with proposal only if applicable. FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECT/ORGANIZATION: If the organization is acting as a fiscal sponsor for a project or organization, please complete this section regarding the program being sponsored. Name of Project or Organization Being Sponsored: Ithaca College Primary Contact Name: Warren Calderone, Corporate and Foundation Relations Director Project/Organization Mailing Address: 953 Danby Rd City/State/Zip: Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone Number: 607-274-7351 Fax Number: n/a E-mail Address: wcalderone@ithaca.edu Website: www.ithaca.edu Brief organizational background including the organization’s history, mission, programs and services: Ithaca College (IC), located in one of the most environmentally-conscious cities in the U.S., was founded in 1892 as a music conservatory. With over 6,000 students in five different schools (both graduate and undergraduate) Ithaca College provides amenities and services both to those enrolled and the greater Ithaca Community. One of IC’s core values is sustainability. It’s commitment to “the responsible and sustainable management of natural, human, and financial resources” can be seen in their continued development of organizations such as ICNL, programs like RISE (Retirees in Service to the Environment), and their outstanding Environmental Science and Biology departments. Total Organization Budget: $5,000 For Year: Academic Year 2014-2015

May 7, 2015 Jon Jensen Executive Director Park Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 550 Ithaca, NY 14851 Re: Cover Letter

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Dear Mr. Jensen: On behalf of the Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL), I am honored to submit this proposal to the Park Foundation. With this request, we ask that you consider making a grant of $62,000 to support ICNL. These funds will allow ICNL to hire a full-time staff manager for the lands as well as an intern that will gain valuable educational experience while servicing the lands. We at ICNL highly respect the efforts the Park Foundation has put into creating a sustainable community in Ithaca. The lands of ICNL play a role in these efforts in educating both the Ithaca College, and greater Ithaca, communities about how to become more sustainable and cohabitate with natural lands within the community. We wholeheartedly believe that a well-educated community is a strong one, and are making conscious efforts to ramp up programming within the natural lands and make it a more accessible place for everyone. ICNL is currently seeking staffing to support this endeavor. ICNL provides people a place to escape and reconnect with nature in an outdoor classroom adjacent to a place of higher education. Your support would not only allow for better upkeep, but would also assist programming and educational efforts within the lands through the roles of the full-time staff manager and the intern. This would, in turn, increase the reach felt by the educational efforts and move Ithaca one more step closer to becoming a completely sustainable community. If you have any questions, please contact me at 607-274-3967 or at jbrenner@ithaca.edu. Thank you so much for your consideration of this proposal. Sincerely, Jacob C. Brenner Faculty Land Manager of ICNL Assistant Professor Department of Environmental Studies and Science Ithaca College

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Ithaca College Natural Lands: Bridging the Relationship between the Local Environment, Experiential Learning, and the Greater Ithaca Community

Fall 2015- Fall 2017

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Executive Summary Ithaca College Natural Lands The Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) is a preserved natural space adjacent to the Ithaca College Campus. Several parts within the space are referred to as “Outdoor Classrooms,” for exactly the reason you might expect. A wide range of classes frequently use the space to teach their students real applications of what they are learning. However, the space is much more than a preserved area or classroom. A wide range of trails stretch throughout the South Hill lands, including a self-guided nature trail which people can use to learn more about the environment they spend time in. Many students and faculty use the lands recreationally to run, walk, film, or even mountain-bike! The ICNL organization was formed in 2004 with the creation of a management plan, to protect the lands from logging that was destined for the space. The organization came into being largely through the support of students and faculty outraged over the logging plans. Today, ICNL champions over 500 acres of land, in 4 separate reserves: South Hill East and West, Bob-Robinson, and Newfield. The organization is mainly run by the students – with the assistance of faculty. From creating trails to managing upkeep, the students put in the most time into the area, making it a unique space where students can gain new skills. Brief Statement of Need Often higher institutions set aside land for expected expansion, and even when they escape their fate of construction, the land is underutilized and lacks necessary protections. ICNL seeks to change this trend by safeguarding land from expansion and promoting sustainable use that is beneficial for the community, as well as the land. ICNL has a great many benefits for the community, offering research opportunities, recreation, education, and increasing general well-being. Despite all it has to offer, there is a disconnect between ICNL and the greater Ithaca community. The small amount of funding from the Humanities and Sciences School of the college covers overhead costs, but is not sufficient for implementing the larger projects necessary to bridge the gap into the community. With your partnership, ICNL has the chance to become the most comprehensive educational lands management organization in the Northeast United States. By providing the essential space and programming for students and the greater Ithaca community to reconnect with nature, ICNL plays a vital role in enhancing the community. Solution: Making a Natural Place More Accessible ICNL’s biggest weakness is its accessibility. With no parking spots or easy way to get to the lands, the organization has not been able to reach out to the greater community to get them involved. To combat this, the organization plans to increase accessibility. It would carry this out building 2 new kiosks by summer 2016. To allow anyone to use the trail systems, ICNL will also create an ADA boardwalk by the end of summer 2017, on the towers rim trail. To make the trails easier to access, two parking spaces will be put in by the end of summer 2016, at the Terraces entrance and Boothroyd entrance. Lastly, by the end of summer 2017 the dirt hill and chain into the natural lands from the Towers entrance will be replaced by stone steps and a metal handrail. All these changes will make the natural lands a better place to spend time in, and allow people from all walks of life to take part. In order to improve the natural lands’ recognition in the public eye, the organization seeks to increase public interaction with ICNL. They will do this through yearly surveys to students and community, continue partnerships with current programs and establish new ones starting in the summer of 2016, fund

