Guided Bird Watching , Fly Tying Classes and More On July 29

A Day at Silver Creek
Saturday July 29th
Silver Creek Preserve Visitor Center
No pre-registration required

Join Silver Creek staff for a natural history walk, plant walk, birding tours and fly fishing and fly tying classes, with acitivities running all day long at the preserve. All events are free.

Peppler Begins as Director of Philanthropy

The Nature Conservancy of Idaho has announced the hire of Jan Peppler of Hailey as the organization’s new director of philanthropy. Peppler will lead the Idaho Chapter’s philanthropy team in raising funds for conservation projects throughout the state of Idaho.

Peppler comes to the Conservancy from the Wood River Land Trust, where she served as major gifts officer, the trust’s fundraising leader. She has worked full-time for non-profit organizations for the past 16 years. She has raised money for a variety of causes including HIV/AIDS, human rights, public health issues and orphaned children.

“Jan has such extensive experience with non-profits and her skills and energy will be a tremendous asset to The Nature Conservancy,” says Laura Hubbard, The Nature Conservancy of Idaho’s state director. “She will be a key part of our effort to conserve special places, working lands and wildlife in Idaho.”

Peppler will work from the organization’s field office, located on First Avenue in Hailey.

Peppler’s duties will include leading philanthropy staff to raise funds for conservation projects around Idaho. The organization made its first acquisition in the state 30 years ago, with the purchase of Silver Creek Preserve. Recent projects include the acquisition of a ranch important for sage grouse in eastern Idaho, conservation efforts that benefit working ranches and salmon in the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi valleys and the application of cutting-edge technology to prevent, locate and eradicate non-native weeds in Hells Canyon and the Owyhee Canyonlands.

“I am so excited by the variety and depth of Conservancy projects in Idaho,” says Peppler. “I look forward to working with people who care about Idaho to protect what they value most about this beautiful state.”

The Conservancy is one of the largest conservation organizations in Idaho, with 5200 members from every county in the state. The Idaho Chapter has four offices as well as several preserves open to the public.

“This organization is so collaborative in its approach,” says Peppler. “It is clear to me that every staff member understands the importance of the work they’re doing. They are always eager to talk to the public. It is exciting to work with a group of people who are so energized about their work.”

Peppler spends much of her free time exploring Idaho and hiking with her dog Dixie, a Hurricane Katrina survivor she adopted this year.

The Nature Conservancy's New Boise Office

The Nature Conservancy's Boise Office has a new address:
Banner Bank Building
950 West Bannock Street, Suite 210
Boise, ID 83702

This new building has many sustainable features designed to reduce energy consumption, waste and water usage. It is one of the few buildings in the world that collects stormwater and recycles used water to operate toilets. The building is designed to reduce energy consumption by 65%.

Please stop by and visit us in our new office! We would love to give you a tour.

Visit a Nature Conservancy Project, Wherever You Travel

No, you won't find any alligators on Idaho preserves, but you never know what you might find on your travels to Nature Conservancy projects.

On a recent trip to Louisiana, my mom, dad, wife and I had the chance to visit the Pearl River and Honey Island Swamp. It was a great thrill when our boat pulled into a Nature Conservancy project--the Louisiana Chapter's White Kitchen Preserve.

The Conservancy's work in this area is preserving cypress tupelo wetlands and provides habitat for egrets, herons, raptors, turtles, and of course, alligators. The preserve is used by a number of guide services taking tourists to see the natural beauty of the area:

Wherever you travel, consider a visit to a Nature Conservancy project as part of your visit. Chapter web sites for each state can help you plan your trip. You may find yourself watching cranes near Yellowstone, standing amongst the bison on the tallgrass prairie or counting birds in Arizona.

For an even more in depth view of The Nature Conservancy's projects, the Oregon Chapter's Natural History Excursions offer unique outdoor vacations ranging from birding in Oregon and rafting in Idaho to exploring the Amazon by riverboat and viewing polar bears and musk ox in Greenland.

Several preserves offer lodging on their grounds, and The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Journeys offers itineraries to a number of destinations each year, with upcoming trips to Maine, Alaska, Manitoba and Brazil.

Visiting preserves shows the tremendous success of the Conservancy's work around the world. The next time you plan a trip, include a visit to a conservation project--and see how your investment is paying off.--Matt Miller, blog editor

Statesman Reports on Banner Bank Building

The Idaho Statesman recently reported on the Banner Bank Building in downtown Boise, the new location of the Conservancy's Boise Office. The goal of the developer is to achieve the highest level of environmental certification of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)— an award only 18 buildings in the world have earned so far.

The building is designed to reduce emissions, energy consumption and water use.

The Conservancy's Lou Lunte is quoted in the story.

Fencing Jesse Creek

A team of volunteers recently spent the day fencing Jesse Creek, located on the Frazier property acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 2004. The property is adjacent to the Conservancy's Flat Ranch Preserve, located just 15 miles west of West Yellowstone, near Macks Inn.

The fencing will protect streamside habitat, improving conditions for Yellowstone cutthroat trout, migratory birds and other species.

Silver Creek 30th Anniversary Commemorative Publication Available

A commemorative publication, celebrating 30th anniversary of The Nature Conservancy's Silver Creek Preserve, is hot off the presses. The publication celebrates Silver Creek through beautiful photography, watercolors and story. Pick up your free copy at the Silver Creek visitor center, valley fly shops or Nature Conservancy offices. You can also order a copy by emailing Matt Miller.