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full time staff and interns, form a “Friends Of” organization, and actively partner with 5-additional partners by 2020. Current faculty head Jake Brenner and interns will ensure these projects are carried out and completed. Funding Requirements The projects planned for ICNL will have a large, long-lasting impact on the lands and will greatly improve the ability of the organization to connect the lands to the greater Ithaca community. Our mission is to secure funding for these projects, so they can be completed. The organization is also looking to secure funding to continually maintain the lands, by establish a “Friends Of” organization. Many of the projects planned are single time costs that will last for many years to come, and improve the natural lands. ICNL requests $172,757.00 for personnel costs, accessibility upgrades, and maintenance funds. These funds will not only make ICNL a more impressive natural area and model for land preservation, but allow the organization to increase outreach and involve the community. For many years ICNL has been tailored for the students, and as faculty head Jake Brenner would put it, it’s time to move out of that vision, and into a new one where the community is actively a part of the lands. Through partnership with you, we can achieve these goals.

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Organizational History When some look at natural lands, they see wilderness. Others see resources. At Ithaca College, the Ithaca College Natural Lands (ICNL) organization sees natural lands as educational opportunities. ICNL was born in 2004 out of a meeting between faculty from the Biology Department and College Administration, where they developed a progressive and well-outlined management plan for the natural resources of the land owned on South Hill and in Newfield. A spark of interest arose in students and faculty after the local school newspaper, The Ithacan, published a story on the imminent logging plans for South Hill. The Ithaca College Natural Areas Stewardship Committee (NASC) was created, lead by Biology faculty member, Jason Hamilton, and Associate Vice President of Facilities, Rick Couture. The committee now consists of a Faculty Manager, Associate Vice President of Facilities, Ecological Consultant, Education Coordinator, and a Student Intern. They were tasked with managing the lands, as well as promoting teaching, research, and other uses. The next year NASC was reorganized into what is now referred to as “Ithaca College Natural Lands,” or as many call it, ICNL. Not Just Open Space The passion that arose in students and faculty alike in response to the logging has carried into present day, with a large array of people involved with the lands on an every-day basis. The organization’s mission from the beginning has been “to maintain the educational value and ecosystem services of the college’s natural areas, to support co-curricular activities, and to guide compatible economic and recreational development.” For the ICNL committee of faculty and staff that oversees the preserved lands, that mission breaks down into five categories – preservation, education, research, recreation, and production. These ideas all come together to support an area of land that can be used effectively from students making maple syrup to children learning survival skills, while maintaining its environmental integrity. Today, the college owns over 500 acres of land, in 4 separate reserves: South Hill East and West, Bob-Robinson, and Newfield. In the South Hill lands (the 365 acres which are contiguous to campus), five miles of public access trails sprawl throughout, creating space for anyone to use and enjoy. Strong Staff, Strong Students In ICNL, using “faculty” and “students” to describe the organization is a bit superfluous. At Ithaca College, the natural lands are managed as much by students as by Ithaca College faculty and staff who claim the lands are run by students. Currently two student interns exist, both equally qualified and driven. While current ICNL faculty manager, Professor Jake Brenner of Environmental Studies manages much of the ongoings with the natural lands, students are behind the scenes taking part in many management positions. Stewards oversee sections of the natural areas on campus. In the Student Intern Training (SIT) program, students organize and lead everything from campus events to creating new trails. Volunteers take time to help out wherever is needed. Part of what makes the natural lands so unique is that students are heavily involved in both its use and management. This collaborative use facilitates real job experience for students, fostering a deeper understanding of the environment and sustainability in the younger generation who will be taking the lead on issues like climate change in the future. An Outdoor Learning Space The mission that those first few faculty members set out to achieve has been realized – ICNL has become not just a protected area, but a place for sustainable use and learning. The lands are often described as an “outdoor classroom” or an “educational working landscape.” It’s a place where students and the greater

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community can learn in a shared space. One on campus group that currently utilizes the lands is called South Hill Forest Products. What can only be described as part learning, part business, this group learns how to make products such as maple syrup using resources found in the natural lands. They then sell these products at Ithaca College and other shops in the town. Everything done in the class/business is run and carried out by the students, which many students have cited as being an invaluable experience. Primitive Pursuits, a group that teaches young children essential survival skills is another example of community use and learning opportunities in the natural lands. ICNL gives students at Ithaca College an opportunity to not only enjoy natural environments, but to learn from them in ways that will serve them as emerging professionals and engaged community members. Music majors to business students have been positively impacted by the space, and have gained useful skills that they will carry on with them. Or as a student notes about South Hill Forest Products, “The fact that you’re learning this craft that people don’t really recognize but is still integral to society is definitely the best part.” This learning is not limited just to students of Ithaca College. Like Primitive Pursuits, the RISE (Retirees in Service to the Environment) program of Ithaca has partnered with ICNL in collaboration with the IC Gerontology Institute. This program has, for the past two years, brought retired citizens of Tompkins County to the natural lands, offering opportunities to learn about the environment and carry out stewardship tasks. These programs characterize one of ICNL’s biggest goals – to engage the outside community in the land many care so deeply about and that has served us in many ways. The lack of accessibility through parking areas obstructs this goal, and as such the community has not been able to be involved as much as ICNL would like, which the proposal plans to address and fix. More Than School Lands Yes, the Ithaca College Natural Lands are inextricably linked with the college the name comes from. However, they are so much more than land tied to a school. The people who devote countless hours a week to the protection, use, and maintenance of the lands are students and faculty who want to preserve a rich natural area for others. They want to show the state, even the country, how a group of people can transform an environment into a space that both provides for, and benefits from those using it. ICNL has not been able to share this engagement and learning with the greater community, and the ability to do so would be incredibly valuable for an environmentally conscious community like Tompkins County. Ongoing Partnerships ICNL has already allied itself with a few strategic partnerships on both local and national levels. Stemming from a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Committed to Change Program (C2C) at Ithaca College is dedicated to teaching sustainability within the classroom and applying what is learned through partnerships in the Ithaca Community. The current Ithaca community partners are the Ithaca EcoVillage and the Building Bridges program. Another strong educational partner is the Finger Lakes Project (FLP). The FLP is a cohort of educators that is dedicated to incorporating sustainability practices into all aspects of education. The FLP uses ICNL as a resource for sustainability education and practice. Ithaca College uses its community partnership with the EcoVillage of Ithaca to fund this project and to provide multiple different types of sustainability education in a myriad of settings. Current Funding Status Each year, ICNL receives $5,000 dollars from the School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College to provide educational funding. This funding ICNL receives from H&S has been very beneficial to the organization and lands, but it has not been enough for a lot of ICNL’s goals to be fully realized. Programs funded by the school must be within the educational programming and development guidelines, which leaves a lot of unattended issues such as American Disabilities Act accessibility, and general upkeep.

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Many larger projects that would have lasting positive impacts on the natural lands require a larger budget without educational programming restrictions, and with assistance, implementation can begin. An Organization Worth Supporting Ithaca College Natural Lands has effectively established itself as a branch of Ithaca College’s sustainability initiative, but its full potential has yet to be achieved. The values of ICNL run deep in the organization’s roots, and there are many passionate students, faculty, and staff who support those principles. The research, current programs and courses are the mere buds to the developing canopy that ICNL is aspiring to. With this process still in motion, the organization anticipates further support from both the surrounding community and Ithaca College. By creating specialized, positive and meaningful experiences in nature, ICNL contributes to the livelihood of students and community members. The natural lands are important in its ability to preserve, educate, and inspire the human reconnection with nature . Communication between privately managed land and the locality assures that shared goals do exist and are being met. Initiating that relationship and maintaining harmonization will drive ICNL in the direction of its long-term goals and ultimately represent a stable model for land preservation as a whole.

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Proposed Initiative Statement

The Ithaca College Natural Lands is seeking $172,757 for the construction of an ADA compliant trail, new kiosks, trail upkeep, full-time staff and paid interns, as well as educational programming. This will benefit and create easy access to the natural lands for the 6500 students of Ithaca College and 30,000 city of Ithaca residents.

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Statement of Need

The poet William Wordsworth wrote, “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” But first, let ICNL help get you there. Most higher education institutions have extra land due to the anticipated need for expansion, but once cleared from the fate of construction these natural lands are often unprotected and underutilized. Ithaca College and ICNL are completely disrupting the current trend of expansion and unsustainable land use. By reserving land initially earmarked for future development of the college for environmental use, Ithaca College made a strong stance for sustainability. In creating ICNL and its governing body, they made a commitment to leading the way in natural land preservation. There are 560 acres of land that are still underutilized despite the research and educational opportunities, outside long term research projects and students using the land to produce non-timber forest products. ICNL has several self-guided nature trails available to the public, but it’s “more than open space.” It’s a natural place for all ages to gather and use the land for education, recreation, research, production, and preservation. Natural Land – A Human Benefactor What is it about “wilderness” that humans love so much? The natural environment plays a bigger role in peoples’ lives than one might expect. Being in nature doesn’t just improve people physically, it also has important psychological benefits. Time spent among nature and green areas has the power to reduce stress and worry, provide therapeutic relief for ADHD afflicted children, and even help people recover from difficult experiences or emotional trauma. At its core, having natural land to immerse oneself in has lasting positive effects on well-being. The benefit of ICNL is its proximity to the town as well as the Ithaca College campus. For students, it’s a short walk away and it provides a place to interact and enjoy the natural landscape, helping to decrease the high levels of stress many college students experience in a time of such compressed change. The wide array of trail systems throughout make it easy and accessible for anyone to experience the land. Because the natural lands are so close to the city, they create an opportunity for people living downtown to escape the more urban environment to a nearby natural environment. With proper accessibility, ICNL could be sharing their environment and have a large positive impact on the lives of members of the greater community. When people have a positive experience in nature, it often increases conservation habits and awareness in those people. In the end, ICNL has the potential to be beneficial for both the community and the environment. The ICNL Vision: A Best Practice Model ICNL’s role within the college and the greater Ithaca community position it as an opportunity to become a model for other higher education institutions. Balancing the natural lands, community involvement, and educational opportunities may seem like too much for a mid-sized college but Ithaca is the perfect place to start the Natural Experiential Learning Revolution. The community is already recognized as environmentally friendly which saves ICNL from having to convince the community about the importance of sustainability. Although there is a disconnect between Ithaca College students and the greater Ithaca community, ICNL’s past programs, such as Retiree In Service to the Environment, are a way to combat that disconnect and bring us closer as a community. With a small amount of guaranteed funding from Ithaca College, ICNL’s overhead costs, such as pamphlets and tools for trail-blazing, are covered. The City of Ithaca also harbors Cornell University and Cornell Plantations, which conducts a lot of research that ICNL can learn from and incorporate into their curriculum and outreach projects.

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Research and Education: The Bedrock of ICNL Between the 12+ classes and the countless research projects that use ICNL, the area has proven to be vital for furthering higher education at Ithaca College. ICNL provides students, faculty, staff, and members of the Ithaca College community convenient opportunities for study in conservation, sustainability, and other ecological matters that they otherwise would struggle to have without ICNL. The results of these inquiries extends globally, as the research done at Ithaca College has been proven to reach people on an international scale. With proper additions to ICNL, along with subsequent marketing campaigns, ICNL can attract even more members of the Ithaca community and the reach of the education can extend to additional community members. This education will promote conservation and sustainability practices in the Ithaca Community and will have an effect on climate change in the Ithaca area, as well as globally, as students take these practices with them. The Future of ICNL: Community Collaboration & Integration Ithaca College has bound itself to active learning through a select number of settings that most importantly includes community. Exceeding the number of community programs ICNL currently implements can have a significant impact on the development of ICNL as an educational, community-backed organization. Sharing the fundamental experience, research and skills that ICNL has fostered with the Ithaca community is an essential step towards strengthening the environmental protection and preservation that spurred the creation of ICNL. Volunteer opportunities that the RISE, Primitive Pursuits, and Stewards programs currently offer is just the beginning. ICNL is in the unique position of providing access to nature – thanks to the institutional support it receives from Ithaca College and the partnership opportunities with the greater Ithaca community. With your partnership, ICNL has the chance to become the most comprehensive educational lands management organization in the Northeast United States. By providing the essential space and programming for students and the greater Ithaca community to reconnect with nature, ICNL plays a vital role in enhancing the community.

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Plan of Action

Statement of Goals, Objectives and Outcomes

Unlocking the Natural World: Making ICNL a Model for Accessibility Although ICNL is a leader in school-run natural lands, the growth of the lands has been limited by a few reasons. Accessibility, staffing, and support issues currently stunt the ability of the lands to reach their full potential. The goals stated below will help ICNL achieve its vision a more environmentally engaged community. Goal: Make the Natural Lands More Accessible

• Objective: Build 2 new kiosks at ICNL’s Boothroyd and East entrances by the end of summer 2016.

• Outcome: The new kiosks at the entrances to ICNL will create a visual gateway to the natural lands. These kiosks will provide information to users of the natural lands that will enhance their experiences, inform them, and increase their engagement with ICNL.

• Objective: Create a boardwalk on the Towers Rim Trail by the end of summer 2017. • Outcome: Through the creation of this boardwalk, ICNL will be a step closer to being

American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. The boardwalk will be built on a section of the Towers Rim Trail that is the easiest to access from the road.

• Objective: Create a “drive-up and park” entrance to ICNL by the end of summer 2016. • Outcome: A parking lot will be created close to the lands at the Terraces entrance. The

parking lot will allow people with physical disabilities and those of a seasoned age to access ICNL, and the eventual ADA compliant boardwalk, with magnified ease. The placement of the parking lot in this location will also take up minimal natural space.

• Objective: Put wood chips down on the trails within the lands every season starting in summer of 2016.

• Outcome: The trails will hold up better in the weather and prevent degradation. This will allow them to remain accessible to people in the natural lands longer, and more often throughout the year. The wood chips will also help alleviate some of the unavoidable erosion damage that happened during the creation of the trails.

• Objective: Replace the dirt hill and wooden rail into ICNL near the East Entrance with concrete steps and a metal rail by the end of summer 2017.

• Outcome: The steps will replace a steep dirt hill that currently exists in this area. The hill currently is a safety hazard when dry, and totally inaccessible when wet. The wooden and chain handrail currently provides some stability to those walking up and down, however a full metal handrail would be much more stable and would weather better.

Goal: Increase Public Interaction with ICNL

• Objective: Reach out to students and greater Ithaca community yearly with surveys to establish public and student interest starting in fall of 2015 and continuing every fall semester.

• Outcome: Through reaching out to public and students with yearly surveys, awareness of ICNL will be created. ICNL will also be able to create a baseline for its current awareness and then see how marketing efforts affect the awareness of ICNL in both groups.

• Objective: Continue the partnership with current programs (such as RISE and Primitive Pursuits) and spur the development of new programs and events in the natural lands starting summer of 2016 and continuing every season.

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• Outcome: Through the continued partnership with current programs and the creation of new programs and events, more people will be coming up the hill and using the natural lands. This will both spur goodwill for the lands and increase the number of people using and interacting with ICNL.

• Objective: Create a sustainable marketing plan with recommendations on implementation practices. While current marketing efforts are being revamped, a sustainable plan is needed to ensure continued success with outreach. This will start in summer of 2016 and continue on consistently.

• Outcome: Through creating a marketing, advertising, PR, and media strategy, a focused action plan can be implemented that will give ICNL the exposure it needs amongst its identified target groups. A sustainability plan will also be implemented and all actions will be documented so that future students in these roles can know what has and hasn’t worked in the past. Recommendations will also be made for future collaborators when implementing plans in the future (Project Look Sharp, Megaphone Media Productions, IMC/Marketing Programs, Park Design House, etc.)

Goal: Create Stronger Support System for ICNL

• Objective: Fun 1 full-time staff and 1 paid intern of ICNL. These people are integral to ICNL’s future and will be the ones doing the majority of work with lands. This will start in summer of 2016 and continue on consistently.

• Outcome: As the lands both grow and age, the amount of work that needs to be done within them grows as well. While the Office of Facilities and dedicated students have taken care of the lands thus far, each year it becomes increasingly harder to do so, and valuable IC time and resources are used. Through having full-time staff and paid interns on hands, IC can better budget its facilities’ crew time, which will ultimately support the college’s bundling efforts.

• Objective: Found a “Friends of ICNL” support organization. This organization will contribute to the financial success of ICNL and serve as a sounding board for its future development. The organization will be founded in the fall of 2016.

• Outcome: By creating a “Friends of ICNL” organization, there will be former students who will become stronger brand advocates to ICNL, and they will be able to assist in advising ICNL faculty head chair Jake Brenner on how to proceed. The organization can also assist in raising much-needed funds for ICNL.

• Objective: Actively partner with 5 additional non-IC organizations by the year 2020 starting in the summer of 2016 and continue on consistently.

• Outcome: The saying “safety in numbers” proves true in ICNL. By aligning ICNL with outside organizations, ICNL will create a web of support and learn from other organizations mistakes. The partners also increase the credibility of the organizations and make it a stronger candidate for grants.

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Methods

Unlocking the Natural World: Making ICNL a Model for Accessibility

Timeline

Activity Fall 2015/ Spring 2016

Summer 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

Summer 2017

Fall 2017

Build 2 New Kiosks X

Create Boardwalk on the

Towers Rim Trail

X X X

Create Drive & Park Entrance to ICNL

X

Put Wood Chips on Trails in the Natural Lands

X X X X

X Ongoing

Build Steps & Rail near East Entrance

X

Reach out to Public & Students with Surveys

X

X X Ongoing

Develop Current Programs & New Programs

X X X X

X Ongoing

Create & Implement Marketing Plan

X X X X

X Ongoing

Fund Full-Time Staff & Interns of ICNL

X X X X

X Ongoing

Found a “Friends of ICNL Organization”

X

Partner with 5 Additional External Organizations

X X X X

X Ongoing

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Impact Statement This initiative is a unique opportunity to blend an academic community and local community through natural lands available adjacent to Ithaca College. The effort to increase accessibility of ICNL will allow more people in the greater Ithaca area to use the natural lands and benefit from its wide range of offerings. The project will create change within ICNL by allowing more people to access the natural lands, which will increase the number and variety of natural areas accessible by Ithacans in the greater Tompkins county area. This will encourage citizens and students alike to connect them with a natural environment where learning, preservation and well-being can be fostered. Key Personnel/Staffing Statement ICNL is overseen by a faculty land manager, currently Environmental Studies and Sciences professor, Jake Brenner, who makes most of the decisions related to the natural lands, oversees educational programming, and is the direct supervisor to the interns of ICNL. He will be the staff member working full-time to complete the projects specified in the proposal. Professor Brenner has led similar projects before, stemming from a grant he recently secured from the National Science Foundation. Because he has his Doctorate in Geography, he is able to map out the future plans for the natural lands and ensure they are on the path to success. The current support positions are: Faculty Manager: Leading committee meetings, budgeting, supervising interns, developing projects, working with other committee members, and other general administrative responsibilities. Associate Vice President of Facilities: Leading committee meetings, budgeting and approval, managing people and projects with the IC Office of Facilities, and reporting to upper-level administrators. Ecological Consultant: Working with environmental consultants outside of the organization, managing all ecology related research and projects, and serving as an internal expert consultant for the ICNL committee. Education Coordinator: Managing educational programming for students and greater Ithaca community, as well as developing learning opportunities. Student Intern: Carrying out tasks and projects delegated by the Faculty Manager, as well as helping manage the Student Intern Training program. The Resource and Environmental Management Program of the Office of Facilities funds this position. The ICNL interns also assist the faculty land manager in taking care of the lands. The interns conduct research on the lands and design projects such as working to preserve native species of plants and wildlife. They additionally take part in making sure the trails throughout the natural lands are safe for use. These interns will likely be working part time on the goals specified in the proposal. The ICNL Stewards program creates stewards that are each responsible for their own plot of land. These volunteers each take an acre of land and check on it once a month. They are responsible for reporting anything “out of the ordinary” with the lands and for general upkeep. These stewards will likely work part-time during the construction aspects of the proposal, to make sure construction sites are not being vandalized or destroyed.

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The Office of Facilities currently performs specialized maintenance as needed in the natural lands. However, bigger construction projects are out of the question due to budgetary constraints. Although these employees already work for the college, they are often backlogged with work that needs to be done on campus buildings and are unable to respond to ICNL’s requests quickly. As a result the trails are not always well kept and have the potential to be dangerous at times. Management Plan ICNL is managed and maintained by Ithaca College, or more specifically, the Environmental Studies and Sciences department of the School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S). The organization is run by a faculty manager, as well as a team of devoted interns with Ithaca College serving as the broader fiscal agent to be responsible for its success. Professor Brenner and ICNL have agreed to act as the grant applicant for this project. Accessibility of Resources ICNL’s partnership with the Office of Facilities provides routine maintenance, an essential part to the management of the lands. $5,000 is currently given to ICNL at the beginning of each school year by the H&S Dean’s Office for the purpose of educational programming. Unfortunately current funding for ICNL interns will not be supported by the budget. Diversity/Nondiscrimination Policy for Hiring The Ithaca College nondiscrimination statement states that “discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, marital status, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military status will not exist in any activity, area, or operation of the College.”

Evaluation Plan Refining public access to ICNL is important to the organization's mission. Determining the effectiveness of ICNL’s objectives, such as improving accessibility, requires long-term evaluation of overall usage of the trails and general upkeep. The success of the physical upgrades can be clearly evaluated through their completion. A marketing plan is important to the goal of increasing awareness and use of the natural lands. In order to determine the effectiveness of the implemented marketing, we will consult with a third party organization about return on engagement. The sign-in sheets will also serve to show whether more people from the community are engaging in the lands. A sign-in sheet at all trail entrances, a common practice in land management, is an interactive way of establishing a relationship with ICNL’s visitors. Not only is this a simple way to quantify the number of people who come to the trails, but allows for users to leave contact information to maintain lasting relationships. Through the creation of a “Friends of ICNL Organization” a consistent connection with both the greater Ithaca and alumni communities will be achieved. The success of this organization will be determined by the amount of positions filled within the organization and the overall interaction of the organization with ICNL as a whole. Simply by partnering with external organizations, such as Cornell Plantations or the Cayuga Nature Center, ICNL will have completed its goal of connecting with like-minded organizations and building its

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credibility. Information sharing will exist through the partnerships, and best practices will help all parties involved thrive. These organizations may also serve as key evaluators for our efforts and offer critical feedback about what works. Surveys will also provide solid data and ongoing feedback directly from the people who visit ICNL. These surveys will include: preference on trail materials (i.e. stones, wood chips), usefulness of signage, parking availability, and overall experience via testimonials. Full-time staff and interns will conduct these surveys, and then process the results into useable data. Surveying will be conducted before ICNL begins project development, mid-way through, and after the projects are completed. Certifying that the technical standards of making the natural lands completely accessible for everyone are met, an outside organization will evaluate the trails. Turning to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as a reliable inspector of the implementation of parking areas and the ADA accessible trail will validate and verify the ways ICNL is attempting to accommodate limitations of individuals with physical disabilities. Ensuring ICNL is a safe and enjoyable place is the ultimate goal of the organization, and will also serve to measure its success. Unfortunately quantifying the general experience of the hikers and visitors is challenging because there are a lot of variables out of ICNL’s control. Variables like weather, erosion, and drainage can affect a user’s experience and have to be managed and dealt with over time. Evaluation will be integral to ensuring that the natural lands are accessible and utilized by the greater Ithaca Community.

Dissemination Plan The results found from the evaluation process of ICNL’s improvements and organizational alterations will be shared and dispersed amongst academic and local communities. It is important that ICNL shares these results because only those who use the natural lands can determine the use and success of the trails. In the academic world the preservation and use of natural areas through colleges is largely unrepresented ICNL intends to develop this niche. Social Media Outreach Students and community members who are already following ICNL on Facebook will receive notifications announcing updates on the creation of an ADA accessible trail, conveniently close parking lot to the trail entrances, and new kiosks with updated information. This announcement will be posted after the preliminary SAS evaluation. Inviting ICNL’s followers to explore the newly updated natural lands will encourage their exploration of and reconnection with nature. Spreading the Word Every little bit of shared information helps. Announcements on community boards as well as on campus publications will immensely help inform students and Ithaca residents about ICNL’s upgrades. ICNL already invites students and faculty to their outdoor events via Ithaca College Facebook accounts, Intercom (online IC community information board), and posters; these announcements advertise how easy it is for anyone to attend the events in the lands regardless of their physical limitations. Emails will be sent out to partners and the “Friends of ICNL” organization. These emails will foster interaction and encourage participation from the members of these groups.

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Higher Education Academic Journals Research has already been done in the natural lands, and with the extension of the internship program and academic programs, there will be more information to share. So far, there have not been any academic journals or publications about the preservation and development of privately owned natural lands. ICNL is in the rare and fortunate position of being the trailblazers in bridging a relationship between the environment, education, and community development. Producing a step-by-step informational guide for other institutions with similar values as Ithaca College will further position ICNL as a leader. The research conducted and information reported will be innovative and original—and even more importantly, expand environmental initiatives to other colleges and universities.

Future Funding The process of improving the natural lands and making it more accessible to the greater Ithaca community is an ongoing task. Although this grant will help the natural lands progress forward even after the grant period ends, continued support will be crucial to establishing better internal and external funding opportunities. The key long-term impact of current grants is that they allow for full time staff to be put in place to manage the new features (such as kiosks, ADA trails, and parking spots) and maintain them after the initial funding period is over. After the funding period ends, there will be an ongoing need to pay the staff, interns, and provide general upkeep and expansion of the natural lands.The creation of “Friends of ICNL” and partnerships with like-minded organizations in the greater Ithaca area will seek to offset some of these expenses. As these costs arise, the organization will seek additional grants to fund the new expenditures. ICNL will also seek funding through Ithaca College alumni connections. The organization will inform the Ithaca College alumni of the value and rich biological significance of the natural lands, and remind them of the importance of ecological preservation. Most importantly, current funding will better establish the mission of ICNL, and make it more attractive for future funding. This ensures that ICNL will continue to connect the Ithaca community to nature and foster learning and preservation.

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Conclusion ICNL is seeking $172,757.00 of funding over the next three years to make impactful changes to the trails, entrances, signage, boardwalk, staff, and educational aspects of the natural lands. The organization wants to be beneficial to more than just Ithaca College students, faculty, and staff in the near future. As faculty manager Jake Brenner says, “For the last ten years we served the college; now it’s time to serve the community.” ICNL believes nature (and the diverse educational opportunities that coincide within this space) should be available for anyone who seeks it. By bridging the accessibility gap between the community and the natural lands, ICNL provides the essential tools for humans to stay in touch with nature.

“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” -Mahatma Gandhi

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Budget

Unlocking the Natural World: Making ICNL a Model for Accessibility (2015 – 2017)

Budget Summary

Budget Category and Items In-Kind Costs

Requested From Sponsor

Subtotal Project Costs

Personnel Costs

Full-Time Staff Member

$52,000.00 $52,000.00

Interns

$10,000.00 $10,000.00

Student Volunteers/Staff $94,176.00

$94,176.00

Facilities Maintenance and Construction

$1,848.00

$1,848.00

ICNL Faculty Manager $28,210.00

$28,210.00

ICNL Management Committee $12,375.00

$12,375.00

Subtotal of Personnel Costs $136,609.00 $62,000.00 $198,609.00

Non-Personnel Costs

Signage

$4,900.00 $4,900.00

Woodchips

$500.00 $500.00

ADA Boardwalk

$65,820.00 $65,820.00

Parking Spaces

$3,000.00 $3,000.00

Kiosk Construction

$5,000.00 $5,000.00

Stone Step Construction

$31,537.00 $31,537.00

Subtotal of Non-Personnel Costs

$110,757.00 $110,757.00

Totals $136,609.00 $172,757.00 $309,366.00

Percentage 44% 56% 100%

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Budget Narrative Personnel Full-Time Staff Member – $52,000.00 This is the cost of hiring a full time staff member for 2.5 year cycles. They will oversee the natural lands, coordinate work with the IC Office of Facilities, maintain trails & structures on the natural lands, and manage the “Friends of ICNL.” The figure is based upon Ithaca College’s adjunct/credit rate plus the benefit rate of 30% salary. Interns – $10,000.00 This is the amount of money necessary to pay a student intern for 2.5 academic year cycles to help maintain ICNL, coordinate and manage Student Interns in Training, and work with community partners and on-campus classes using the space. This figure is based upon an hourly wage of $8.75/hr. Volunteers – $2,556.00 This is the in-kind cost of volunteers who will lay down woodchips on trails, install signage, and create parking spaces. This figure is based upon the estimated $9.00/hour value of a volunteer, the time they would spend on the projects, and the number of volunteers necessary for each task. Stewards – $900.00 ICNL Stewards oversee the lands and will ensure the projects are carried out smoothly. This in-kind cost is based upon the stewards annual time spent overseeing the lands – 5 hours a month, the 8 months a year they do so, the 2.5 year span of the projects, and their worth valued at $9.00/hr ICNL Student Staff – $90,720.00 The ICNL Student Staff are the leading body that manages the lands, and will work on much of the projects in this proposal. This in-kind cost is based upon the average amount of 14 students; 8 hours spent each week per student, the 36 weeks per year, estimated worth valued at $9.00/hr, and the 2.5 span of the projects. IC Facilities – $1,848.00 Should funding be received, Ithaca College Facilities will work on installing the kiosks, as well as continuing annual maintenance. This figure is the in-kind cost of those facilities members. The figure is based upon the 3 facilities workers necessary for the kiosk project, an estimated 30-hour build time, and the workers’ $13.20/hr salary. This is added to the annual maintenance, accounting for 20 hours per year, facilities workers’ salary of $13.20/hr, and the 2.5-year span of the projects. ICNL Management Committee – $12,375.00 This is the in-kind cost of the ICNL management committee who will advise and oversee the proposal. This figure is based upon the $100/hr rate for the 4 faculty members and $50/hr rate for the 3 staff members who make up the committee. It takes into account the average 1.5-hour meetings that take place 3 times a semester, and the 5-semester duration of the proposal. Non-Personnel Trail Upkeep Signage – $4,900.00

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In order to maintain ICNL’s trail systems as accessible and easily usable, signage must be repaired and upgraded throughout the lands. This figure is based upon the cost of previous signage for the trail systems. Two large signs are also needed at the Raponi Wetlands and Terraces Turn-Around to help visitors identify their location and give them useful information about their surroundings. Woodchips – $500.00 While ICNL has a wide array of trails available for use, during the spring months many of the trails (especially in the Boothroyd woods on South Hill) become too muddy for use. This is the cost of the wood chips needed to cover the wet trail sections. This cost would sustain the trail system for several years. Accessibility ADA Boardwalk – $65,820.00 The Towers Rim Trail connects the West Entrance of ICNL to the East. In order to build a boardwalk, these funds are necessary for materials, construction, and drilling (due to the shale lying under the ground). This figure was calculated through average per square foot cost of boardwalks ($60/SF for 1,097 sq/ft, which is the area of the Towers Rim Trail). Parking Spaces – $3,000.00 This is a single-time expense that will put in place two parking spots at the Boothroyd and Terraces entrances to the natural lands, allowing for visitors to have easy, direct access to ICNL. Trail Upgrade Kiosk Construction – $5,000.00 This single cost will provide for the construction of two kiosks, designed after the model of the current kiosk at the Terraces entrance. Two new kiosks will be built, at the East Entrance and Boothroyd Entrance. They will cost $2,500.00 per kiosk for materials, and will be installed by the IC Office of Facilities. Stone Step Construction – $31,537.00 This cost covers the materials and construction of stone steps up the hill at the East Entrance, as well as covering the expense for a new railing (including installation). The trail up the hill is currently unstable and highly susceptible to erosion, making it nearly impossible to traverse during the winter months. This figure was calculated through per square foot stone costs.

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Addendum Material

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Abstract Ithaca College Natural Lands: Bridging the Relationship between the Local Environment, Experiential Learning, and the Greater Ithaca Community ICNL’s mission of Bridging the Relationship between the Environment, Community, and Education aims to provide improved public access to the trails, programmed community outreach projects, increased student engagement via internships, and hiring full-time staff. This project strives to rebuild the essential connection between nature and the community. Specific areas that ICNL proposes to receive funding is: 1) ADA accessibility 2) trail maintenance 3) signage and the construction of two additional kiosks 4) one student intern and one full-time staff member.